Nothing But Leaves – Part 3

On the following day, when they came from Bethany, he was hungry.  And seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to see if he could find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves… (Mark 11:12-13a)

Authentic and humble followers of Jesus bear fruit.  We do this by concentrating on abiding with Christ.  As we abide, fruit happens.  In fact, it’s appropriate to say that the more vibrantly we abide, the more fruit will be produced by our lives.

I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. (John 15:5)

So what does fruit look like? 

Acts of service?
Humility?
Love for the unlovely?
Compassion?
Obedience?

And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment. (Luke 7:37, 38)

Tears?

Tears as fruit.  Tears as the authentic outcome of an abiding walk with God. 

Tears that fall on the feet of Jesus.  Tears that mingle with courage and hope and pain and disappointment and vision and pain.

There are times in our journey as followers of Jesus that the only natural outcome to our situation is tears. 

We cover; we pretend; we stifle; we hide… but why? 

Tears invite.  Tears open doors. 

Many times tears are the first fruit; the very first evidence of a contrite, or a lonely, or a longing, or a grief-filled soul. 

As soon as I heard these words I sat down and wept and mourned for days… (Nehemiah 1:4a)

And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over it… (Luke 19:41)

Tears offered in worship.  Tears offered in praise.  Tears offered as the only fruit possible in the midst of pain.

Tears that say yes to Jesus.
Tears that cleanse.
Tears that abandon pride.
Tears that bridge the gap to joy.
Tears that connect us to others.
Tears that open doors long held shut.

It was fruit that washed over the feet of Jesus.  Fruit that Nehemiah shed for the restoration of the wall.  Fruit that was produced in Jesus as He surveyed the brokenness of His city. 

What does fruit look like?

Today, as in all of history, fruit runs down the cheeks of those who abide with Jesus. 

Those who love unconditionally;
those who give sacrificially;
those who live compassionately;
those who dream courageously.

Fruit.
Liquid fruit.
Authentic fruit.

Tears.