Mark 11:12-14 “The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. 13 Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. 14 Then he said to the tree, "May no one ever eat fruit from you again." And his disciples heard him say it.”
Mark 11:12 has many different principles contained within it that could be explored but one of the more powerfully apparent insights that is there to see is the power of the spoken word! The motives of Jesus’ heart in this passage could be explored from the perspective of why he cursed this tree but that is not my goal as I consider this passage. In considering the power and nature of the prophetic word and its power to communicate both life and death the story of the fig tree provides a glimpse of one of the unique dimensions of the believer’s authority.
Proverbs 18 contains a verse that seems to be the foundation of what is taking place in this story. Prov 18:21 “The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” Jesus’ demonstration of His authority in this passage is a demonstration of the power of life and death. Throughout His ministry Jesus has consistently demonstrated the power of life in the words that He has spoken as He has multiplied the bread, healed the sick, turned water into wine and raised the dead. However, Pr.18:21 contains within it the reality of the power of death as well as the power of life. In the context of His public ministry it seems that there were very few settings where Jesus could demonstrate this context of His authority and the fig tree provided a perfect opportunity for Him to demonstrate His authority to judge as well as His authority to bless. I find it fascinating that this demonstration of Jesus’ power comes forth in the context of a fruit bearing tree that is bearing no fruit. It would seem that even as He speaks to this tree and curses it because it is fruitless that there is a subtle purpose on Christ’s behalf to direct people to this passage in in Pr. 18.
This display of power for cursing as well as blessing is filled with the potential for tremendous misapplication but one thing is clear, there is a place within the context of apostolic leadership for the power to judge as well as the power to bless. Jesus’ demonstration here seems to be the theological underpin that provides context for some of the later corrective judgments of the apostles. The book of Acts demonstrates some of these moments throughout its pages. Both Peter and Paul manifest this authoritative command in their ministries.
In Acts chapter 5 Peter demonstrates this authority in his corrective confrontation with Ananias and Sapphira. He first provides an opportunity for open confession and repentance to each of them separately but the lack of remorse within each of them causes first the husband to drop over dead and then Peter speaks forth the word that assigns to the wife the same judgment that came upon her husband. Later in Acts 13:11-12 Paul demonstrates this same authority with an even more direct proclamation to Elymas the sorcerer by saying “Now the hand of the Lord is against you. You are going to be blind, and for a time you will be unable to see the light of the sun." “Immediately mist and darkness came over him, and he groped about, seeking someone to lead him by the hand.”
It is worth noting that in this case there is no discussion, no opportunity for repentance. There seems to be a dramatic difference in context that should be noted as we consider these two events. In the case of Ananias and Sapphira Peter was dealing with two believers who had fallen into a temptation towards the area of contempt for the Holy Spirit and so they were given an opportunity for repentance before the judgment of God was released upon them. In the case of Elymas there is a completely different set of circumstances. Paul is in the midst of a gospel presentation to a leading political figure and Elymas is intentionally hindering this man from receiving the message of the kingdom of God. As a result this sorcerer is dealt with firmly and directly. Paul provides a clear insight into his perception of the situation by declaring over Elymas in “Acts 13:10 "You are a child of the devil and an enemy of everything that is right!” In the case of this judgment it is not a fallen believer but an evil man with evil motives who is being publicly judged for the sake of the kingdom of God. In both cases their chastisements from the Lord released a powerful measure of the fear of God into the settings where they took place.
Within each of these illustrations there is much to consider and the nature of a proper application of these concepts would require much more time than we could provide in this setting. But what is clear is that there is power in the mouth of the believer for both life and death. There is an apostolic authority unlike that which the world has commonly embraced and understood. I believe that it is the intention of God to restore a true apostolic authority to the church and that in the age that is coming upon both the earth and the church we will see a demonstration of the kingdom of God that causes the righteous to rejoice and the wicked to fear!
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