Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Mark 11:12-14
12The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. 13Seeing 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. 14Then he said to the tree, "May no one ever eat fruit from you again." And his disciples heard him say it.
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3 comments:
Why would Jesus curse the tree if it wasn't the season for figs? Why expect fruit out of season? He of all people understand how nature works. I'm confused.
Yes I agree with you Sue Jin. However we all know there must be a valid reason!
I searched and found this "the facts connected with the fig tree are these. Toward the end of March the leaves begin to appear, and in about a week the foliage coating is complete. Coincident with [this], and sometimes even before, there appears quite a crop of small knobs, not the real figs, but a kind of early forerunner. They grown to the size of green almonds, in which condition they are eaten by peasants and others when hungry. When they come to their own indefinite maturity they drop off." These precursors of the true fig are called taqsh in Palestinian Arabic. Their appearance is a harbinger of the fully formed appearance of the true fig some six weeks later. So, as Mark says, the time for figs had not yet come. But if the leaves appear without any taqsh, that is a sign that there will be no figs. Since Jesus found "nothing but leaves" - leaves without any taqsh- he knew that "it was an absolutely hopeless, fruitless fig tree" and said as much."
This example again shows us the importance of bearing fruits. More importantly having the potential and using that potential to bear fruit. Often we find ourselves with great potential but we choose not to act on it. I think this is what Jesus is trying to tell us through this verse.
Thank you, Michael! Having potential but not acting on it - that has been an idea that has haunted me all my life.
In some ways, I think that is one of the worst sins. Such a waste of God's gifts. Unfulfilled potential. It's like suicide - it is a waste of life, a waste of possibilities we can't imagine.
Thank you so much for researching this and sharing!
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