Mark 11-13
The Fig Tree
In Mark 11 we read that Jesus had come to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover Feast. When evening came He spent the night in Bethany. In the morning, as he made His way to Jerusalem, He was hungry and saw a fig tree so He went to see if there was any fruit. We are told that it was not the season for figs so Jesus didn’t find any. He then said to the fig tree, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again!” Mark 11:14b NASB
The next day the disciples saw that the tree had withered from the roots.
The week that Jesus came into Jerusalem riding on the colt marks the sixty-ninth week of the seventy weeks spoken of in Daniel 9. Each week represents a seven year period. At the end of the sixty-ninth week the Messiah would be cut off and have nothing we are told. In between the sixty-ninth and seventieth week is the Church Age.
Some believe that the Church replaced Israel. This is wrong. When the ten tribes of Israel were taken by Assyria and Jerusalem was later destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar and the people were exiled to Babylon they thought that God had abandoned them. But this was not true. God removed His hand of protection and let them follow the consequences of their idolatry until they came to the point of repentance. After 70 years of captivity they were allowed to return and rebuild the temple and the city. From our study in this and the other Gospels it is clear that the religious rulers were way off track. God is doing to Israel as He did with the nation before they were captured and scattered by Assyria and Babylon until they are ready to trust in the Lord and follow Him. When God determines they are ready to finish that last seven year period the Church will be taken out of the world and the seventieth week will begin.
In Chapter 13 Jesus taught about His coming again as King and gave the signs of His coming. One of those signs was the fig tree getting tender and about to sprout new leaves. Verse 28
The fig tree is a perfect symbol of Israel. A fig tree can die back in a hard frost. It will look like it is dead but from the roots new shoots will sprout and produce a Fall harvest. A healthy fig tree that has not died back will produce two crops of figs. One in the spring on the old growth and a larger better crop in the Fall. In 1948 the nation of Israel was reformed. The fig tree began to sprout and one day soon there will be a great harvest.
During the seven years of the Great Tribulation Israel will turn to Jesus and fulfill the task God has for the nation to bring in the Most Holy. Israel will bear fruit for the Lord like never before.
So what are we to do while we wait for the Lord’s return?
Watch and bear fruit!
Pastor Dave