fig tree

Jesus, it seems, is always doing something surprising. One morning, on the way into Jerusalem with his disciples, He makes a point about fruitfulness, by talking to a tree...

“Seeing a fig-tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then he said to it, ‘May you never bear fruit again!’ Immediately the tree withered.” - Matthew 21:19

You don’t mess with the Fruit-Inspector! The fig tree, for all its leaves, was just not producing anything: the one thing it was designed and created to do, and the one moment in history it was responsible to do it! When it mattered, it had nothing to give.

If you’re like me, I bet you don’t want to miss your moment. When Jesus passes by your life, looking for your fruit, what will He find you producing? Love, joy, patience? What will He hear you say? Kind things, goodness, gentleness? What will He see you doing?

The disciples were amazed at how quickly that tree withered. No fruit, no seeds, no next generation. Dead wood. And every time they went into the city from then on, they would have seen it, reminding them to be faithful and fruitful. I think it’s good advice. Remember the fig tree.