- As Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem, and feeling hungry, he saw a fig tree with many leaves and went to it, expecting to find fruit.
- He found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs.
- Jesus cursed the tree, saying, “May you never bear fruit again!” and it immediately withered. (Found in Mark 11)
I have been thinking about my fig tree having these very small green figs with no leaves as the cold and wind together destroyed the leaves leaving a spiritual mystery in my mind. My tree has been bearing edible fruit for years but this year in season no figs at all. Lots of beautiful leaves. As season was winding down there appeared an abundance of tiny green figs.
Now I goggled and researched and understood why I most likely didn’t have edible figs this year.
I began to think about Jesus wanting figs and saw a tree with beautiful leaves and no figs. In support of the fig tree the story said it was not the season there for figs. Yet, Jesus got a little testy it seems and curse the tree!
I read different opinions as why Jesus did this? One commentary wrote;
“The story is a lesson that true faith is not just about appearances but about bearing “fruit,” or doing good works and living a righteous life.”
I get it! Now, what about my tree and its spiritual meaning? My tree did look elegant and regal with big beautiful leaves. Then appeared tiny green figs late in the season and we had warning frost was near. The wind seemed a bit vicious about the same time. I pondered, I’m always competing with the birds and squirrels when the joy of a ripen figs appears. No competitive sport was happened now.
In our last blog we covered a little about a parable and a simile meaning. what would Jesus see in our fig tree?
thedailylily.com 
There sure is a lot packed into this blog of Sara’s to think on about “parable and a simile meaning”.
“He found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs.”
“The story is a lesson that true faith is not just about appearances but about bearing “fruit,” or doing good works and living a righteous life.”
Looking at the green figs on this tree with no leaves is a sad sight. Something must have been out of sync. Same tree that bore fruit for years, same location, but maybe something in the timing of the plant processes; the way these processes communicated to each other; the cultural conditions needed for each process to occur and support each other at the right time…maybe were just not there. Leaves, stems, roots, fruit, environmental conditions …all interact and are interdependent on one another for support and smooth functioning. Maybe even too much of a good thing (like rain at the wrong season, etc.) could interfere. I have noticed that if plants such as tomatoes get too much nitrogen early on, they produce beautiful leaves but little fruit.
So, some thoughts I am having…maybe that even if we are “doing good works and living a righteous life” we don’t bear fruit in season because something is out of sync with the Holy Spirit…maybe timing, connections, communications, etc. Maybe there are good deeds/righteous acts but not according to the plan, purpose, season that Jesus intended for them.
Debi mentioned good deeds in a tone calling “out of sync.”We as believers never have to worry or take a stress test it’s truly from the Holy Spirit and it’s a brighter light than the nose of Rudolph. It’s a gift wrapped and freely given by the Holy Spirit,
“gentle, and self-controlled. There is no law against behaving in any of these ways. And because we belong to Christ Jesus, we have killed our selfish feelings and desires. God’s Spirit has given us life, and so we should follow the Spirit.”
Galatians 5:23-25 CEVDCI
https://bible.com/bible/303/gal.5.23-25.CEVDCI
Contrast Spirit and you will see your deeds…
“People’s desires make them give in to immoral ways, filthy thoughts, and shameful deeds. They worship idols, practice witchcraft, hate others, and are hard to get along with. People become jealous, angry, and selfish. They not only argue and cause trouble, but they are envious. They get drunk, carry on at wild parties, and do other evil things as well. I told you before, and I am telling you again: No one who does these things will share in the blessings of God’s kingdom.”Galatians 5:19-21 CEVDCIhttps://bible.com/bible/303/gal.5.19-21.CEVDCI
I can’t help but think about this blog? The word that comes to my mind is” environment”? Apparently this fig tree didn’t have the proper environment to produce the fruit it has in the past? 🤔
As Christians, would we look like this fig tree, spiritually, if we kept the wrong environment? 🙏
Tammy, that is a scary thought! You have answered and revealed a conflict both Debi and I were sharing last night where we had been bombarded throughout the day with a “Christian” lady sharing a difficult time she was having this holiday from her own making. Two ladies and a man seem to have had an altercation in the church just before a service. It was sad to hear and difficult to deal with and at a time being Thanksgiving Eve where this conversation should not have even been. Since it was via texting the story just didn’t want to end.
it was getting late in evening and Debi emailed me her thoughts to end this saying, “Sounds like …. Blank name and other women need to mind their business and steer clear.”
Debi was right about this but “Blank” wanted to do anything but steer clear.
I went to sleep feeling sad that this lady was involved in this situation that seems to have consumed her.
She wanted no response from us except to listen and affirm her side. Plus take up our day with “folly” as far as I was concerned.
I awoke hoping to have an answer from the Holy Spirit knowing I was to someway exit that situation.
I’m still almost shaking reading the word “environment”! WOW!
Thinking about our leafless, tiny hard green figs that seem to be so attached to these branches that will never provide sustenance for them to be rip, sweet and edible. Jesus told us, …”Jesus cursed the tree, saying, “May you never bear fruit again!” and it immediately withered. (Found in Mark 11)
Thanks to both Debi and Tammy and thank you Jesus for causing a useless fig tree to wither.
Thank you for opening our eyes to our environment and how to thrive in a healthy environment.
Thank you for teaching us to stay in a sacred space (environment)where truth prevails as we read and share your Word which never fails.
Thank you for others that are part of good soil as we, too, keep our soil healthy. (Environment)
I want to hold this beautiful gift Tammy has given us close today and each day! Enviroment! What does it say about me today! 🙏🫶🏼✝️ made the difference!
My thought for us today!
Psalm 119:105 “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path”. It means that God’s word provides guidance for our immediate, day-to-day steps and actions, illuminating the path ahead so we can avoid stumbling or making wrong choices. “
All will be well that seek Him!
Thank you for sharing the Scripture in Psalm 119. Yes, God’s Word! Help us all Lord to seek You in all things 🙏🙏🙏
“I want to hold this beautiful gift Tammy has given us close today and each day! Enviroment! What does it say about me today! … made the difference!”
I agree, Sara! And with all the other ‘thank you’s’ you wrote above as well as the scripture. We have a lot to be thankful for.
“All will be well that seek Him!” That is a solid rock exhortation and a great encouragement. Thank you!