Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. (Mark 11:13)
Only Matthew’s gospel and Mark’s gospel deal with a fig tree incident. The basic structure is following. When Jesus was hungry he wanted to find out figs from a fig tree but he found nothing then he cursed it and it dried and died. When the disciples thought strange Jesus said, “If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer." (Matt. 21:22) Mark separated Jesus’ curse and the later story but Matthew combined it.
Verse 13 we read today focused, different from Matthew, that it was not the season for figs in order to emphasize the meaning of this incident. It is really strange. If it is not the season for figs then Jesus who demanded figs is wrong. Furthermore, he cursed the fig tree when he couldn’t find out a fig. It really is pitiful thing for the fig tree.
When we read such story the important point we should focus on is the editing intention of the author of the Bible. The author of Mark’s gospel doesn’t deliver the fact that Jesus was hungry and even he wanted to eat figs. I told you in yesterday’s meditation under the title, ‘Hungry Jesus’ about the importance of Jesus’ human nature but it is not the core of this story. The author of Mark’s gospel intended to deliver another fact.
If we want to know another fact we have to premise what a fig signifies in the Old Testament. The fig points out Israel. (Hos. 9:10, Jer. 24:1-10, Mic. 7:1) No fruit in a fig tree means Israel didn’t bear a fruit as the people of God. The most decisive proof is that they didn’t accept Jesus. The mention that it is not the season for figs points out rightly that.
Only Matthew’s gospel and Mark’s gospel deal with a fig tree incident. The basic structure is following. When Jesus was hungry he wanted to find out figs from a fig tree but he found nothing then he cursed it and it dried and died. When the disciples thought strange Jesus said, “If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer." (Matt. 21:22) Mark separated Jesus’ curse and the later story but Matthew combined it.
Verse 13 we read today focused, different from Matthew, that it was not the season for figs in order to emphasize the meaning of this incident. It is really strange. If it is not the season for figs then Jesus who demanded figs is wrong. Furthermore, he cursed the fig tree when he couldn’t find out a fig. It really is pitiful thing for the fig tree.
When we read such story the important point we should focus on is the editing intention of the author of the Bible. The author of Mark’s gospel doesn’t deliver the fact that Jesus was hungry and even he wanted to eat figs. I told you in yesterday’s meditation under the title, ‘Hungry Jesus’ about the importance of Jesus’ human nature but it is not the core of this story. The author of Mark’s gospel intended to deliver another fact.
If we want to know another fact we have to premise what a fig signifies in the Old Testament. The fig points out Israel. (Hos. 9:10, Jer. 24:1-10, Mic. 7:1) No fruit in a fig tree means Israel didn’t bear a fruit as the people of God. The most decisive proof is that they didn’t accept Jesus. The mention that it is not the season for figs points out rightly that.
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