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Two events appear to have occurred on Monday. The cursing of an unfruitful fig tree and the cleansing of the Temple for, what may have been, the third time.
First, the fig tree. We have here a lesson in works. Remember that Jesus never did anything unless it was a teaching experience for His Disciples. Here He was teaching them to be faithful to their commission.
Notice, He was hungry. We sometimes in the midst of all the miracles, forget that he was human and got hungry like every one else. He had very little money and often had to rely on food found along the way. Looking ahead, He sees what appears to be a healthy fig tree. It had a good growth of leaves and one would assume, that it had a good growth of fruit but upon close examination, it had no fruit.
Usually Christ used His power to heal and bless, but this time, He cursed the unfruitful fig tree. Notice the lesson that Jesus was trying to teach the Disciples. First, "fruit" will be expected from those who have the "leaves" of religion. Secondly, His expectations are often not evident in the Christian. Thirdly, the neglected command to bear fruit soon becomes the curse that no fruit will ever come from you. Finally, a false profession no matter how sincere it seems on the outside, will bear no fruit.
Notice the fig tree withered at once and the Disciples were amazed. How did He do this? He had raised the dead, healed the lame, caused the blind to see, but this power that he exercised over nature seemed to amaze them. But Jesus assured them that they could do the same, yes, even greater things, if they had faith and never doubted. "Whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive".
So the lesson is two fold. Use those God given talents or loose them and never cease to believe in the power of prayer.
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