HE WEPT OVER THE CITY. Luke tells us how Jesus was moved when He got a kind of panoramic view of the city. “And when He was come near, He beheld the city, and wept over it, Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes. For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side, And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation” (Luke 19:41-44).

               He knew that in just a few days He was going to lay down His life in this city. Yet, He also knew that they had absolutely failed to respond properly to Him – Triumphal entry or not. He cried when He saw the city, because the people had not recognized what “belonged” to them. What is more, now they would be blinded, so they would not be able to see the fulfillment of the promise made to Abraham, which had been brought within their grasp. God would pour out the spirit of deep sleep upon them (Isa 29:10), because they did not know “the time” of their “visitation” – the time when their Savior was coming to them.

               Luke provides some remarkable details concerning the coming destruction of Jerusalem. The enemy would dig a trench around the city, building “an embankment” against it. ^NIV This would allow them to simply walk over the high walls that surrounded Jerusalem. By surrounding the city, they would “hem” ^NASB them in on every side, making any escape unlikely. They would level the city, leaving no stone on top of another. Later Jesus referred to this judgment as “the desolation” (Lk 21:20). The Temple itself would be utterly destroyed in this judgment (Matt 24:2). Matthew records Jesus saying that the condition would continue until the Jews would say, “Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord” (Matt 23:37).

               Behold how rejection affects the Savior! He weeps! Yet, that is not the end of the matter. A fierce judgment would come upon Jerusalem because they rejected their Messiah. In a little less than forty years, Roman armies would encompass the city, and in due time would utterly destroy it. Let those who linger, hesitating to yield to Jesus, consider this word.

               WITNESSES OF LAZARUS’ RESURRECTION BARE RECORD. John provides another detail that took place at this time. “The people therefore that was with Him when He called Lazarus out of his grave, and raised him from the dead, bare record. For this cause the people also met Him, for that they heard that He had done this miracle” (John 12:18). Much of the interest in Jesus was sparked by the testimony of those who witnessed the resurrection of Lazarus from the dead – an event that took place not long before this. Notice that the witness was not of what they themselves thought of Jesus, but of what He had done. This is the sanctifying element in all valid testimony.

               THE PHARISEES RESPOND. Everyone was not glad to see Jesus come to Jerusalem – even if He made an entrance in a lowly and humbly manner. John reports, “The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing? behold, the world is gone after Him” (John 12:19). All of their efforts to suppress an interest in Jesus had failed. He was greater than their opposition. His works dwarfed both their claims and their efforts. It is good for the people of God to reckon on this still being the impact of Jesus. When He is actually at work among His people, He will attract the attention of others – both friends and foes.

HE ENTERS INTO THE TEMPLE OF GOD AND DEPARTS

                “ ¹¹ And Jesus entered . . . into the temple: and when He had looked round about upon all things, and now the eventide was come . . . ¹² And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, He was hungry: ¹³ And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, He came, if haply He might find any thing thereon: and when He came to it, He found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet.” (Mark 11:12-13).

               JESUS WENT INTO THE TEMPLE OF GOD Upon entering into Jerusalem, Jesus went into the Temple. He did not go to the market place, or where the common people congregated. Instead, he went to what He called, “My Father’s house” (John 2:16). Matthew says of this occasion, “And Jesus went into the temple of God . . .” (Matt 21:12a). The despot Herod had built this Temple, taking forty-six years to do so (John 2:20). Yet, it was a place identified with God Almighty. It was the place where Jesus was dedicated as an infant (Lk 2:27). It was the place where He was about His Father’s business when but twelve years old (Lk 2:46). The gold that adorned this Temple did not make it what it was, but the Temple “sanctified the gold” (Matt 23:17). Jesus had taught in the Temple (John 7:14), even on a daily basis (Matt 26:55; Lk 19:47). Now He returns to the Temple again.

               It is stated that Jesus “looked round about on all things,” perusing the Temple, those who were there at the time, and the activities going on. This is the Divine manner, to begin judgment with the house of God (1 Pet 4:17). In His action we also see the principle revealed to John being lived out. “And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein” (Rev 11:1). The events that will follow the next day confirm that this is exactly what Jesus was doing – measuring the Temple and the worshipers. This is not the kind of Jesus that is being proclaimed today. It is, however, the Jesus who saves and with whom men must be acquainted.

               ON THE MORROW, HE WAS HUNGRY. The next day, “in the morning,” Jesus and His disciples left Bethany and “returned to the city.” On the way back Jesus “was hungry.” Matthew says, “He hungered” (Matt 21:18). One might wonder why Jesus was “hungry” on this occasion, yet not during the forty days during which He fasted at the beginning of His ministry. Of that occasion, it is written, “afterward He was hungry” ^NKJV (Matt 4:2). Again, when He spoke with the Samaritan woman at the well of Jacob, His returning disciples marveled that He was not hungry. At that time He told them, “I have meat to eat that ye know not of” (John 4:32). How is it that He is hungry now?

               Although the answer to this question is not told, it seems to confirm that He did not spend the night with Mary and Martha, who were accustomed to feeding Him. He probably had spend the night in prayer and fasting, readying Himself for what He would do on this day. At any rate, however one chooses to view this text, it does accent the humanity of Jesus. This was part of Him humbling Himself and becoming a servant. We also learn that the diminishment of His appetite was in direct proportion His immediate involvement in necessary and ordained tasks. All of His activities did not have equal weight. None of them allowed for sin or foolishness.

               THE SIGHT OF THE FIG TREE. Being hungry, Jesus was quick to see a fig tree “afar off” that was “in the way,” or “by the road” on which they were traveling. One version reads “a lone fig tree,” indicating that it was not one of many, but was standing by itself. He came to the tree “if perhaps He would find something on it.” ^NKJV

               Having arrived at the tree, Jesus “found nothing but leaves” – only appearance, no fruit. From a distance, all leafed out, the tree looked as though it would have some fruit, but it did not. Matthew says He found “leaves only,” perhaps lifting branches here and there in quest of some sweet morsel (Matt 21:19).

               Mark then adds, “for the time of figs was not yet.” This does not necessarily mean that this was not the time for figs to be expected – that they were out of season, or that it was not possible for them to grow at this time. That ought to be clear from the expectation of the Savior. He is not austere, and does not expect fruit unless it is possible. There are three more plausible explanations, and any or all of them can be true. First, the “time of figs” could mean the time of gathering, or harvesting, the figs. In that case, there should have been more figs than usual on the tree, for none of them would have been reaped. The second is that there was some kind of circumstance at that time during which not many figs were growing any place. Yet, because this tree was all leafed out, it looked as though it would have some figs even under such dire circumstances. Third, there was such a thing as “untimely figs” (Rev 6:13) – figs that lingered from the winter and could have been eaten even though it was not the normal time for figs. In any case, Jesus was in order expecting figs to be on the tree, else He would not have expected them. There are some who have never seen Jesus as One who expects anything. They see Him only as a sort of glorified servant, to give them their desires.

THE WITHERING OF THE FIG TREE

               “ ¹⁴ And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. And His disciples heard it” (Mark 11:14).

               Jesus has just encountered a fig tree that was not what it appeared to be. How does Jesus respond to such a circumstance? Is He willing to accept the tree just as it is. Will He settle for the fact that, under normal circumstances it might not have been in order to gather figs at this time? If this is the idea one has of the Savior, this account will be especially helpful.

               THE WITHERING OF THE FIG TREE. Think of the sobering words Jesus spoke: “Let no one eat fruit from you ever again!” ^NKJV Here was a single occasion taking place at a single point in time, and, for that tree, it impacted all of the rest of time. At this precise point, when Jesus inspected the tree for fruit and found none, He judged the tree, making it impossible for any person ever to eat a fig from it again. If He could not eat fruit from it, no other man would ever do so. Matthew has Jesus saying that the tree would never grow another fig: “and [He] said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever” (Matt 21:19a). That very moment, for all practical purposes, it stopped being a fig tree. This tree had been created by Jesus, yet had nothing to satisfy His hunger. It stands as a mighty parable in nature.

               HIS DISCIPLES HEARD IT. Here was a lesson that was necessary for the disciples to learn, and Jesus will have considerable to say about this event later. Suffice it to say, this was not an accidental hearing. It was deliberate, for the disciples had an intense interest in what Jesus said. They had learned by experience that Jesus never babbled or uttered pointless words.

               There is a form of Christianity in our land that lulls people into a kind of spiritual sleep. They are not alert, and do not pick up on what Jesus is both saying and doing. Some have been swept into a domain of entertainment, where their minds shut out anything and everything that is not directed specifically at them. That is a most dangerous position to be in, for it renders the individual unteachable. Like Jerusalem, such people will miss their visitation.

               THE MIND OF CHRIST. Here we see Jesus’ attitude toward appearances that are deceptive, and do not yield what is expected. Whether it is a person or a church, when the appearance of significant advancement is there, it is serious beyond measure for that advancement to be lacking. That fig tree was like the city of Jerusalem, and the Temple within it. If was also like many professing Christians and seemingly successful churches – “nothing but leaves.” Nothing of substance is found. There is nothing that is satisfying to the Lord Himself – no gratification of seeing something “well done.”

               In Christ Jesus, we have been created to “bring forth fruit unto God” (Rom 7:4). Do men think that when the Lord scans the inhabitants of the earth, he is not looking for someone who will please Him? In Noah’s day, there was only one fig on earth’s social tree, and God found it: “Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.” There were also the “untimely figs” of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, and David – and the Lord reaped them all. They also were pleasing to the Lord, and therefore He has given us much information about them.

               There have also been whole generations that, like this fig tree, were “nothing but leaves.” Jesus spoke of a generation that would be judged by the Queen of Sheba and Nineveh, because they bore no fruit to Him (Matt 12:41-42). Serious people ponder our own time, and what Jesus is or is not finding within it. Is it a leafy generation or a fruitful one? Is it a generation that yields pleasing fruit to God, Or is it a useless one? The inspection of Jesus will reveal it all.

               THE TREE BEGAN TO WITHER IMMEDIATELY. Matthew tells us that the words of Jesus began to take place immediately “And presently the fig tree withered away” (Mat 21:19). The withering process was not accomplished immediately. Mark will tell us that it was not thoroughly dried up until the next morning (Mk 11:20) – but the process started instantly.

               At this point, it was not possible to revive that fig tree. It was in a state of dying, and could not be retrieved. It was to trees what reprobates are to people – irretrievable. It had come to a state where there could be no digging and dunging. Its potential usefulness was terminated immediately.

               Peter says there are men who are likened to “natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed” – “born only to be caught and destroyed” ^NIV (2 Pet 2:12). We are not able to identify such souls, and we ought not exhaust ourselves trying to do so. However, they do exist, and Jesus will destroy them, just as surely as He did this fig tree. It is our business to see to it that we do not fall into the category of having “nothing but leaves.” If it seems as though these things are too hard, then we must lean close to Jesus and hear Him speak with clarity. “He that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without Me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in Me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned” (John 15:5-6).

               Just as surely as that fig tree was in the path on which Jesus was journeying, so every man will eventually confront the Christ. When that day comes, the Lord will be looking for fruit, just as He was that day as He returned to Jerusalem. May He find fruit in you!