A side note: According to (Luke 19:47-48) Jesus continued to go to the Holy Temple in Jerusalem daily after His triumphal entry to teach, perhaps what we call a sit down Bible study. What was He teaching?
When Jesus was not interrupted by the Chief Priests, Scribes, Pharisee’s or Sadducee’s, He was teaching the word of God by the Holy Spirit (according to the Old Testament, since the New Testament was not yet written) and preaching the Gospel of salvation (Luke 20:1)
Mark 11:12-14 And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany (Remember, Bethany means in Hebrew “House of Figs”), He was hungry:
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.
And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. And His disciples heard it.
Lesson From The Fig Tree: “Where is the Fruits?” Blooms of figs always appears before the leaves do in spring. A mature fig tree can produce figs twice a year. One in early summer (called a breba crop which is an inferior crop) or a second crop occurs later in the year (which is more of an edible crop).
For inland trees around Jerusalem, harvest time is between June and September. It had been traditionally taught that the last Passover Jesus partook fell on the 7th of April of that year?
And according to www.jerusaleminsidersguide.com spring is a fleeting two to three week season, as late as March or April while summer runs from May-September. So therefore, Jesus would not have found any figs to eat at this time, but there would have been blooms for pollination which would grow into figs later.
Now Jesus knew this fact because (eternally speaking) He is the Creator of all life including fig tree’s. Literally everything living, He created (Colossians 1:15-17). This is why He is the way, the truth and the life (John 14:6). He came to give us life (John 10:9-10) He is the resurrection and the life (John 11:25)
Now Mark had mentioned that figs were not in season, which is correct, it was too early (Mark 11:13) So what was Jesus looking for? He was expecting to see at least the blooms that appears before the leaves, showing that the tree is living besides leaves.
Now notice, Jesus Christ found a tree afar off the path they were walking. Jesus walked up to it and closely inspected it, and He found it had lots of leaves but no fruit or blossoms.
Which appears to be living on the outside (leaves), but was actually dead on the inside because it did not do what it was created to do, which is to bear fruit and multiply. Therefore He cursed that tree and it immediately withered and died.
This illustration shows how Jesus hates hypocrisy. Later He will minister to His disciples “You did not chose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should remain.” (John 15:16)
Bearing fruit of the Kingdom of God, multiplying to expand His Kingdom on earth since fruit also has seeds to multiply. And if we are not bearing the holy fruits of His righteousness, we may look alive on the outside, but dead to Christ on the inside of our soul.
Many People today claims to be “Christians” and some even looks the part. A cross around the neck, a T-shirt proclaiming Christian themes and Holy Scriptures and may even talk Bible. That may be good leaves on the tree… But where’s the fruit?
The way the Lord Jesus was examining this tree, wondering that same question, is the same way He examines all of us today who claims to be His children. He wondered 2000 years ago when He returns again “will I find faith on the earth (Luke 18:8)?” and He is still wondering that today.
Jesus is that Light (John 1:1-9) pointing back to Genesis 1:3-5) The Light that shines into shade and darkness, will reveal all that is hiding, whether it be sins, faith or the lack thereof.
The Apostle James had ministered, “Faith without works is dead.” Faith is fruit we bear, but if faith is not accompanied by action, our faith is dead, worthless, bearing no fruit.
The mathematical equation is simply this: Faith + Action = proves our belief in Jesus Christ as Lord. We were created, chosen and appointed by God to know Jesus Christ personally, minister His Gospel unto repentance and salvation.
Fruitfully multiplying His Kingdom on earth as a living fruitful tree does. And this is no wonder why Jesus immediately ministered the power of faith and the power of prayer using the fig tree as His spiritual illustration
Matthew 21:20-22 And when the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, How soon is the fig tree withered away! Jesus answered and said unto them,
Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done. And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.
After this, Jesus and His disciples entered Jerusalem again, “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 money changers, and the seats of them that sold doves; And would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple.
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.
And the scribes and chief priests heard it, and sought how they might destroy Him: for they feared Him, because all the people was astonished at His doctrine. And when even (evening) was come, He went out of the city (Mark 11:15-19)
Jesus cleared out the Temple again the second time. On the surface, it seems like Matthew and Mark were documenting the same event. But if you compare each one’s account, Mark was more detailed from one day to the next.
Matthew’s account tells us Jesus cleared the Temple on the day of His triumphal entry on Sunday (Matthew 21:1-13). Mark’s accounts tells us Jesus cleared the Temple Today on Monday. So who’s right?
Both are absolutely correct and accurate, which shows us that Jesus Christ (The Son of God) actually cleared the Temple twice. Once yesterday (Sunday) and again today.
This is why He came back to the Temple in the evening yesterday to watch what came about after His correction the first time. Demonstrating that nothing gets past the Lord nor His Father. They see everything and are watching
Hebrews 4:13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in His sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.
Next post in following the literal footsteps of Jesus Christ in His passion week according to the Holy Bible, be sure to check out: Tuesday (Power of Faith, Signs of The End And The Final Eternal Judgment)
Hope For A Hopeless Generation 