Jaw-dropping Jewels about Jesus
Rarely does Jesus, God the Son, do exactly what we expect of Him. It seems odd that He so frequently surprises us, given that He never changes. Hebrews 13:8 makes this absolute statement: “Jesus the same yesterday, and today, and forever.” Still, though He is blessedly consistent in His goodness, Jesus does unforeseen things. Even when He does what is expected, He does not always do it in the way that we anticipate. Let us join with Jesus on a jaw-dropping journey. (I will be using this opening paragraph for each of the brief messages in this series. The following material will change daily.)
Mark 11:19-21 returns to the account of the fig tree (verses 12-14): “And when even was come, He went out of the city. And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto Him, ‘Master, behold, the fig tree which Thou cursedst is withered away!” We have previously refuted the ignorant criticism that some have leveled against Jesus. This miracle of destruction “Jesus’ only such miracle in His earthly ministry) was an unforgettable object lesson to His disciples. It immediately got the attention of Peter, who was not always ready to listen and to learn. Jesus then provides specific applications (which we will consider next week). The withering of this wasteful fig tree, though, is something of a prelude of far greater judgment to come: “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up” (II Peter 3:10). The thoroughness and rapidity of the withering of the fig tree pictures God’s final judgment on this entire universe – a cosmos cursed by the effects of man’s sin. Even this judgment has a positive outcome, however, for God shall redeem His Creation (Romans 8:18-23). The necessity of judgment is not an indictment of God’s character; rather, it reveals just how bad sin is. May we avail ourselves of His redemptive remedy, “for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon Him” (Romans 10:12b).