The tree of life
‘The next morning as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. He noticed a fig tree in full leaf a little way off, so he went over to see if he could find any figs. But there were only leaves because it was too early in the season for fruit. Then Jesus said to the tree, “May no one ever eat your fruit again!” And the disciples heard him say it.’
Mark 11:12-14 (NLT)
I was instantly reminded of the tree of life and the tree of good and evil in the garden of Eden. There in the centre of the garden grew this tree of good and evil, but it was the one thing that was off limits. There were all sorts of trees available such as the tree of life, but not this one tree; it brought death (Genesis 2:8-9; 3:15-17). Wouldn’t you want to eat of the tree of life and not go near this tree of death? So, what possessed Eve and Adam (Adam was willing as well no matter his excuse to God) to even touch this tree? There is a tree called the manchineel tree which is the most dangerous tree on the planet; it can leave you with blisters if you touch it and death is the result of eating its fruit. Death came from the tree of good and evil; physically and spiritually. Spiritually, because they rejected God with the eating of its fruit. I wonder did Jesus have this tree in mind when he cursed the fig tree? Or was it because the leaves of the fig tree were used as a covering when Eve and Adam hid from God? I will have to wait for his answer.
A tree came between God and mankind. Yes, Satan had a hand in this as well. but this tree determined the destiny of mankind. There are a lot of things placed before our eyes and whispered in our ears, but we have the power to choose what is right and what is wrong. This is called free will. God gave mankind free will, but it came with its dangers. Knowing this, God prepared for the choices we would make. This came in the form of another tree, the tree of life. Jesus is our tree of life. On a tree [the cross] Jesus would die and there remove our sins once and forever (1 Peter 2:24). His blood would spill on this tree, and the blood of Jesus is our healing, our forgiveness, and our salvation (1 John 1:7; Hebrews 9:14-15; Revelation 1:5). Jesus is our life.
I do not know what went through the mind of Jesus when he cursed the fig tree. Only Jesus can give us this information. In Jesus, we are again offered access to the tree of life (Revelation 22:14), but first access to the tree of good and evil has to be removed. Jesus came between the curse and our death, and he removed our sin with its punishment; becoming a curse for us (Galatians 3:13). With his own blood on that tree, he paid the price for us, and now we may rise with him into life; his life. Adam and Eve lost faith in God when they took the fruit of the tree of good and evil and ate it. Jesus came and he restored the way to this relationship. When asked about the death of the fig tree, Jesus told them to “Have faith in God” (Mark 11:22). Once again through Jesus, faith is restored!
Prayer
Merciful Father, we thank you for the precious gift of your Son, we thank you Jesus for giving us your all on that tree, we thank you Spirit for dwelling in us and helping us to understand the love of God. In Jesus’s name, Amen.
Study by Anne Gillam
Anne Gillam is a retired Pastor in Grace Communion International, Klamath Falls, Oregon, USA.
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