Saturday 09 March 2013

Background

As was noted on Sunday, this week's passages have beenbook-ended with accounts of fig trees. This great symbol ofIsraelite identity and security becomes the focus of anotherexample of the kingdom of God - but this time with far lessfavourable consequences.

We meet a very human Jesus in this passage. He is hungry andangry. However, we are also then faced with the mysterious anddivine Christ. At his words, the unproductive fig tree withers anddies, leading his disciples to question Jesus' authority (and theirown), afresh. In these few verses we are faced with the veryreality of who Jesus is - and his disciples witness this too. Thisis one of the very last things that Jesus does in Matthew's Gospelbefore his death and resurrection - and we are thus faced with aphysical demonstration of humanity and divinity.

This seems rather harsh on the tree. After all, it is stillspring and the fig tree should not have any fruit on it, other thanan early yield of 'taksh' - premature male fruit which precede thearrival of the fully grown, sweeter, figs. Technically, the tree inquestion has not done anything wrong. It is in the wrong place atthe wrong time.

However, as we also noted on Sunday, fig trees were a known metaphor forthe Jewish people.

Jesus is a multisensory saviour, and uses all the communicationtools available to him to demonstrate the reality of the kingdom ofGod. This account becomes a powerful judgement not only on anunsuspecting tree, but on Israel. The tree offers the vehicle bywhich Jesus is able to demonstrate their inability to respond tothe kingdom in their midst.

Furthermore, Jesus is in some ways predicting his own death atthe hands of the powerful, and the continuing declining influenceof the Jewish nation.

A simple tree and a few angry words by Jesus - and yet to hisdisciples and followers, there is something far greater going on.The challenge remains for them, and for us, to be people who beargood fruit and who remain in God - come what may.

To Ponder

• How does this passage make you feel?

• When has God answered your prayers? Where has God beensilent?

• What would good fruit look like?

• What do you think this is parable about?