Not long before Jesus went to the cross, He destroyed a fig tree (Mark 11:12-14, 20-26). In the midst of journeying toward Jerusalem where the most significant moment in history would take place, this encounter might seem to hold little significance. Yet, on His way, Jesus did condemn a tree. “Seeing at a distance a fig tree in leaf, He went to see if perhaps He would find anything on it; and when He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. He said to it, ‘May no one ever eat fruit from you again!’ And His disciples were listening” (Mark 11:13-14). Later, Jesus and His followers returned, and the tree was “withered from the roots up” (Mark 11:20).
At this point, Jesus used the dead tree as a lesson about prayers of faith. This was an opportunity for insight concerning the dimensions and the power of prayer. But before that when He first confronted the tree, the issue at hand was something else. The issue at hand was a tree failing as a tree. For Jesus, this was not a simple outburst of frustration. Fueled by anger, Jesus would soon enter the temple and carry out some extreme renovation in order to make a point (Mark 11:15). His displeasure toward the tree also had a purpose. When He first approached the fig tree, He was not pleased when He discovered it was missing a key element, figs. Apparently, leaves alone do not a tree make, but Jesus’ disapproval certainly had a deeper level. This was not an agricultural issue. As always, Jesus’ focus was on souls. So, it is no great leap to suggest that the tree was being compared to a person. God often established this parallel. He used David to describe a righteous man as “a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season and its leaf does not wither” (Psalm 1:3). This also brings to mind the drastic implications John presented to the unrepentant. “And he answered and said to him, ‘Let it alone, sir, for this year too, until I dig around it and put in fertilizer; and if it bears fruit next year, fine; but if not, cut it down’” (Luke 13:8-9). There were certain expectations concerning this tree.
If expectations were not met, there was a limit to the time allowed for it to do what trees are supposed to do—produce fruit. Anyone who followed Christ would be expected to live a life that produced “fruit.” This is what defines a tree: “you will know them by their fruits” (Matt. 7:16-18). The lesson here is that people are defined in the same way, and the ultimate fate of a person is determined by what is produced by his life. “Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire” (Matt. 7:19). Another lesson is being ready in season and out of season. The tree was out of season (Mark 11:13). We need to be ready even out of season (1 Tim. 4:2; Titus 3:1; Luke 12:40).