Lenten Reader | Day 27

March 20th, 2026

The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. Then he said to the tree, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard him say it.

On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. And as he taught them, he said, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’”

The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard this and began looking for a way to kill him, for they feared him, because the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching.

When evening came, Jesus and his disciples went out of the city.

In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots. Peter remembered and said to Jesus, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!”

“Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. “Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”

They arrived again in Jerusalem, and while Jesus was walking in the temple courts, the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders came to him. “By what authority are you doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave you authority to do this?”

Jesus replied, “I will ask you one question. Answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. John’s baptism—was it from heaven, or of human origin? Tell me!”

They discussed it among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’ But if we say, ‘Of human origin’ …” (They feared the people, for everyone held that John really was a prophet.)

So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.”

Jesus said, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.”

Mark 11:12-33

Bear Fruit

Let’s set the stage for this story: Jesus and the disciples walk by a beautiful, leafy fig tree. Jesus is hungry. The fig tree has no fruit. Jesus “curses” the tree. On the surface, this seems like very uncharacteristic behavior from Jesus. Why this behavior from the Son of God? Given its appearance, the tree should be producing fruit, but there is none. It is putting on a show with a strong trunk, stout branches and healthy leaves. It looks good, but there is no fruit. The same could be said true of Israel at the time. There were many people talking the talk, but not walking the walk. They were dressed up as followers, but they were not bearing the fruit of true righteousness and belief in the Messiah.

This is followed by Jesus going to the Temple and showing his displeasure for what has been occurring in the Temple. Again, the Israelites were saying one thing but not carrying out their faith in the Temple as it was intended.

As we don our Sunday best for Easter, are we like the Fig tree ready to bear fruit but not producing any results despite our outward appearance? Or do our actions match our appearance as we honor God on a daily basis? God doesn’t want us to be all show with no substance. Praise God from Who all Blessings flow!

Lee Snyder