Beloved, I am glad to share with you today the above theme from Mark 11.22-23. In fact, in the evening, he leaves the defiled city, but he returns there the following day, passing in front of the fig tree. In response to Peter’s remark, the Lord Jesus does not emphasize his own power, but directs the minds of the disciples on God. For it is as if he were saying to them: He who answered me is ready to answer your prayers also and to remove any obstacle from your path, be he as big as a mountain.
Because having faith in God is not forcing us to believe in the fulfillment of our desires, it is rather relying on someone we know, who has made promises to us and is faithful to keep them, and who like us. As he was hungry, and seeing a fig tree, he approached it to see if there would be any figs; but he only saw leaves there, “for it was not fig season.” Seeing this, he said: “Let no one ever eat of your fruit. And his disciples heard him.”
Indeed, this fig tree is an image of the natural man whom the Eternal God had taken care of by taking care of his people Israel, in order to obtain fruit (Luke 13: 6-9). Instead of fruit, God could only obtain an external profession represented by the leaves, for human nature easily submits to the exercise of an imposed religion, the results of which are manifested by external changes which can be produce without the new birth; and it is the religion of the flesh which is not the fruit that God claims. For there is only the appearance of vigor, nothing more. Like the Jewish people, in the Lord’s time practiced the ceremonial law which Moses had given; his outward conduct contrasted with the paganism which surrounded him; the Jews honored God with their lips; but, says Isaiah, “Their hearts are far from me” (Isaiah 29:13).
Such is also Christendom today, civilized in good part by the influence of the Gospel which has produced in men beneficial changes, but which are not the fruits of the life of God; indeed this advanced and Christian civilization rejects Christ. There is the form of godliness, but its power which is Christ Himself has been denied (2 Tim 3: 3-5).
For the Eternal God wants reality, he wants fruit, if the nature of man in Adam, if the favored Israel does not produce it, it is of no use; and after a long time of patience, God puts it aside because of its barren nature, like that of the fig tree.
The time of the law in which God dealt with the natural man, “was not the season of fruit”; for the season of fruit is the time of grace, when the old man was condemned to the cross, and a new nature replaces the sterile nature of man in Adam. And the Father can then cultivate this nature and even obtain “much fruit” (Jn 15.8).
In fact, the Lord Jesus judges Israel in the cursed fig tree. For the glory of the Lord, that of the house of the Lord, is claimed with authority, that authority which the Lord Jesus claims and which he exercises in his own person.
Indeed, the scribes and the chief priests recoil before the ascendancy which his word had given him over the people; and whatever their mischief, he leaves town unmoved. For the next day, when his disciples seeing that the fig tree had become dry to the root are surprised, he assures them that whatever they ask in faith will be accomplished, but that they will have to act in grace to enjoy it. this privilege.
Now the scribes, the priests and the elders alike, ask Him what is his authority; but the Lord Jesus addresses their conscience, so as to demonstrate their incompetence to ask Him such a question, while at the same time revealing their lack of sincerity. For they do not know what to answer about the baptism of John: by what right then did they subject him to their questions with regard to his own rights? And they didn’t know how to decide when to do it.
On the other hand, by their response, they would either have sanctioned the work of the Lord Jesus, or lost their authority over the people by denying the baptism of John, who had borne witness of Christ. And as for winning them, it wasn’t about that anymore. For the wisdom of man in the presence of the Lord God, and of the wisdom of God, is vain. It is that in the end we will always be smaller and weaker in the face of Him.
The verses below have been compiled for your edification and put together for your better understanding:
- Power not understood
-to calm the storm: Mt 8.27 The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!”
-to forgive sins: Mark 2.7 “Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
-to heal the sick: Mark 2.12 He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”
-to feed the crowd: Mark 8.4 His disciples answered, “But where in this remote place can anyone get enough bread to feed them?”
-to drive out demons: Mark 9.22 “It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.”
-to master the forces of nature: Mark 11:21 “It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.”
-to come down from the cross: Mark 15.31 In the same way the chief priests and the teachers of the law mocked him among themselves. “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself!
-to raise the dead: Jn 11:37 But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?”
-to conquer death: Jn 20.25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”
- Reasons for having Faith:
-it ensures success: 2 Ch 20.20 Early in the morning they left for the Desert of Tekoa. As they set out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Listen to me, Judah and people of Jerusalem! Have faith in the LORD your God and you will be upheld; have faith in his prophets and you will be successful.”
-it is a fundamental duty: Jn 6.28-29 Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?” Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”
-it is a defensive weapon: Ep 6.16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
-it is an indispensable element of the Christian life: Heb 11.6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
-it is essential in the field of prayer: James 1.5-6 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.
-it should be united to love: 1 Jn 3.23 And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us.; Luke 8.50 Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed.”
- blessings are proportional to faith:
Mt 8:13 Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! Let it be done just as you believed it would.” And his servant was healed at that moment; Mt 9.29-30 Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith let it be done to you”; and their sight was restored. Jesus warned them sternly, “See that no one knows about this.” Mt 17.20 He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” Mark 9.23 ‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.”
- Faith is honored by Christ and the apostles:
Mark 1.41 Jesus was indignant. He reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Luke 7.10 Then the men who had been sent returned to the house and found the servant well; Jn 4.51 While he was still on the way, his servants met him with the news that his boy was living; Ac 14.9 He listened to Paul as he was speaking. Paul looked directly at him, saw that he had faith to be healed.
- Obstacles away from the path:
Isa 40.4 Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain; Es 49.11 I will turn all my mountains into roads, and my highways will be raised up; Mt 21.21 Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done; Jn 11:41 So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me.
- Verily verily, the words of Christ:
Jn 1.51 He then added, “Very truly I tell you, you will see ‘heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.” Mt 8.34 Then the whole town went out to meet Jesus. And when they saw him, they pleaded with him to leave their region; Jn 13.16 Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him; Jn 16.23 In that day you will no longer ask me anything. Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.
From all of the above, we note that this fig tree is an image of the natural man that the Eternal God had taken care of by caring for his people Israel, in order to obtain fruit from them. Now, instead of fruit, God could only obtain an external profession represented by the leaves, because human nature easily submits to the exercise of an imposed religion, the results of which are manifested by external changes which can occur without the new birth; and it is the religion of the flesh which is not the fruit that God claims. For there is only the appearance of vigor, nothing more. Like the Jewish people, in the Lord’s time practiced the ceremonial law which Moses had given; his outward conduct contrasted with the paganism which surrounded him; for the Jews honored God with their lips; but, said Isaiah, “Their hearts are far from me.” Then the wisdom of man in the presence of the Lord God and the wisdom of God is a vain thing. For without faith it is impossible to please him; and he who draws near to God must believe that God exists, and that he is the remunerator of those who seek him. It’s that in the end, we will always be smaller and weaker before Him. Our prayers support you all in your efforts on the imperative to bear fruit and not just bear leaves, at the risk of being dried up.
PRAYER OF ACCEPTANCE OF JESUS CHRIST AS LORD AND PERSONAL SAVIOR
I now invite anyone who wants to become a new creation by walking in the truth, to pray with me as follows:
Lord Jesus, I have long walked in the lusts of the world ignoring your love for humans. I acknowledge that I have sinned against you and ask forgiveness for all my sins, because today I have decided to give you my life by taking you as my Lord and personal Savior. I acknowledge that you died on the cross of Calvary and that you rose from the dead for me.
I am now saved and born again by the power of the Holy Spirit. Lead me each day to eternal life you give to all who obey your Word. Reveal to me and strengthen my heart and my faith so that your light may shine in my life right now.
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for accepting me in your divine family so that I too can contemplate the wonders of your kingdom.
I will now choose a nearby waterpoint to baptize myself by immersion, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
To you all worship, power, and glory, now and forever and ever. Amen!
I would be glad to respond to your queries and comments if necessary, before sharing with you next week
the poor widow: “Truly I tell you, this poor widow gave more than any of those who put in the trunk.”
May the Lord Jesus Christ bless you profusely.
David Feze, Servant of the Almighty God.