Promises of Good Fruit

In the warm climate of Palestine, the leaves of the fig trees begin to bud and unfurl in late March. Alongside the spring leaves, a crop of small edible knobs called taksh emerge --tiny early buds that drop to the ground before the true figs form later in summer. A tree that sprouts leaves but no taksh in the spring will not produce figs for the summer harvest.

Today is Fig Tuesday, the Holy Week day when we meditate on the story of Jesus and the fig tree in Matthew 21:18-22 and Mark 11:12-25. While the moment sounds sudden and harsh without context, let's remember that Jesus' anger throughout his years of itinerant teaching is consistently directed at the so-called religious types whose faith is shallow, hypocritical, and ultimately harmful to those around them. As you read the story of the fig tree, keep in mind that this tale is not ultimately about the fig tree at all -- a common metaphor in the climate of the Middle East -- but about false ornamental religion that runs counter to the Gospel:

Early in the morning, as Jesus was on his way back to the city, he was hungry. Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then he said to it, "May you never bear fruit again!" Immediately the tree withered.

When the disciples saw this, they were amazed. "How did the fig tree wither so quickly?" they asked.

Jesus replied, "Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer" (Matthew 21:18-22).

It makes sense that Jesus would have found a fig tree in late March or early April, shortly before Passover, and expressed frustration that the absence of taksh indicated that the tree would not bear fruit that year. Do you hear his warning in this brief moment? When others approach us, hungry for spiritual direction and thirsting for a taste of the Holy Spirit, do we boast ornamental leaves of spiritual tasks ticked off our list or are we humble, hard-working people who bear fruit, evidenced in the early buds of spring and the later harvest to come?

Jesus has no patience for dishonest, showy attempts at practicing "religion." As we were reminded in Revelation 4 this past Sunday, he wants us to cast our crowns at the throne, coming before him in full humility and authenticity. We are not called to be taksh-free, leafy green spring trees, nicely pruned but empty; we are called to live within the mess of a taksh-trampled ground and the promises of good fruit to come.

As you move through Holy Week, here are Scriptures to ponder each day as we remember the story and anticipate Easter Sunday:

Fig Tuesday: Mark 11:12-25

Spy Wednesday: Matthew 26:14-16

Maundy Thursday: Luke 22:27-38

Good Friday: John 19:16-42

Black / Holy Saturday: Matthew 27:62-66

Christ's peace to you this week,

Jennie