The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world…” John 1: 29, NKJV
Dear Lord, we dare not enter the study of Your Word without Your help. Please guide us we pray. Amen
Today is Tuesday. Jesus and His disciples are on their way to the city of Jerusalem. “Now in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. And Peter, remembering, said unto Him, ‘Rabbi, look! The fig tree which You cursed has withered away’ ” (Mark 11: 20, 21). Jesus’ disciples were surprised at His reaction to the fig tree. His, was always a mission of restoration, never of destruction. And besides, it was not the season for figs, at least not in that location. So what could have caused the Savior to curse the tree? What lessons can we learn from this “cursed” fig tree? For one thing, if we believe, we too, will have the power in prayer, to “move mountains” (Mark 11: 22-24).
From The Desire of Ages, p. 509, we read the following: “The cursing of the fig tree was an acted parable.” The tree had the appearance that there were figs on its branches, covered by the leaves, while it was in fact, fruitless. The chosen people, for years, had boasted of being the very essence of godliness, when all along they had been in constant rebellion against God. As His special people, God had shown them great favor; but not with the purpose of them becoming prideful. They had been granted favor, so that they, in turn, could show favor to others. Instead they had stored up all their blessings.
The other trees in the orchard represented the Gentiles. They had nothing; therefore they showed nothing. They knew that they were sinners, so they made no pretense otherwise. But Israel, the pride of the nations, appearing to be fertile had become spiritually barren. Just as Jesus had gone to the fig tree hungry, so He had come to “His own” expecting to be received, but “His own received Him not” (John 1: 11). In like manner, Jesus walked away from the fig tree, still hungry. So much for lessons learned from the “cursed” fig tree.
*When Christ began His ministry, He had gone into the temple and driven out those who were engaged in the sale of animals, and money-changing. Today, He does it again. Jesus went into the temple and rebuked the religious leaders for desecrating His Father’s house, “Then He went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in it, saying to them, ‘It is written, ‘My house is a house of prayer’ but you have made it a den of thieves’ ” ( Luke 19: 45, 46). As the religious leaders, and moneychangers were hastening to leave, there was another group entering, in search of Jesus. Soon the temple was filled with the shouts of the children, who were recipients of His loving kindness; and the sick, who had benefited from the healing touch of Jesus. The song of the children was:
“Hosanna to the Son of David” (Matthew 21: 15). The religious leaders were not happy. But Jesus reminded them that, according to Scripture, “from the lips of children and infants” God “has ordained praise” (16, NIV).
They seek to trap Him by asking Him by whose authority He did these things. If you answer this question, I will answer you, He replied. Of what origin was John’s baptism, heavenly or earthly? There was no reply. That was the end of that. The people were listening and learning. He spoke to them in many parables. The parable of the vineyard exposed their plans to kill the Son of God. The parable of the two sons who were sent to work, showed why God would accept publicans and sinners in their place. The parable of the wedding feast exposed their own garments: filthy rags. He endorsed tax paying by telling them to “render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s.” He stopped the mouth of the Sadducees by quoting that God, who was the God of the living, and not of the dead, was “the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob;” therefore, there had to be a resurrection.
Tomorrow we will look at more parables and sayings.
*NOTE: Yesterday’s devotional was modified.