By Ashlie Miller
Last week, many headed to their favorite coffee spot for a PSL (pumpkin-spiced latte). Pumpkins are already beginning to adorn steps, doorways, and windows, creating scenes straight out of a Gilmore Girls episode. Pumpkins may be the fruit of the season. Not so fast! For me, the fruit of the season is the fig. It is still late summer, after all. I have had an affinity for figs since childhood. Summers at my grandparents were crowned with their fig bushes bursting with bounty. I love the crunchy, seedy texture. As a child, I ate them straight off the bush. Now, with my more refined taste, they adorn toast garnished with goat cheese and honey. Ok, maybe not that refined. Last week’s “toast” was leftover hotdog buns, but in my mind, they were French baguettes.
Fig trees were a topic of discussion between my daughter and me last week as we were reading through the New Testament. “Mom, what is this about the fig tree that Jesus cursed?” she asked. Well, let’s go to the beginning – Genesis, to be exact.
After the Fall of humanity – when Adam and Eve both ate the forbidden fruit – they realized their nakedness and were filled with shame. Consequently, they covered themselves with fig leaves that they had sewn together, but it was not enough. God had to make them garments of skin, meaning something had to die to clothe them. Manmade efforts were inadequate; God had to intervene through a sacrifice.
Throughout the Old Testament, fig trees symbolize prosperity, peace, fruitfulness, and even Israel. In the New Testament, Jesus confronts opposing Jews, sometimes through direct encounters, while at other times it would be through parables. Occasionally, though, He would use an object lesson. In the Parable of the Fig Tree (Luke 13:6-9), Jesus tells a story of a fig tree that is barren for three years. The vinedresser says it should be dug up or cut down if irrigation and fertilizer do not help.
Later, Jesus curses a fig tree that only has leaves. Although it was not the season yet for ripened figs, this early-blooming leafy tree should have already been filling out with figs. He curses this tree so that it never bears fruit again. A day later, Peter sees it and is amazed that it is already withered.
What gives? The initial observation is that God values fruitfulness. We are to bear fruit as Christians. In fact, the evidence of the Holy Spirit in our lives is called “fruit.” Professing Christians can too often be merely consumers and not contributors to the Kingdom of God. We can look impressive and religious but have no evidence of the Holy Spirit.
The fig tree can also represent the Law (commandments) given by God, and that Israel was meant to be a conduit for God’s love reaching the world. But over time (and not a long time at that), they failed. A focus on what one could do to inherit eternal life (see the rich young ruler) took precedence over a relationship with God. Self-made efforts and keeping laws to cover sin and look religious were found to be inadequate. Jesus’ earthly ministry of three years was to first present the gospel to Israel. They refused. They wanted more miracles and signs (but not on the Sabbath!), more rules, and more to consume. But Jesus came with a better, complete plan. He fulfilled the Law and provided the only way to inherit eternal life – for all people. The unfruitful fig tree, the channel that stopped short, was no longer necessary or useful.
My figs and honey remind me of the sweetness of the Law – showing us where we are imperfect and need a Savior. They also let me know that fall is just around the corner.
