1. Background
Jesus left Capernaum in the north and made the travel to Jerusalem via Jericho. Along the way, we’re reminded of His disciple’s difficulty to understand the imminent suffering and death of their Master. But despite the lack of understanding, we still see examples of faith and following in the way. Now Jesus in on the doorstep of Jerusalem and we are only a week away from the cross.
2. What Observations can we make about God?
What God gives, He gives in order to produce fruit.
On Jesus’ way up to the city, the pilgrims who are with Him create a stir, praising Jesus and praising God for whom they suppose to be the Messiah, and of course, He is, though Mark has made it plain to us Jesus is not the kind of Messiah that everyone supposes.
9 And they that went before, and they that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna; Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord: 10 Blessed be the kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest.
If the confusion among the disciples is such to completely misunderstand Jesus’ purpose in coming to earth and Jerusalem, it’s only logical the masses would be more mistaken, (see Mark 9:31-32). Still, at this point in the journey, there is no lack of enthusiasm, hype, and expectation.
While the passage does not explicitly say, it is apparent that God’s intention and desire is not simply the enthusiasm, pomp, and hype men can offer. Jesus’ choice of transport in a donkey counter-acts the mighty-military king everyone supposes the Messiah to be, someone riding on a white war horse or the like.
And instead of riding the waves of popularity all the way to the throne or the start of an insurrection, Jesus simply enters the temple, sizes it up, and retires the day—an anti-climactic scene to end the day to be sure. What is God’s purpose in all this, what does He want if it isn’t the enthusiastic support of men?
The fig tree offers the first direct clue—fruit. Somebody planted a fig tree because they desired figs, but Jesus found none and it displeased Him. Symbolic to be sure, it introduces the hot displeasure of Jesus as He enters the Temple looking for faith and prayer but only to find thieves. As someone desires figs and planted a fig tree, so God desires faith and prayer and so gave Israel a tabernacle. From a distance, they might look as they could be producing fruit, upon closer inspection, both the tree and the temple institution is fruitless.
13 And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find any thing thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet. 14 And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. And his disciples heard it.
15 And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves; 16 And would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple. 17 And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves.
The real matter of the passage is that God gave Israel a temple to be used to focus men’s faith onto God. It was to be a place of prayer and meditation, but now through the course of politics and sin, the temple is merely an opportunity for business gain, and Oh how it displeases God! Such fruitlessness and corruption warrants a curse. Never will a man eat from you again! And it is dried up at the roots upon the command of Jesus’ powerful word. The Lord gives and the Lord takes away.
Though in the context of the passage, the scope seems to only allow for discussion about the temple. However in the context of the entire NT, God’s intentions for fruit goes well beyond just the temple, but people. The Gospel is preached to people and people are to bear fruit, first of repentance, and then faith in Jesus Christ. Hype or enthusiasm is no substitution for faith, and popularity is not the same as discipleship.
God will keep accountable those who fail to produce good fruit, yet is patient.
From observing the fig tree and the temple, it would be an accurate picture to think of God as a farmer tending to what He has planted. If an entire plant fails to produce a crop then the entire plant is removed. This is the case for the whole temple system. If it were a matter of mere pruning the deadness away so that the plant could become more fruitful, then God would do so.
Luke records a very similar parable taught by Jesus on the fruitless fig tree:
Luke 13:6-9
6 He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none. 7 Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground? 8 And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it: 9 And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.
In this case, the fruitless tree is given time and more nutrients to see if it will produce fruit. But if at last it fails, then the whole is removed. God generously supplied along with the temple priests, prophets, kings, and more innumerable blessings, but at last, sin corrupted even to the roots.
Again, is Mark merely speaking about the temple or about people? The scope of the gospel of the kingdom of God is all will either be separated into what is good or what is bad—a final judgment.
3. How does the passage point to Jesus and the gospel?
God supplies in Christ what He commands.
Rather than seeing a failure on God’s part, the Bible reveals to us His goodness inspire of the constant rebellion and rejection. Even after the pronouncement of the temple’s renewal, Jesus tells his men, “Have faith in God.” But once the temple is removed, to what then shall Israel have to focus their prayers and faith?
Shortly the religious leaders, envious and unwilling to lose their profits from the temple, charge Jesus for blasphemy against the temple:
Mark 14:58
58 We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands.
Ironic, the one whom John calls the Word made flesh is being charged with blasphemy of God’s word. Everyone fails to see what God is doing. God has always intended the temple to be a place of prayer and faith, but since men and sin have corrupted that purpose, God is supplying a new temple, one out of men’s hands, a fruitful vine that cannot be corrupted.
Jesus instructed His men in the connection between faith and prayer:
22 And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. 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. 24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.
When we view these scenes in the order Mark has given them to us, the Gospel message emerges once again. The best our religious efforts can muster is perhaps a bit of hype and enthusiasm. But upon closer inspection, sin has left us fruitless. Though we attempt with our religious efforts to dress it up as a fruitful tree, all we are able to produce is idols, self-interest, and lust for wealth.
Yet God in His never-ending kindness removes the dead temple to replace it with a living temple, one not corrupted by human hands. Though human hands would slay Him, we lay upon Him the curse of the fig tree, which He bore on the cross. But His lively resurrection is the power of life to all who believe in faith. Jesus is our fruitful vine, and all who believe in Him are the branches that produce the fruit of faith God desires. Only let everyone who understands be sure their faith abides in Jesus Christ alone, for He and no other is able to give life and sustain it.
4. Application
I realize that I am helpless to produce anything God would find pleasing or useful. Once again, God’s word prompts me to renew my spirit of repentance before God and become like a child expectant to receive what I lack from the Father.
I am reminded of the great patient love God has for me in bring me closer to Christ. So I would do well to exercise His patience with others who are on their own journeys. May the be transformed by the gospel and God’s love as long as they are in my care, my wife, my children, and my sons in Christ.
J. C. Walz – Faith, Fiction, and DEvotional Writing 
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