The withered fig tree

In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots. Peter remembered and said to Jesus, "Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!" (11:20,21)

Now Jesus and his followers who arrived at Jerusalem from the remote place Galilee after long journey in order to celebrate Passover were in and out Jerusalem. It was because they might not have a proper place to stay in Jerusalem and arranged their lodging place in Bethany. The fig tree cursed by Jesus might be in between Jerusalem and Bethany or near to Bethany. Jesus and his followers saw the fig tree again on the way to Bethany and surprisingly it withered from the root. Peter intimated it to Jesus.

The fig tree cursed by Jesus in the morning not to bear fruit any more withered in the evening. What does the author of the Gospel want to tell us with this writing? More prior to this, is it a true fact? The second question doesn’t have much meaning for we don’t have any ability to figure out. Then some of you may doubt isn’t it a fact? There are historical facts in the gospels and some are not. However, those are not fact even have its meaning. All stories in the Gospels are important at the point that it was the Gospel communities’ experience, faith and interpretation about Jesus.

As I told you from the previous story that Jesus cursed the fruitless fig tree (Mark 11:13), the fig tree indicate Israel. They didn’t bear fruit. They didn’t believe God rightfully. They couldn’t but take the same step the withered fig tree. Likewise the gospel author rearranged Jesus’ public life incident based on their faith and their own historical experience: if one doesn’t have faith in God, then it withers.