Fruitful? (Genesis 28-29; Mark 11)

In Mark 11 we have a very strange incident of Jesus cursing a fig tree because it didn’t bear fruit. Was Jesus ‘hangry’? That’s unlikely given he went 40 days without food and he was never sinfully angry. Why did he curse the fig tree?

It seems that Jesus is using the fig tree as a symbol for the temple in Israel. Mark tells us that Jesus saw the fig tree was full of leaves but no fruit, then Jesus goes into the temple and discovers it is a place full of activity (leaves), but no fruit. Jesus judges those who are misusing the temple, and then Mark tells us about the fig tree that is withered. Mark is using this fig sandwich construction to teach us that Jesus is looking for fruit not just religious activity among his worshipping people.

And then we get the strange bit about the having faith in God and saying to the mountain to get into the sea! What is He getting at?

A mountain may well be a symbol of something that presents a great challenge, as in “Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain.” (Zechariah 4:7) Is Jesus telling his followers that great challenges can be overcome by prayer? Is this a promise that if we have enough faith then we’ll get whatever we ask for? Some would misuse the verse in that way and cause great harm to many.

In his book “Praying Backwards” Bryan Chappell helpfully explains this passage for us. “The success of our prayers does not lie in exceptional confidence that we have pumped enough of our own faith into our prayer (and extracted enough doubt) so that now God must respond. Our belief must be in God. He, not our desire, is the object of our faith.”

He continues in suggesting how we should pray:

“Lord, I know that you can do all things. In my human wisdom I make this request, but you know the end from the beginning. Hear my prayer and do what you know is right. I entrust this to your will because I believe in your wisdom, power, and love.” Such prayer is a far greater expression of faith than daring to stand before the throne of heaven, sidling up to God, and saying, “Lord, I know exactly what should happen; let’s do this my way.” All who are so bold as to tell God exactly how to answer are expressing a kind of belief, but it is great faith in human wisdom and faint confidence in our God.”

So as we pray, we come to the Lord in confidence that He knows what is best. As we consider Jesus’ reaction to the temple trading, we should pray that He would make us fruitful for Him and not just busy with religious activity.