Jesus saw what everyone would have seen upon close inspection: this tree was dead. He is available to us all, right now, and every moment from now until we stand before him in heaven. In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus teaches about “those days” after the coming tribulation, days of a darkened sun and a dull moon, falling stars, shaken heavens. On the beach, there were oil deposits. If I had my way, my tree never would have made it three years running with no fruit. The beginning and the end help us to understand the middle. How about we make a commitment this morning, united together, to never establish any barrier that would keep others from Christ? But if they leave the church because we make it hard for them to worship God, that’s between God and us. Why did Jesus take out his anger on the poor fig tree? Add to my study list. All of these signs of the times should give us a certain sense of urgency. b. Israel has been represented typologically, in the Old Testament, as a fig tree with both good and bad figs. Because you and I have a great need to be near to God. Why did he do that? Jesus says “learn a lesson from the fig tree.” This does not mean interpret what the fig tree is. As we prepare to close the liturgical year, the Church is asking us to remember that we are now in the final days: the days of the New Covenant. Finally, We look at the parable of the Barren Fig tree in the Bible ~ The Parable is taken from Luke 13:6-9. His expectation is consistent with His grace given. But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears?”. Over the last 1500 years or so, the consensus among scholars was that the lesson of the fig tree and the last generation referred to the generation of Jesus. He will come to you not with cursing but with blessing. Jesus is sitting on the Mount of Olives as he speaks, looking out on the Temple. You can do a whole study of the meaning of Israel as the fig tree and the purpose of the temple. How can we get that? We need another way—another tree from which to eat. In the parable, the master had passed by the barren tree for three years before he said anything about it. Matt 24:29-31says that the events occur “after the tribulation” or “at the end of the tribulation” so we are in a post-tribulation time frame. He is the worship center. Lewis said, “We were made not primarily that we may love God…but that God may love us.” That’s what worship is: getting close enough to God to let him love you. “Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. As a result, Jesus cursed the fig Sign up for 6 Free IssuesTry us out with a free trial subscription. Introduction 1. He is the sacrifice to grant forgiveness. Have you ever felt compelled to get a weight off of your chest. But you have made it a den of robbers.” Where was it written that it should be a house of prayer? Mark Sandwich Again a. We will have to lay down some of our preferences. The temple in Jerusalem was much the same. He cleans things out. The Second Coming is suspended as we await the conversion of souls to Christ; and so, first, we must continually re-establish the Kingdom in our own hearts. “But of that day or hour, no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father” (Mark 13:32). When they were stepped on, they stuck to the bottom of their feet. 20 As they passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered away to its roots. And, believe it or not, he actually wants to be near to us. Every year, we take a trip to Kansas City to visit our best friends. . What appeared full of life was actually lifeless. b. That can sound scary, but it’s really a wonderful thing. The temple was 46 years in the making. Why? It's coming back to life, when the tree is coming back to life; He said you know it is near. Pre-figs, as it were. Here’s why that’s so significant. Let’s pick it up in verse 12. Jesus is the Tree of Life we need. We have the advantage of hindsight. The vineyard owner represents God, the one who rightly expects to see fruit on His tree and who justly decides to destroy it when He finds none. Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. We know what the temple leaders were really like. Why curse it? That matters because as he goes into the temple, it’s not just another man going there. So it wasn’t the season for figs, but the leaves indicated it was the season for these little nubs. The fig tree that you cursed has withered.” 22 And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God. And, of course, later on, it would grow ripe figs. As soon as the twigs get tender, what is the tree doing? Still, we are given signs, and if we are wise, we will consider them and “learn a lesson from the fig tree” (Mark 13:28), as Christ points out. There were four layers, each one a step closer to God. We just have to let our preferences set the agenda, let our feelings rule our interactions, let God’s word about loving one another for Jesus’ sake become mild suggestions rather than holy commands. He saw a fig tree in leaf, but when he got to it, he saw no figs. Showy religion is so boring. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. But we need reality with Jesus, not the appearance of reality with him. We need the real thing. The fig tree that you cursed has withered.” 22 And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God. It looked okay from a distance. So ask him for it, and he will give it! The British pastor Martyn Lloyd-Jones said, “every institution tends to become it’s opposite.” The temple became a place where it was hard to find God. And thus, the scene is set for next week as we prepare to celebrate the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. Who can endure? Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. Our Master is … One day, Chuck Smith showed up to find a sign hanging on the door. With constant prayer, frequent sacraments and daily sacrifices, as we lay our lives down again and again, subjecting everything within us to his authority and to his mercy. He likely spends the night at the home of his friends Lazarus, Mary, and Martha. So why did Jesus go the the temple with his disciples, look around, and leave only to go back the next day? We don’t have to set up elaborate trading floors with international exchange rates. Sunday, Nov. 18, is the 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time. Some scholars had real trouble with it. 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. That’s why Jesus says in verse 17, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? He’s doing something much better. Still, we are given signs, and if we are wise, we will consider them and “learn a lesson from the fig tree” (Mark 13:28), as Christ points out. Maybe he’s cleaning some of us out right now. Lewis talked about how fairy stories (and in this case songs) have a way of getting past our “watchful dragons”—those dragons prevent truths from getting through to our heart. “Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender, and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. Because there was this hypocritical fig tree in Bethany that was going to serve as an object lesson about the hypocritical temple in Jerusalem. Who of us hasn’t? 12-14), True worship promotes life with God (vv. He is the meeting place. On the following day, when they came from Bethany, he was hungry. Christ does not focus in on hypocrisy; that will come later (vv. A temple fit for true worship. That’s what he wants for you. It is especially appropriate for the apostles in view of the difficult tests they will soon face. Seeing in the distance a fig tree in… Maybe you came here this morning and didn’t even know you had this mountain of religiosity blocking your worship. They were hypocrites. The other day, I explained the parable of the fig tree to a man. All he needs is a cross. Let me propose something for us here at Refuge. His heart must have been wrenched at the thought of such horrors. But can’t follow through because you are ashamed? We have an amazing capacity for self-deception and self-justification. These new God-seekers walked into the church building with oil on their feet and it got all over the carpet. The temple was amazing. “Shirts and shoes please.” He took it down, and after church met with the church leaders. Look at verse 23. Throughout the Old Testament, the fig tree held spiritual value as a symbol for Israel, serving as a metaphor for their standing with God. Baptism Makes Us Sons and Daughters of the Father, Becoming Beacons of Light Like the Wise Men, Saying ‘Yes’ Like Mary This Advent, As We Prepare for the Christ Child, Buffalo’s New Bishop Focuses on His Faith as He Addresses the Challenges That Await Him, Scottish Bishop Asks Catholics Worldwide to Join Him in Marian Consecration, Influential German Jesuit Behind Synodal Path Finally Steps Down. Claire Dwyer blogs about saints, spirituality and the sacred every day at EventheSparrow.com and contributes regularly to WomenofGrace.com. Mass Readings: Daniel 12:1-3; Psalm 16:5, 8, 9-10, 11; Hebrews 10:11-14, 18; Mark 13:24-32. God’s glory was at stake. We need only look to the cross to find that truth. The three entities in the story all have clear symbolic significance. They made it a den of robbers by establishing costly buying and selling and money-changing procedures for the sacrifices. 23 Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. 32″Now learn the parable from the fig tree: when its branch has already become tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near ; 33 so, you too, when you see all these things, recognize that He is near, right at the door. He blocks more harm from getting in. 33 So also, when you see all these things, you know that He is near, right at the door. This event, brought about because of the rejection of their Messiah by the Jews, would definitively close the chapter of the Old Covenant, and it would be the final end of animal sacrifice, fulfilled in the one perfect sacrifice of the cross. 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