The Gospel of Mark: Cursing the Fig Tree

On the following day, when they came from Bethany, (Jesus) was hungry. Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to see whether perhaps he would find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. He said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard it. ~ Mark 11:12-14


There is a dilemma I face as a devotional writer who is writing devotionals from a whole book of scripture.

Sometimes a passage will be inconvenient in where it pops up! This is one of them.

It is not a passage meant to be read on its own. Yet, the part that ties directly to it comes after the next passage. 

So what to do?

I'll come back to it next week. In the meantime, allow yourself to be troubled and puzzled by this uncharacteristic scene of Jesus and an unassuming fig tree.

Sit with the discomfort rather than try to figure it out or explain it. Simply sit with it.


Holy God, thank you for the gospel - the good news - of your Son. Open my mind and heart to this good news and enliven me with your Spirit of servanthood that I might share this good news with a world in need. Amen

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