"...Jesus was hungry.
Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf,
He went to find out if it had any fruit.
When He reached it, he found nothing but leaves,
because it was not the season for figs.
Then He said to the tree, "May no one ever eat fruit from you again."
Mark 11:12-14

When one is hungry, it is right to expect figs from a full-leafed fig tree.
When there are none, there is rightful disappointment.
(Similarly, there is the expectation that those who say they are God's people
will show the fruit of the Spirit in their walk and talk.)
Jesus response to the fig tree's lack of fruit
is a statement about the fig tree's future.

Jesus is able to see and know what is within the hearts of people.
His mission, to bring healing and wholeness to people,
is short-circuited
when His diagnosis of hypocrisy is not accepted.
Continuing to hide behind the foliage of self-effort, right words and good behaviors,
leads to our eventual death.

"In the morning, as they went along,
they saw the fig tree withered from the roots.
Peter remembered and said to Jesus,
'Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!'
'Have faith in God,' Jesus answered."
Mark 11:20-22

Peter was quick to speak his mind.
He seemed amazed that death had come so quickly and completely
to the fig tree that, the day before, had been in full leaf.
"Have faith in God" was Jesus' reassurance to this disciple and the others.

Perhaps it was not so much that Jesus cursed the tree
as that He saw (before others) its demise and imminent death
because it was not rooted in truth!
Jesus was a teacher. His words were truth.
What Jesus said could be counted on.

Twila Charles Leichty – L4