The Only Destructive Miracle of Jesus

The miracles of Jesus are sometimes viewed as transformational miracles, like when He turned the water into wine (John 2:1 – 12); restorative miracles, like when He restored the health of the woman with the issue of blood (Mark 5:25 – 34); multiplication miracles, like when He multiplied the five loaves and two fish and fed 5,000 (Matthew 14:13 – 21, Mark 6:32 – 44, Luke 9:10 – 17, John 6:1 – 13); and the one destructive miracle, when Jesus cursed the fig tree and killed it because it leaves but no fruit (Mark 11:12 – 26).

This destructive miracle is seen in the context of Jesus cleansing the Temple, the only violent activity of Jesus. Together, they taught a powerful truth about the necessity of faith.

Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey a few days before Passover with shouts of “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” This is from Psalm 118, the Psalm Israel sang during the feast of Tabernacles, in late October, when they came to believe that the Messiah would come into Jerusalem to conquer and rule the earth. This Psalm was central for their understanding of the coming of Messiah, as was the feast of Tabernacles. But Jesus came into Jerusalem as King and Messiah at Passover, not Tabernacles. He came early! Hold that thought.

As Jesus came riding into Jerusalem, amid palm branches (Tabernacle materials) and praises, He entered the Temple, looked around, and left. Some may have thought this to be somewhat anticlimactic. The following day, however, as Jesus was on His way back into Jerusalem, it says, “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.’ And his disciples heard it.” Mark 11:13 – 14.

Then, as He entered the Temple, came the only violent activity of Jesus, when He drove out the merchants and overturned the tables of the money-changers. And it says that He was teaching them, saying “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it a den of robbers.” 11:17. This did not go over very well with the religious leaders, but the crowd was amazed at His teaching.

The next paragraph explains the two events and how they are connected. “As they passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered away to its roots. And Peter remembered and said to him, ‘Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered.’ And Jesus answered them, ‘Have faith in God.’” 11:20 – 22. Jesus went on to teach them about speaking to mountains and watching them be thrown into the sea, and asking in prayer with faith and receiving, and forgiving one another, and being forgiven by the Father.

This powerful teaching on faith reveals the heart of the Father in His word concerning the removal of the mountain of sin in our lives, through the word of faith, and seeing God cast it into the sea. It teaches the central element of prayer, which is faith, first hearing what God says, then asking Him for what He wants to give. It teaches God’s way of forgiveness, by forgiving for His glory.

These events also teach the arresting truth of what happens in a life without faith in God; it withers and dies, violently and quickly. The Father sent His Son, Jesus, so that you might have faith in Him. And it pleases Him when He finds faith in you, because He can see Himself in your faith. God is faithful and He is looking for faith in our lives. Without faith there will be a sudden and violent end, without an end.

And remember, Jesus may come back early, at a time you are not expecting Him! Be ready by having faith in Christ, today. This is what it means to worship the Father in spirit and truth.