Of Figs and Mountains

“Now in the morning, as he returned to the city, He was hungry. And seeing a fig tree by the road, he came to it and found nothing on it but leaves, and said to it, ‘Let no fruit grow on you ever again.” Immediately the fig tree withered away.

“And when the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, ‘How did the fig tree wither away so soon?’

“So Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, “Be removed and be cast into the sea,” it will be done. And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.’”

(Matthew 21:18–22)

The fig tree incident occurs the week of Christ’s passion. It is a real-time story, but it is also a parable. The fig tree, that looked healthy and like a tree that ought to have fruit but had none, is Israel. On the outside they profess a love for God, but in a few short days they will murder God’s Son. Thus the curse and the fast wither. Once Christ is rejected, Israel’s downfall will be swift and severe.

But where this fig tree withers a new sprout of fig, forever fruitbearing, will appear. When this mountain is removed by the faithful prayers of a few faithful men, it will be cast into the sea, buried and then resurrected fresh and new, and from there it will spread to fill the entire world. The old mountain upon which Jerusalem stands will be leveled, but the new mountain of God upon which is built the kingdom of heaven will be established through the Word of God and prayer in Christ’s name, and it will never fail.

You and I are figs on this new tree; we stand upon the new mountain of God. Our joy-filled purpose is to glorify God in the bearing of fruit and in the faithful praying of mountain-moving prayers ourselves.

“Thank You, dear God, for the triumph of our Lord Jesus Christ over His enemies and ours, and thank You for the triumph of the kingdom of God throughout the world. Bring Your kingdom, make us to bear the fruit of the gospel, and fill our hearts and mouths with believing prayers. We give thanks this day for the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ that makes all of this reality, and we pray in His name. Amen.”