Psalm 97, 99; Isa. 63:7-14; 1 Tim. 1:18-2:8; Mark 11:12-26
The history of Israel is told in about 8 verses. He redeemed them out of their affliction, carried them, they rebelled and He became their enemy then remembered the days of old and delivered them again. Sounds something like the church’s history as well. We the people of God have a problem with faithfulness, we just can’t do it and the main thing that gives us trouble is prosperity. It seems whenever we have times of peace and prosperity we begin chasing after other gods, set other things above Him, and He then must become our enemy in order to bring us to the knowledge and love of Him. Isaiah finds in this something to praise, God’s faithfulness to those who have not kept faith with Him.
What is Jesus doing here? If it were not the season for figs why would he curse the fig tree for failing to produce it? I believe that the story is connected to the cleansing of the temple. It is not simply Jesus in a fit of pique because He is hungry and the fig tree has failed to produce anything to satisfy that hunger. We know that He is capable of fasting 40 days and capable also of producing what He needs, so it can’t be as simple as that. The fig tree looks as though it would have produced fruit when in full leaf and the nation perhaps looks like it should be producing fruit as well, in the midst of the festival, full of people from all over, all seeking to worship and yet they are more concerned with buying and selling than worship. The temple seems to be a place where good things are happening but that isn’t the case. The tree stands as a metaphor for the temple and the nation.
Paul says that we should pray for our leaders, those in positions of authority over us that we may lead quiet and peaceful lives and in this way display godliness. What does he mean here? I believe it is for an end to persecution of Christians so that the Gospel may advance. Paul experienced his share of persecution in the towns he visited as he writes in the first chapter and the advance of the kingdom is checked as he was driven from town to town. We should pray for the leaders of our land and of every land and we should pray for the persecuted church. Our freedoms should not be taken for granted but used as an opportunity at all times and in all places to preach the Gospel and we should be thankful for those freedoms. Is the tree only leafy or in fruit is the important question for us to ask in this regard.
To all, life Thou givest, to both great and small;
In all life Thou livest, the true life of all;
We blossom and flourish as leaves on the tree,
And wither and perish—but naught changeth Thee.
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