Mark 11:12-14 Cursing the Fig Tree
Format for Your Devotions
Instructions: Do not read my example devotion until you have completed your own devotional time in the scriptures. Reading my thoughts first may limit your own understanding. Let the Holy Spirit speak to you alone before looking to see what anyone else has to say, whether it is me, a Bible commentary, or a friend. Let God speak to you before you let another person speak to you. I have provided a format, but modify it to fit your needs. For example, I usually combine my application and prayer together talking to God about the application to my own life. You can go through this devotion process mentally, speaking out loud, or in writing as you wish. Don’t worry if you are not following this process exactly. Sometimes, I add extra information and sometimes I emphasize one part more than others. However, you should always think about what you learn about God from this passage.
Step 1: Pray–Ask for the Holy Spirit’s guidance first of all and that God may reveal the lessons that He wants you to have that day. Request that God protect you from Satan’s distractions (and the devil will try to distract you whether it is pinching the baby or putting you to sleep). Ask to see God more clearly as you read and think about the passage.
Step 2: Read the passage–Read to get an overview of the information first. Then start looking at specific parts after the first reading. You may read a larger or smaller section than I have here because you do not have to follow my organization at all.
Step 3: Understand the passage–You can summarize, ask and answer your own questions about the passage, visualize the story, analyze the characters, and relate this passage to other scriptures and personal experiences.
Step 4: What does this reveal about God?–What do you learn about the Father, Son, and/or Holy Spirit from this passage?
Step 5: Apply this to your own life.
Step 6: Prayer
My Example Devotion: March 19, 2018, Mark 11:12-14
Note: In the devotion examples, I leave my questions and thought processes in the text because I am trying to demonstrate that a devotional time is a dialogue with God about what you are reading from His word. As such, any questions or ideas that you have should be explored by talking it out with God. These example devotions are not my attempts to teach you what the meaning of a particular scripture is. They are an attempt to teach you the process of devotions, which is a combination of prayer and Bible study where you explore ideas with God as you read His word.
On the following day, when they came from Bethany, he was hungry. And seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to see if he could find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. And he said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard it.
(Understanding the Text) Why was Jesus hungry as they came from Bethany? I’m sure that Martha would have served them a good breakfast. Maybe they did not leave until a few hours later, and it was now near lunchtime. This was the day after the triumphal entry. They had stayed this first night with Lazarus and were on their way back to Jerusalem where Jesus would cleanse the temple one last time. The disciples were still confused from the anticlimactic end of the pageant the day before, and Jesus was looking for a way to help them to understand what was happening. He saw a fig tree along the way. He may have noticed it the day before when they were on their way to Bethany and known that there were no figs in it. I don’t think that it was common for Jesus to make a big deal about being hungry, but this time He did. I imagine him seeing the tree as they were walking toward it and thinking that it would be a good lesson for the disciples, a parable of what was happening to Israel. God in the Old Testament and in Jesus’ ministry used symbolism to express meaning, so I shouldn’t be surprised that He used it here.
Jesus may have said that He was hungry and headed for the fig tree. In a sermon I listened to by Pastor Gary Venden, he said that Jesus probably made a big deal about searching everywhere in the tree. Venden says that it was logical for the tree not to have figs because it was not the season for figs, but he also says that if a fig tree has lots of leaves that it should have figs, so a person would expect by the outward appearance of the tree that there would be figs. Then Jesus did something that was even more out of character. He cursed a tree for not meeting His expectations. His curse was that no one would ever eat fruit from the tree again. The next day when they passed the tree, the disciples were shocked to see it withered. “As they passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered away to its roots” (Mar 11:20). In other words, in only one day the tree had totally died. It had not just lost its leaves but was dead in all ways.
The tree represented the Jewish nation which was supposed to feed God’s word to the people of other nations. However, they were not bearing fruit in the way they should. Yes, there were many converts, but that was in spite of the corrupt leaders and blind followers of the Pharisees. The Jews had imposed barriers so that they could not meet or eat with Gentiles. It was difficult for Gentiles to gain access to the word of God. The priests had filled the Gentiles’ court up with money lenders and livestock because they had forgotten their mission was to demonstrate who God is to the unbelievers.
(Revelation of God) Jesus was not arbitrarily cursing the fig tree because it did not live up to His expectations, just as God does not abandon us simply because we mess up. God tries all that He can to reach us with His life-saving messages. He wants us to live, and if that means killing a fig tree to teach the disciples or making a little gourd vine wither to reach past Jonah’s anger and frustration, God will do it because we are infinitely precious to Him. He values all life, but He values us more than plants, or even sparrows. “Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows” (Luke 12:7).
(Application) How often do we fill our time and money up with other things because we forget that our mission is to demonstrate God to unbelievers. We may believe that we are filling the space up that should be reserved for witnessing with worthy activities for God, but that does not negate the fact that we are not fulfilling the mission that God gave to us. What activity should I be doing, and what activities should I be cleansing from my life?
The curse came true. People of the world are no longer blessed by the words that the Jews have to share. Instead, the people are blessed by the words that Christians have to share. We have the words of life. The Jews’ words have become dead even though they share many of the same words that Christians have. However, it is not just the words, but the Spirit that gives the words life. It is not just the outward leaves of the letters of the words; it is the inward meaning that reveals Jesus which gives life and nourishment.
(Application / Prayer) As a Christian, I have to ask myself if I am nourishing those around me or simply displaying pretty leaves. I think I have the leaves, but all too often offer no fruit to nourish others. Please help me to give my time and efforts to You to provide the manna of life to those around me who are starving for You.