The Gospel of John Lesson 44 (08-18-2013) John 12:17-9 (Mark 11:11-4)

The Gospel of John Lesson 44 (08-18-2013)

Lesson 44 – John 12:17-9 (Mark 11:11-4)

Those who come out to meet Jesus as He enters into the city during His Triumphal Entry do so because of the witness of those who saw Lazarus’ resurrection, John  12:17-8. In seeing the crowd go out to meet Jesus the Pharisees make remark that even with all their effort, their scheming, their plots and their plans that they are not making any ground in taking care of and discrediting this Jesus. As a matter of fact, no matter how hard they try to discredit Him it just gets worst, Jesus just gains more popularity in the peoples’ eye. Because of this they just become more united in their resolve that their only option will be to kill Him.

Jesus enters the city during His Triumphal Entry…, but it is late in the day. Mark 11:11 tells us that Jesus entered the city on that day and went into the Temple and it says that He looked around at everything that was going on in the Temple and in its courts. While He was looking at all that was going on, to be sure all eyes were also on Him as He was looking at them, watching Him, His face, His eyes and His presence in the Temple. What an interesting moment in history this must have been. There was no doubt that God, their King had arrived.

We can only imagine and wonder what He was thinking at that time. To be sure His heart must have been pondering the present state of Israel at His arrival. They were supposed to be prepared to receive their King, but they were not ready to receive Him and His offer of peace to them at all. The nation that was supposed to represent God to the world and the Temple where He, God, was supposed to reside was far from mirroring God and His righteousness and justice to the earth and its inhabitants.

But, He takes no action at that time. Being late in the day He leaves for the night going to Bethany. We can only speculate what He did that night with His disciples. We will see in John’s Gospel as we progress that at this point in His ministry and being that time was indeed short He spent much of His time in prayer and instructing His followers concerning His Kingdom and on things to come.

The next morning we see Jesus return to Jerusalem. However, as He returns something interesting happens. On His return to Jerusalem that morning He sees a fig tree afar off and the text says in Marks Gospel that being hungry He went over to it to see if it had any fruit to eat. However, even thought the tree appeared green and healthy when He got to it He found that it had no fruit. This displeased Jesus greatly and He ends up cursing the fig tree saying that no man will ever eat of it again.

Some have criticized Jesus for this action saying that He was unfair in His reprimand saying that it was not the season for its fruit. But, the reaction from the others, or actually the lack thereof, would indicate that it was not unreasonable to investigate such a desire expecting that there possibly could be something to eat on this tree. It is true that it was not the right season yet for the presence of the new figs. The text tells us this in Mk. 11:13. But, it is said that it was also the time or season where the fig tree would have no leaves and that a fig tree that still has leaves from the previous season may also still have some of its fruit making it worthy of investigation. Many scholars believe that Jesus may have been more looking for a visual example to impart truth to His followers than He was looking for something to eat.

Seeing Jesus’ reaction here with the fig tree is a good example of Jesus’ reaction to His previous day’s visit to the Jewish nation and the Temple. Most bible scholars believe that the fig tree is symbolic of the nation Israel.  To many the tree of Israel and their religious practices looked green or good, but even thought they were full of activity and the Temple looked beautiful they were baring no real fruit. Jesus gives this assessment of them in Matthew chapter 23.

As Jesus enters the city He enters the Temple showing His displeasure by turning over tables and eventually pronouncing judgment on them telling them that the Temple will be destroyed and the city will lie in ruins passing judgment on them as He did the fig tree. However, unlike the fig tree that withers and dies Israel does not die, but for a season God’s attention will be turned instead toward the Gentile nations till God’s will for the Gentile nations be fulfilled.