Devotional: Grapes in the Desert
“Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit… Then he said to the tree, ‘May no one ever eat fruit from you again.’”
– Mark 11:13–14 (NIV)
Sometimes Jesus does something that catches us off guard—something that doesn’t fit the version of Him we’ve become comfortable with. In Mark 11, we see Jesus cursing a fig tree and clearing the temple courts. At first glance, it might seem like He's just having a rough day. But if we take a closer look, we discover something much deeper: a warning to God’s people about the danger of appearing fruitful while being spiritually barren.
Jesus came to a people who looked religious on the outside. They were worshiping, bringing sacrifices, following tradition, but their hearts were hard, especially toward outsiders. The temple, a place meant to draw people to God, had become a barrier. Instead of being a house of prayer for all nations, it had become a symbol of exclusion and self-righteousness.
Jesus didn’t come to purify a building. He came to purify a people. He came to make us His temple, the place where heaven meets earth. And if we truly belong to Him, our lives should bear fruit that nourishes a hurting world. We should be “grapes in the desert,” refreshing those around us with love, grace, and welcome.
So the question we’re left with is this: Are we bearing the fruit Jesus is looking for? Or are we just keeping up appearances?
Prayer:
Jesus, thank You for seeing beneath the surface of our lives. Thank You for loving us enough to call us to something deeper. Help us to be people who bear fruit, who live lives of love, welcome, and grace. Forgive us for the ways we’ve made it harder for others to come to You. Purify our hearts, not just our habits. Make us a people who reflect Your goodness in a dry and weary world. In Your name we pray, Amen.
Questions for Reflection:
What does it mean to bear spiritual fruit in your everyday life?
Where might you be focusing on outward appearances rather than inward transformation?
How can you make space in your life for someone who feels like an outsider?
What "tables" might Jesus want to overturn in your heart or in your community?
Who in your life needs to see and experience the love of Jesus through you this week?
Digging Deeper: Recommended Resources
Scripture to Explore:
Isaiah 56:6–7 – God’s vision for a house of prayer for all nations
Hosea 9:10 – The imagery of fruit and spiritual barrenness
John 15:1–8 – Jesus teaches on remaining in Him and bearing fruit
Ephesians 2:11–22 – The dividing wall of hostility is broken down
Micah 6:6–8 – What does the Lord require of us?
Dig Deeper
Experiencing God: Knowing and Doing the Will of God by Henry Blackaby
How Did I Get Here?: Finding Your Way Back to God When Everything is Pulling You Away by Christine Caine
The Gospel Comes with a House Key: Practicing Radically Ordinary Hospitality in Our Post-Christian World by Rosaria Butterfield
“Jesus on the Cursed Tree” – The BibleProject
Let’s be the kind of church that doesn’t just look alive but actually is alive. Let’s be the kind of people who offer something nourishing to everyone we meet. Let’s be grapes in the desert.
