Jesus was hungry. He saw a fig tree and expected nourishment. He was hungry--How was that?
Sometimes we don’t think about Jesus being in a human body and experiencing feelings just as we do, One thing, however
we are sure of--it was real bodily hunger and seeing a fig tree, He expected to relieve His hunger. He was in Bethpage, which
adjoined Bethany, which means the "House of Figs". It is a fig region.
It is interesting that the scripture notes that He saw it afar off having leaves--and
therefore promising fruit. In the case of Fig trees the figs come before the leaves, so seeing leaves was good assurance that
figs would be there.
He found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet--the proper fig season had
not arrived, and no fruit would have been expected even of this tree but for the leaves which it had. There was something
wrong with this tree. It produced leaves but no figs. It was unnaturally developed.
Jesus spoke to the tree! No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever--That word did not
make the tree barren, but sealed it up in its own barrenness. And his disciples heard it--They took note not really knowing
what to think or expect. They went on about their business for the day … they returned to Bethany to spend the night...and
in the morning as they passed by--going into Jerusalem again they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots!
This was not a partial blight that would allow the tree to recover, He spoke to the root
of the problem, there had been no fruit from the root; but it was now dead, root and branch. Matthew 21:19 said it withered
away as soon as it was cursed. Perhaps because it was near dark the disciples did not see it until the light of the next day.
And Peter calling to remembrance said unto him. Master, behold, the fig tree which
thou cursed is withered away. The disciples were astonished. He had only "spoken" to the tree. The same One Who created every
thing that is, spoke and this time He spoke curse, yet He said to them Have faith in God. Faith can also "remove" the non-fruit
producing things in our life. Some things need to be eliminated. Things that bring disappointment and fruitlessness we need
to speak to...we, however, are prone to speak about them, not to them!
Speak to the problem in faith. Don’t tell God about your problems, tell your problems
about God! It’s important to speak to the root of the problem. Confess it and address it! Christians like talking about
their problems, it’s best to address your problems.
In deliverance ministry I have found that perhaps one of the most important thing to deal
with is the root. If the root remains, it will grow again. If door ways remain other demons will come in. Doorways must be
slammed shut! Roots must be plucked up.
I like the scriptural truth that the power of death and life are in my tongue. Proverbs
18:21. I like knowing that. Jesus could have just as easily spoke fruit onto the tree, but He didn’t. He demonstrates
judgement. That’s the part of the Word we don’t like to read about.
There is a time when things must change. The tree is obviously a symbolic lesson to us.
It’s like a wolf in sheep’s clothing. It looked like a fig bearing tree, but there was something perverted about
it’s claim. It got the same rain and sunlight that other fig trees in the area got, it produced leaves but not fruit,
something was not right! Many, many lessons have been drawn from this passage of scripture. You can draw your own conclusions.
Jesus spoke to the very core of the problem. To, seemingly immovable objects!
Whatever was robbing life from this tree would rob no more, whatever caused the tree to
be deceptive and cause disappointment would no longer. He spoke to the root.
We have learned in many years of deliverance ministry, you have to get the root. Removing
branches without destroying the root only delays the problem. You must get the root!
He told the disciples you can speak with authority also. You can speak to your disappointments
also. You can say what your faith will allow you to believe. I wonder if the tree trembled and shook when Jesus came near
it? Knowing it should be producing fruit and that it’s very Creator and life giver was present. I wonder if it tried
real hard to produce something as He got closer? It was too late now. No fruit, no root.
Sort of like, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come,
he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through. Luke 12:39. I wonder if the tree had known Jesus
would be personally coming for the fruit if the story would be different. Likely not, because there was something wrong at
the root that did not allow the fruit.
If there’s something wrong at the root we need to address it. It needs to die!
No fruit … bad root.
Just for Jesus,
Don
Have a great Christmas!
