Fig Trees & Foreknowledge
A surprisingly surprised Jesus.
Mark 11:12-33
So is the fig tree an image of something else? Some scholars want to say it’s about Israel, a nation no longer producing the fruit of righteousness. Perhaps…
It seems pretty basic to think that Jesus was simply cursing a fig tree because he was hungry. And even weirder to think that this action becomes exemplary for the disciples’ understanding of faith and the powerful ability to do something (throwing a mountain into the sea).
Perhaps this is about systems. Maybe it’s not an actual mountain, but a huge problem amongst humanity. Jesus does go on to specify the things of forgiveness.
Regardless, it’s quite an account. Some might think that Jesus would know ahead of time that this tree was barren. But this kind of foreknowledge is absent from the text. Jesus seems legitimately perturbed, which means reality did not align with his expectations. That implies a limited knowledge.
This is a comforting notion should you let it be so.
Mark 11:12-33
The next day, after leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. From far away, he noticed a fig tree in leaf, so he went to see if he could find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing except leaves, since it wasn’t the season for figs. So he said to it, “No one will ever again eat your fruit!” His disciples heard this.
They came into Jerusalem. After entering the temple, he threw out those who were selling and buying there. He pushed over the tables used for currency exchange and the chairs of those who sold doves. He didn’t allow anyone to carry anything through the temple. He taught them, “Hasn’t it been written, My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations? But you’ve turned it into a hideout for crooks.” The chief priests and legal experts heard this and tried to find a way to destroy him. They regarded him as dangerous because the whole crowd was enthralled at his teaching. When it was evening, Jesus and his disciples went outside the city.
Early in the morning, as Jesus and his disciples were walking along, they saw the fig tree withered from the root up. Peter remembered and said to Jesus, “Rabbi, look how the fig tree you cursed has dried up.”
Jesus responded to them, “Have faith in God! I assure you that whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea’—and doesn’t waver but believes that what is said will really happen—it will happen. Therefore I say to you, whatever you pray and ask for, believe that you will receive it, and it will be so for you. And whenever you stand up to pray, if you have something against anyone, forgive so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your wrongdoings.”
Jesus and his disciples entered Jerusalem again. As Jesus was walking around the temple, the chief priests, legal experts, and elders came to him. They asked, “What kind of authority do you have for doing these things? Who gave you this authority to do them?”
Jesus said to them, “I have a question for you. Give me an answer, then I’ll tell you what kind of authority I have to do these things. Was John’s baptism of heavenly or of human origin? Answer me.”
They argued among themselves, “If we say, ‘It’s of heavenly origin,’ he’ll say, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’ But we can’t say, ‘It’s of earthly origin.’” They said this because they were afraid of the crowd, because they all thought John was a prophet. They answered Jesus, “We don’t know.”
Jesus replied, “Neither will I tell you what kind of authority I have to do these things.”
Prayer
God,
Grant us the wisdom to discern the systemic issues that hinder our growth in faith and love. Help us to confront the mountains of injustice and division that loom large in our world, trusting in the power of forgiveness and reconciliation to overcome them.
In moments of uncertainty and disappointment, may we find solace in the humanity of Jesus, who experienced the limitations of human knowledge and yet remained steadfast in his mission. May we, too, embrace the comfort of knowing that we are not alone in our struggles.
Guide us, God, to deepen our understanding of faith and to cultivate a spirit of compassion and courage in all that we do.
By your spirit & in Christ,
Amen.
It is strange, isn't it. I mean, the text even points out that the fig tree SHOULDN'T be producing fruit because it wasn't the right season for it to be doing so. I take it as solace that Jesus got annoyed and maybe acted rashly when he did? IDK. I haven't thought about it a lot.