Prayer: "Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!"(Psalm 139:23-24)
Read: Matthew 21:18-23:39 and 26:1-5 (This is long, but go for an overall sense of the themes.)
Barnabas, our missionary friend in Thailand, is a tree expert (and of plants, in general). He used to walk on foot all over the forests of Thailand and Burma and can now name trees and their vast culinary and medicinal purposes. It is quite impressive! Now, there are lots of ways to identify different kinds of trees, but one of the easiest (especially for someone ignorant like me) is to identify them by their fruit. The same is true of people - people are identified by the fruit they bear. To be clear, the Bible absolutely teaches that we are saved by grace alone through faith alone (Eph. 2:8-10; Rom. 3:28, 5:1, 11:6; Gal. 2:16; Titus 3:5). But, the Bible is also clear that good works are the evidence of that saving faith (Jam. 2:14-24; Matt. 5:16; Heb. 6:10; 1 John 5:13). So, what kind of fruit are you bearing?
Our reading starts with a strange encounter between Jesus and this figless fig tree. What is happening here? The tree looks like it should have good fruit but it doesn't have any. So, Jesus curses it?! This sets the scene for a number of accounts between Jesus and the religious leaders. These leaders look like they should have good fruit, but what kinds of fruit do they have? They repeatedly challenge Jesus. We also read several parables where He lays out the kinds of fruit they have. The tension rises in Chapter 23 as Jesus lists seven "woes" of evidence against them. Ultimately, these leaders respond in 26:1-5 with the worst fruit - they plot to kill Him. What fruit am I bearing in response to Christ?
The goodness of the Gospel cannot be fully appreciated without facing the bad news. To enjoy the celebration of the Resurrection, we must take some repentant self-reflection. It is my sin that led Jesus to the cross. Where do I challenge Jesus' authority (21:23, 22:17, 22:28, 22:36)? Am I the son who obeysor just the son that saysI will obey (21:31)? Am I a wretched tenant who refuses to hand over the Master's vineyard (21:39)? Am I an irreverent wedding guest who isn't dressed properly (22:11)? Jesus declared His "woe" evidence against the hypocrisy of the leaders; do any apply to me? Am I a white-washed tomb (23:27)? Or conversely, is there enough evidence to "convict me of being a Christian"? The glorious reality is that even as we fail our Lord, He offers us forgiveness. He offers us the Cross to remind us of the weight of our guilt for which He has already paid. His Resurrection provides the means to make us a brand-new creation - to bear new fruit. So, bear fruit in accordance with whom He is making you to be!
Reflection Questions:
In line with the above questions, what kind of fruit are you consistently bearing? Is there enough evidence to "convict you of being a Christian"?
Confess any bad fruit in your life. Repent and move forward. Praise Him for the reality that you "are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." (Eph. 2:10).