A Lesson from the Fig Tree

In the last days of his ministry, Jesus was spending time with his disciples, preparing them to become the pillars of his future church. They were still “slow to believe,” men of little faith, and Jesus had chided them for their unbelief at times. He saw that there was a hindrance in their hearts that needed to be removed or they would never come into the revelation necessary to lead the church.

As they walked past a barren fig tree, Jesus cursed it: “‘Let no one eat fruit from you ever again.’ And His disciples heard it” (Mark 11:14). Later, as the group came by the fig tree a second time, Peter pointed out, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree which You cursed has withered away” (11:21). Jesus gave Peter an amazing response. Actually, without offering an actual answer, he simply said, “Have faith in God” (11:22).

This dried-up tree was an illustrated sermon by Christ. What did it mean? It signified God’s rejection of the old religious system of works in Israel which was all about trying to earn salvation and God’s favor by human effort and self-will.

Something new was about to be birthed in Israel: a church in which salvation and eternal life would come by faith alone; indeed, walking daily with the Lord would be a matter of faith. Yet, to this point, God’s people knew nothing of living by faith. Their religion had been all about performance and keeping extensive sets of rules. Now Jesus was saying, “That old system is over and a new day is dawning.” The church of faith was being birthed and Christ’s disciples were being trained for leadership.

In the passage about the fig tree, Jesus refers to an unnamed mountain: “Whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says’” (11:23).

Your mountain may be a besetting sin, sickness, fear, discouragement. Jesus is saying to you, “Unbelief is like a hindering mountain in your heart, but I want to do the impossible in your life. Simply trust me.”