May 14, 2012 Frustrated Jesus

Frustrated Jesus Mark 11:12-14 The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. 13 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. 14 Then he said to the tree, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard him say it. HOW is your faith journey? Do you have a bigger faith than you did last year, last month or yesterday? Has anything changed in your life regarding what you believe Jesus can and will do? Or maybe your faith is growing, but you’re moving so slowly. Hurry! There’s so much good ahead for you. Jesus wants your faith life to be productive and fruitful. When Jesus comes to the fig tree, he’s wondering, “Where are the figs?” The phrase “it was not the season for figs” refers to the time to gather figs. Figs were actually present all year in Judea. And the truth about a fig tree is that it bears its fruit before it produces leaves. Thus, when Jesus saw the leaves, he expected the fruit to be there. The “no fig” fig tree illustrates God’s faithless, fruitless people. For nearly 2,000 years God has been growing his people to the day of Jesus. But they do not know him as he walks into their lives. Rejecting and reshaping God’s Word, they have no faith in God, and their lives are fruitless before God. Then Jesus gives you a picture of his coming judgment as he curses the fruitless tree. Those whose faith is weak and without fruit will be condemned. Jesus has warned you. Pause and consider: would Jesus find you fruitless?