Nothing But Leaves

We have probably all heard of the story of the fig tree that Jesus cursed. Usually it is brought up as a “contradiction” but the account isn’t in the Bible only for so-called “contradictory” purposes. This story of the cursed fig tree goes much deeper than that . . .

In Mark 11:13-14 it tells the story of a certain fig tree:

And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, He came, if haply He might find any thing thereon: and when He came to it, He found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet.

And Jesus answered and said unto it, “No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever.” And his disciples heard it.

There are a few very important things in this message listed below which I call the Seven Truths of the Fig Tree:

First, Jesus sees the tree afar off

Secondly, He comes to the tree

Thirdly, He expects the tree to have fruit

Fourthly, He ignores the fact that it is not the season for figs

Fifthly, He sees the tree has no fruit

Sixthly, He curses it

Seventh, the tree withers and dies (Mark 11:20)

So, starting with point one. Jesus looks ahead and sees the tree far away. He is looking for a fig tree and He sees one, but it is far away. In the same way, Christ is looking for Christians that will be His workers. He looks for us and sees us far away. He knows we are not ready, so he comes to point number two: walking towards us.

Point two recognizes the relationship we have with Jesus. We walk with Him and grow closer. He approaches the tree and expects fruit in the same way He approaches us and expects godly fruit from us.

Point three is a lead-up to the next point. Christ expects the tree to have fruit even though it is not the time for fig trees to bear fruit. The disciples must have thought Him crazy to expect fruit on a tree before it has even blossomed! But yet Christ still expects it to have fruit.

This is the big lesson in the fig tree. Christ expects us, as Christians, to bear fruit, even when the world does not expect it. He wants us to bear fruit immediately and be evidence that you are a changed man or woman. He does not want to come up to you and see “nothing but leaves”. Because if He does, the fifth, sixth and seventh truths take effect.

So, when Christ approaches you, will you have fruit to give Him, or only leaves?