Another Tree

The story of Jesus cursing the fig tree occurred right before He died and then rose from the dead. Jesus was hungry and wanted to eat when He saw the tree. It was not the season of figs, but Jesus looked for some anyway, and was so disappointed, that He cursed the tree so that no one would ever eat from it again. The next day, the apostles were amazed to see it withered.

We can imagine the hunger, then disappointment, and the very real human nature of Jesus as he approached the tree wanting something to eat. I think that Jesus' upcoming mission, to suffer, die, and rise again, would be very heavy on the mind of Christ as He passed the tree. Soon after His curse, Jesus chased out the useless money changers who bore no fruit either.

I think this has a very important warning for us today. We are expected to be good stewards.

It isn't easy to be a good steward. We must go against the modern culture that has itself wrapped around the world and is squeezing the life out of souls. We are called to loosen its grip with our faithful witness. Some are called to suffer at the hands of thoughtless, clueless, or even mean-spirited people who do not accept God's commands, instead chastising mothers with more than two children. Our culture preaches to the unmarried that happiness involves engaging in sexual activities for the pleasure they bring, disregarding the responsibility of what God has created in human sexuality. If life doesn't give us what we want when we want it, we are told to use medicine and science to make things right, with IVF for the infertile, and abortion for the fertile. Others are told to give up on an unhappy marriage, never mind the promises we made. Truly, the culture of pleasure has given us a leafy fig tree that never feeds us.

Jesus taught us to carry our cross, and His own cross is a sign of our redemption. Jesus' empty tomb told of a life beyond this present one, one that lasts forever.

When Peter remarked that the fig tree had died, Jesus stated that anything asked for in prayer will be granted, even a mountain being uprooted and moved to the sea. Then Jesus said forgiving those who sinned against us was necessary before we present prayers to God in order for us to be forgiven.

Once I encountered a group of atheists that took delight in making fun of this parable. I didn't understand why this one miracle of Jesus amused them so much. I believe the account is far more significant than just a tree dying.

The story of the fig tree is a story of our final judgment. God expects the human beings He created and then redeemed to produce good works, have faith in Him, and forgive all who sinned against us.

As I examine Mark's account, I see a far deeper reasoning for those who don't believe in Jesus to reject this particular passage. The tree represents humanity at the Last Judgment. Those who produce good fruit are rewarded and those who don't are cursed. To reject this account means no fear of being cursed by a God who demands His stewards do good and not evil.

The resurrection of Jesus means either a life entrenched in what God wills and to reign with him in the eternal life, or a condemnation for doing our will when it opposes what God commands. That is why there is so much rejection of the afterlife, and why the story of the fig tree is rejected. Because if we do not produce what Christ expects us to produce, we are no use to Him.

The cursing of the fig tree stands out as odd and novel. It is perhaps the easiest story to remember, because not even the very plants God has created are excused from doing His will. When we think of the story and realize it marks the time before Jesus died on a cross, thus producing the good fruit of salvation, then perhaps we see why it is such an important warning. We see what the Divine sees.