Fruit

March 12

Numbers 6

Psalm 33:10-17

Proverbs 8:1-3

Mark 11:12-33

Fruit

“The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry.  Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, He went to find out if it had any fruit.  When He reached it, He found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs.  Then He said to the tree, ‘May no one ever eat fruit from you again.’ .... In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots.”  Mark 11:12-14, 20 NIV

Fig trees in the Mediterranean are typically just beginning to get leaves in March or April, but do not produce figs until their leaves are all out in June.  This tree was an exception because it was already full of leaves at the time of the Passover. When Jesus saw the tree, it appeared to be in full bloom, and He expected to find it full of figs. But when He reached it, He found no fruit.  It looked good but had nothing of substance to offer.  When He reached Jerusalem, He went to the temple and found the same thing.  The leaders in the temple were very religious.  They followed the rules, they knew the scriptures, and they looked good on the outside.  But they had nothing of substance to offer.  They had no fruit. The only times in scripture we find that Jesus became angry or used harsh words are when He was confronting hypocrisy.  He dealt with many people in varying kinds of sinful situations.  He approached them in love and forgiveness and encouraged them to repent and turn away from their sin.  But He cursed hypocrites calling them whitewashed sepulchers, vipers, fools, and blind guides.  The evidence of spiritual depth and maturity is not outward appearances; it is fruit.  Galatians 5:22-23 tells us, “The fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” (NIV) Are you fruitful or just leafy?