Parable of the Fig Tree
Why do disasters happen? Why do people suffer? How are we going to make sense of it ourselves, and how are we going to console people who are through tragic times? This week we look at Jesus’ Parable of the Fig Tree, where Jesus responds to those who ask Jesus these very questions.
How does Jesus respond to such views? While Jesus refuses to put the blame on those who are suffering, he tells his listeners to repent. Why would Jesus tell them to repent? What does repentance have to do with consoling those who are suffering? What Jesus is doing is interesting in that he is rejecting both the religious view and the skeptical view with his response. With his answer, Jesus makes two statements to those who have seen others that are suffering: 1. Don’t you dare think you’re better than the people that suffered. 2. Every person on the face of the earth has the tower to fall on them.
There are typically two ways people respond to the tragedy of others. First is the religious view that says that good fortune comes to those who are good people and obey God, and bad fortune comes to those who are bad people and disobey God. Although this is a very religious way of looking at the world, this is perhaps most people’s default motive. We usually take credit for when good things happen to us. Conversely, those of who are consistent ask what we did wrong when bad things happen. The problem with this view is that it is awfully difficult not to be arrogant and smug when things are going well. After all, we did everything to deserve it, and should we not have the right to be that way? It becomes difficult, then, to offer a genuine sense of compassion and sympathy when we try to console someone who is going through tragedy. Is it not true that we get what we deserve? Is it not true, then, that the person going through tragedy is at least partially responsible for what happened? This view, therefore, is not helpful.
The skeptical view says that there is actually no explanation behind the suffering tragedies of the world. While this may allow for genuine compassion and sympathy towards those who are suffering because it eliminates the human element behind the events of the world, it ultimately should lead to irreparable despair. If tragic events are completely random and has absolutely no explanation, what can we ever look forward to? It seems like this view is exclusively for those of us that are in privileged positions that do not really have to face suffering regularly, thus never having to admit to such despair in the face of such helplessness.
The skeptical view says that there is actually no explanation behind the suffering tragedies of the world. While this may allow for genuine compassion and sympathy towards those who are suffering because it eliminates the human element behind the events of the world, it ultimately should lead to irreparable despair. If tragic events are completely random and has absolutely no explanation, what can we ever look forward to? It seems like this view is exclusively for those of us that are in privileged positions that do not really have to face suffering regularly, thus never having to admit to such despair in the face of such helplessness.
How does Jesus respond to such views? While Jesus refuses to put the blame on those who are suffering, he tells his listeners to repent. Why would Jesus tell them to repent? What does repentance have to do with consoling those who are suffering? What Jesus is doing is interesting in that he is rejecting both the religious view and the skeptical view with his response. With his answer, Jesus makes two statements to those who have seen others that are suffering: 1. Don’t you dare think you’re better than the people that suffered. 2. Every person on the face of the earth has the tower to fall on them.
How does this allow us to view those who are suffering? It allows us to empathize with those who are suffering without placing the blame on them with the kind of humility that is keenly aware of the imperfection of humanity
The message of Christianity is that you are worse than you ever thought you were, but you are more loved an accepted than you can dare wish for. This allows us to admit to our self-centeredness where we elevate ourselves above God. The Parable of the Fig Tree, then, shows us that it is God, as the caretaker of the vineyard, will bring repentance to us by showing us the gospel.