From a Fig Tree to a Grapevine

To spring from our last lesson from the fig tree, think of the power, God’s amazing and unlimited power. Imagine witnessing it. Imagine experiencing it first hand. Imagine seeing it with your own eyes. The amazing truth is, you can.

The lesson from the fig tree does not stop with the disciples seeing Jesus demonstrate this power, but it ends with Him telling them, they can connect and use the power as well. Jesus tells them "I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer." Jesus was telling His disciples that they too have access to this amazing power. It is not their power, it comes from God. Yet, through faith and prayer, they are connected to a power that cannot be overcome.

Just a couple of days later, Jesus would reinforce this teaching and bring it full circle. John 15:5-8 relates the teachings of the vine. It is here that we realize that just as a fig tree is to produce figs, grape vines are intended to produce grapes, and we are supposed to produce works that bring glory to God. The great news is, we do not have to do these works on our own or by our own means. The power to do eternal works comes from the living God. The truth is that we have to have this connection to the vine, otherwise everything we do falls short. We have to have the source of power that comes through Jesus.

Just as He told His disciples that through faith and prayer they could be connected to this power themselves, He also helped them to see that their connection is not to some abstract idea, but to Him, and the result of that connection is good fruit. The same is true for us. Jesus is our connection to life, and as we live our lives in step with Him, the fruit begins to appear naturally, because that is what happens with good fig trees and grapevines. As we live our lives in step with Jesus, we will be empowered to do great things that bring God great glory.