Of Palms and Figs

Preparing for Palm Sunday, I was intrigued by the story of Jesus cursing the fig tree. Jesus is hungry and sees that there are leaves on the tree but no figs, so he curses the tree saying that no one would eat from it again. These odd three verses in Mark 11 are right between Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem on a donkey and first visit to the temple, and then His second visit to the temple when He flips the tables of the sellers and money changers.

On further investigation, I found out that fig trees turn up in scripture many times, particularly in the Old Testament. They tend to be in reference to how well Israel, God's people, as a whole is doing as reflected in the fruit they produce. That the fig tree was out of season but had leaves is actually important as the fruit is supposed to come first and the leaves after. Because there was no fruit, the tree was not producing. I think that Mark placed these three verses with great intention – right in between Jesus’ visits to the temple where He would be incensed and more than lose His cool about the carryings on. What was supposed to be a house of prayer had become a “den of robbers”, a place for greedy moneymakers.

As I thought more about this, it gave me pause. Our churches and Christian education programs are supposed to be focused on God first. Our worship spaces and learning areas should be pointing always to our Creator and Lord and inviting relationship and prayer. When we make God the purpose, and Christ the cornerstone, we can bear more fruit than we could ever imagine.

This Sunday, many churches will have the children reenact the parade of Jesus riding on a donkey into Jerusalem, waving palm branches and shouting hosannas. For some, this is a wonderful break from more contained children’s times and great experiential learning. For others, it is unnerving to have the children walking or running around and shouting. Regardless of whether you enlist the children to tell the story or not, or how you do it, we should take pause this Sunday to consider the fruit we are producing and whether the focus is where it needs to be.

How do you know that you are producing fruit? Sometimes it’s hard to tell. We can have all the excitement of a big parade, with bells and whistles, music and decorations, but if what causes the excitement isn’t Jesus, the Lord Himself, then we are perhaps merely reflecting the culture in an attempt to get more people in the door. Numbers do not equate fruit either. A Sunday school of three or five can be producing more fruit than one of fifty. Growing fruit requires tending and care and leaders and learners focused on learning and developing relationships that reflect and know Jesus.

How do you put the focus where it needs to be? Walk into your sanctuary and learning space. What jumps out at you first? Commemorative plaques and community event bulletin boards? Flags and sign up sheets? Or a cross, a font, a pulpit, banners or posters with scripture, and a sincere welcome to visitors with good signage? Is the worship centrally focused on coming into God’s presence, of making room for the transcendent and expecting to be changed by the experience? Or is it about maintaining routines and rituals and not expecting much outside of human words? Is reaching out a priority or are you more inclined to reach in?

Are you a house of prayer or a "den for robbers"? Are your programs prayed over, is it clear in your descriptions and communication why you offer what you do and what makes it different from secular opportunities? Is your space open to the public for refuge and meditation, or is it closed off and available only for worship services and congregational members? How much focus is on fundraising as opposed to stewardship, on fun events as opposed to reverent and joyful worship and learning the faith? Fun and fundraising are not bad in and of themselves, but when they creep into being the focus we are in trouble. 

As Holy Week begins, may we all take pause to reflect on all that Jesus did for us and continues to do through His body the church. May we be faithful in playing our part, bearing fruit and focusing on God, our refuge.