FollowingJesus.me

“The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves…” – Mark 11:12-13

In the verse prior, Jesus had entered Jerusalem (the “triumphal entry”) and then inspected the temple before leaving for Bethany for the night. The next morning, on the way back to the temple Jesus is hungry and we have this interjection about the fig tree; this parable played out in real life. This infamous fig tree is in leaf and looks great from a distance, but upon closer inspection lacks fruit. Jesus curses the tree for its barrenness and Jesus is about to do the same at the temple.

I am reminded of Jesus’ rebuke of the religious leaders calling them “whitewashed tombs full of dead men’s bones.” Jesus regularly accused them of making a great show on the outside while being evil (selfish, prideful, oppressive, etc.) on the inside. While it is tempting to get behind Jesus with a smug grin and think, “Yeah Jesus! You tell them! They deserve it!”, I know enough about Jesus and enough about myself to know better. That is not to say I don’t find myself slipping into that spot of passing judgment on people on occasion. Our culture has gotten really good at that and it seems to be the stance of choice when someone disagrees with them.

Before Jesus gets to me, I want to do some internal inspection of my own. What I don’t want is for Jesus to come close and find only leaves. Like you, I want to bear fruit. I want my life to matter and to make a difference in the world around me.

Two things come to mind here:

1. When Jesus comes closer to me, what does he find in my life?
2. How do I make sure I am bearing fruit?
   • Psalm 1:1-3 “Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither — whatever they do prospers.”
   • John 15:5 Jesus said, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”

Prayer:

Jesus, I know there is a time coming when you will curse those who do not bear fruit, but that time is not yet. Until that time of judgment, you are drawing people to you. You are offering love, forgiveness, grace, etc. You are inviting people, all people, to join your family. You are inviting us, like branches of an olive tree, to be grafted into you, the true vine.

Jesus, when I look at others and when I look at myself, help me to see what you see. I don’t want to look and see only the “good” ignoring the “bad.” As you know, that is not my tendency anyway. I also don’t want to see only the “bad” and lose sight of the “good” in me and others. Help me to see rightly. Help me to see your love for everyone and help me to see the potential in everyone (including me) that you see. Jesus, help me to remain in you and to bear fruit, much fruit. Help me to remember that apart from you, I can do nothing. Don’t let me stray and become disconnected, but help me to be sensitive to your loving voice and gentle rebuke calling me back to you, closer to you. Jesus, help me to bear fruit in such a way that people will look at my life and see you. Help me to be like that “tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither.”

Thank you, Jesus!