Mk 11:12-14,20, “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, for it was not the season for figs. And he said to it, "May no one ever eat fruit from you again." ("May no fruit ever come from you again!" Mat 21:19) And his disciples heard it… As they passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered away to its roots.”
I used to have a lot of difficulties with this passage until I remembered that a causeless curse doesn’t alight; so, if Jesus’ curse worked and the fig tree withered, there was a reason for it. I researched a bit to understand what it was and avoid misjudging the Lord’s reaction as disproportionate.
The fig tree of Palestine (Ficus carica) bears fruits 2 or 3 times a year. The fig season (kermus) normally falls in August ; but at the end of June, there can be an early crop (bikkurah), or “early-ripe fig.” After August, it looses all his leaves, then small buds appear and grow during the winter. With them also come the green or untimely figs (taksh), which always appear before the leaves. Thus, even when it’s not yet the season for figs (August), the presence of leaves implies the presence of taksh. It is also a sign that the tree is not barren and will produce a crop during the summer.
The incident mentioned above took place around the Passover; i.e. around the month of April. The presence of leaves on that fig tree caught Jesus’ attention who naturally expected to satisfy his hunger; but He was unfortunately disappointed. So, since any branch supposedly in Him that does not bear fruit is taken away, withered and is burned (Jn 15.2,6), He cursed the tree. “…I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide…” (Jn 15:16): For Jesus, it is unthinkable for a disciple abiding in Him not to bear fruits because He has given us ALL it takes and ALL we need to be fruitful.
Lk 13:6-7, “And he told this parable: "A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. And he said to the vinedresser, 'Look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down. Why should it use up the ground?'...”
The Lord is patient; but let’s not abuse of it. The fate of this fig tree is a severe warning against barrenness, unfruitfulness and lack of productivity. Like with the parable of minas and talents, we must not bury or leave what God has invested in us dormant.
Mat 23:1ff, « Then Jesus said…2 "The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat, 3…they preach, but do not practice… 28So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. »
2Tim 3:1, 2, 5: “…In the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud…5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.”
The fate of this fig tree is also a warning against hypocrisy and false appearances.
The Church is increasingly filled with ‘Christians’ – i.e. little Christs – who outwardly look like Him and hence, fool those who naively believe that they can come to their help in times of need, just like their Master did.
The barren fig tree is the brother who only opens his Bible on Sundays (if he does at all) and who doesn’t know what to say to this relative, friend or colleague who needs an advice regarding an important decision; because he has no prophecy and no word of knowledge or wisdom for them: he only has his flesh...
The barren fig tree is the sister whose only link with Christianity is either the church that she attends from time to time; or her baptism certificate, or her good knowledge of all the prosperity and healing biblical verses; but who is nowhere to be found whenever the Lord is ‘hungry’ and needs her.
We are the Body of Christ: we are the members through which He can and wants to move today. We have no right to behave like incapables sending out to this lost and suffering world, an image of a limping and feeble Christ. May we never cause Him to wonder: “What more was there to do for my vineyard, that I have not done in it? When I looked for it to yield grapes, why did it yield wild grapes?” (Is 5.4) Let’s bear fruit; fruit that remains; a ten, thirty or hundredfold.
Have a ‘wonderblessed’ week in CHRIST JESUS!
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