DOCSLIB.ORG

Why Did Jesus Destroy the Fig Tree?

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Why Did Jesus Destroy the Fig Tree? WHY DID JESUS DESTROY THE FIG TREE? Matthew 21:18-22 1 ‘Why did Jesus destroy the fig tree?’ ‘Early in the morning, as Jesus was on his way back to the city, he was hungry. Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then he said to it, ‘May you never bear fruit again!’ Immediately the tree withered. When the disciples saw this, they were amazed. ‘How did the fig tree wither so quickly? they asked. Jesus replied, ‘Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.’ Matthew 21:18-22 This passage tells us that, during the last week of His earthly life, whilst returning to Jerusalem from Bethany where he had spent the night, Jesus was hungry and, seeing a fig tree, He came to it looking for fruit. When He found none, He placed a curse on the tree and it immediately withered away. The incident is also recorded in Mark 11:12-14 ‘Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple courts. He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve. The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. Seeing 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. Then he said to the tree, ‘May no one ever eat fruit from you again.’ And his disciples heard him say it.’ Mark 11:20+21 ‘In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots. Peter remembered and said to Jesus, ‘Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!’ There is no doubt that the cursing of the barren fig tree is an event, which has down the years, been a source of bewilderment and unease in the minds of many Christians. The question that is implied, if not actually expressed is, ‘why did Jesus destroy the fig tree? And, on the basis of this incident, critics of the faith have been imagined they have found a flaw in his perfect character, and have been quick to accuse Him of acting in a petulant manner. 1. They think they have a strong case, because they are able to point out that Mark’s account clearly states that ‘it was not the season of figs’, and so they conclude that Jesus was guilty of acting unjustly. 2. They also think that He revealed a common human weakness. They assume that He was tired as well as hungry, and when He couldn’t find figs on the tree He became angry, He lost His temper, they say and, in anger, He passed this searing judgment on the tree. Of course, Christians aren’t prepared to accept either of these interpretations of the event. We don’t believe that Jesus was capable of either acting unjustly or of losing His temper. He was sometimes angry, as the Scriptures reveal. But there is a world of difference between the justified anger He displayed and the petulant loss of temper, of which the critics accuse Him. Nevertheless, some Christians do feel uncomfortable with the thought that His action appears to be uncharacteristic, because He came to save and heal, not to destroy, and in His ministry, this is the only ‘miracle of judgment’ on record. So, what are the facts? Well, consider, first of all, the time of the year when this happened. It was April. This means that it would be several weeks before figs were normally available. June was the time for figs. Are we to suppose that Jesus did not know this? Of course, He knew! His disciples knew! We have just seen that Mark states that it was ‘not the time for figs’. But no-one rebuked Jesus for expecting to find figs on that particular tree and you may be sure that they would have done so, if they had believed He was acting illogically. Mark 5:30+31 ‘At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?’ ‘You see the people crowding against you,’ his disciples answered, ‘and yet you can ask, ‘Who touched me?’ On this occasion, they gently reproached Him when they mistakenly felt He was being unreasonable! Mark adds this note about the time for figs because he wants us to understand that both Jesus and His disciples knew something about fig trees in Palestine which His critics apparently don’t! The Lord knew that this was a particular type of fig tree, a special feature of which was, that it produced the fruit first, and then the leaves. If we read Isaiah 28:4 , we find an expression which everyone at that time understood, ‘will be like figs ripe before harvest.’ 2 Look again at Mark 11:13 ‘Seeing 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.’ Here we see that it was the presence of leaves which drew the attention of Jesus to the tree. Those leaves meant that there should have been fruit on that particular tree. In fact, the Jews themselves had a name for such a tree, tree which had leaves but no fruit. They called it ‘a lying tree’. It promised something that it didn’t produce. Notice, also, that when Jesus pronounced judgment on the tree, His disciples didn’t react which shock or surprise. What really surprised them was the speed at which His words took effect. Matthew 21:20 ‘When the disciples saw this, they were amazed. ‘How did the fig tree wither so quickly?’ they asked.’ Mark 11:20+21 ‘In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots. Peter remembered and said to Jesus, ‘Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!’ There is no reason to accuse Jesus of behaving in an unreasonable manner, or to suspect Him of acting out of harmony with His mission to preserve life. The spirit of that ministry is revealed in the clearest possible terms in the prophecy of Isaiah 61. Isaiah 61:1-11 ‘The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favour and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendour. They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations. Strangers will shepherd your flocks; foreigners will work your fields and vineyards. And you will be called priests of the LORD, you will be named ministers of our God. You will feed on the wealth of nations, and in their riches, you will boast. Instead of your shame you will receive a double portion, and instead of disgrace you will rejoice in your inheritance. And so, you will inherit a double portion in your land, and everlasting joy will be yours. ‘For I, the LORD, love justice; I hate robbery and wrongdoing. In my faithfulness, I will reward my people and make an everlasting covenant with them. Their descendants will be known among the nations and their offspring among the peoples. All who see them will acknowledge that they are a people the LORD has blessed.’ I delight greatly in the LORD; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. For as the soil makes the sprout come up and a garden causes seeds to grow, so the Sovereign LORD will make righteousness and praise spring up before all nations.’ It was to this prophecy that He drew the attention of John the Baptiser, when, from his prison, he sent his disciples to question the Lord. Matthew 11:1-6 ‘After Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in the towns of Galilee. When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples to ask him, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?’ Jesus replied, ‘Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Miscellaneous Biblical Studies
    MISCELLANEOUS BIBLICAL STUDIES Thomas F. McDaniel, Ph.D. © 2010 All Rights Reserved TABLE OF CONTENTS ABBREVIATIONS iv I. SOME OBSERVATIONS ON GENDER AND SEXUALITY IN BIBLICAL TRADITION 1 II. WHY THE NAME OF GOD WAS INEFFABLE 72 III. ELIMINATING ‘THE ENEMIES OF THE LORD’ IN II SAMUEL 12:14 84 IV. RECONSIDERING THE ARABIC COGNATES WHICH CLARIFY PSALM 40:7 89 V. A NEW INTERPRETATION OF PROV 25:21–22 AND ROM 12:17–21 99 VI. ARABIC COGNATES HELP TO CLARIFY JEREMIAH 2:34b 107 VII. NOTES ON MATTHEW 6:34 “SUFFICIENT UNTO THE DAY IS THE EVIL THEREOF” 116 VIII. WHAT DID JESUS WRITE ACCORDING TO JOHN 8:6b–8? 127 IX. NOTES ON JOHN 19:39, 20:15 AND MATT 3:7 138 X. RECOVERING JESUS’ WORDS BY WHICH HE INITIATED THE EUCHARIST 151 XI. UNDERSTANDING SARAH’S LAUGHTER AND LYING: GENESIS 18:9–18 167 ii TABLE OF CONTENTS XII. REDEFINING THE eivkh/, r`aka,, AND mwre, IN MATTHEW 5:22 182 XIII. LUKE’S MISINTERPRETATION OF THE HEBREW QUOTATION IN ACTS 26:14 205 XIV. THE ORIGIN OF JESUS ’ “MESSIANIC SECRET” 219 XV. LOST LEXEMES CLARIFY MARK 1:41 AND JOHN 3:3–4 245 XVI. LOST LEXEMES CLARIFY JOHN 11:33 AND 11:38 256 XVII. A NEW INTERPRETATION OF JESUS’ CURSING THE FIG TREE 267 XVIII A NEW INTERPRETATION OF JESUS’ PARABLE OF THE WEDDING BANQUET 287 XIX RESTORING THE ORIGINAL VERSIFICATION OF ISAIAH 8 305 XX A BETTER INTERPRETATION OF ISAIAH 9:5–6a 315 XXI THE SEPTUAGINT HAS THE CORRECT TRANSLATION OF EXODUS 21:22–23 321 iii XXII RECOVERING THE WORDPLAY IN ZECHARIAH 2:4–9 [MT 2:8–13] 337 BIBLIOGRAPHY 348 iv ABBREVIATIONS A-text Codex Alexandrinus AB Anchor Bible, New York ABD The Anchor Bible Dictionary AJSL American Journal of Semitic Languages and Literature, Chicago AnBib Analecta Biblica, Rome AOS American Oriental Society, New Haven ATD Das Alte Testament Deutsch, Göttingen AV Authorized Version of the Bible, 1611 (same as KJV, 1611) B-text Codex Vaticanus BASOR Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research, Philadelphia BCTP A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching BDB F.
    [Show full text]
  • The Bible in Outline
    Mark 11:1-25 – The Messenger of the Covenant 1 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no-one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 3 If anyone asks you, „Why are you doing this?‟ tell him, „The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.‟ ” 4 They went and found a colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. As they untied it, 5 some people standing there asked, “What are you doing, untying that colt?” 6 They answered as Jesus had told them to, and the people let them go. 7 When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it. 8 Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. 9 Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted, “Hosanna!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” 10 “Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!” “Hosanna in the highest!” 11 Jesus entered Jerusalem and went to the temple. He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve. 12 The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. 13 Seeing in the distance a fig-tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit.
    [Show full text]
  • Mark 11:20-33 ~ Scripture Verses
    Mark 11:20-33 ~ Scripture Verses The Withered Fig Tree 12 The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. 13 Seeing 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. 14 Then he said to the tree, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard him say it. [Verses 15 to 19: Jesus clears the temple] 20 In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots. 21 Peter remembered and said to Jesus, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!” 22 “Have [a] faith in God,” Jesus answered. 23 “I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. 24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. 25 And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.[b]” The Authority of Jesus Questioned 27 They arrived again in Jerusalem, and while Jesus was walking in the temple courts, the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders came to him. 28 “By what authority are you doing these things?” they asked.
    [Show full text]
  • Quaker Higher Education QHE a Publication of the Friends Association for Higher Education
    Quaker Higher Education QHE A Publication of the Friends Association for Higher Education Volume 9: Issue 2 November, 2015 What is the careful work that we as testimony of integrity and truth-telling, educators, artists and scholars must do to to the secular task of investigating crime. foster “Aha!” moments and perspective From Earlham College, Kelly Burk, shifts for our students, publics, and Director of Religious Life, and Trish colleagues? How do we draw on the Eckert, Director of the Newlin Quaker grace of language in poetry, theatre, and Center, carefully outline the steps and song, as well as the tools of consensus, resources that they and their students forensics, and Biblical exegesis to take have found useful when speaking one’s on tough conversations, realities and truth, listening to others’ truth, and truths? The six essays and works of this moving forward in (very) difficult Fall 2016 issue of Quaker Higher conversations. Education help us address these queries. Stephen Pothoff, associate professor of Bill Jolliff, poet and professor of English religion and philosophy at Wilmington at George Fox University, shares with us College, walks us carefully through the his keynote address to 2015 June’s confounding Markan account of Jesus FAHE conferees. He provides cursing the fig tree. His Biblical and guideposts for enjoying and growing historical “forensics” reveal how Jesus from contemporary poetry that offer was speaking truth to imperial Rome. delight, identification, transcendence, and epiphany. Finally, we present The Healing Blues Project, a multimedia engagement with Darlene R. Graves, Professor of Digital homelessness, co-created by Ted Media and Communication Arts at Efremoff, assistant professor of Digital Liberty University, takes us beyond the Photography and Video Art at Central Friends’ historical aversion to the “lively Connecticut State University.
    [Show full text]
  • The Cursing of the Fig Tree and the Second Temple Cleansing by Jesus
    Scholars Crossing The Second Person File Theological Studies 1-2018 Chart 24: The Cursing of the Fig Tree and the Second Temple Cleansing by Jesus Harold Willmington Liberty University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/second_person Part of the Biblical Studies Commons, and the Christianity Commons Recommended Citation Willmington, Harold, "Chart 24: The Cursing of the Fig Tree and the Second Temple Cleansing by Jesus" (2018). The Second Person File. 131. https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/second_person/131 This Charts Illustrating the Earthly Life of Jesus Christ is brought to you for free and open access by the Theological Studies at Scholars Crossing. It has been accepted for inclusion in The Second Person File by an authorized administrator of Scholars Crossing. For more information, please contact [email protected]. The Earthly Ministry of Jesus Chart 24 THE FIG TREE & THE 2ND CLEANSING MONDAY: JESUS CURSING THE FIG TREE The Reason For The Fig Tree Visit 18Now in the morning as he returned into the city, he hungered. (Mt. 21:18) The Reaction During The Fig Tree Visit • What Jesus Discovered: 13And seeing a 9ig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might 9ind any thing thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of 9igs was not yet. (Mk. 11:13) • What Jesus Did: 14And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. And his disciples heard it. (Mk. 11:14) The Results From The Fig Tree Visit • The Amazement Of The Apostles: 20And when the disciples saw it, they marvelled, saying, How soon is the 9ig tree withered away! (Mt.
    [Show full text]
  • The Parables of Jesus: Friendly Subversive Speech
    The Parables of Jesus: Friendly Subversive Speech Introduction 4 Tell it Slant Typology and Parables The Four Gospels and Parables Messianic Consciousness Matthew’s Sermon of Parables 1 The Parable of the Sower 13 “Holy Seed” Isaiah’s Open Secret Jesus’ Interpretation Good-Soil Understanding 2 The Parable of the Weeds among the Wheat 22 Mustard Seeds and Yeast Echoes of Asaph Jesus’ Explanation 3 The Parables of the Hidden Treasure, the Pearl, and the Net 32 The Joy of the Gospel The Net New Treasures 4 The Parable of the Good Samaritan 37 Setting the Scene Augustine’s Allegory The Expert Who is my Neighbor? Messianic Edge 5 The Parable of the Friend at Midnight 50 Midnight Request Global Neighbors How Much More! 6 The Parable of the Rich Fool 55 Do We Practice What We Preach? The Meaning of Life All Kinds of Greed The Fool Jesus’ Hierarchy of Needs 7 The Parable of the Faithful Servants and the Exuberant Master 67 The Master is Coming! The Master Serves 8 The Parable of the Faithless Servant and the Furious Master 73 Managerial Responsibilities Managers of the Mysteries of God’s Revelation The Master’s Fury 1 9 The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree 80 Fig Tree Judgment Repentance Productivity 10 The Parable of the Great Banquet 86 The Narrow Door Jesus Will Not Be Managed Tension Around the Table Mundane Excuses The Host 11 The Parable of the Tower Builder and King at War 94 Christ-less Christianity Counting the Cost Who Among You? 12 The Parables of the Lost Sheep, the Lost Coin, and the Lost Sons 101 The Compassionate Father Prodigal
    [Show full text]
  • Fig Tree Verses in New Testament
    Fig Tree Verses In New Testament Oscar teethings dashed. Tenantless Hasty sometimes bemuddled any spanking channelling scantly. Unilluminating Maurice comprising some alodium after zirconic Winthrop crossband first-class. The sword your email address as ruler and go with the second is god it is a second coming of daniel and America Suffering from Moral Injury did He try to communicate to His listeners is all about something just. Well, the fruit of the ground, and that scepter would belong to Him as the rightful heir. But who in the church is preparing for the great revival prophesied for Israel? Rabbi, the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world, for three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree and find none. When I take new workers to pick figs, of course, the fig is a captivating food that makes its biblical debut in Genesis. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Will there be a future attack against Israel by Gog and Magog? Likewise, decaying sacrificial worship of hypocritical people. Note that Jesus leaves the ball in our court! Image via his vineyard and in that part of people, denunciation of those messages have broken down and lucy, they would come. Do you see all these things? Then the new testament often with jesus as soon withered fig? In the story of the fruitless fig tree, the vineyard owner, Levi and Benjamin. If Allah says we have peace with Israel, before they happened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.
    [Show full text]
  • News of March - April 7
    News of March - April 7. H.H. Pope Tawadros II: + On Januaruy 5, Pope Tawadros received 1. The Holy Lent: the President of Egypt Mr. Adly Mansour The Holy Lent started on Monday, February 24, until who came to the Cathedral to congratulate the Feast of the Resurrection on Sunday, April 20 2014. him and all the Copts on Christmas. Daily Liturgies during the Lent are as follows: 8. H.G. Bishop Serapion: + Wednesday and Thursday: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon. + His Grace ordained four new Presbyters + Monday, Tuesday and Friday: 12:00– 3:00 p.m. for the Diocese. + Bishop Serapion + Saturday from 8: 10 a.m. established the first church named after St. Pope Kyrillos VI in Santa Ana. 2. Appearance of the Holy Cross: + H.G. received recognition for his successful On Wednesday, March 19, the church efforts in enhancing Interfaith Dialogue. celebrates the Feast of the Appearance of the Holy Cross. The Liturgy will be in festal 9. The 2nd Annual Commemoration of tunes of Palm Sunday. The procession of H.H. Pope Shenouda III: the cross takes place during matins 7:30 H.G. Bishop Serapion, the Clergy and the a.m. Vespers, Tuesday, 7 pm people of the diocese of Los Angeles are holding a special prayer in commemoration 3. March Famous Saints: of the second year of the departure of our March 8: Martyrdom of St. Policarp (Rev. 2:8). beloved father the Thrice Blessed H. H. Pope Shenouda on March 9: Departure of Pope Kyrellos 6. Sunday, March 16, 2014 at 12:00 at St.
    [Show full text]
  • Appendices 1 – 12
    APPENDICES 1 – 12 Religion Course of Study PreK-12 --- Diocese of Toledo --- 2018 Appendix 1: God’s Plan of Salvation -- A Summary (Used with permission, Diocese of Green Bay, WI) It is very important that before we dive into the religion Course of Study each year, we set the stage with an overview of God’s plan of salvation – the adventurous story of God’s unfailing love for us, his persistence in drawing us back to himself, and the characters along the way who succeed and fail in their quest for holiness. The context of the Story of Salvation will provide the proper foundation for the rest of your catechetical instruction. The Story can be taught as a one-day lesson, or a week long lesson. Each teacher must make a determination of how long they will take to present the Story to their students. It is important that the story be presented so that each of us can understand our place and purpose in the larger plan of God, as well as how the Church is central to God’s plan of salvation for the world. An overview of God’s plan is to be presented at the beginning of each year, and should be revisited periodically during the year as the subject matter or liturgical season warrants. Please make the presentation appropriate to the grade level. 1. God is a communion of Persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. The three Persons in one God is the Blessed Trinity. God has no beginning and no end.
    [Show full text]
  • “The Fig Tree Mystery”
    “The Fig Tree Mystery” When Jesus teaches a parable, He draws a picture that all the people of Israel could easily understand……Then He relates strong spiritual truths that they could apply to their everyday lives! The same for Us! Figs and Fig Trees are Common in Jerusalem and All Israel We Know Very Little About Figs – Yet the Bible uses Figs Over and Over To learn the Mysteries of the End Times We need to go back to the Beginning! Where do we first find Fig Trees and Leaves? Genesis 3:7 – In the Garden of Eden There was only One Rule Adam and Eve Could Disobey… “Adam, of every tree of the Garden, you may freely eat, but of the Tree of the knowledge of Good and Evil, you shall NOT eat of it: for in the day that you eat of it, you shall surely die.” Genesis 2 :16-17 “And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took fo the fruit and did eat, and gave also to her husband with her; and he did eat. ( Genesis 3:6) “And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked, and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.” (Genesis 3:7) When God formed Man out of the dust of the ground, He clothed Adam in the supernatural light of His Presence. After yielding to sin, God’s Presence was removed.
    [Show full text]
  • Cursing the Fig Tree in Mark
    CURSING THE FIG TREE IN MARK by Andrew Simmonds10/8/15 ABSTRACT: Mark’s narrative of the cursing of the fig tree has baffled commentators. It has been called the “least attractive of all narratives about Jesus,” a “difficult passage,” “puzzling.” Yet, scholars generally agree: “the fig tree stands for the Temple, Israel or the religious authorities.” However, this ignores the indisputable fact that different nations had different arboreal symbols, and the fig tree represented Rome, not Israel or anything Jewish. The palm represented Israel and all things Jewish, the olive Athens, etc. Roman national symbols were never used to represent anything Jewish. Moreover, Mark’s gospel is thought to have been written in Rome at the time of Nero’s persecutions, and at that time it was widely related that Nero killed the sacred fig tree of Rome. Nero had the Christians of Rome executed in mimic theatrical performances. And, Mark’s fig tree story draws on the genre of Roman mime and the obscene myth of Dionysos and the fig. Mark calls the actor in the story “he” rather than “Jesus.” “He” mimes Nero killing the Roman fig, which, in turn, mimes the myth of Dionysos and the fig, which, in turn, mimes the ribald story of Alexander’s triumphant conquest of India. KEY WORDS: fig, tree, mime, curse, Nero, Mark, Dionysos/Dionysus * * * 1 #1139435v1 This article is about Mark 11:12–14, 20, the cursing and killing the fig tree. Mark’s narrative runs as follows: “And on the next day, they having gone out from Bethany, he hungered.
    [Show full text]
  • The (Processed) Vegetal Body and Blood of the Markan Messiah
    THE BIBLE & CRITICAL THEORY The (Processed) Vegetal Body and Blood of the Markan Messiah Dong Hyeon Jeong, Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary Introduction The Eucharist (also known as Communion), which means “thanksgiving,” is a sacrament performed by Christians as a remembrance of the Last/Lord’s Supper (1 Cor 11:23–25; Matt 26:26–29; Mark 14:22–25; and Luke 22:14–20). Jesus and his twelve disciples partook in this Supper right before Jesus was crucified. In this meal, Jesus broke the bread and gave the wine to his disciples as manifestations of his upcoming sacrifice for the other. Aside from Matthew and Mark, 1 Corinthians and Luke have Jesus commanding his disciples to commemorate/ repeat this event as a way to remember him. Such command solidifies the role of the Eucharist as a sacramental, integral part of Christianity. Moreover, the Eucharist acts not just as an identity marker for Christianity, but it also represents the encounter and nearness of God, awaiting eagerly the unveiling of God’s grace in the world. One of the most crucial moments in this Supper is Jesus’s signification of his body with the bread and his blood with the wine. The interpretations of this signification vary because it hinges upon the understanding of the relationality between the divine and the material: Are Jesus’ body and blood literally the bread and the wine, or are they just symbolic? Among many possibilities, this article focuses on the interpretation of the Eucharist from the intersections of ecological and (human) labor justice. Ecologically conscientious Christian communities argue that the extraordinary symbolisms imputed on the Eucharist should be (re-)rooted on the ordinary/material: Plants, land, water, and human labor.
    [Show full text]