In This Issue

• NOTHING BUT LEAVES
• THE ONE BAPTISM OF EPH. 4:5
• THINGS THAT MADE PAUL CRY
• WHEN THE WIND BLOWS
• MORE INFORMATION...

NOTHING BUT LEAVES

The first few verses of Mark chapter 11 record Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem on Sunday, just five before His crucifixion. Jesus and His apostles sepnt the night in Bethany. "The next day, when they had come out from Bethany, He was hungry. And seeing from afar a fig tree having leaves, He went to see if perhaps He would find something on it. When He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. In response Jesus said to it, 'Let no one eat fruit from you ever again.' And His disciples heard it" (Mark 11:12-14). Then in verses 20-21, Mark tells us that the next morning when Jesus and His apostles passed that way again, the apostles saw that the fig tree had withered away.

Matthew's account informs us that the withering of the tree began immediately, Matt. 21:19, although as Mark indicates, it was not until the next morning, that is Tuesday, that the apostles noticed the effect of Jesus' miracle.

This is one of the strangest of Christ's miracles. It seems odd that Jesus would pronounce a curse on a tree, a representative of the vegetable kingdom. It seem especially uncharacteristic for Him to do so in a context of Personal disappointment. And perhaps strangest of all, that He would do so when it was not even the season when fruit was to normally be expected.

Scholars have given several suggestions to help us understand this passage. First, note that though it was not the season for harvesting figs, a tree should begin to produce green figs before it produced leaves. To see a tree completely leafed out was within itself an unspoken promise of early fruit. But, in this case, that "promise" was unfulfilled.

Second, note that Moses' law required the owners of fruit trees and field crops not to pick their trees and stalks completely clean of all fruit, but to leave some gleanings for the poor, the widow, the orphans, and the strangers, Lev. 19:9-10; Deut. 24:19-22. It is possible that the curse upon the fig tree came partially because its owner had neglected to obey such admonitions.

But mostly, the withering of the fig tree serves as a parable and an object lesson for Israel. The nation of Israel had all the trappings of a fruitful nation, just as the fig tree hat its green leaves as a sign of productivity. The nation had its priesthood, its sacrifices, its temple, its scribes, its elders. But upon closer examination, the nation was not producing the fruits of repentance and obedience to the will of God. Compare Isaiah, chapter 5. Like the unfruitful fig tree, the unfruitful nation would soon be brought to judgment.

--Clarence R. Johnson

THE ONE BAPTISM OF EPH. 4:5

[In the following article, there are a couple of sentences where “we wouldn’t have said it that way,” but overall we believe this to be an excellent article on an important Bible subject, and we commend these thoughts to our readers. CRJ]

Holy Spirit Baptism. The baptism of Fire. The baptism of John the Baptist. Baptism into Jesus Christ. These are some of the different “baptisms” mentioned in the New Testament. This is a source of great confusion in today’s religious world. Many claim to have been baptized by the Holy Spirit and insist that no other baptism is necessary. A few talk joyfully of having been baptized by fire. Others argue that only a baptism into Christ through a burial in water is necessary. What do the Scriptures say? In Eph. 4:4-6, Paul wrote: There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all. By the time Paul wrote these words, there was only one valid baptism being practiced in the church. Since there is only one baptism, which one is valid for Christians today? What is the one baptism as found in Eph. 4:5?

It is not the baptism of John. John the Baptist baptized multitudes of people in the days leading up to Christ’s ministry on earth. Matthew 3:5-7 and 21:25 attest to this. In Acts 19:1-5 we find disciples who had been baptized by John. John’s baptism was one of repentance—but those who were baptized were to believe in the One who came after him—Jesus Christ. (19:4) The next verse tells us that upon understanding this the disciples were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. We must conclude that the baptism of John was not valid for followers of Jesus Christ.

It is not the baptism of fire. This baptism is mentioned by John the Baptist in Matthew 3:11: As for me, I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. This baptism is still to be administered by Christ. It refers to future judgment. J.W. McGarvey has written: (This) likely refers to the overwhelming of the wicked at last in hell. This is based on the fact that the term "fire" is the same as that used for the unfruitful tree and for the chaff in John's great metaphors. McGarvey said, "It is clearly the wicked who are to be baptized in fire, and the fulfillment of the prediction will be realized when they are cast into the lake of fire" (Rev. 21:8).

It is not Holy Spirit Baptism. See Matthew 3:11. This baptism was to be performed by Jesus Christ—not his followers! This baptism is not a command—and therefore cannot be obeyed! There are only two recorded instances of this baptism: The apostles (Acts 1:5; 2:1-4) and Cornelius (Acts 10:44-45; 11:15-16). We must understand not all Christians received this form of baptism!

It is baptism in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit! (Mt. 28:18-18; Mk. 16:16) This baptism accompanied the preaching of the gospel to the lost. This baptism will continue as long as the gospel is preached to mankind! It is a baptism performed by followers of Christ on those whom they teach the gospel. This baptism has been commanded in the preaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ! See Acts 8:14-16 and 1 Cor. 1:13-17. Baptism in water is done for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38); to put on Jesus Christ (Gal. 3:26-27); and to enable one to be made alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions. (Col. 3:13) Have you been baptized in this way? 

--Matthew Allen, Southside Messenger, Rapid City, SD

THINGS THAT MADE PAUL CRY

The apostle Paul had learned how to be content, regardless of surrounding hardships (Phil. 4:11). When he wrote the short epistle to the Philippians, he was in prison. Still, the words "joy" and "rejoice" appear at least 18 times, making these key words in the book. Yet, this contented joyful apostle at times also served God "with many tears" (Acts 20:19). Perhaps we can benefit from considering what would cause this great man of God to weep.

PAUL SHED TEARS OUT OF CONCERN FOR THE DOCTRINAL WELL-BEING OF THE CHURCH. He told the Ephesian elders "that by space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day WITH TEARS" (Acts 20:31). The context of this statement is Paul's warning to these elders of coming apostasy, even among the elders, that would result in false teaching and in Christians being led away from the Truth.

PAUL MOURNED WHEN IMMORAL LIVING OF MEMBERS CAME TO HIS ATTENTION. He rebuked the Corinthian church for being puffed up, instead of mourning, regarding the fornicator among them, so we know that Paul was mourning over this matter himself. This should always be the reaction of the godly when such godlessness is exhibited! David once wrote, "Rivers of waters rundown mine eyes, because they keep not thy law" (Psa. 119:136).

PAUL WEPT WHEN HE HAD TO WRITE HARSHLY TO FELLOW CHRISTIANS. With reference to 1 Corinthians, a forceful letter filled with correction of serious problems in the church at Corinth, Paul later wrote: "Out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you WITH MANY TEARS; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you" (2 Cor. 2:4). Paul's tears stained his letter, just as parents' tears flow freely when they, because of love for their children, must exercise harsh discipline.

PAUL CRIED WHEN HE HAD TO ADMIT THAT SOME MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH WERE ACTUALLY ENEMIES OF THE LORD'S CAUSE. He said, "For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even WEEPING, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction...who mind earthly things" (Phil. 3:18,19). How painful it is to have to admit that some brethren are not true to the Lord, and even to have to single them out by name as Paul often did! Yet faithfulness to God and concern for the well-being of the church requires that we sometimes point such out so that they may be avoided (Rom. 16:17).

It is worthy of our notice that the things Paul wept over did not include financial loss, persecution, sickness, being away from friends and family, nor even imprisonment-and he suffered all these things! His attitude toward such things is well expressed in his statement in 2 Cor. 4:17: "For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory...."

Let's be the kind of people who mourn for the proper things as did Paul: things that dishonor God, endanger Christians, and badly reflect upon the Gospel. At the same time let's be happy and contented people who can be joyful in spite of physical hardships and rejection by the world. "Rejoice in the Lord always; and again I say, rejoice" (Phil. 4:4).

--Joe E. Galloway, Gospel Observer, May 9, 1990 

WHEN THE WIND BLOWS

[Editor's Note: A dear friend of ours, Evan Lemon from Mexia, Texas, used to use the following story in his teaching. We do not know its original source, but in looking over some of Tom Edwards' old Gospel Observers, we found this version published June 6, 1990. CRJ]

A young man applied for a job as a farm hand. When the farmer inquired about his qualifications, the young man replied, "I can do whatever needs to be done, and I can sleep when the wind blows." The farmer was puzzled by the phrase, "sleep when the wind blows," but hired the young man anyway. A few nights later the farmer was awakened by a fierce and severe wind. He raced to the quarters of the hired man but was unsuccessful in arousing him from a heavy sleep. With considerable annoyance the farmer went to check things for himself. He found the doors locked, the chicken coop securely closed, the tractor in the barn, a load of hay covered with a tarpaulin, and all else taken care of. The farmer then remembered the young man's words, "I can sleep when the wind blows." He now realized what he had meant.

In the lives of all of us the storms of trials, sufferings, adversities, and disappointments will blow. Preparation should be made so that when the wind blows our faith will remain strong, our hope secure, and our peace of mind without disturbance.

--Unknown

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