43. Bearing fruit as Christians

Spiritual Challenges

Written by Rose Robinson

Bearing fruit as Christians

Read Mark 11:12-14, 20-21

This story seems out of character for Jesus. He normally gave encouragement to others, so it seems surprising that he cursed this fig tree.

The tree was covered in healthy leaves, which are usually produced at the same time as the flower buds from which figs later develop. The flower buds resemble the ripe fig in appearance. But Jesus found no flower buds or ripe fruits – only lots of leaves.

?)Did Jesus curse the tree because he was tired or hungry?Or did he have another reason for doing this?

?)What was Jesus teaching about the need for us to bearfruit?

?)What kind of fruit should we be bearing as Christians?

?What can give the appearance of a full Christian life – likethe leaves – without actually producing any fruit?

?)Who do you think Jesus was talking to here? His disciples,the crowd or the religious authorities?

This is a parable that provides us with a clear lesson on theneed to ensure that our lives don’t just look good from theoutside but are producing the kind of fruit that Jesus wants to see.

Nepali Version Below

आत्मिकी चुनौतीहरू

ख्रीष्टियन भएर फल फलाउने

मर्कूस ११:१२-१४, २०-२१ पढ्नुहोस्।

यो कथा येशूको चरित्र भन्दा बाहिर जस्तो देखिन्छ। प्राय उहाँले अरूलाई उत्साह दिनुभयो, त्यसकारण यो जैतूनको रूखलाई श्राप दिनुभएको देख्दा अचम्म लाग्छ। रूखमा राम्रा चिल्ला पातहरू थिए, जुन प्राय जसो जैतूनको फल फलाउने फूलहरूसँगै उम्रन्थे।

फूलका कोपिलाहरूले देख्‍नमा रसिलो पाकेको फललाई देखाउँथे। तर येशूले त्यसमा फूलका कोपिला वा फल केही पाउनु भएन- केवल थुप्रै पातहरू मात्र।

(?) येशू थकित वा भोकाउनु भएकोले त्यो रूखलाई श्राप दिनुभएको हो या यस्तो गर्नको लागि उहाँसँग छुट्टै कारण थियो?

(?) हामीले फल फलाउनु आवश्यक छ भन्ने विषयमा येशूले के सिकाउँदै हुनुहुन्थ्यो?

(?) ख्रीष्टियन भएको नाताले हामीले कस्तो फल फलाउनुपर्छ?

(?) पूर्ण ख्रीष्टियन जीवनको प्रदर्शन केले दिन सक्छ – पातहरूले जस्तै – खासै फल नफलाइकनै?

(?) तपाईंको विचारमा यहाँ येशू कोसँग कुरा गर्दै हुनुहुन्थ्यो जस्तो लाग्छ? आफ्ना चेलाहरूसँग, भीडसँग वा धार्मिक अगुवाहरूसँग ?

यो दृष्टान्तले हामीलाई यो शिक्षा स्पष्टसँग सिकाउँछ कि हामीले बाहिरबाट राम्रो देखिने जीवन देखाएर मात्र पुग्दैन तर येशूले देख्‍न चाहनुभएको जस्तै फल फलाउनु पर्छ।

‘This is a translation of a Tearfund publication, ‘Guide Our Steps.’
Nepali Translation and Postedby Rita Subedi, Translator, ITEEN

Republished on nepalchurch.com new site May 22,2013