June 15, 2023

AN OUTWARD SHOW

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

The next morning as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. He noticed a fig tree in full leaf a little way off, so he went over to see if he could find any figs. But there were only leaves because it was too early in the season for fruit. Then Jesus said to the tree, “May no one ever eat your fruit again!” And the disciples heard him say it.

Mark 11:12-14 NLT

The next morning as they passed by the fig tree he had cursed, the disciples noticed it had withered from the roots up. Peter remembered what Jesus had said to the tree on the previous day and exclaimed, “Look, Rabbi! The fig tree you cursed has withered and died!””

Mark 11:20-21 NLT

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TODAY’S THOUGHT

This is one of the two times in the gospel writings where Jesus used His authority to actually destroy something. (The other was when demons came out of a man and Jesus allowed them to go into a herd of pigs who then were drowned in the sea.) In this story Jesus and the disciples are walking along and see a fig tree. Jesus walks over to see if it has fruit. It does not. Jesus curses the tree and the next day as they walk by the tree is dead and the disciples notice it is the tree Jesus cursed. I believe there is a lesson Jesus is giving on failure. Israel was the image of the fig tree. They had failed to be fruitful for God. In the Old Testament, the fig tree was associated with the nation of Israel (Jer. 8:13; Hosea 9:10; Nahum 3:12). But Israel had failed to be a nation of blessing to the world. They had forgotten their covenant relationship and responsibility. Judgement had come on them as a nation and they were now dried up. Having no spiritual life, only having a religious show. Jesus was about to give new life to the nation and world through His death and resurrection. But the old had to die completely for the new to begin. In our present culture there are many that seem to have leaves, but no life. They can sing the songs and go through the motions but there is no life that brings forth fruit of transformed lives and miracles. I believe it is time for the church to get back to being a place of life and transformation. God wants to restore life to the Church. He wants us to be His source of life for a dying world. Let’s don’t just have a show, let’s release the power and presence of Jesus.

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TODAY’S PRAYER

Holy Spirit help me to be a source of Your life for my world. Forgive me for settling for an outward show instead of inward transformation.

“Scroll down to share what you feel God is saying based on today’s reading.”