Figs and their trees and leaves make many appearances throughout the Bible. As I read through and preached on John 1:43-51 recently, I realized I had way more questions than answers on Jesus’ telling Nathanael “when you were under the fig tree I saw you.” So, I thought I’d take a curiosity journey on figs. Follow along!
Figs make an appearance early on in the Scriptures. After Adam and Eve fall into sin in Genesis three they cover their nakedness with…what? Fig leaves.
My favorite fig reference comes from Habakkuk 3.
Though the fig tree should not blossom,
nor fruit be on the vines,
the produce of the olive fail
and the fields yield no food,
the flock be cut off from the fold
and there be no herd in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the Lord;
I will take joy in the God of my salvation.
The musical Hamilton quotes Micah 4 which includes a fig reference.
but they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree,
and no one shall make them afraid,
But by far the strangest appearance of a fig tree is when Jesus curses a fig tree that is in leaf but bearing no figs. It’s strange because we are told it’s not the season for figs. Why is Jesus upset?
So, let’s put this all together.
We see throughout the Old Testament that figs symbolize all being right with the world. When there are figs, all is well. Figs mean peace, freedom, security. When there are no figs, well, that’s a big problem. No figs means exile, desolation, destruction.
The Micah 4 quote above comes on the heels of the promise of peace which includes everyone beating their swords into plow shares and their spears into pruning hooks. Everyone will abandon implements of war in favor of implements of the garden. Plows to plant vineyards and pruning hooks to prune those fig trees.
The promise that everyone will sit under their own vine and fig tree is undoubtedly coloring the background of Jesus’ comment to Nathanael that He saw him under the fig tree. Jesus sees Nathanael at true peace.
As Jesus comes to the fig tree and finds no fruit, He curses that tree and it withers never to bear fruit again. This might seem odd and like an overreaction, but remember who we are dealing with: Jesus. He created that fig tree. It should always be the season for figs when Jesus is around. This happens during Holy Week, on the Monday after Palm Sunday. Jesus says the very day before this that the very stones would cry aloud and proclaim Him as their King if the people were silent. And this fig tree won’t even bear fruit when its Creator comes calling.
When Jesus is around it is always the season for figs.
In cursing the fig tree which only shows leaves and no fruit, I see a connection back to Genesis 3 and the fig leaves sown together to cover Adam and Eve’s sin. Those leaves, covering sin, wither. They are replaced by God with better, proper clothing.
As Jesus’ withers the leaves of this unfruitful fig tree, He proclaims a time of true peace is here. It is the season for figs. It is the season for the promises of peace. It is the season where everyone will sit under their own vine and fig tree.
Simultaneously, Jesus curses sin and these leaves which symbolize humanity’s covering of sin. Jesus will cover our sin properly not with fig leaves or olive branches, but with His blood. He will cover us then in the robe of His righteousness.
Habakkuk 3 becomes even more prescient here. Even though there are no figs on the tree. Even though the flock is scattered and the Shepherd arrested and killed. Even though all seems to go wrong throughout that week we call Holy Week, still we rejoice for truer figs will grow, the flock will be sought out and found, the Shepherd is risen from the grave.
Thanks for following along on this curiosity journey.
Andy