The fig tree

Now the next day, when they had come out from Bethany, he was hungry. And seeing from afar a fig tree having leaves, he went to see if perhaps he would find something on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. In response Jesus said to it, "Let no one eat fruit from you ever again." And his disciples heard it.

So they came to Jerusalem. Then Jesus went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. And he would not allow anyone to carry wares through the temple. Then he taught, saying to them, "Is it not written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations'? But you have made it a 'den of thieves.' " And the scribes and chief priests heard it and sought how they might destroy him; for they feared him, because all the people were astonished at his teachings. When evening had come, he went out of the city.

Now in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. And Peter, remembering, said to him, "Rabbi, look! The fig tree which you cursed has withered away. So Jesus answered and said to them, "Have faith in God. For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you will receive them, and you will have them. And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses."

- Mark 11:12-26

Yesterday's (Sunday's) reading, which would have been appropriate for us to follow, was Mark 11:1-11, which I have not blogged. This was the passage in Mark's gospel that contains the events of Palm Sunday, Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem, in which he is proclaimed as messianic King - a dangerous act before both the Jewish and Roman authorities. Today's passage immediately follows those events in the gospel.

Now the next day, when they had come out from Bethany, he was hungry. And seeing from afar a fig tree having leaves, he went to see if perhaps he would find something on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. In response Jesus said to it, "Let no one eat fruit from you ever again." And his disciples heard it. My study bible notes that this tree has sprouted an early full foliage, indicating a first crop, but has not borne any fruit. The condemnation comes from the fact that it hasn't borne fruit. In Scripture, my study bible notes, a fig tree is often a symbol of Israel: "Her fruitfulness has ceased, so the Kingdom will be taken from her and given to another people, who will bear spiritual fruit." I think it's important to note that this passage comes immediately on the heels of Jesus' reception into Jerusalem as messianic King. Therefore, it would seem reasonable that this curse would be a surprise to us. But all along, Jesus has tried to avoid misunderstanding about himself and his mission - and we will see his prophecy materialize in the events that are to follow this week.

So they came to Jerusalem. Then Jesus went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. And he would not allow anyone to carry wares through the temple. Then he taught, saying to them, "Is it not written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations'? But you have made it a 'den of thieves.' " And the scribes and chief priests heard it and sought how they might destroy him; for they feared him, because all the people were astonished at his teachings. When evening had come, he went out of the city. In John's gospel, this event is reported as coming early in Jesus' ministry, whereas the other gospels all place it in the week before the Passion. My study bible suggests the possibility that there were two cleansings - but we recall that John's gospel has a different orientation, and chronological order is not as important as the teaching message of his gospel. My study bible points out that Jesus acts as a King would act, he assumes control and power and command. This is his space - or rather "His Father's house." We recall that the money changers exchange Roman coin for temple currency, so that the people may purchase sacrifices for Passover. The doves are the sacrifice of the poor - inferior to those affordable to the wealthier participants in the temple at Jerusalem. All of Israel traveled from near and far to the temple for Passover services. Jesus' great claim here is the disparity among the believers in terms of their faces before God, so to speak. The poor are penalized in practice in terms of the quality of the sacrifice. The references Jesus is quoting are from Isaiah 56:7 and Jeremiah 7:11. My study bible points out the following: "Jesus acts as the King of Israel would, utterly in control. He disrupts business and makes a sweeping condemnation of the religious system, yet he is untouched. The religious rulers and the Roman soldiers are close by, but all are paralyzed. In the light of the imagery in the account of the fig tree, the temple is all leaves and no fruit, a picture of the nation itself."

Now in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. And Peter, remembering, said to him, "Rabbi, look! The fig tree which you cursed has withered away." Continuing with the passage on the fig tree, the next day all are astonished to see the fig tree withered from the roots. This is a prophetic image. My study bible notes that this signifies the judgment of Israel; it continues: "The disciples need to learn that Israel is being rejected. They will establish His Church, ultimately filled with Gentiles and Jews, and they need assurance that they are following His will. The fig tree will be an indelible image in their minds."

So Jesus answered and said to them, "Have faith in God. For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says." Jesus continues his talk at the fig tree, and remarks on faith and prayer. This is near the Mount of Olives (the one from which the Messiah was to enter Jerusalem, as did Jesus the day before). My study bible points out that neither Jesus nor his followers physically moved any mountains, but spiritually, the message the of the Kingdom turned society upside down. This image of speech, to "turn society upside down," is illuminated for us in the passage of the cleansing of the temple: the tables are literally overturned, and everything is disrupted. The power of money and commercialism is sent packing when it disrupts the capacity of each believer to stand immediately before God. It is no coincidence, then, that immediately framing the story of the cleansing of the temple is a discourse on fruitlessness and especially faith and prayer. My study bible adds, "We all need such faith in our struggle for full repentance and life in Christ ... We can have assured faith in answered payer, according to St. John Chrysostom, when we ask things worthy of the Lord and strive for holiness. Of course, human requests neither limit nor control God's omniscient freedom."

Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you will receive them, and you will have them. And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses." Today's reading in the lectionary does not include the final verse, but I have included it in our quotation today. After the discourse on faith, we get a discussion on prayer, inextricably tied to the practice of faith in this picture. And again, we are treated to an image of unburdening, being freed of possessions, and standing before God spiritually naked. This is what forgiveness does, it unleashes our grip on an event or a person - and we give it up to God for resolution and judgment. It is exactly correct as it follows the cleansing of the temple: this is yet another burden of possessions we loose our grips upon in order to come before God directly, as the persons we really are in His image of us - and we ask for that image in return. Just as the quality and cost of the offerings in the temple should not deter the smallest and poorest from dialogue and worship - equality before God, Creator and creation - so, too, the things we hold onto in our lives must not stand in the way of that union, reconciliation, redemption, and the repentance my study bible points out in the note I quoted in the previous paragraph, above. Forgiveness is the act of giving up, of seeking God's word and judgment for anything in our lives. It is all a part of the unburdening, so that we come through that eye of the needle just as we are, without the unnecessary things we cling to that add obstacles to our path.

So, let us consider all of these passages together. We read of the judgment and prophetic withering of the fig tree, framing the cleansing in the temple - and the discourse on prayer, faith and forgiveness. What do we take away from each of these things together, on this first day of Holy Week? Why are they placed here for us on this journey, of Jesus on the road to Jerusalem and ourselves in Passion Week with him and the disciples? I think it is important to remember the unburdening, and the repeated messages of coming before God without obstacle to stand in our way - the repeated warning that it is up to us, also, to let go of anything that will stand in our way of this reconciliation, this good judgment, and our meeting with Christ. That is, indeed, what he is here for, what his mission into the world as incarnate man was all about. How do we let go? What do we need to let go of? What does forgiveness mean, indeed? Is there a situation you cannot resolve? Let it go in prayer, and ask for understanding of the solution. Sometimes that means literally letting it go, and walking away from what is spiritually fruitless. Better to have the relationship to God than what it is we cling to that only serves as an obstacle. That choice is fruit, and faith. How do you begin this journey to Holy Week, the Cross and the Passion and Resurrection? We start in that faith, that we can let go of the things that bind us, and hinder us, and may prove an obstacle for us as we, too, go through the eye of that needle. And we set our paths straight for the Lord.