Bypassed Opportunities

The Moody Church ^ | Dr. Erwin W. Lutzer

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You’ve all heard the words of John Greenleaf Whittier, “The saddest words of tongue or pen are simply these, ‘It might have been.’”

When Jesus entered Jerusalem on what we call Palm Sunday, it represented one of the greatest opportunities for the nation Israel. But unfortunately, it ended in failure.

Christ always found Himself at odds with the establishment. And He did nothing that would make Him more acceptable to the religious elite. When He rode into Jerusalem to the cries of “Hosannah” on the part of the multitude, He was, in effect, precipitating a popular demonstration. The religious leaders had decided that He should be put to death, but they wanted to do it after the feast. However, the Old Testament had predicted that Christ would be put to death during the feast. So Christ, in effect, offered Himself to the nation, forcing a quick decision on the part of official religion.

But after Christ came to Jerusalem that day, He looked around the temple area then retired to the town of Bethany. The next morning, He returned to Jerusalem and performed two acts which are often thought to be out of character: He cursed the fig tree; and He cleansed the temple.

Perhaps the most troubling event in the account of the entry into Jerusalem is the cursing of the fig tree. We wonder (a) why He treated the tree as if it were a moral agent. It’s like blaming a tire if it goes flat. Furthermore, (b) how could He have expected figs from it when Mark expressly says, “It was not the time for figs?” And why does He walk toward the tree expecting to find something to eat? If He was the Son of God, surely He would know that it did not have figs.

The answer to these objections is that Jesus was using this as a parable, an illustration of the nation Israel. Of course, He knew that the tree was not to be blamed for not having figs. He was, however, using this object that lacked consciousness as a vivid reminder of what would happen to the nation. The fig tree is often used as an illustration of Israel. As God, Christ could do whatever He wished to a tree, and if He wanted to use it as an object lesson, so be it.

Why did Christ go toward the tree expecting to find something? There were times when Christ obviously exercised His gift of omniscience; He even knew the hearts of men. But there were other times when it seems as if Christ refused to depend upon His attributes of deity and lived just as man, so we should not be surprised that Mark presents Christ as going to the tree expecting to find something to eat. Perhaps He, at least, expected small buds on the tree that were edible, for these precede the figs. At any rate, we have to believe the story as it stands.

In this vivid way, Christ was showing contempt for the nation that took its privileges for granted. In the face of great opportunity, the nation squandered its privileges. How did it do this? In at least three ways.

First, it abused the will of God. When Christ speaks about expecting to find some fruit, He represents God Who expected the nation to show forth His life. He wanted to rule in the hearts and minds of people so that they would display His own character. But the Jews were too busy accentuating the outward, and neglecting the inner life.

We all take advantage of the fact that people see only the outside of us, and not what is within. We put on our best clothes because we know that people will judge us by our appearance. While people look on the outward appearance, it is the Lord that looks upon the heart. And that’s where God wants us to know Him, in the inner parts of the mind and heart.

In fact, if you as a Christian are not bearing fruit, as far as Christ is concerned, you have no reason to live. Remember Christ’s parable of the vine and the branches? He says, “If a man abides not in Me, he is cast forth as a branch and is withered, and men cast them into a fire, and they are burned.” Why are the fruitless branches burned? Because they have squandered their right to exist. Above everything else, God wants fruit — the outward expression of His own inner nature.

And what did Christ find when He came to the fig tree? Leaves. Leaves that looked impressive, and deceived the traveler, but no fruit. Just empty show, that’s all. The trap that the nation had fallen into was deceptive and neglected the most important aspect of life. What a wasted opportunity!

Second, the nation abused the witness of God. Here we come to Christ’s cleansing of the temple. What was going on in the outer courtyard? The atmosphere was like that of a bazaar. In Exodus 30, God requested that everyone who went to Jerusalem take a poll tax of one-half shekel, whether rich or poor. And it was to be paid in the currency of the nation.

So when people came from Egypt, or from Greece, or wherever, they had to exchange their money for the coinage of Jerusalem. So the Jews provided an opportunity for such exchanges. This was a fine service that was afforded the people, but the exchange rate was unfair. The people of the temple were making money by cheating the worshippers.

Furthermore, the Jews were to bring a sacrifice, either a lamb or some pigeons. The priest was to make sure that the lamb was worthy, without blemish. Often the lamb was disqualified on a technicality, so people were forced to buy one on site that met the standard ... at a healthy price, of course. After the worshipper was gone, the priest would turn around and sell the one that he brought ... to somebody else. This angered Christ.

Of course, the worship continued. The poll tax was paid; the lambs and turtle doves continued to be sacrificed. But commercialism had gripped the hearts of the people and had become a stumbling block to those who should have been eager to worship God.

Where was all this happening? In the court of the Gentiles, the place especially designated for foreigners so that they could observe the worship of God from a distance. When Solomon dedicated his temple to the Lord, he prayed that the foreigners, the Gentiles, would also be able to come to the temple to pray and to be received by God. This was to be the area where missionary work was to take place. And what had it become? A place filled with people whose minds were consumed with the love of money.

It’s easy for us to be interested in missions, particularly the people who are in the far-flung countries of the world. Yet, like the Jews of old, we may support foreign missions but bypass the opportunities that lay on our doorstep. We may be a stumbling block to people in our community, even though we profess an interest in winning the world to Christ. Jesus said that the temple was to be a place for “all nations.” Clearly, the witness of the Jews to the greatness of Jehovah had long since become a mockery.

So the nation failed, not only because it frustrated the will of God, but also abused the witness of God. No longer could people come and find a clear witness to Jehovah and His power. No wonder Jesus wept over Jerusalem!

Finally, the Jews also profaned the worship of God. Christ said, “My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations ... but you have made it a robbers’ den” (Mark 11:17). What should the people have thought of when they thought of the word ‘temple’? Primarily, they should have recognized it to be a house of prayer. But all that they could think of was the carnival atmosphere taking place in the courtyard with greedy men trying to cheat anyone who walked by. It’s like visiting some of the shrines over in Israel, or at the Vatican, where vendors hawk their wares hoping to make a quick buck. It’s not conducive to spiritual contemplation.

I wonder what our churches are known for? Good music? Good preaching? A place where the Bible is believed? All these are good, and even necessary. But how many of our churches today are known as houses of prayer? Sad to say, I believe, all too few.

What are the lessons that we can learn from these two incidents? (1) The greater the privileges, the greater the responsibility. That was true for the nation Israel, and it is also true for us. “To whom much is given, much is required.” How many Bibles do you have in your home? Do you read them? How many opportunities does God give for you to pray, to witness and to share the good news? We will be held accountable for all of these privileges.

Then (2), the greater the responsibility, the greater the judgment. It would certainly be better not to have known the Lord’s will than to know it and not to do it. Here, of course, the fig tree was entirely cursed from the roots up. The nation had been given awesome privileges, with many assurances and promises from the Lord God. But because of its neglect of the inner life, it was severely judged by God.

Of course, as believers, we shall escape the wrath of God, but the Judgment Seat of Christ will be a very serious matter. For some, it will be a time of shame, a time of weeping. The reason? Because of neglected opportunities.

Then finally, (3) the greater the judgment, the greater the regret. Today our memories may fail. Things that we have done or not done have long since left us. But the time is coming when every one of us, whether Christian or not, shall have a memory that is completely accurate and clear. The events of the past shall be immediately present to the mind. We shall remember the opportunities that God gave us, and we shall see the way that we have squandered them.

This is, of course, what eventually happened to the nation of Israel whom Christ cursed. He predicted, as He sat on the Mount of Olives overlooking the temple area, that not one stone would be left upon another. And it all came to pass.

When Titus surrounded the city of Jerusalem in 70 AD, he massacred the women and children, and the city of Jerusalem went through an incredible holocaust. Why? Christ explained that it was because they did not know the day of their visitation. They did not see the opportunity that was immediately available. Through their spiritual darkness, their commercialism, and their totally worldly outlook they missed a great opportunity. Christ says that there will be “weeping and gnashing of teeth.” The opportunities of life will some day be gone forever.

Where does this leave us? With the chilling realization that the meek and mild Jesus can curse a fig tree and judge an entire nation. If we are not bearing fruit, committed to the witness and worship of God, we might not be spared. Thankfully, some repented and chose Christ as their Savior. Let us be sure we are numbered with those who seize the moment to worship Christ as Messiah and King.

All rights reserved for all transcripts, and all material. ©2004 The Moody Church, Chicago. Permission is granted to print and/or store the contents in computer form provided the content is not changed in any way.

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In the face of great opportunity, the nation squandered its privileges. How did it do this? In at least three ways.

First, it abused the will of God. When Christ speaks about expecting to find some fruit, He represents God Who expected the nation to show forth His life.

Second, the nation abused the witness of God. Here we come to Christ’s cleansing of the temple. What was going on in the outer courtyard? The atmosphere was like that of a bazaar.

Finally, the Jews also profaned the worship of God. Christ said, “My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations ... but you have made it a robbers’ den” (Mark 11:17).