Scripture for Monday: Mark 11:12-18. You may wish to read the other Gospel accounts in Matthew 21:12-19 and Luke 19:45-48.
Mark Chapter 11 The Triumphal Entry 12 On the next day, when they had left Bethany, He became hungry. 13 Seeing at a distance a fig tree in leaf, He went to see if perhaps He would find anything on it; and when He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. 14 He said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again!” And His disciples were listening.
Jesus Drives Money Changers from the Temple
15 Then they *came to Jerusalem. And He entered the temple and began to drive out those who were buying and selling in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were selling doves; 16 and He would not permit anyone to carry merchandise through the temple. 17 And He began to teach and say to them, “Is it not written, ‘MY HOUSE SHALL BE CALLED A HOUSE OF PRAYER FOR ALL THE NATIONS’? But you have made it a ROBBERS’ DEN.” 18 The chief priests and the scribes heard this, and began seeking how to destroy Him; for they were afraid of Him, for the whole crowd was astonished at His teaching.
Jesus had set His face towards Jerusalem in the latter part of His ministry. He was headed for the cross where he would suffer as the servant, but He never stopped being Lord of all. He continued to demonstrate His dominion and authority over all on this Monday.
As Jesus traveled from Bethany to Jerusalem He saw a fig tree in leaf, so He came near to see if it had any fruit. The fig trees in Jerusalem would produce small, edible buds in March, followed by leaves in April. In May or June the actual fruit of the tree would ripen during the “fig season”. The tree that Jesus saw had leaves, so it would be expected that the buds would be present as well, even though “it was not the season for figs” (v.13). When Jesus cursed the tree for its unproductiveness, He demonstrated His authority over creation.
More significantly, many see in this curse a connection to the people. They maintained outward appearances of worship, while they actually were spiritually unproductive. The people engaged in impressive religious show, which should have indicated tremendous spiritual fruit. Actually, the people were far from God.
After cursing the fig tree, Jesus continued into Jerusalem where He cleared the temple of all those who were making dishonest gain from the worshipers. They were responsible for taking God’s house of prayer, the temple, and making it a den of robbers. Jesus cleared out the money changers and those selling doves for sacrifices. In this way, Jesus demonstrated His authority to cleanse His Father’s house.
These men were like the fig tree. They had the appearance of productivity without the fruit. They were ostensibly working to further the cause of God, but their minds were on their own personal gain. As Jesus had judged the un-fruitfulness of the fig tree, He judged these parasites in the temple.
As we look at our lives do we see more leaves than fruit? Are we more interested in outward appearances and the furtherance of our own plans than with the spiritual fruitfulness God desires? Are there areas in our lives that we need to allow Jesus to cleanse?
Prayer: Jesus please show me where I need to be productive in my life. Cleanse me so that I can be a fit temple for your Holy Spirit. Amen.
