But did you know Jesus got angry?
Jesus’ anger at those who damage children: “If you harm one of these little ones, better for you that a millstone be draped around your neck and you be dropped into the depths of the sea” (Luke 17:2).
I see Jesus get angry when Lazarus dies...right before raising him from the dead.
I see Jesus get angry at the Pharisees, and teachers of religious law.
I see Jesus rebuke Peter and say, “Get behind me Satan!” for misdirected faith...
I see Jesus get angry in the Temple...twice.
Mark 11:1-25 - Context Notes:
this is how returning kings from war entered Jerusalem. This is culturally how LEADERS entered Jerusalem, royalty! And this was the type of honor and celebration they received in return.
They FULLY EXPECTED him to go straight to the palace. Straight to the place of GOVERNMENT. They wanted to overthrow the power that had held them captive for so long, and mistreated them, and distorted their religion, and looked down on them, and enslaved them!
The hysteria was such at this time of Jesus’ ministry, that everyone would have heard about this. Cesar himself would have heard about this.
It must have been a very anti-climactic moment. They all thought a big showdown was going to happen….God would rain down fire, or walls would come crashing down...or something! But nothing happened.
They had redesigned the temple, see. In such a way, that you basically HAD to be able to pay for the BIG sacrifices to be able to get into the inner courts…Essentially, to pass to the “next level” of Jewishness, of relationship with God, of “status” in their culture, they had to pay more.
They made a very accessible God seem inaccessible to the average person. They made God seem aloof and distant and angry. They were spiritually abusing people, in the name of God. Setting standards so high, only the rich and educated could ever reach.
I now believe that the fig tree was an object lesson here, for the disciples.
Jesus was doing a couple of important things with this object lesson.
1. Jesus was displaying his power and authority over all creation.
2. Jesus was demonstrating the consequence of fruitlessness.
3. Jesus was setting parameters for His church.
4. Jesus is sending a very clear signal of what He cares about…and what He doesn’t.
If you were a tree--what fruit would you be producing?
If Jesus came and inspected you today--is there anything God could use on your tree?
Some of us are choosing greatness, over usefulness. It LOOKS green & leafy & may provide shade to one or two for a time...but it won’t last long. And it won’t sustain anyone else.
The amazing thing about fruit on a tree, is that fruit isn’t about the TREE. It really doesn’t do much for the tree itself. The roots, the leaves, they feed the tree. But the fruit isn’t about the tree…it’s about the next tree…and it’s about humanity. Feeding the life cycle. Tree are producers in the food chain.