The Fig Tree

One day while reading the following scripture a thought occurred and I want to share this with you...

Jesus Curses the Fig Tree (Mark 11:12-14, 20-21)

12. The next morning as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. 13. He noticed a fig tree in full leaf a little way off, so he went over to see if he could find any figs. But there were only leaves because it was too early in the season for fruit. 14. Then Jesus said to the tree, “May no one ever eat your fruit again!” And the disciples heard him say it.

20. The next morning as they passed by the fig tree he had cursed, the disciples noticed it had withered from the roots up. 21. Peter remembered what Jesus had said to the tree on the previous day and exclaimed, “Look, Rabbi! The fig tree you cursed has withered and died!”

Here Jesus demonstrated to his disciples that he had the power of death in his word if he found something to his disliking. A God who had the power of destruction at the tip of his tongue, never exercised this power with such haste at any man. All through the Bible we read of how Jesus healed the sick, freed those under the bondage of sin and Satan, raised up the dead to comfort the grieving families, accepted those who had been rejected by others. He had full authority over the elements of nature - wind and waves obeyed his command, demons pleaded for mercy and fled from his presence. Yet, he showed only mercy, compassion and love towards man. He showed utmost patience at man's disobedience and insolence.

Couldn't Jesus have crushed his enemies like you would crush a tiny ant under your fingers - those who harmed him, the temple high priests and their henchmen, the roman soldiers who mocked him, hurled insults at him, slapped him, tore his robes off of him, put a crown of thorns on his head, whipped him raw until his flesh tore from his body and bled, paraded him through the streets carrying his cross, all the while mocking him, hurting him, hurling insults at him, spitting in his face,  led him to Golgotha where they nailed his hands and feet to the wooden cross, hung him up like a common thief to die.

If at his word demons fled, sicknesses were cured, the lame walked, the deaf heard, the blind saw, healing of all kinds occurred, the dead rose up, waves and wind calmed down at his command, walked on water, five loaves and two fish was found to be enough to feed thousands upon thousands (at his will creation occurred!),  He did not have to even lift a finger to crush his enemies.  He could just have wished harm on his enemies and it would have happened just as he would have wished.  Yet he did not use his power to harm another man!!  He endured all sufferings like a common man without exercising his godliness.  Isaiah had prophesied, "he was oppresssed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word. He was led as a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth." (Isaiah 53:7).

Jesus scolded Peter when he drew his sword and struck the servant of the High Priest and cut his ear off as the posse sent by the High Priest closed in to arrest Jesus, "Put away your sword. Those who use the sword will be killed by the sword.  Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? (Mathew 26:53). Twelve (12) legions, that's 72,000 angels!

Do you know what the Bible says an angel of the LORD could do? In Isaiah we read that one angel of God killed in one night a 185,000 trained, battle hardened Assyrian troops.  For Isaiah 38:36 says, "That night the angel of the LORD went out to the Assyrian camp and killed 185,000 Assyrian troops." Similarly, in 1Chronicles 20:14, we read that one angel of the LORD destroyed 70,000 Israelites as a punishment for David having foolishly believed in his heart that his victories were a result of the strength of his army.

If one angel could bring about destruction of this magnitude, what could the entire population of Israel and the Roman army do against 72,000 angels?  Think for a moment, Jesus could have relied on his own power, he could have called upon his Father, yet on Calvary's cross as he hung there dying rejected by all including the Father, Jesus prayed to his Father, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 26:34).

How many of us fruitless fig trees live from one day to the next not realizing that there is nothing we deserve, there is nothing that God owes us.  We go through life oblivious that the life giving breathe in our nostrils is a gift from God.  It is the result of that grace from Christ, his prayer to Father God as he hung on that wooden cross dying still resonating in the Father's ears, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing?"

Why does Father God- Jehovah - put up with our disobedient, insolent and callous attitudes and actions? The Bible says in Isaiah 53:11, "...And because of what he (Jesus) has experienced, my righteous servant (Jesus) will make it possible for many to be counted righteous for he will bear all their sins." 

I pray that you will find this God in your lifetime, for when our breathing stops, all will be lost.

Hillsongs - Lead me to the cross