Jesus is travelling to Jerusalem with his disciples. Jesus turns around and declares his hunger. The disciples ask, "Does he know that figs aren't in season?" as Jesus approaches a fig tree he had spotted in the distance. Rather than a miracle that Jesus accomplished, like the bread and the fish. Jesus took an unexpected action. The fig trees, there are no figs. Just leaves are present. Well, now is not the time of year to keep figs around. Jesus curses the tree and declares, "Never again shall anyone eat fruit from this tree." The tree withered and withered away.
This parable about the figs is unique in that Jesus lived the narrative rather than narrating it. Jesus was demonstrating for us, his disciples. The growing leaves indicate that individuals are asserting that they have fruit, and the tree represents people—more especially, followers of God. These people claim to be devout Christians who believe in God and Jesus, but in practice, they lack the fruit of the Christian faith. The love, compassion, peace, kindness, goodness, and all the other attributes that Jesus promised his disciples they possess are not present in them.
Don't be a fig tree.
Comments