Dried Up From The Roots

Mar 11:12-14
(12) And on the next day, they going out of Bethany, He was hungry.
(13) And seeing a fig-tree with leaves afar off, He went to it, if perhaps He might find anything on it. And when He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season of figs.
(14) And Jesus answered and said to it, No one shall eat fruit of you forever. And His disciples heard.

This is somewhat a puzzling story on the surface. Why would Jesus curse something for not producing out of season? The answer lies in appearances. The tree had leaves - which drew Jesus from a distance. The leaves were a clue that the tree was bearing - only it bore no fruit.

Interjected in this count is the story of Jesus entering the temple, only to find money-changers at work greedily making a profit for themselves. Once again, the temple appeared to be a place of God... only it was not. In the case of the temple, it was cleansed by Jesus as He chased out the profiteers. On the way out, however, the disciples noticed the tree had whithered from the roots up.

What appearances do we give when Christ passes by? Do we acknowledge we don't have it all together? Are we so used to the ditch that we accept it as normality and just don't realize we are sadly lacking? If we cannot find a place in our lives to be honest - to show our real vulnerabilities, ineptitudes, failures - emptiness... then how do we reach a spot where we can cry out to God? If Christ comes in, He can cleanse us - with whips made of cords if need be. But if He doesn't come in, we whither away from the roots up.