PrintToday's "Moment with Mark (67)
27 January, 2013
The next morning as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus felt hungry. He noticed a fig tree a little way off that was in full leaf, so he went over to see if he could find any figs on it. But there were only leaves because it was too early in the season for fruit. Then Jesus said to the tree, "May no one ever eat your fruit again!" And the disciples heard him say it". (Mark 11:12-14 NLT)
There are a number of passages in the Bible that I don't understand. There are some that make me feel uncomfortable. This one does both! It seems that Jesus missed breakfast but, when He saw a fig tree in full leaf and since He was feeling hungry, He went over to get some of the fruit. But all He could find were leaves, lots and lots of leaves. No fruit.
Foliage but no fruit. At first reading, it almost seems like Jesus was miffed by the absence of fruit as though the tree was being hard to get on with. Since Mark tells us that it was too early in the season for fruit, Jesus response seems altogether unreasonable and unfair. He speaks to the tree (now I feel awkward) but if He speaks to storms I guess it's OK for Him to talk to trees.
But He curses the fig tree (now I'm really uncomfortable!). Isn't His response unreasonable and unfair? Expecting to get fruit when the fruit season is still some way off? There have been numerous attempts to explain this "out-of-character" behaviour of Jesus. I think we get a clue to what is happening but the last phrase in the story - "And the disciples heard him say it".
It was a dramatised event for their benefit. Here we see Jesus teaching a living parable - not just with words but with visual impact.
When we think of the nation of Israel being likened to a fig tree in the Old Testament, suddenly, it comes to mind that Jesus is pronouncing judgment on the nation that has failed to produce the fruit for which God had brought it into being.
Foliage but no fruit. What does Jesus find as He checks out my life?
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