Fig Trees and Temple Theatrics
11:27:00 AM
In today's Holy Week Reading (Mark 11:12-25) we read about Jesus cursing a Fig Tree and performing prophetic street theatre in the temple. What do we make of these events?
It is the day after Palm Sunday. Jesus had spent the night before in Bethany with the twelve. Jesus now is hungry and sees a fig tree. Unfortunately there are no figs, only leaves. Jesus then curses it, "may no one ever eat fruit from you again." His disciples also hear this curse. It is important to recall the importance of fig trees throughout the Bible. The fig tree was an emblem of peace, security, and prosperity and is prominent in Israel's history (Genesis 3:7; Deuteronomy 8:8-10; 1 Kings 4:25; and many others). But now, there is no fruit on this tree. It is fruitless. It withers. Jesus is pulling on a familiar story from Jeremiah. A prophet that Jesus emulates often. Jeremiah speaks in the name of the Lord "there are no grapes on the vine, nor figs on the fig tree; even the leaves are withered, and what I gave them has passed away from them" (Jer. 8:13). The tree is cursed. It dies. A withered tree and withered roots. A sign that Jesus will later tell his followers is indicative of the "end time" (Mark 13:28-31). The world that is coming to an end is the world of a Temple-based system.
Jesus also performs prophetic street theater in our reading today. This is not something new from the scriptures. In fact, Jeremiah performed this prophetic act over 500 years before Jesus. (See Jeremiah 7). Jesus, just like Jeremiah, is communicating a prophetic sign of God's judgment on the Temple system and it's authorities. They were making it unsuitable as a place of worship for the Gentiles who might wish to pray there. The poor and the outcasts were being taken advantage of on behalf of the thriving Temple. All of the Gospel writers communicate this incident. *Only the Gospel of John mentions a "whip". And the whip was not for people. Maybe you wish that it was, but it wasn't. It was for the animals and the livestock. Jesus was not throwing a temper tantrum in a fit of rage. Neither was he using violence or endorsing violence. More on that another time...
So Jesus overturns the tables with coins and pigeons on it and then he speaks to those presiding over these tables. He even 'teaches' them. No one is hurting or bleeding from a whip. However, this is a warning from Jesus, just like Jeremiah's warning. It's a warning to protect the people from the impending doom and destruction from Rome. It’s also a warning about exploiting the poor. Will they listen? Will we? Will we continue to exploit the poor and the outcast for the benefits of the rich and powerful?
As judgment fell upon Israel in Jeremiah's time, so it looms once again over the Temple in the time of Jesus. Today, may we continue to love God with all of our heart, mind, soul and strength. May we also love our neighbor as ourselves. This is what following Jesus looks like.
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