Cursed Tree- Have Faith

Jesus, living with the Spirit upon Him; Jesus, living in the Holy Spirit; Jesus, God in the flesh-  was hungry. He had needs. He couldn't live without eating just as we can't live without eating. Jesus was hungry...

Mar 11:12  And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, he was hungry

Being hungry, Jesus saw a fig tree far away. Obviously not so far He didn't recognize it for what it was, but not close enough to see details.  And He DIDN'T know upon seeing that tree that it was barren of fruit. Jesus HOPED He'd find figs on the tree. Jesus walked towards the tree, just as WE would walk towards a fig tree hoping there were figs on it so we could satisfy our hunger.  The humanity of Jesus is often overlooked, but it's something we MUST comprehend. No one accused Him of not being a human being, they knew that He had all the same needs and necessities as they did.  Jesus had to be one of us. Jesus had to feel all the things we feel, see the things we see, know the things we know.

Mar 11:13  And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find any thing thereon

Now, the time for figs to be on the tree wasn't yet.  As if we went towards an apple tree hoping to find apples when it wasn't apple season.  Jesus walked towards the fig tree wanting figs when it wasn't time for figs to be on that tree, was He wanting a miracle?  If so, why weren't they miraculously there? We know creating food wasn't an impossibility with Him, so why weren't the figs there? The fact of the matter is, fig trees do not get leaves before they get fruit. The fruit of the fig tree and the leaves grow together. So it is quite possible that Jesus was hoping there would be something edible on the leaf infested fig tree- perhaps if there were immature fruit He would have matured it, but there was no fruit at all.

Mar 11:13…  and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet.

No figs.  The need for  the figs was there- a desire for figs was there, but there was a bigger picture we have to look at. Jesus had to look at the bigger picture as well. There was something more at stake here that wasn't instantly apparent.

You know how we often need things- such as food, but it doesn't happen? Does that make us any less hungry just because the need isn't going to be met? No.  Was Jesus still hungry?  Yes. His hunger didn't disappear miraculously. Jesus' hunger remained. 

What did Jesus do to that fig tree- whose only fault was not producing?

Mar 11:14  And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. And his disciples heard it.

Jesus spoke to the tree-  No man eat fruit of thee hereafter forever.

The tree did NOT give fruit to the hungry, Jesus. Was Jesus mad? It's possible, but more likely He was disappointed. This was a learning experience, as much of Jesus' life in the three years of His ministry was all about- teaching of the kingdom of God to come.

The next morning Jesus was returning from the temple…

Mar 11:20  And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots.

Mar 11:21  And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him, Master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away.

The tree was DEAD. Overnight the tree that had great life left in it- a tremendous amount of leaves- obviously not at all dying by appearance, but defective in producing no fruit, this tree was a withered husk.  Jesus cursed the tree and the tree died.

Mar 11:22  And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.

Mar 11:23  For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.

Mar 11:24  Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

Mar 11:25  And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.

Mar 11:26  But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.

Have faith.

The tree Jesus cursed is dead and Jesus tells His disciples to have faith. Not only to have faith, but powerful faith, a faith that has results.  And when we pray through that faith, we must forgive all others, so God will forgive us.  It's all connected.

Jesus wants His disciples to have faith, a working faith just as Jesus wanted the tree to have fruit.   Truly if WE do not have a working faith we- like that tree are cursed.  

A real faith, a working faith. 

Yes, the analogy of being fruitful spiritually is a real one as well. The truth that appearances are deceiving is true. There are a lot of truths here, a lot, and through the Spirit they can be discerned.  Please, Father, help us through the SPIRIT to understand all we need to understand.  We would have fruitful FAITH! We don't want to be like that fruitless fig tree! We need the Spirit in us to help us in this, please!  Help us also to forgive. It's so easy to forget to forgive. It's so easy to take the smallest of slights and hold onto them letting them fuel our resentment when the truth is, we need to forgive those slights, all of them! We need to forgive, help us to forgive!  Help us to be YOURS in all things!

In the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ, our LORD!  Amen!