Triumphal Entry (4) ... Awe
There are four moments in our Scripture reading today:Moment1: Jesus, having been truly recognised by the crowds as He entered Jerusalem, arrives at the temple ... and it is a great disappointment... But it is late and so He leaves... I imagine He spent a difficult night pondering what He had seen. I would not be surprised if He was brought to tears again just as He had been when coming into Jerusalem.
Moment2: The next morning, Jesus having "slept on it", heads for the temple, but spots a leafy fig tree. Although it was not the season for figs, it was spring and the tree should have been full of little "pre-fig-buds" (which were edible) and would be the promise of the harvest of figs to come. This tree, although very leafy, had no evidence of figs to come. Its leafiness was an empty promise, not unlike the temple: bustling with activity but devoid of fruit. Jesus curses the tree - giving us some idea of what He feels about the temple.
Moment3: Jesus, having considered what He had seen overnight and telegraphing His thoughts at the fig tree, arrives at the temple and shows His Holy Displeasure. This is not a "temper-tantrum" - it is a clear demonstration of righteousness and authority. There are two key issues at stake here: His primary concern is that there is now no place for Gentiles to pray, because the traders and money-changers had occupied their space. The secondary concern is the corruptness of the "temple trade". So Jesus preaches a sermon with actions. The question I have is: "Where were the temple bouncers?" With all the trading going on, there must have been significant security measures. I can only believe that Jesus' holiness and authority shone so brightly in this moment that no-one could confront the "holy fire" that blazed in Him.
Moment4: The next day they found the tree withered to its roots. This is confirmation of Jesus' authority and also a picture of the future destruction of the temple in 70AD. What should have been a "light to the nations" and a place that the "nations would stream to" had become an exclusive club that blocked out the nations and generated a tainted income for a select manipulative religious mafia. There is a deep an profound sense of Justice that pervades this parable-in-action.
These four moments reveal a great deal about Jesus:
- He isn't "losing His temper" - His actions are deliberate and considered.
- He is profoundly concerned about justice and about those who are excluded.
- His authority is significant.
| Jesus entered Jerusalem and went to the temple. He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve. 12 The next day as they were leaving Bethany, 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. 15 On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple area and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, 16 and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. 17 And as he taught them, he said, "Is it not written: 19 When evening came, they went out of the city. 20 In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots. (Mark11:11-18) |
