One Tree’s Life

Jesus rode a colt into Jerusalem while the people shouted “Hosanna!”  He cleansed the Temple of moneychangers and set His fate with the Pharisees.  He also killed a fig tree.  (Matthew 21:1-22; Mark 11:1-25)

These events seem an abrupt change of character.  Jesus was usually reserved about telling people who He really was.  Yet, riding a colt into the city announced His kingship (Zechariah 9:9).  The people expected this king to defeat enemies and bring peace.  This ride solidified the religious leader’s rejection of His authority.  It gave them reason to believe that He might try to usurp their authority.

He was out of character at the Temple.  Instead of drawing people to teach, He made a whip and drove them away.  For this holiday, vendors had set up shop inside the Temple walls.  High priced souvenirs and the temptation of trade-in animals for a “better” sacrifice distracted worship from God.  Jesus said the Temple had become “a den of robbers” (Jeremiah 7:11).  This referenced passage told the people that their bought sacrifices were worthless because lip service did not conceal daily actions.  Jesus told them that God would destroy this Temple just like the last one.  Without change, there would not be peace.  Destruction would come (Malachi 4:4-6).

Jesus said the Temple should “be called a house of prayer for all nations” (Isaiah 56:7).  Mosaic Law forbids many types of people from entering the Temple to make a sacrifice.  But, those who were in charge only kept Law outwardly.  They made everyone else feel unworthy of love by God.  Therefore, God would change the Law.  He would grant entrance to all those who followed His ways, even non-Jews.

Then there was the tree.  It simply stood there and did not provide breakfast.  Was that so wrong?  Did it deserve death?  Most theologians interpret the event as a sign that Jerusalem would perish and destruction would be quick.  They see the tree’s death as one more sign of the power of Jesus.

I do not see it that way.

When the apostles asked about the withering, Jesus responded that faith gives power to our words.  Faith should fill our words with forgiveness.

Now, that sounds in-line with the character and message of Jesus.  He explained our potential but not His action.  That lets it becomes a parable, which explains why forgiveness is so important.

About a year before, Jesus told the parable of the fig tree (Luke 13:6-9).  The landowner wanted it cut down because it had not produced fruit.  The gardener begged for the tree’s life.  He would cultivate and fertilize the soil.  Maybe, it was nutrient starved.  In a year, they would know the tree’s worth.  Without fruit, it would die.

Jesus recognized the signs.  Maybe not all the details, but from scripture and the Father, He knew His life was about to end painfully.  He told His friends snippets of what was about to happen.  He predicted the coming war and the destruction of their beloved Temple.  More importantly, Jesus understood it all started that week.

For any human, such knowledge brings stress.  Jesus was fully human and experienced all our emotions.  The fig tree died when the human side of Jesus vented frustration.  He then fully realized what His words could do and told the disciples that His emotions influenced His words.  What happened was not good.  He killed instead of healed.  Their emotions could do the same.

This event had a profound affect on Jesus.  Without it happening at that critical point, He might not have kept silent during the insulting interrogation, the bloody sentencing, and the agonizing conviction.  He might have cried out to God for vengeance.  Jerusalem would have died that day.  The savior of the world would have become the executioner.  The reason for His existence would have abruptly ended.

But, Jesus learned from God.  Through the pain, Jesus kept His mouth closed.  He did not defend or condemn.  Jesus even asked God to forgive the actions done through ignorance.  Because a tree died, God granted Jerusalem 40 more years to change her ways, 40 years to learn righteousness, 40 years to become fruitful.

The faithful learned.  The leaders drove them away as heretics.  The people of Jerusalem condemned themselves.  The Owner of that “tree” cut it down.

Moral: Remember that when your heart aligns with God, forgiveness brings life and angry venting brings death.  Your words mean something.  They change the world.