The cursing of the fig tree is a strange and confusing story for many who have read the Bible.
On the one hand, it's understood that Jesus was both human and divine. However, this seemingly uncharacteristic, irrational anger at a tree that isn't bearing fruit because it's not in season seems to be a bit too human.
After all, it's not the fig tree's fault that it's not the "proper season" for it to be bearing fruit, so why does Jesus get so perturbed?
Nothing is without its significance, however. Mark obviously felt the story was important to the early church somehow.
Traditional View: Fig Tree Represents Israel
Many scholars, like William Telford (The Barren Temple) point to the fig tree as being representative of Israel and the Jewish Temple system that failed to produce fruit. Thus, Jesus is condemning Israel and its practices.
Philip Esler, however, points out that there is one huge problem with this interpretation... it's not the interpretation Jesus himself gives for it later in verses 22-25. Jesus' explanation is that the issue revolves around faith and prayer (which is the overall focus of much of Mark's gospel).
However, that said, such an interpretation is not completely without merit. The temple system was indeed not a good representative of true faith and prayer. For in the scene that follows the initial cursing of the fig tree (the cleansing of the temple), Jesus states that the temple was supposed to be a "house of prayer," but they have turned it into a den of robbers.
Yet, the temple system was "in season," it was well established, and thus it most definitely should have been bearing fruit. So it doesn't quite make sense that Mark is very careful to point out that the fig tree was not in season. Thus, the temple/Israel doesn't quite fit. The parallel falls short.
Condemnation of Jesus' Disciples?
Due to its "out of season" status, the fig tree cursing might be more aptly viewed as Jesus condemning the actions thus far by his own disciples. He had not yet died and risen. Therefore, like the fig tree, his church was not yet "in season."
However, even though it was not in season, some fruit should have been appearing for all the "leaves" that had grown up around him. Jesus' "disciple tree" had lots of leaves and looked like it should at least have begun bearing some fruit.
After all, the disciples up until now have been spending time with Jesus, learning from him - and yet, they continued to squabble over things like who would be greater in heaven. They were missing Jesus' biggest point: faith and prayer. They looked good, their leaves were full, just like the fig tree - so there was no excuse for the fruit that should have followed to come to bear.
But Jesus' disciples failed in the most important areas: faith and prayer - their focus was all wrong. Their minds were still set on the earthly way the world worked. Jesus was the Messiah, the king and ruler, so of course their desire was to share in some of his power and glory.
Jesus' condemnation of the fig tree was also his condemnation of his disciples' focus.
As Mark 8 pointed out, Jesus calls Peter "Satan," and Peter's mind is still set on the earthly "reason" of how things should work in this world. Rather than glory, the disciples are called to pick up their crosses. Rather than rote ritual and empty acts, faith and prayer are required elements in God's Kingdom.
Cursing the fig tree stood as a stark warning to his disciples: no matter how good a community looks on the outside, no matter how "powerful" they may seem to the world, if faith is absent from it's core, then it is useless in God's Kingdom.
How Christians Bear Fruit
Today's Christian should take special note of this incident. As Donald Strobe points out, Christians are not called to do "what comes naturally." Rather, followers of Jesus are called to do the "unnatural." They are called to forgive when it's most difficult to forgive. They are called to care for the people the rest of society shuns. They are called to have faith in times when it seems impossible to do so, to pray when praying is difficult. They are called to "bear fruit" where it's not expected.
The Christian life therefore is one that defies the "norms" of society and the expectation is that where Christians get involved, the unexpected should occur.
Sources:
- Philip F. Esler, The Incident of the Withered Fig Tree in Mark 11: A New Source and Redactional Explanation, Journal for the Study of the New Testament, 28 no 1 S 2005, p 49.
- Donald B. Strobe, "Not the Seasons for Figs," Collected Words, Donald B. Strobe, Dynamic Preaching, 2005.
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