No Man Eat Fruit of Thee Hereafter For Ever (Mark 11:14)

2023-03-21

And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, he was hungry: 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. (Mark 11:12-14)

When Jesus sought figs for hunger and found none, He killed the tree with this command. Matthew’s account does not state any delay between this command and the disciples’ surprise at its withering (Matthew 21:18-22). However, just like a branch cut from a tree is immediately dead, the effects will not be seen until a little while later. The appearance of the dead tree was not apparent until the following day of its being destroyed at the root.

The immediate lesson Jesus has for His disciples is this: “Have faith in God. For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith” (Mark 11:22-23). With faith, you can accomplish great things.

But what is the hidden lesson? Jesus seeks fruit from us as well. If He finds no fruit in us, what good are we?