The Curse of Christ

 

Matthew 21:18-20 (KJV)

18 Now in the morning as he returned into the city, he hungered. 19 And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away. 20 And when the disciples saw it, they marvelled, saying, How soon is the fig tree withered away!

 

This parable stands apart from all the miracles Christ performed as recorded in the Bible.

 

John 21:25 (KJV) And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.

 

So, we know that Jesus did a lot miracles. The reason why this miracle stands alone is it is the only one recorded where when Jesus touched it, instead of bringing life, it brought death.

 

Think about it tonight, this miracle was about taking something that was alive and killing it. Critics of Christ point to this miracle and try to criticize Jesus saying He acted impulsive and showed impatience when He cursed this tree.

 

But they overlook several key facts.

 

1. They are acknowledging that He had the power to wither the tree. In their acknowledgement, they caused us to look up to Him and His power.

2. Every action of Christ was deliberate. He never acted out of impulse. That would have made been Him weak, out of control and very much a sinful human.

3. All His action set forth as an example or a truth that we must learn.

 

Malachi 3:6 (KJV) For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.

 

Hebrews 13:8 (KJV) Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

 

Everything Jesus did had a divine reason.

 

Sometimes, we get caught up in this world and forget that it’s not our home. We’re just passing through; our home is laid up somewhere beyond the blue.

 

We forget sometimes that we’re not in control of our destiny, but He is. We often take for granted that He’s watching over us.

 

Jesus himself said these words:

 

Matthew 10:29-31 (KJV)

29 Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. 30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.

 

Can I preach to somebody? God is looking out for you! He cares about your future! He’s concerned with your destiny!

 

There’s time when God intervenes in our life and we don’t even know it’s happening. Sometimes, what seems like our biggest curse is our biggest blessing in disguise.

 

That’s why this miracle of the withering fig tree is not about God getting upset, or showing the disciples and the people that followed Him that he had the power to destroy things.

 

This miracle is about the future. More importantly, it’s about our future; your future.

 

It’s About Judgement

 

He chose a soulless tree to execute His judgment. He chose a tree to show the people that there will be a day that you will have to stand before me in judgement. This includes believers. They have forgotten that they will one day stand before Him. It will not be the question of salvation. It will be to answer for their life since they were saved.

 

One of the key areas will be faithfulness.

 

2 Corinthians 5:10 (KJV) For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

 

Matthew 25:21 (KJV) His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

 

Revelation 20:10-15 (KJV)

10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. 11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

 

Mark 11:13 (KJV) 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.

 

The word “haply” doesn’t mean happily. It means to draw a conclusion. Here was a perfectly healthy looking fruit tree with its leaves. When a fig tree has leaves on it, which shelter ripe fruit from direct sunlight; there must be fruit.

 

There’s a great lesson to learn here; the Lord isn’t looking for the lost to produce fruit, he’s expecting the saved people to.

 

John 15:5 (KJV) I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

How fruitless the church can be at times… Things can look fruitful, yet have no substance. We can have regrets without repentance, opinions without faith, and make resolutions without producing actions.

 

This has led to people making reformations, without regeneration.

 

In this miracle of the fig tree, God is reminding His followers I am the judge.

 

One of the peculiarities of this tree is that the fruit comes before the leaves.

 

No other fruit tree that I know does this. Apple, pear, or peach trees have their leaves come on first and then you see the flower and then the fruit thereon.

 

This tree was sick or it would have had fruit. If our church does not produce fruit, then it is sick.

 

What a burden that should lay on our hearts!

 

Luke 19:10 (KJV) For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

 

We must pray that God will give us fruit, help us be fruitful, and multiply.

 

That we would have a greater hunger for the lost. A thirst to see somebody’s life changed forever. A burden for our youth and children.

 

That must be our prayer. That we would do everything we can to produce fruit in our lives.

 

But I believe there is even a greater reason for the cursing of the fig tree.

 

Matthew 21:19 (KJV) And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away.

 

Notice that Jesus was going somewhere. Not wandering, but He was on a mission to go back into the city.

“And when he saw a fig tree in the way…”

It was in the way of His path into the city and there was no fruit on it, so He cursed it and it withered away.

 

Why couldn’t He just put fruit on the tree? Can I preach to somebody.

 

Are you ready.? He did it because it was in the way. God saw something that wasn’t fruitful and killed it. Honey, there are things tonight that God has removed out of your life, because it got in the way.

 

You’re here tonight because God withered some things that were trying to stop you from moving forward. You’re here tonight because there were some things that were not producing good fruit in your life and God killed them.

 

It wasn’t about God showing His disciples that He not only had the power to restore but kill, it was about showing them when things in your life aren’t producing fruit and they get in the way, they need to wither away or they will become a roadblock for you.

 

Do you know why we’re still living for God? Because there were things God moved out of our lives that we didn’t even know would get in the way. There are some folks tonight that are struggling with things because those things are in the way.

 

In the way of the will of God for your life. In the way of your relationship of God. In the way of your future. In the way of your destiny.

 

And God is trying to move them out of your life. The reason why some struggle so much to live for God is they are still trying to attach themselves to the things God has already cursed.