Christianity

Biblical Figs

Figs and leaves grow together on new spring growth

The Biblical parables gain fresh perspective in the garden: Feel the strength of the grape vine; watch new clusters of fruit develop after a good pruning. Grow a fig tree and you will know what it means to hunger for the first ripe figs of summer.

Last week our Sunday school class studied Mark 11. I brought a sprig from a fig knowing the parable of Jesus withering the fig tree would spark discussion. Yes, I believe it is meant to be read as a parable, a parable demonstrated. A parable that I believe is better understood by examining other Biblical references to figs: Fig trees. Early figs. Withered figs. Fig leaves

Excerpts from Mark 11:13 – 25
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.

Then he said to the tree, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard him say it.

On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple area and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts.

And as he taught them, he said, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’ ”

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!”

“Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. “I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.’”

Fig trees are deciduous, meaning they go dormant during winter. We know that this story takes place during the week leading up to Passover, springtime. At this time of year, in my garden, fig trees are beginning to push out fresh green shoots, from which that season’s leaves and fruit will mature.

Matthew 24:32
“Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near.”

This description is exactly what one would expect that time of year. You can’t see the green tips very well in my photo, but you can see the green on the new growth of leaves and figs, as they develop together on new growth.

Fig and Fig Tree Imagery In Scripture

Flourishing Fig Trees / Prosperity and Peace

Deuteronomy 8:8
…a land with wheat and barley, vines and fig trees, pomegranates, olive oil and honey…

2 Kings 18:31
“…Make peace with me and come out to me. Then every one of you will eat from his own vine and fig tree and drink water from his own cistern.”

Proverbs 27:18
He who tends a fig tree will eat its fruit…

Joel 2:22
Be not afraid, O wild animals, for the open pastures are becoming green. The trees are bearing their fruit; the fig tree and the vine yield their riches. Be glad, O people of Zion, rejoice in the LORD your God, for he has given you the autumn rains in righteousness. He sends you abundant showers, both autumn and spring rains, as before.

When you read the following verse, let it really sink in, this amazing image of peace and prosperity.

1Kings 4:25
During Solomon’s lifetime Judah and Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, lived in safety, each man under his own vine and fig tree.

These days we think of prosperity in terms of acquiring ever more stuff. But that is greed, not prosperity, and it is not likely to lead to peace. “…each man under his own vine and fig tree.” This means the land is not at war. The men are at home, living in the shade of their own fig tree, making wine from their own grapes. This is an amazing image of prosperity. Every man has his own fig tree and vineyard. He can feed his family, at home, in peace and safety. Oh, if only we could know such prosperity in our lifetime. But the rat-race runs too fast and relentlessly for this understanding of peace and prosperity.

Withered Fig Trees / Shriveled Figs

Imagery of withered fig trees and shriveled figs were a powerful symbol of retribution. No wonder the prophets used the symbol when urging the people to turn away from idolatry.

Hosea 2:12
“I will ruin her vines and her fig trees, which she said were her pay from her lovers…”

Amos 4:9
“Many times I struck your gardens and vineyards, I struck them with blight and mildew. Locusts devoured your fig and olive trees, yet you have not returned to me,” declares the LORD.

Jeremiah 8:13
“‘I will take away their harvest, declares the LORD. There will be no grapes on the vine. There will be no figs on the tree, and their leaves will wither. What I have given them will be taken from them.’”

Isaiah 34:4
All the stars of the heavens will be dissolved and the sky rolled up like a scroll; all the starry host will fall like withered leaves from the vine, like shriveled figs from the fig tree.

Revelation 6:13
…and the stars in the sky fell to earth, as late figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind.

Early Figs

One must grow a fig tree to truly appreciate the imagery of the early fig. Dried figs, preserved from last year’s harvest were an important part of the winter diet. (Read more about growing figs and their nutritional value.) Spring arrives and one sees the green shoots signaling the end of winter. Summer is right around the corner. New leaves and figs begin to form Figs do not have noticeable flowers, so the early figs are the first sign of the coming harvest. Figs are quite perishable, so they must either be eaten quickly or preserved/dried.

Now let me tell you, there is nothing to make the gardener’s entire body sing with gratitude like discovering the first ripe figs of summer. The fig is immediately popped into the mouth; the gardener savors the sweet, juicy goodness. This is a sign that the harvest will soon arrive.

Hosea 9:10
“When I found Israel, it was like finding grapes in the desert; when I saw your fathers, it was like seeing the early fruit on the fig tree…”

Isaiah 28:4
That fading flower, his glorious beauty, set on the head of a fertile valley, will be like a fig ripe before harvest—as soon as someone sees it and takes it in his hand, he swallows it.

Nahum 3:12
All your fortresses are like fig trees with their first ripe fruit; when they are shaken, the figs fall into the mouth of the eater.

Then, of course Jeremiah’s two baskets of figs.

Excerpts from Jeremiah 24:1-10
“…The LORD showed me two baskets of figs placed in front of the temple of the LORD. One basket had very good figs, like those that ripen early; the other basket had very poor figs, so bad they could not be eaten…”

“…This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘Like these good figs, I regard as good the exiles from Judah, whom I sent away from this place to the land of the Babylonians. My eyes will watch over them for their good, and I will bring them back to this land. I will build them up and not tear them down; I will plant them and not uproot them. I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the LORD. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart. But like the poor figs, which are so bad they cannot be eaten,’ says the LORD, ‘so will I deal with Zedekiah king of Judah, his officials and the survivors from Jerusalem, whether they remain in this land or live in Egypt…’”

Some believe the following verses, Micah 7: 1-7 may be what Jesus was referencing when he speaks of being hungry for early figs. This seems plausible since the verses also speak of the betrayal of friends.

Micah 7:1-7
“What misery is mine! I am like one who gathers summer fruit at the gleaning of the vineyard; there is no cluster of grapes to eat, none of the early figs that I crave. The godly have been swept from the land; not one upright man remains. All men lie in wait to shed blood; each hunts his brother with a net. Both hands are skilled in doing evil; the ruler demands gifts, the judge accepts bribes, the powerful dictate what they desire— they all conspire together. The best of them is like a brier, the most upright worse than a thorn hedge. The day of your watchmen has come, the day God visits you. Now is the time of their confusion. Do not trust a neighbor; put no confidence in a friend. Even with her who lies in your embrace be careful of your words. For a son dishonors his father, a daughter rises up against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—a man’s enemies are the members of his own household. But as for me, I watch in hope for the LORD, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.”

But we must also consider another fig tree parable.

Luke 13: 6 – 9
Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree, planted in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it, but did not find any. So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’
“ ‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’ ”

Fig Leaves

Let us not forget the first mention of the fig, mentioned after eating another fruit.

Genesis 3:3-7
…but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’ ”

“You will not surely die,” the serpent said to the woman. “For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.

Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.

Young Earth Creationists are fond of saying that if we do not accept the Creation story as literal fact, we undermine the rest of scripture. I disagree, adamantly disagree. The truth found in the creation story is a truth repeated continually throughout scripture. This truth not only makes the creation story relevant, but the necessary place to begin.

Whether you accept what is known about evolution, or believe that the Genesis account is literally true, please consider that the account of man’s fall into idolatry is critical to understanding every verse that follows.

Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.

They no longer accepted, without question, the perfect good that is God. They had traded God’s perfect knowledge for knowledge filtered through the imperfect human brain, and chose to act accordingly. They decided that being naked before God was evil, so they made garments of fig leaves. And so we see idolatry manifested for the first time, humans chose to value self-proclaimed good above the perfect good of God. Over the generations our fig leaves have become fancier and more detailed, our forms of idolatry more varied. We became so firmly set upon a self-selected path that to this day we seem incapable of any other.

There are only two paths: Follow God. Follow self.

Now back to Mark 11, and the withering of the fig tree. Consider the verses again in relation to the other uses of fig imagery in scripture.

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.

Well, it wasn’t really the season for leaves either – although, fig trees will leaf and fruit early under certain conditions. The point is, if the tree had already formed summer leaves it was not unreasonable to expect a few early figs.

Then he said to the tree, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard him say it.

As I’ve already mentioned these verses do seem closely associated with Micah 7:1-7. However, I also see something of Hosea 2:12 and Jeremiah 8:13, quoted above.

With the verses that follow, we see that Jesus is protesting idolatry, the greed that is worshiped above God in the Temple. The worship of the law that left little room for compassion.

A fig tree adorned in green finery without any nutritious fruit, this is what he is telling us about the activity in the temple. Oh, if only we could learn to change our ways.

On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple area and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts.

And as he taught them, he said, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’ ”

In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots.

Again, in this imagery we see the repeated warnings of the prophets decrying idolatry.

Peter remembered and said to Jesus, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!”

Cursed? Would anyone say that the temple was cursed when Jesus overturned the tables and drove out the moneychangers? No, he was trying to point them to the better path.

“Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. “I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.’”

Trust God. We must not rely on our own understanding of good and evil. We must have faith in God’s perfect good, and take every request to Him. For all things are possible with God.

A few weeks ago I discovered a nursery that specializes in edible landscape plants. The selections were impressive and I purchased three varieties of fig in small 6-inch pots. During the first week at my house I didn’t have a chance to transplant into larger containers. When I finally got around to it, one fig plant had withered and looked dead.

I transplanted anyway and nipped back the tips. A week or so later I was rewarded by a couple of fresh green shoots. Now the plant is thriving and should produce figs next summer.

I can hardly wait to taste the first ripe fruit.

Word To Live By

A member of our Sunday School class shared this today. Truely, words to live by from Mother Teresa.

Written on the wall in Mother Teresa’s home for children in Calcutta:

People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies. Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you. Be honest and sincere anyway.

What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight. Create anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous. Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, will often be forgotten. Do good anyway.

Give the best you have, and it will never be enough. Give your best anyway.

In the final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.

-Mother Teresa

Easter Sunrise And The Cycle Of Death and Resurrection

I’ve been meaning to post some photos from Easter, but… The weather has been so perfect I’ve spent every free moment working outdoors. This wonderful weather won’t last for many more weeks. Summer will arrive soon enough.

While the rain drizzles outside my window this afternoon I will try to catch up a little.

On Easter Sunday I left the house well before daylight. Having never attended a sunrise service on the beach, I really wanted to go this year. Afterward, I planned to spend some time alone, walking and reflecting.

A large crowd had already assembled when I made my way through the predawn darkness to find a tiny spot of sand. I spread a towel, sat and soon the music began. The band was good and they selected a nice mix of traditional and contemporary music.

Easter sunruse on the beach

As we sang How Great Thou Art the sun slowly began to appear above the waves. “Look! There! It’s rising!” came the shouts of excitement. All of us with cameras and many without rose to better see the sunrise, while we sang all the verses of my favorite hymn.

What an incredible moment!

After the service I walked northward along the beach, walking at the edge of the water so that the waves just barely covered my bare feet. As I walked, and the sun continued to rise, I noticed how the stream of light on the waves seemed to walk with me. Of course I know this was an illusion made possible because of the sun’s enormous size. The sun would appear to walk with me whether I walked on a beach in Florida or New York.

Still, this kept me thinking about Easter sunrise as metaphor for son rise. In the sunrise our thoughts reflect upon resurrection and redemption. Now I continued to reflect upon this metaphor as I saw the shaft of light upon rippling water. As the sun lifted into the brightening morning, I thought about the continuous presence of Christ in our lives. And like the sun, a presence so large that Christ’s presence may be felt by all.

The sun walks with me

Those were my thoughts on that beautiful morning. Then, back home, and back to work in my garden. I suppose the cycle of death and resurrection makes since to a gardener, for we must bury the seed in the ground before it can sprout, flower and fruit.

On Tuesday evening, Don received word that Dr. Julian Compton, his partner in designing the computer game Data Boxing, had passed away. This came as a shock because the death was so sudden and unexpected. Within moments of receiving this news I went online and learned that my friend Michael Spencer, The Internet Monk, had also passed away.

I have written about iMonk’s battle with brain cancer, and while this news was not unexpected, I grieve the loss. Even now, nearly a week later, I find it difficult to put into words how much this loss affects me.

This past week, while planting seeds in my garden, my mind kept going back to the sunrise as symbol of resurrection. And of course I thought about the deaths of our friends. Like that stream of sunlight on the morning beach, iMonk’s writings will stay with me, resurrected in my thoughts.

Easter Morning On The Beach

For Where Your Treasure Is

Mt 6:19-21 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

I haven’t posted lately. It’s not from a lack of material to write about. Believe me, I could write many paragraphs about my cross-country train adventure. And will.

I offer no excuse for not writing, unless a general lack of motivation will do.

Then today, after reading the verses quoted above, restless thoughts began to seek adequate words for expression.

Matthew’s use of ‘kingdom of heaven’ instead of the New Testament’s more often found ‘kingdom of God’ has probably led some to believe these verses speak of storing up treasure for the afterlife. Yet the kingdom of God is within us and among us. (Luke 17:21)

Earthly treasures may be understood as material goods: food, clothing, tools, ornaments, buildings and all the other stuff we hoard. This includes all items of plant or animal origin, or any other material of this impermanent planet. Included, everything that may rust, rot, decay, decomposes, crumble or become lost, stolen, destroyed.

So if these are earthly treasures, then what are the treasures in the kingdom of God? This is the question that occupied my thoughts this morning, while watching a dreary rain through my office window.

I have heard many preachers talk about “kingdom building” What do they mean? All too often they appear to mean building new buildings, or larger, more elaborate buildings. Well, we humans do have a fondness for monument building, so this is hardly surprising. But is monument building, kingdom building?

A while back I went online to find current info about some of the churches I attended as a child. Most no longer exist, or have moved out of those rundown neighborhoods to relocate in more prosperous suburbs. This seems the trend in Central Florida. Churches leave older neighborhoods for greener pastures out by the Interstate. And by ‘greener’ I do mean the green in the wallet.

I remembered seeing this YouTube video about a long abandoned Methodist church in Gary Indiana. The video is an excerpt from The History Channel’s “Life After People”. After locating that video, I came across the following amazing music video shot in that same abandoned church.

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Who remembers the name of the monument builder after the monument, no longer treasured, is abandoned to the ravages of time? Ruins crumble, testament to the identity of their kingdom. They are of an earthly kingdom of mortal men who dream of immortality through the building of momentary monuments.

These were my thoughts as I started writing. Then I took a break, went online to visit my favorite Christian blog. http://www.internetmonk.com/

I have been reading Michael Spencer – The Internet Monk – for well over a year now. His writings have meant so much to me. I was heartbroken to read about his battle with cancer last fall. Now, today, his wife Denise sent an update to tell his readers that “Michael most likely has somewhere between six months and a year to live.”

I usually pray: Lord, let Your Will be done in all things. As I watched the dreary rain outside my window my prayer became a petition. Please Lord! We need Monk’s honesty, his humor, his intelligence and clarity. So many of us need him!

Monk always wrote so honestly about the challenges facing the present-day church. With heartfelt words he wrote about the challenges we face along our journey of faith. Sadly, too many Christians perpetuate the notion that once we “come to Jesus” all is sunshine and happy smiles. And worse, many are led to believe that once saved they will be enveloped in perpetually happy and endlessly-loving church family.

But what about the people who feel out of place, who ask questions they are told they should not ask, who always feel the outsider? Many of us were fortunate enough to find The Internet Monk. In Monk’s honest discussions of the human condition, he allowed Christ to more brightly illuminate the Good News of The Kingdom of God.

Instead of building monuments, h wrote, and his writings and podcasts nourished the confused and questioning, those that doubted or were close to walking away entirely.

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

No one could write as much as Monk wrote unless his heart was in the writing. And this was testament to the kingdom he treasured.

Thank You Monk for sharing the treasures of a kingdom where all questions may be asked and no one is denied entrance.

On Miracles

Just reading Internet Monk’s blog. His question:

“What do you think of ‘miracle testimonies’ and their place in evangelism and Christian communication?”

My response, well I might as well post it here. This is what I believe.

When I first came to Christ I read a variety of sources in an attempt to understand who God is. The rational part of my mind was content to understand Christ casting out demons, unstopping ears, causing the blind to see and the lame to walk as metaphor.

However, the timing of my coming to Christ soon seemed like a miracle. I do not know how I could have endured the following months without Him. The greatest miracle in my life is knowing Christ in my life.

As I tried to understand who God is I eventually came to realize that if I understood God, I was understanding a God of my own mind’s construction. Obviously, God must be vastly more than I can comprehend.

With this understanding I could no longer say that miracles don’t happen. How can I say anything is impossible to a God that my pitiful little brain finds utterly incomprehensible? I don’t know the whys of why God might intervene. But if God is beyond my understanding I cannot say that God is incapable of intervention. I cannot limit God to fit my ability to comprehend. The experience of my own life tells me that God is certainly capable of intervention.

Other things have happened that seem like miracles, but each time there is also a natural explanation. My habit has become to thank God regardless. After all, even if there is a perfectly logical explanation, I am grateful to be at the place where I know there is more to God than I can possibly comprehend.

All my prayers became, “Let Your Will Be Done.”

When I look at a radiant sunset or golden sun shining through green leaves against the backdrop of blue sky, I feel gratitude. The swelling of gratitude is like embracing all of Creation. I do not believe God laid out these magnificent views just for me, but I do believe He has taught me to feel gratitude, which is praise, which is embracing with my entire mind and expressing, “Let Your Will Be Done!” And this gives me joy, which also feels like a miracle.