Easter Weekend Devotional Day 3
DAY 3 – Wednesday
Daily devotional
Read
Mark 11:11-20, John 15:1-8 (Countdown to the Cross)
Ask
What visible fruit is there in your life? I know this is a rough question, maybe ask a real friend! What is Jesus’ commission to all His followers?
Reflect
After a day in Jerusalem Jesus and the twelve disciples go back to Bethany for the night. On their way back to Jerusalem Jesus sees a fig tree and goes to it because he is hungry. There was no fruit on the branches and he curses it. Right about now someone casually reading this passage would ask, why on earth did Jesus curse that fig tree? The key to understanding scripture is context! The passage (v. 13) says “seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf”—clearly this tree should’ve had fruit on it. You see, on a fig tree the fruit comes before the leaves. But things aren’t always what they seem, are they? The presence of a fruitful fig tree was to be a symbol of blessing and prosperity for the nation of Israel. This one tree told a different story.
Context: Backing up to Mark 11:11, it says that the day before (on triumphal entry day) Jesus goes to the Temple and after looking around at everything he leaves. Moving forward to verse 15, Jesus entered the Temple and he was angry! The day before he had observed his Father’s house as a den of robbers. I would imagine Jesus stewed all night about this when he spent the night in Bethany. So the next morning when he comes to a worthless fig tree it matches his thoughts on Israel and their so-called worship. People came spiritually hungry and there was nothing to feed them. Israel was outwardly spiritual with all the sacrifices and ceremonies, but inwardly they were spiritually barren because of their sin.
Our own lives reflect the fig tree in many ways. There should be fruit before the leaves. That fruit comes from what Jesus did for you. Romans 5:8 While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. If we truly believe in Jesus there should be visible fruit and not just an appearance of religiosity (fluffy leaves!). John 15:4 Jesus says, abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me.
There are people all around us that are hungry for Truth. Will we point them to the Bread of Life? Read Mark 16:15.