Parables of Jesus: A Man Had A Fig Tree

Luke 13:6-9

September 5, 2004

FIG TREES

Fig trees in Texas

I lived in Texas when I was a little girl >       Texas summers are really hot

I remember going to visit my aunt and uncle in Dallas one of those hot summer days

            In their back yard was a fig tree

            “Bushes” they are rather than trees > probably eight feet tall

we would crawl under its branches to cool off

it had big old leaves > most beautiful shade of dark green

that fig “tree” was a blessing to my brother and me and our cousins

under the shade of that fig “tree” we found sanctuary from the hot Texas sun

Have you ever had a fig tree?  If you did, did you think of it as a blessing? > It was to us!

Fig trees in Palestine

That fig tree was to us that summer like fig trees were to Palestinians thousands of years ago

            Fig trees were among the most prominent trees in Palestine

                        it is the only tree mentioned by name as one which grew in the Garden of Eden

                                    (Genesis 3:7 > “Adam and Eve made coverings for themselves . . .”)

                        Growing fig trees were a sign of blessing

                                    (1 Kings 4:25 > “During Solomon’s lifetime Israel and Judah lived in safety,

                                                Each man under his own vine and fig tree.”)[“Chicken in every pot”]

                        Destroyed fig trees symbolized a curse on the land

                                    (Amos 4:9 > “Many times I struck your gardens and vineyards, I struck them

                                                with blight and mildew; locusts devoured your fig and olive trees, yet

                                                you have not returned to me,” declares the Lord”)

Fig trees > everybody knew about  them

           

FIG TREE IN A PARABLE

Reason for the parable

So when Jesus needed to make a point about being ready for the future

What would he choose to use as a metaphor?  You guessed it!  A fig tree

Now, the reason he needed to make the point was because two catastrophes had happened

            Catastrophes always start people asking questions!

                        Pilate had killed some Galileans > were they worse sinners than others?

                        A tower collapsed and killed 18 people > were they being punished for sin?

            It was a teachable moment > Jesus took the opportunity they gave him

His answer was “No, their sin had no bearing on what happened

                        However > you never know when you will breathe your last breath!

                        And if you don’t change your ways > you too will lose true life!”

Good news in this parable

There’s good news in this parable

            The good news is called grace

                        the gardener would not let the man cut it down immediately       

                        > “Give this tree what it needs > some time

                                    a bit of stimulation

                                                a little tender loving care” > that’s the good news

Better news in this parable

And the better news is that they, too, can be a part of God’s kingdom

            If they want to be part of the Kingdom of

            They will have to change their ways

 

 

“GARDENING TIPS” FOR US FROM THIS PARABLE

Good news for us

What about us?  Is this parable good news for us, too?  You betcha!

            The good news is God is not going to chop us down in mid-growth > God is grace personified

            But grace is not an end in itself > God’s grace is a means to an end

                        That end is service >

                        a fig tree is designed to produce fruit > people are designed to serve

Better news for us

The better news is this parable teaches us what we need to do

            not to be saved > God already took care of that in resurrection of Jesus

            but to be more effective Christians

            this parable reinforces that old saying

                        “if you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always be what you’ve always been”

Tips for us as individuals

Imbedded in this parable are “gardening tips” that can make us individually more Christ-like

            Be patient with yourself > you cannot expect to be a fully mature Christian immediately

            Stimulate your faith > give it some air to breathe

            Encourage your faith to grow >

Take the Bible seriously > read from it every day

Explore some different ways of experiencing Christ

Make friends with someone who is different from you

Tips for us as a congregation

These same three tips can make this congregation more like heaven on earth > sign of realm of God

            Be patient with each other > no two of us are in the same place on our faith journey

            Stimulate our common faith > look for ways to break out of ruts we’re in > “same ole same old”

            Encourage growth as a congregation >

Sign up for the Bible Study on Isaiah in October

Determine to learn something new every week

Invite a friend to come worship or study with you

 

Tomorrow is Labor Day > what better time is there to “work” in the “garden” of our faith?

And what better preparation for work than here together at our Lord’s Table?