Bible records an incident in which Jesus curses a Fig
tree and it withers from the roots. Mark11: 12,13 14,15, 20 says 12 … 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. 20 In the
morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots.
I am not sure how many of us have taken
seriously the divine message underlined
in the above incident recorded in gospels. It is strong warning against our contrived
spirituality. Seeing from a distance the fig tree has an illusory appearance, it is full of
leaves, tantalizing people to think it
is full of fruits and attracting people towards it but a close look reveal it
has nothing but leaves. It is the same story with many who think or pretend to
be spiritual. With many of us the spirituality is only superficial, we do
present an outward look of being pious, spiritual , humble, honest and so on
in our externals , in words, postures,
look , saintly attire and smirk but god who take a close look find that the so called spiritualists are just the opposite and empty in fruits like
this fig tree in this incident or the fruits it bears could be even harmful .
It is impossible to think that Jesus did not know that
the tree in questions had no fruits. Then why he did this and why it is recorded in bible in all the gospels. I
believe it is to teach an important
lesson to the world, to send a strong warning against bogus spirituality.
Evergreen fig tree is like a
parasite, it is green even when other trees are dry or leafless , means such
people suck and enjoy on the scarce resources to feed themselves even when others around are starving. It represents
a wolf camouflaged in a sheep’s cloak, it is like Satan appearing as an angel’s
gaze, it is like fake shepherd who come to steal and devour the sheep, it represent
false apostles and workers to distract
the faithful by their distorting doctrines.
That is why Jesus warned his
people to be watchful and discern the tree (people) by the fruits(acts) and
judge not by appearance.
When
the disciples came to Jesus and
asked, “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this?”
He replied, “Every plant that my
heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by the roots. 14
Leave them; they are blind guides. If the blind lead the blind, both will fall
into a pit.”
Sajan