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•12第二天，他们从伯大尼出来，耶稣饿了。13远远地看见一棵无花果树，树上有叶子，就往那里去，或者在树上可以找着什么。到了树下，竟找不着什么，不过有叶子，因为不是收无花果的时候。14耶稣就对树说：“从今以后，永没有人吃你的果子。”他的门徒也听见了。
•20早晨，他们从那里经过，看见无花果树连根都枯干了。21彼得想起耶稣的话来，就对他说：“拉比，请看！你所咒诅的无花果树已经枯干了。”
我们该如何看待这一事件?我不禁想到耶稣在路加福音13章6到9节讲的一个比喻。“6于是用比喻说：“一个人有一棵无花果树，栽在葡萄园里。他来到树前找果子，却找不着，7就对管园的说：‘看哪，我这三年，来到这无花果树前找果子，竟找不着。把它砍了吧，何必白占地土呢！’8管园的说：‘主啊，今年且留着。等我周围掘开土，加上粪，9以后若结果子便罢，不然，再把它砍了。’””耶稣在以色列百姓中间的传道事工已经有三年了。他一次又一次地向犹太人的首领作见证，证明他就是弥赛亚。他们却不相信，也没有结出悔改的果子。耶稣让无花果树枯干，作为对他们的警告，如果以色列不悔改，他们也会面临这样的审判。
这也是对我们所有人的警告。神对我们很有耐心，不愿有一人沉沦，乃愿人人都悔改(彼得后书3:9)。但是，福音给我们带来安慰，但我们不应该把神的宽容和耐心，当做我们不需要为罪悔改的借口。耶稣在比喻说的一句话一直在我的脑海里回响，“再多一年的恩典吧。如果没有果子，就把它砍了。”
我今天的祷告是神每天在我们心里动工，使我们悔改领受赦免，这样我们就可以在他的国度里活出一个结果子的生命。
祷告:主耶稣，你使无花果树枯干的行为提醒我，我不应该把你的恩典当作理所当然的，也不应该把你的怜悯当作继续犯罪的借口。求你赐给我你的圣灵，使我有一个新心和正直的灵。阿们。
Mark 11:12-14,20-21: The next day as Jesus and his disciples were leaving Bethany, they were hungry. 13 Not too far away, he saw a fig tree. It was covered with leaves. He went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves. It was not the season for figs. 14 Then Jesus said to the tree, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again!” And his disciples heard him say it. …. 20 In the morning as Jesus and his disciples walked along, they saw the fig tree. It was dried up all the way down to the roots. 21 Peter remembered. He said to Jesus, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree you put a curse on has dried up!” (NIV)
What should we make of this incident? I can’t help but think of a parable Jesus told in Luke 13.6-9. “Then he told this parable: ‘A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it but did not find any. So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’ ‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’” For three years, Jesus had been working with the people of Israel. Again and again he gave testimony to the leaders of the Jews that he was the Messiah. But they refused to believe, and they bore no fruits of repentance. Jesus dried up the fig tree as a warning against Israel and their impenitence.
It is also a warning for all of us. God is patient with us, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). But that gospel comfort doesn’t mean we should use God’s patience as an excuse to not repent of our sins daily. The words in Jesus’ parable always stick in my mind. “One more year of grace. If there is no fruit, then cut it down.”
This is a good reminder for our birthday. My prayer today is that God will work in our hearts repentance and forgiveness every day so that we may live a fruitful life in his kingdom.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, your act of withering the fig tree reminds me that I should never take your grace for granted, or use your mercy as an excuse to keep on sinning. Instead, send me your Holy Spirit to create in me a new heart and a right spirit. Amen.