“On the following day, when they came from Bethany, he was hungry. And seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to see if he could find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. And he said to it, ‘May no one ever eat fruit from you again.’ "
— [Mark 11:12-14]
“God is not interested in performances; He is after hearts that are truly His."
— A.W. Tozer
A DECEPTIVE APPEARANCE
A few weeks back my wife and I realized that we had not finished the newest season of The Chosen.
So we put the kids to bed that night, cozied up on the couch, and began to journey of season 5 through Holy week.
There was one episode in particular that has stuck with me.
All of them were excellent, but the opportunity to see one particular sequence of scenes come to life on the screen left a lasting mark.
The road from Bethany to Jerusalem was well-worn, and Jesus walked it with his disciples, His mind heavy with the weight of what He had seen the day before. He had entered the temple, His Father’s house, only to find it defiled.
It was turned into a marketplace rather than a place of worship. The outer courts, meant to be a house of prayer for all nations, had become a den of thieves.
His righteous anger burned as He overturned tables and rebuked those who had turned worship into a commodity.
The next morning, as they walked back toward Jerusalem, Jesus saw something that seemed alive, a fig tree covered in leaves. From a distance, it looked vibrant, healthy, full of promise.
He approached it, expecting to find fruit.
But there was none.
The tree was a fraud.
A fig tree produces fruit before it produces leaves. If a fig tree is in full leaf, it should also have figs. But this tree, though outwardly flourishing, was barren.
So Jesus cursed it.
And the next day, when the disciples passed by again, the tree was withered to its roots.
Dead.
Destroyed.
THE ONLY ACT OF DESTRUCTION
This is the only recorded moment in the Gospels where Jesus used His power to destroy rather than heal.
He had rebuked storms and cast out demons.
He had spoken and brought life into broken bodies, opened blind eyes, and even raised the dead.
But here, in a deliberate and sobering act, He withered the fig tree, a symbolic judgment of what He had seen in Jerusalem.
Why? Because the fig tree was no different than the temple.
The temple in all its grandeur looked alive.
From a distance, it seemed vibrant, a center of worship, a place of devotion.
But as Jesus drew near, He found it fruitless, a façade of holiness masking hearts that were far from God.
The same indictment fell on the Pharisees, who looked righteous on the outside but were inwardly corrupt.
Jesus’ warning in Matthew 23:27-28 rings just as true here:
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people's bones and all uncleanness.”
The fig tree was a picture of what happens to those who carry the appearance of life but bear no true fruit.
THE DANGER OF A FRUITLESS FAITH
The lesson is clear: Jesus takes an authentic faith seriously.
How many people today live like that fig tree?
How many wear the leaves of faith, church attendance, scripture in their bio, the right words and the right image, while bearing no actual fruit?
From a distance, they seem alive. But as you get closer, you realize it’s a veneer.
A carefully curated image of holiness with no true heart transformation.
It’s the person who speaks about Jesus but does not abide in Him.
It’s the leader who performs for a platform but neglects secret prayer.
It’s the believer who knows scripture but refuses surrender.
The Pharisees knew the Law better than anyone. They could quote scripture at length. They followed the external rules meticulously. And yet, when God Himself stood in their midst, they rejected Him.
True faith isn’t about appearances. It’s about abiding in Christ and bearing real, tangible fruit, the kind that only comes from a life surrendered to Him.
WHAT IS REAL FAITH?
Jesus told His disciples: “By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.” [John 15:8]
Fruit is the evidence of true faith.
It is not measured by external performance but by inward transformation that overflows into action. Fruit is:
A life marked by repentance. Not perfection, but a heart that is quick to turn back to God.
The fruit of the Spirit. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. [Galatians 5:22-23]
Obedience to Christ. Not just admiration of His words, but a life that follows them.
A hunger for righteousness. A deep desire to know God, to walk in holiness, and to reflect Him in all things.
Love for others. Jesus said, “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” [John 13:35]
If these things are absent, if faith is only external, the warning of the fig tree stands.
A CALL TO EXAMINE OUR LIVES
Jesus’ judgment on the fig tree is not about a single moment of barrenness, it is about a pattern of fruitlessness.
None of us produce perfect fruit all the time, but the trajectory of our lives should be one of growth. A tree deeply rooted in Christ will bear fruit in season. [Psalm 1:3]
Take an honest look at your life. If Jesus walked up to you today, would He find only leaves?
Would He find an outward image of faith with no inward transformation?
Or would He find real, abiding fruit, evidence of a heart surrendered to Him?
A FINAL CHARGE
Jesus is not after empty religion.
He is not impressed by appearances.
He is after hearts that are truly His.
Let us not be content with looking the part.
Let us not settle for a faith that impresses from a distance but is empty up close.
Instead, let us abide in Christ, root ourselves deeply in Him, and bear fruit that lasts.
The world does not need more people who look spiritual.
It needs men and women who walk with God, who overflow with His love, who bear fruit that nourishes those around them.
So be that person. Live a life that isn’t just covered in leaves but bears fruit that remains.
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