Are there signs of good fruit?

Reflecting on Mark 11:12-26

"May no one ever eat fruit from you again." (Mark 11:14)

This story seems odd and somewhat unsettling.
Is Jesus losing His temper because He is ‘hangry’?
How could He expect figs if it was not the season for figs?

Figs were a were a staple in the Middle East during Jesus’ time.
They were considered a symbol of prosperity.
They were one of the fruit listed as produce in the Promised Land.
In the spring, fig trees would produce small, hard, pre-figs called pagi.
The appearance of leaves without pagi signaled that the tree would produce no fruit.
Jesus is cursing this fig tree without pagi, for it would be fruitless.

I think this is also a symbolic action, a teaching moment for His disciples.
Mark makes the point that the disciples heard Him say it (v.14).
This moment occurs just outside of Jerusalem and the temple.
And what follows is the cleansing of the temple.
Jesus often spoke of ‘bearing fruit’ as the sign of faithfulness.

“Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.” (Matthew 7:16-20)

Jesus was alarmed because He saw no pagi in temple, in Jerusalem.
Those who refuse to bear fruit must be driven out of God’s presence.
For love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, etc. is God’s nature, God’s desire.

This moment is a warning for the disciples then, and now.
“Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.” (Matthew 3:8)
For a tree without fruit is not a good tree, and must be removed.
Yet the time for removing bad trees is not now, not yet.

“Jesus told this parable: ‘A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it but did not find any. So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’ ‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’” (Luke 13:6-9)

Jesus is taking care of the fig tree, digging around and fertilizing us.
We are in the ‘one more year’, the time when Jesus keeps at it.
The Spirit keeps prompting us, calling us, giving us opportunities.
Jesus does not expect fully ripe goodness, but at least some pagi.
Some indications that we are willing to bear fruit, able to bear fruit.
Jesus is not cursing us for being fruitless; He is helping us to bear fruit.
With His help, we can begin to produce the pagi that lead to goodness.

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.” (John 15:1-4)

If, despite all this grace, we still fail to bear fruit, then the curse comes.
But the curse is not from God, it is from our own actions and choices.
Badness is the curse, and God must eradicate badness.
In fact, we want God to eradicate badness… don’t we?

Am I as frustrated by the lack of good fruit in the world, and in my own life?
Do I long for more love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, etc?
Am I clinging to Jesus, allowing Him to fertilize and prune me?
If I want to be a fruitful tree, I can be, with Jesus’s help.
It takes times, it takes effort, it takes desire…
Are there signs of these pagi on my branches?

PRAYER
Lord Jesus, I want to be fruitful for You, for God and for others. I want my life to produce love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

Fertilize and prune my by Your Spirit so that these pagi can grow and one day become fully ripe!