While in Israel last month (March 2001) I once again had the privilege of walking down the Mount of Olives in a manner similar to that which Jesus did so many years ago on Palm Sunday. I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of that view of city. It is, without a doubt, the best approach to the Holy City.
When Jesus’ time finally came, He made full use of the week that lay before Him to present Himself as Israel’s Messiah, fulfilling as many scriptures as possible. Clearly His approach to the city on a donkey was rich in symbolism and meaning as He fulfilled the Scriptures. ( Zechariah 9:9) That was just the beginning of a week-long demonstration of His Messianic mission.
This morning I would like to focus on Monday rather than Sunday. At the end of each day of the Holy Week, Jesus withdrew from the city and then returned in the morning with a fresh symbol of who He was. On Monday He used a fig tree to teach a powerful lesson about spiritual fruit. (Matthew 21:18-22)
The story goes this way. On the way into Jerusalem Jesus noticed a fig tree on the road ahead with leaves. That was unusual, because in March it is normally too early for leaves to be on a fig tree. The particular location of this tree must have given it an early start to the season. Because of the way fig trees grow, when there are leaves, there are also buds of fruit. When Jesus arrived at the tree, He looked for figs on the tree but found none. After finding no fruit, He cursed the tree and it began to wither. What did it all mean? Let’s pause for a moment and think about the various places that we read about figs in the Bible.
Figs are a common symbol in the Bible. The first mention of figs is in connection with the clothing that Adam and Eve attempted to make for themselves. (Genesis 3:6) The last mention of figs is in Revelation where falling figs picture the falling stars of heaven. (Revelation 6:13) The fig has long been a symbol in Israel of the abundance of the land. Moses described it as “a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive oil and honey.” (Deuteronomy 8:8) When the spies were sent to survey the land, we learn, “Then they came to the valley of Eshcol and from there cut down a branch with a single cluster of grapes; and they carried it on a pole between two men, with some of the pomegranates and the figs.” (Numbers 13:23) Figs were so common that Old Testament law allowed anyone passing down a road to pick figs from trees that were close to the road. (Deuteronomy 23:24-25)
On a more serious note, the prophets of old used the symbol of the fig as an illustration of Israel’s judgment. “I will surely snatch them away,” declares the LORD; “there will be no grapes on the vine and no figs on the fig tree, and the leaf will wither; and what I have given them will pass away.” (Jeremiah 8:13)
On the other hand, prophets also used the fig to picture blessing, especially the blessings of the Kingdom of God. “Each of them will sit under his vine and under his fig tree, with no one to make them afraid, for the mouth of the LORD of hosts has spoken.” (Micah 4:4) Sitting in the shade of a fig tree is a sign of prosperity and peace. Jesus complimented Nathaniel on his spiritual vitality by saying he was a man in whom there was no guile! (John 1:43-48) Nathaniel said to Him, “How do You know me?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” Why was Nathaniel sitting under a fig tree? It was probably a hot afternoon in Galilee, and Nathaniel was enjoying a cool breeze off the Galilee waters and seeking protection from the hot sun under the broad leaves of a fig tree.
This would be a good time to learn a few characteristics of the fig tree. Fig trees grow with multiple stems. They reach a height of 15 to 20 feet. Branches can spread out 25 to 35 feet. Fig trees usually bear twice a year. The first buds appear on the old wood in April, but the fruit is usually not ready until June. A second harvest of fruit appears in the new wood with the fruit being ready by September. Fruit can appear at the same time as the leaves.
Why did Jesus curse this fig tree the day after His triumphant entry into Jerusalem? I believe that He was fulfilling prophetic scripture about the Messiah. Micah used the symbol of the fig to make a statement about the actions of the coming Messiah. “Woe is me! For I am like the fruit pickers, like the grape gatherers. There is not a cluster of grapes to eat, or a first-ripe fig which I crave.” (Micah 7:1) What fruit was Messiah craving, physical fruit or spiritual fruit? Clearly Messiah was looking for spiritual fruit. Israel looked the part, was dressed for the part and knew the words to play the part; they just did not know the God who wrote the part. Jesus used this powerful illustration to predict the destruction of Jerusalem in less than 40 years. In many ways, what Jesus taught and did on Monday was more important than what He did on Sunday. This is true for us as well; Monday is when we need to live the Christian life.
Too many Christians today are just like that fig tree. We look like Christians and talk like Christians, but when it actually comes to bearing fruit, we are barren. Where’s the fruit? Where are the Christians who can endure hardship like a good soldier of the cross? Where are the Christians who count all things loss in order that they may gain Christ? Where are the Christians who know how to forgive? Where are the Christians who are willing to go a second mile? Where are the Christians who count it a privilege to suffer for His name?
Jesus is looking for fruit; in the words of Micah, He is looking for “a first-ripe fig which I crave.” When Jesus has a craving, it is a sign to us about what is really important to God. I have no objection to folks buying new dresses, suits, hats or shoes for Resurrection Sunday, but in doing all of that, let’s remember that God is looking for spiritual fruit. He will be looking to see how much we have grown in the past twelve months. How much have we grown in our personal study and prayer? How much has our inner person been transformed into the image of Christ? How much of the fruit of the Spirit is being manifested in our daily lives?
I should not have to say it, but you don’t need to feel sorry for the fig tree. One tree used as a symbol to teach a spiritual lesson did not hurt the ecology of the land. If you want to feel sorry for a tree, save your sympathy for the tree the Romans wasted to crucify Christ. Keep your focus on bearing fruit. “My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples. (John 15:8)
There is a second lesson from Monday that I would like for us to see this morning. Jesus taught His disciples to raise the bar on their prayer power. The disciples were astonished at the power Jesus demonstrated over nature. Certainly it was not the first time they had seen such power. All of them had been in the boat the night of that “Perfect Storm” in Galilee. But perhaps they were more teachable now. Jesus used this moment to open the minds of the disciples to think bigger thoughts. Small minds, thinking small thoughts, ask God for small requests. Jesus wanted to move His disciples from their narrow thinking to asking God for big things.
What is the biggest thing you have ever asked God to do for you? Most of the prayers I hear do not put very much on the line. About the biggest requests I hear are for physical healing. I believe God does heal in response to our prayers, but surely God wants to do more than fix us. God is looking for someone bold enough to ask Him for something big. I’m not talking about a home on the beach or a luxury automobile. I’m talking about spiritual things! Where are the people who are asking God to invade their lives with His power, to transform a community, to break the curse of racism, to send missionaries around the world?
There is popular book right now on the Old Testament prayer of a man named Jabez. I have already heard two sermons on it in the last six months. Jabez’s prayer was simple…
“’Oh that You would bless me indeed and enlarge my border, and that Your hand might be with me, and that You would keep me from harm that it may not pain me!’ And God granted him what he requested.” (I Chronicles 4:10)
The most compelling question is, what would you have if God granted you everything you asked for? Would you have asked for enough? What is the biggest thing for Ingleside that you have asked God for?
Jesus said, “Truly I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ it will happen.” (Matthew 21:21) Jesus wants us to learn to speak mountain-moving prayers.
The word “doubt” (diakrino) means to judge between two opinions and thus to be divided. God will reveal to us what mountains in our lives He wants to move. After He has done that, we need to drop all doubt, hold to one opinion and believe God for the results. Years ago, God gave me a verse on which my ministry is founded: “Do not call to mind the former things, or ponder things of the past. Behold, I will do something new, now it will spring forth; will you not be aware of it? I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, rivers in the desert.” (Isaiah 43:18-19) I believe that God intends to fulfill this verse at Ingleside. He wants to make a roadway in our wilderness and rivers in our desert. I believe God for this.
What mountain do you need God to move? Today I want to ask you to bring your mountain to God and ask Him to move it. Stop wishing, wanting and hoping and start asking in faith without doubt, because that is what Jesus asked us to do.
In the great gulf between the mountains of Judea and the mountains of Moab lies the Dead Sea. The rabbis had an expression that went like this: “Faith, cooperating with the Divine Will, could fill yonder basin with the mass of limestone beneath out feet.” Jesus picked up on that idea in His expression. In fact, Jesus might have had a very specific mountain in mind when He spoke these words.
From Bethany looking west, one can see Herodium, Herod the Great’s fortress to protect him from an Egyptian invasion. Herodium was a man-made mountain. Ten thousand workers built the mountain up like a volcano, carved out the inside of the flat top and built the fortress inside the mountain. Looking east from Bethany, one can see the Dead Sea. It is possible that Jesus was actually saying that, through prayer, He could cast Herodium into the Dead Sea. Was Jesus seeking to say to His disciples that, in this last week of His earthly life, as He faced the religious establishment of the day and the political might of Rome, His faith in God was stronger than both?
God does indeed want to move mountains on our behalf because He can! A Missionary working in Asia led a family to Christ on the other side of a mountain from where the church was located. The family wanted to attend church, but the distance around the mountain was too long and the climb over the mountain too great. Knowing about this verse, the family asked God to move their mountain. It so happened that a train company laying tracks across the country faced the same challenge. When they came to the mountain they decided that their best option was to dig a tunnel. The tunnel was dug, the tracks were laid and the train service began. Shortly after that, however, the railway was a commercial failure and was abandoned. The family’s prayers were answered because every Sunday they walked through their mountain to church.
The next time those feelings of doubt begin to rise in your spirit, remember that God does move mountains. Along with the everyday prayers that you offer to God, try adding a mountain to your list and see what God will do for you!
Today is Palm Sunday and we are all comfortably seated in this nice facillity but Monday is coming. Will we look as good for God tomorrow and we do today? Will we bear fruit for Jesus on Monday and in so doing move the mountains that we are facing?
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