He Was Hungry: The God Who Gets It
In Mark 11:12, as Jesus and the disciples were leaving Bethany, Scripture gives us four simple words that are easy to overlook: “He was hungry.”
It’s easy to fixate only on the miracles, the healings, and the deity of Jesus. But don’t rush past His humanity. In theological terms, we call this the hypostatic union—Jesus was 100% God and 100% man. He didn’t just understand our struggles from high above in heaven; He felt them in real human flesh. He knew what it was like to be physically exhausted, emotionally drained, grieved to tears, and yes—running on an empty stomach.
Hebrews 4:15 reminds us that we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses. When you feel overwhelmed, tired, or tested, Jesus isn’t looking down at you with indifference. He has walked in human shoes, and He meets you in your weakness with sustaining grace.
The Mystery of the Fig Tree
Right after noting that Jesus was hungry, Mark tells us He spotted a fig tree in full leaf from a distance and walked up to see if it had any fruit. But when He arrived, He found nothing except leaves—and Mark adds: “for it was not the season for figs.”
Skeptics and critics have wrestled with this passage for centuries, asking: Why would Jesus curse a tree for not having fruit if it wasn’t the season?
The answer lies in how fig trees in the Holy Land grow. Before the main harvest in early fall, fig trees in springtime produce small, edible buds (green, unripe fruit) before or alongside their leaves. If a fig tree is covered in lush, vibrant leaves, anyone walking by would rightfully expect to find those early buds.
The leaves were advertising fruit that simply wasn’t there. Jesus wasn’t throwing a tantrum over horticulture; He was teaching a profound lesson on discipleship. As Jesus made clear in John 15:5, whoever abides in Him will bear much fruit. When God looks at our lives, He expects to find fruit—not just an outward display of leaves.
The 3 Kinds of Fruit Jesus Expects
If Jesus comes looking for fruit in our lives, what exactly is He searching for? Scripture points to three distinct types of fruit every genuine follower of Christ is called to bear:
1. The Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22–23)
Notice that Paul calls it the fruit of the Spirit—singular, not plural. And it’s the fruit of the Spirit, not the fruit of human hustle or moral striving. By our fallen nature, we are selfish, impatient, and self-centered. You cannot manufacture genuine love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, or self-control on your own.
You find out what’s really inside a sponge when it gets squeezed. How do you respond when the barista messes up your order, traffic comes to a dead crawl, or someone rubs you the wrong way? The fruit of the Spirit is Christlike character formed in us as we remain connected to the Vine.
2. The Fruit of Good Works (Colossians 1:10)
Colossians 1:10 urges us to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, “bearing fruit in every good work.” We are not saved by our good works, but we are saved for good works. Faith without works is dead.
Good works are the outward evidence of an inward transformation:
- Serving: Using your time and talents to bless others instead of serving self.
- Generosity: Seeing a practical need and meeting it without hesitation.
- Compassion: Stepping in when people around you are hurting.
- Influence: Living in such a way that someone’s life is genuinely better because you follow Jesus.
3. The Fruit of Praise (Hebrews 13:15)
Through Jesus, we are called to “continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.”
It’s easy to praise God when the bills are paid, the fridge is stocked, the kids are healthy, and life is running on schedule. But the fruit of praise shows up when things don’t go according to plan. Can you praise Him in the middle of delays, uncertainty, and heartache? If someone listened to your conversations or scrolled through your social media posts this past week, would they hear more complaining about your circumstances, or more gratitude for God’s faithfulness?
The Markan Sandwich: Leaves vs. Reality
Mark structures this event using what biblical scholars call a “Markan sandwich”:
- Jesus curses the barren fig tree (Mark 11:12–14).
- Jesus enters Jerusalem and cleanses the temple of greed and corruption (Mark 11:15–19).
- The disciples see the fig tree completely withered from the roots up (Mark 11:20–21).
Throughout the Old Testament, the fig tree frequently symbolized the nation of Israel. The temple in Jerusalem was full of bustling religious activity, animal sales, liturgy, and crowds—it had all the leaves in the world. But when Jesus stepped inside, there was no spiritual fruit. It was outward appearance without inward reality: hypocrisy.
As 1 Corinthians 6:19 reminds us, our bodies are now temples of the Holy Spirit. Religious activity—attending church, memorizing verses, or volunteering—cannot substitute for genuine spiritual life.
What Would He Find Up Close?
Genuine faith is not what people see from a distance; it is what God finds when He examines our lives up close.
If Jesus walked up to your tree today, what would He discover? Would He find the quiet fruit of patience and kindness? Would He find hands ready to serve and lips ready to praise? Or would He find a tree full of leafy excuses?
Let’s be a people who refuse to settle for just looking good on the outside. Stay connected to the Vine, let the Holy Spirit do His pruning work, and watch real fruit begin to overflow.
Heavenly Father,
Thank You that You understand my weaknesses, my exhaustion, and the daily pressures I carry. Forgive me for the moments I settle for outward leaves—playing the part, speaking the right church language, but lacking true spiritual fruit. Holy Spirit, root out hypocrisy in my heart. Prune what doesn’t belong and produce in me love, patience, kindness, and self-control. Give me hands willing to serve others and lips that offer genuine praise, even when life doesn’t go according to my plans. May my life bear fruit that honors You.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Are you producing genuine fruit in this season, or have you just been putting on a leafy display? Take an honest look at your reactions, your conversations, and your attitude this week. Share this post with a friend or family member who needs encouragement to stay rooted in Christ—because at ONE Church, we believe No ONE Walks Alone, and we are meant to grow, bear fruit, and follow Jesus together.
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