23 Days until Easter

23 Days until Easter

Ok, so when I was reflecting on the scripture that tells the story of Palm Sunday and then leads straight into the story of Jesus cleansing the Temple, I read the accounts according to multiple Gospels.  Mixed into the story of how Jesus comes down from the Mount of Olives for the Triumphal Entry and then purges the Temple, are a few verses about a fig tree.  To be honest, I wasn’t going to stop and reflect on those few sentences.  But for whatever reason, as I try to move forward in preparing my heart for Easter, my mind keeps going back to those sentences.  The Triumphal Entry was--well, triumphal.  It was a significant moment in scripture.  As was Jesus walking into the temple and taking care of business.  So, I wasn’t seeing the need to stop and think about the few verses about a fig tree amongst two significant events.  But I can’t ignore the pulling on my heart to take a moment to examine those few verses in a bit more depth.

So Mark takes me from Sunday, where Jesus stops in to see what’s going on in the Temple to Monday, where Jesus makes his way back to Jerusalem after spending the night in Bethany.  On His way to the Temple to rid it of corruption, Jesus passes a fig tree that is bearing leaves, but no fruit.  Matthew also mentions the barren fig tree. 

“And seeing a fig tree by the wayside, He went to it and found nothing on it but only leaves.  And He said to it, “May no fruit ever come from you again!”.  And the fig tree withered at once.” -Matthew 21:19

Jesus was certainly living with intent and purpose in His last days on earth.  Everything He did was calculated and had meaning.  So when Jesus spoke to the barren fig tree in front of the disciples on the way to the Temple, it was with purpose.  Now, I’m no Bible scholar, so I am well aware that there could and probably are many facets to the meaning of this encounter with the fig tree, but I’m going to start somewhere simple .  Fruit.  Fruit is good.  Fruit is what I bear if I truly abide in Him.

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser.  Every branch in me that does not bear fruit He takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.  Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you.  Abide in me, and I in you.  As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.  I am the vine; you are the branches.  Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.  If anyone does not abide in Me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.” -John 15:1-6

Now I don’t know how big that fig tree was or how beautiful it was or how grand its shape was or how big its leaves were, but I know this; it had no fruit.  Therefore, it wasn’t of much value.  So here was this fig tree looking like it should have fruit.  Wearing leaves as if it bears fruit.  But alas, no fruit.  How much of the time do we look like we follow Christ, yet bear no fruit. Church, check.  “Praying for you”, check.  Christian music, check.  Outwardly appearance, check.  Fruit, nada.

“So that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please Him in every way; bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God.” -Colossians 1:10

The fig tree looked like it should bear fruit, but it didn’t.  It was rendered useless.  If I look like I should bear fruit, but don’t, how effective  am I really? 

“For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection and brotherly affection with love.  For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.  For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins.” 2 Peter 1:5-9

Do I have a faith that fully trusts and relies on God?  Is Jesus my moral compass?  Is my heart rich with the assurance of understanding?  Do I rely on the Holy Spirit for my strength?  Do I hold steady through trials?  Do I reflect the glory of God in all that I do? Am I genuinely kind?  Like not just kind when people are good to me, but is kindness my natural state no matter the circumstance? Do I love like God loves?  When I’m living out this life, do people just know they are completely loved by me just by being in my presence?  Can they just look my way and sense the overwhelming love of my Lord, Who abides in me?

I think it’s no coincidence that Jesus struck the tree on His way to clean house at the Temple.  Here this tree was representing a healthy fruit-bearing tree, bountiful with deceptive leaves to look as if it produced fruit.  But it was a fake.  The value of a fig tree is measured in the figs it bears.  And what about the Temple.  Such a grand building.  Such dedicated members.  But where was the fruit?  There was plenty of action going on in the courts.  It looked lively, like it should bear fruit.  But, what an ugly disguise it was.  It was a fake.  Who was the Temple representing?  Themselves, that’s who.  I think He makes it clear how He feels about fake representation.  

I’m picking up what You’re putting down.  No faking it.  Only the real deal produces fruit.  You abide in me and I with you.  Lord, I want to please you in every way, bearing fruit.  Cut off what’s unpleasing.  Prune what’s good.  Apart from You, I am nothing.