Aches and Praise Five Hundred & Thirteen

Posted on 2021-07-09 in English |

July 9, 2021
 
 

Dear friends,

                                                                                                                                                                       
Last week, I wrote about Jesus’ parable of the fig tree, which is recorded in Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21. A friend sent me a letter with the following Scripture references that describe a fig tree that had no fruit on it: Matthew 21:19, Mark 11:13, and Luke 13:6-9. I am very grateful for this letter and an excerpt from “The Messiah in the Feasts of Israel,” written by Bryan W. Sheldon, in which he writes: “Under the structure of the Passover, the day of the festival is preceded by several days of preparation, during which the Passover Lamb is examined and tested to ensure it is worthy to be offered to YHWH. ‘Speak to all the congregation of Israel, saying: ‘On the tenth of this month every man shall take for himself a lamb, according to the house of his father, a lamb for a household’ (Exodus 12:3). ‘Now you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of the same month.’ (Ex. 12:6). Jesus, in fulfilling His duties as the Lamb of God presented Himself in the Temple in the days leading up to Passover, there to be seen and examined by the leaders of the nation. But since the Lamb of God is also the Lion of the Tribe of Judah (the King/Messiah), the examination was two-edged. While they examined Him, so He examined them. Having ridden into the city to fulfill Zechariah’s prophecy, each subsequent morning He walked to Jerusalem from Bethany.”
 

Brother Sheldon continues: “On the morning of the second day, He saw a fig tree with abundant leaves. The fig trees on the journey were mostly of the common kind and at this season had no leaves. But there was a less usual fig tree, called ‘Benoth Shuach’ which never lacked leaves and never lacked fruit. It bore fruit every year, but ripened only every third year, so that on a tree there might be three sorts of fruit, namely that of the present year, of the past year, and of the year before that… The abundance of leaves that suggested fruit was a picture of Israel at that time. It had all the appearance of fulfilling the purposes of God, but no fruit. The Messiah had tended the fig tree of Israel for three years, but it remained obdurately barren.”

The Lord Jesus said “Let no fruit grow on you ever again” when He observed no fruit on this fig tree (Matt. 21:19). In his Study Bible, Dr. David Jeremiah comments on the cursed tree: “Many people have trouble with this incident because they think it depicts an ill-tempered or unreasonable Jesus. But the key is its placement: right before the narrative of the temple cleansing, and right after Jesus’ brief viewing of the temple. We may consider it an ‘acted-out parable.’

Brother Jeremiah observes: “The tree, which is in full leaf but has no figs, supplies a picture of Israel at that time in general and the temple in particular: there was life but no fruit. People came to the temple hungry for God but found no help to connect with Him. Jesus cursed the tree for its fruitlessness in the same way God would judge the temple and the nation of Israel for its spiritual fruitlessness only a few decades later.”

As we look at how the nation of Israel has transformed desert areas into lush farmland and built bustling cities and factories that produce many helpful goods, we can’t help but marvel at its ingenuity and intelligence. However, there remains the most glaring need for the Jewish people: to recognize Jesus as their Messiah. Of course, the people of Israel are not alone in their unbelief. May we who know Christ share the Good News of His death, burial, and resurrection, which made the forgiveness of our sins possible, with family, friends, and others.

Scripture for the weekend: “Let all that you do be done with love.” 1 Corinthians 16:14 (NKJV)

Thought for the weekend: “When we love God, we are known by Him and can experience both salvation and the joy of spiritual transformation as a result of this magnificent relationship. How wonderful that our great and sovereign Creator pursues us, sees us, and wants to know us!” – Steve Conover (from his blog post at: https://www.foi.org/2021/06/04/known-by-god-a-key-to-spiritual-transformation/)

 

By His grace,
 

Steve

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