Cursing of the Fig Tree The next day, Jesus returned to Jerusalem, and on the way He came to a fig tree
and looked to see if it had any fruit. He found nothing on the fig tree but leaves
and cursed it by saying, "Let no fruit grow on this tree forever." Shortly
the fig tree withered away. In the Old Testament the fig tree is symbolic of
national Israel (Hosea 9:10). Israel had been given every opportunity but bore no
spiritual fruit, and were rejecting their Messiah (Matthew 21:18-22; Mark
11:12-14). The first cleansing of the temple was at the beginning of the ministry of Jesus,
in the summer of 30 A.D.. Now, once again, Jesus entered the temple and cast out
those that bought and sold animals and the things used for the sacrifices,
overturned tables of the money changers and seats of those that sold doves. He told
them they had made His house a den of thieves. The chief priests and scribes heard
about this and sought how they might kill Him because they feared the people that
listened to His teaching (Matthew 21:12-13; Mark 11:15-18). There now came some Greeks to the feast to worship, and they desired to talk with
Jesus. Jesus told the Greeks what all mankind should hear, even today. Jesus used a
grain of wheat to illustrate that it must be planted and die to produce more wheat.
Jesus was telling them that He needed to die to produce the spiritual life for all
those who believe in Him. Jesus was foretelling His death by saying that He must be
lifted up, and that He will draw all men to Himself, signifying the type of death He
would die (John 12:20-33).
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Events in the Final Week of the Life of Jesus Christ