But it was the fig trees in the Bible that intrigued me.
The whole thing began when fig leaves were used to hide Adam and Eve's nakedness. You have to admit that is kind of a weird role to play in the story of creation.
Figs are mentioned in the Song of Solomon, something about their early ripe fruit next to the pomegranates. I just can't comment on that.
There is a strange passage in Judges that no sermon is ever preached on in which Joachim is telling his countrymen about choosing a king. The fig tree refuses to be appointed king because to do so would require giving up its sweet fruit.
And the old Testament is full of the phrase, "they sit under their own fig tree." Apparently the spreading arbor of the fig tree created a place of shade, often used by the community, and was a common place for quiet study, prayer, meditation and peace.
Some commentators say that "fig" in the Bible is symbolic for "sweetness."
So now we come to the stories I was deja revuing as I stood in the shade of my own fig tree.
In one story, Jesus went to a fig tree because He was hungry, but it had no fruit. He cursed the fig tree. Now my dad likes his figs, and he is disappointed when his tree has no fruit. But I never heard him curse it. But Jesus did. And the tree wilted and never produced fruit again. Jesus' turned the whole incident into a teaching moment, somehow turning his display of anger into a lesson on faith.
But the Jesus fig story that intrigues me the most begins at John 1:43 and concerns the disciple Nathanael. Nathanael was sitting under the fig tree, getting out of the heat and meditating when Philip runs up and says that they have found the one that was prophesied about, Jesus of Nazareth, son of Joseph. Shortly before this Jesus had said to Philip "follow me." And Philip did. Nathanael's response does not sound like one who had been drinking fully from the peace and sweetness that is supposed to be found under the spreading fig tree.
"Can anything good come out of Nazareth?"
Philip said "come and see."
And Nathanael did.
He left the shade of the peaceful, sweet, meditative fig tree and went to check out Jesus, from of all places, Nazareth. As Nathanael approached, Jesus said, "here comes a man of Israel in whom there is no deceit." I always wondered if Jesus fully meant that or if he was digging a bit into Nathanael's prejudicial statements about Him being from Nazareth. Nathanael asked, "how do you know me? " Jesus replied, "I saw you while you were still sitting under the fig tree where Philip found you."
Apparently that was enough for Nathanael. He followed too.
The "Come and follow me" stories in which Jesus' called his disciples perturb me. This young rabbi just walks up, says "come and follow me," doesn't give a plan, a timetable, even a purpose, other than fishing for men, which is a bit cryptic. And these guys followed. They didn't straighten out their lives, finish unfinished business, bury their fathers. They just followed. Even in their imperfection.
Even Nathanael, who thought little of folks from Nazareth. As far as we know Nathanael didn't spend a whole lot more time in quiet meditation under the fig tree. He may have, it just wasn't important enough to mention in the gospels. For three years he was on the road, leaving family, friends, peace and sweetness, to follow Jesus of Nazareth.
In times such as this it is tempting to stay and hide under the shade, the peace and sweetness of the fig tree. But it is obvious from the story of Nathanael the purpose of the shade of the fig tree is not to hide, it is simply a place to get ready,
to go.
Because we know He can see us. Even through the fig leaves.
.
.
No comments :
Post a Comment