The Sprouting Fig Tree
Preaching
Preaching the Parables
Series II, Cycle C
25"There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars,
and on the earth distress among nations confused by the roaring
of the sea and the waves. 26People will faint from fear and
foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of
the heavens will be shaken. 27Then they will see 'the Son of Man coming in a cloud' with power and great glory. 28Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads,
because your redemption is drawing near."
29Then he told them a parable: "Look at the fig tree and all the trees; 30as soon as they sprout leaves you can see for yourselves and know that summer is already near. 31So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. 32Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all things have taken place. 33Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
34"Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life, and that day catch you unexpectedly, 35like a trap. For it will come upon all who live on the face of the whole earth. 36Be alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of Man."
Context
Context of Advent 1 in the Church Year
The season of Advent prepares us for the coming of the birth of Christ. While our celebration is usually associated with expectation, hope, and joy, the events themselves have an underlying tone of tragedy and sorrow. Tragedy and sorrow are most explicit in the account of the slaughter of the innocent children at Herod's orders in his attempt to eliminate a potential rival to his throne.
A less evident underlying theme of sorrow is the injustice existing in the world when babies have to be born in the absence of adequate shelter and care. It is not only Jesus who was born in such circumstances, but multitudes of others even now in our world. If the precious gift of life with all its potential is to be realized, such children need to survive despite such difficulties. The tragedy is that many do not survive and that potential is wasted because society does not provide adequately for their possibility to be realized.
The birth of Jesus with his promise also stands under the shadow of the cross with its tragedy and sorrow. That God's goodness is in part thwarted by the evil machinations of the world is also written into our knowledge of the advent of God's son in our midst.
The event is not unrelieved tragedy, however. The church year moves toward resurrection as well. In it is the hope and faith that God's goodness and grace cannot be ultimately thwarted. The church celebrates with joy and expectation because the resurrection points beyond the evil and its tragedy in the world to a far greater reality.
Context of the Lectionary
The First Lesson. (Jeremiah 33:14-16) Jeremiah assures the people that the promises of the Lord made to Israel and Judah will be fulfilled. A righteous successor in the Davidic line will bring justice and righteousness to the land. He will guarantee safety for Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the Lord.
The Second Lesson. (1 Thessalonians 3:9-13) In response to an encouraging report from Timothy, Paul gives a prayer of thanksgiving and looks forward to a personal visit. He concludes the section with a benediction. At the end he prays that their hearts may be strengthened in holiness and that they may be found blameless at the return of Christ.
Gospel. (Luke 21:25-36) The parable of the budding fig tree is embedded in a warning about apocalyptic events that are to come. His disciples should be alert and on their guard for these cataclysmic occurrences.
Psalm. (Psalm 25:1-10) The psalmist offers a prayer for divine guidance. He does not want to give his enemies a chance to gloat over his failures. He looks to God's mercy and love for forgiveness. He ends with an affirmation of the goodness of God toward those who keep his covenant and decrees.
Context of Related Scripture
Somewhat parallel passages are found in Matthew 24:29-31 and Mark 13:24-27. Similar warnings about the coming of "that day" of judgment are found in the Old Testament in the following passages: Isaiah 13:9-16 and Joel 2:10, 30-31.
Fig Tree Allusions:
Genesis 3:7 -- Adam and Eve sew fig leaves together for covering.
Song of Solomon -- The fig tree bears fruit and gives a fragrance.
Isaiah 28:4 -- A warning to Ephraim that the people will be like the first ripe figs of summer which are quickly consumed.
John 1:48 -- Nathaniel is observed sitting under a fig tree.
James 3:12 -- A warning against saying one thing and doing another is compared to a fig tree that does not produce a different fruit.
Revelation 6:13 -- A use of the winter fig is made as a warning contrary to the use of the first leaves of summer as a sign of coming events.
Admonitions for Watchfulness:
Matthew 24:42 -- Jesus admonishes the disciples to be always watching since the day of the Lord's coming is uncertain.
Matthew 26:41 -- The disciples in Gethsemane are urged to watchfulness.
Context of the Parable in Luke
This section of scripture is part of a chapter that corresponds to the apocalyptic warnings by Jesus in Matthew and Mark as noted above. It immediately precedes the plot to kill Jesus, the celebration of the Passover, and the crucifixion.
It was in this larger context that Jesus spoke to his disciples. On the one hand he wanted the disciples to be prepared for the catastrophic events that occur in history. He catalogs the kinds of disasters that can happen. On the other hand he points above and beyond them to other realities. The disasters, both human and physical, are not the final determinants of life and history.
The parable encourages the disciples to maintain watchfulness and hope in the midst of conditions where they might despair. They must guard against the uncertainties of the future and the bleakness of a given moment which may tempt them to abandon hope and faithfulness. If they are aware of the dangers and can look beyond them, knowing that they are transitory, they will be able to persist in faithfulness. These words were also important to the early church as it experienced persecution and difficulties.
In times of distress and tumult, when great wrongs are inflicted upon the people, they should look beyond the moment. They look for a time in history or beyond when good and righteousness will triumph. They long for a time of justice and peace, for ideal conditions to be established.
In Judaism the longing for the ideal conditions was expressed in terms of the day when God would fully disclose his power and establish his will fully. It was present already in the Old Testament period. The expectation was heightened during the life of Jesus because of the occupation of Palestine by the Romans with their oppression. They especially threatened the religion of the Jews. Surely things were so bad that God had to bring an end to them before his chosen people were completely destroyed.
Content
Precis of the Parable
Jesus uses apocalyptic images to encourage his disciples to persist in times of uncertainty. He uses the parable of the fig tree as a lesson about reading the signs of nature. They should not waste time, however, in idle speculation or perverted curiosity about when the end will come. Jesus purifies them from such misplaced efforts by assurance that they will experience his real presence and be redeemed.
The disciples should not be unduly worried or burdened about what happens in the world. Judgment will come upon those who perpetrate evil. The disciples are to be on their guard and constantly alert that the forces of evil do not overwhelm them.
Thesis: Christians can be assured that God is in control of the cosmic and historical conflicts between the forces of disorder and of good.
Theme: Persist in being alert, on guard, and prepared for God's final intervention to bring redemption.
Key Words in the Passage
1. "Signs in the Sun, the Moon, and the Stars, and on the Earth." (v. 25) The created order has within it forces of order and disorder. They are portents of the continuing struggle that goes on between evil and good.
2. "Fear and Foreboding." (v. 26) People respond to natural events with apprehension about their existence and the meaning of natural catastrophes. They wonder if these events have some larger significance for their lives.
3. "The World." (v. 26) The Greek word translated as "world" is oikemene. It is the same word used for the ecumenical movement. It encompasses the entire earth.
4. "The Powers of the Heavens Will be Shaken." (v. 26) People at the time of Jesus believed personal forces affected cosmic events. The personal experiences of internal conflict were mirrors of the larger conflicts in nature. Powerful personal forces affected the movements of heavenly bodies.
5. "The Son of Man." (v. 27) This was an obscure apocalyptic term found in Daniel and some other non-canonical writings. It refers to God's special personal agent who exercises judgment over the faithful and unfaithful at the end of history.
6. "The Fig Tree and All the Trees." (v. 29) Luke adds the phrase "and all the trees." Perhaps it was added since Luke was writing for Gentile readers who might not know about a fig tree leafing out at the beginning of the summer season in Palestine. The point of the parable as the need to read the signs of change would be lost on readers who did not know the fig tree's cycle of growth.
7. "My Words Will Not Pass Away." (v. 33) The material or physical manifestations will have limited existence. The truth of personal existence will transcend these transitory natural phenomena of the physical universe.
8. "A Trap." (v. 35) A trap is a concealed or disguised device that is triggered unexpectedly. With the uncertainty of temporal life, one should be ready for the end at all times since it may be sprung by surprise. The message is to be constantly prepared as long as we have a contingent existence in the flesh.
9. "Be Alert at All Times." (v. 36) The implication of uncertainty of knowledge of the future does not mean futility or despair. Rather it calls for alertness. We may be driven by desired ends to try to assure the future and use wrong means. We may rely on our own cunning, wisdom, and power to guarantee the future rather than relying on the power of God to use our faithfulness to bring about right ends.
Contemplation
Issues and Insights
1. Dealing with Life's Insecurities. Life is filled with insecurities. We live in a fragile environment with a relatively small margin where life in the flesh is possible. A recent television ad illustrated how tentative life can be. It points out that persons can only live weeks without food, only days without water, and only minutes without air. We also know that the range of temperature is relatively small. Too cold and we freeze; too hot and we cook.
Disasters come in many forms. Earthquakes can kill thousands in a brief span of time. The reports from Kobe, Japan, indicated that most of those who died in the earthquake were dead within fourteen minutes. Hurricanes, tornadoes, and cyclones likewise snuff out life in their path. Floods sweep hundreds to their death. Droughts, when widespread, lead to famine with massive numbers of deaths.
The sensational press had a field day when fragments of a comet smashed into Jupiter in 1994. They recalled the theory that dinosaurs became extinct when a similar calamity happened to our planet. They pondered the possibility that such an encounter could happen again and bring human life to an end. Proposals were put forth to track any such space materials and send up a mission with nuclear explosives to alter the trajectory of such a body so it would bypass the earth.
Facing the facts could cause people to become depressed. For others it could lead them into hedonism: enjoy the physical pleasures as fully as you can without regard to consequences. Life is fleeting at best.
Christianity offers another possibility. The sum total of life is not found in the flesh. It is realized most fully in the spirit. Life in Christ transcends the vicissitudes of this world with all its threats and dangers. Life in Christ gives a quality to life that makes it worth the living, even if it is the only experience of existence we may know. In addition, the Christian faith gives promise of a new dimension of existence beyond that experienced in this world. Life in Christ is only a foretaste of that other and greater dimension of being which we perceive here and now only dimly.
2. Apocalyptic Writings. The passage in Luke accords with what is called the Little Apocalypse in Mark and has parallels in Matthew as well. The book of Revelation is full of imagery which would be easily understood by the people at the time when it was written. We often find such writings strange and difficult to interpret.
Certain themes persist throughout the apocalyptic writings of the Old and New Testaments. The following would be among the main themes that underlie all such writings:
a. God's reign is universal.
b. History has meaning and purpose.
c. God is in control of the final outcome of history.
d. In history a continuing struggle exists between good and evil.
e. Ultimately the good is redeemed and evil is judged.
3. The Peril of the Predictors. Many schemes try to unfold the future. People have scanned the scriptures looking for clues that would help them to construct a timetable of history. They look back and develop a design to history which they are sure has brought us to this point. They then attempt to project that design into the future and predict when and how the future of history will come to consummation.
Luke 21, Mark 13, Daniel, Revelation, and similar passages of scripture have been "mined" repeatedly to provide elaborate and detailed timetables. Certain predictors were so certain that they had cracked the code that they set the date for Christ's second coming. They have led to some disastrous consequences. Notorious examples would be the Mnsterites in Germany in the sixteenth century, the Millerites in the United States in the nineteenth century, a group that left the Ukraine and went to Siberia in the nineteenth century, and the Branch Davidians in Texas in this century.
These groups have ignored the clear warning of Jesus to his disciples that only God knows the future with certainty. We should be wary of any who claim to predict exactly when, where, and how Christ will return and usher in a new age on earth.
4. Certainty in the Midst of Uncertainty. While life is fragile and the future fraught with uncertainty, we do not need to live with constant apprehension and anxiety. Christians make affirmations about certainties that enable them to live in the midst of the sound and fury of the world with calm and assurance.
A fundamental affirmation is that the God revealed to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to the prophets of the Old Testament, and above all in Jesus Christ is a good God. God, as known through these revelations and experienced since in the church, is also powerful to accomplish his purposes.
God has purposed an abundant life for those who have responded to his invitation to share the life of the spirit. Regardless of what may come to pass, we may live with certainty that its outcome transcends all the evils of the world. It finds its fulfillment in riches beyond our greatest imagination.
Homily Hints
1. Living with Uncertainty. (vv. 25-36) This is the season of Advent. In the time of Jesus' birth people lived with high expectancy. Most did not recognize the signs of the time. Nevertheless they lived with hope that God was active and gave signs of his constancy.
A. Signs of God's Work in the Past
B. Signs of God's Work in the Present
C. Assurance of God's Work in the Future
2. Stand Up and Raise Your Head. (v. 28) The passage can be a message of hope in the midst of natural tragedies. A. No Evil is Beyond Redemption
B. Raise Your Head and See God's Power and Glory
C. Hope in God's Ultimate Triumph over Evil
3. Jesus' Word Will not Pass. (v. 33)
A. Truth Endures the Test of Time
B. Human Nature Remains Essentially the Same
C. Character Continues Despite Cultural Changes
4. Avoiding the Trap. (v. 35) Christians need to be on guard against the trap of temptations that enter in subtle ways. They very easily assail faith and practice.
A. Traps of the Flesh. The grosser and more evident sins of lust, gluttony, and similar sins arising from the appetites.
B. Traps of the Mind. The subtle sins of pride, prudence, and similar sins of reason.
C. Traps of the Will. The sins of apathy, lack of courage, anger, hate, and similar sins that undermine love of other persons.
5. Are You on Guard? (v. 34) Is the church on guard or is it acting as though it is asleep by its failure to be active for the kingdom of God?
A. Signs of the Church Asleep. Apathy and Inaction.
B. Who Sounds the Alarm? The call to faithfulness.
C. Where the Church Is on Guard. What happens in an alert church?
6. Be Alert at All Times. (v. 36) God intervenes in unexpected ways in history. Certain times are propitious for accomplishing God's purposes. Preparedness for such times affords us opportunity to work with God when the time is right.
A. Know the Scripture. Be prepared by seeing how persons took advantage of special times in the biblical periods.
B. Know Church History. When the time was ripe remarkable changes came through the church.
C. Know Where God Acts Today. God is still bringing about changes for peace and righteousness in our world through prepared people.
Contact
Points of Contact
1. A Secure Future. As the year 2000 approaches speculation will increase about the Second Coming of Christ and the end of history as we know it. At least on every occasion of the turn of 500 or 1000 years on the calendar in the past, such speculation was rife.
Already some are pointing to signs that conditions are ripe for such an event. Some are presenting various kinds of evidence which they say portend a cataclysmic return of Christ. While earlier it was the Communist threat with its atheistic doctrine, it is now the emerging of a world government. The European Union with the possible extension into Eastern Europe is frequently cited.
The gospel has reached almost every nation. The Bible is available in numerous languages. With the use of radio and television almost anyone in the world can now be evangelized. Purveyors of the hope of an imminent Second Coming see that as a certain indication of the fullness of time leading up to the end.
The increase of crime and violence throughout the world is another evidence given as preparing for the culmination of history. While no major world war is presently being fought, many wars are taking place. They tend to be within nations, such as in the former Yugoslavia, Rwanda, and Somalia.
More refugees are roaming the earth in search of survival and a livelihood than ever before in history. Population pressures, oppressive governments, ethnic conflicts, and economic distress all contribute to the mass movements of people.
While wars and violence rage, some steps are taken toward peace. The most obvious which is seen as fulfillment of prophecy is the accord worked out between Israel and some Arab states. The consolidation of Israel's power and government in Palestine is proposed as a condition necessary for the return of Christ.
The apathy of many so-called Christians is also taken as a symptom of the need for Christ to return. In many countries where Christianity has been the dominant religion of the past, it is doubtful if that is any longer true. In several European countries, for example, the attendance at church on most Sundays is less than five percent of the population. The growth of Islam and Eastern religions is also viewed as an indication of the decline of Christianity.
Others also point to the changing nature of the family as a portent of the time for the return of Christ. Divorce, the large number of children born to unmarried mothers, single parent families, and open homosexual relations are among the indicators of a breakdown of the traditional family.
These factors and others disturb many Christians. They look for some final solution to these problems in an ideal world where Christ would rule and establish finally and completely the kingdom of heaven on earth. They may be all too ready to find hope for a secure future by following those who assure them that they have correctly cracked the code of prophecy. They propose with certainty that they know when the great event will occur.
People may be inclined to put their hope in waiting for Christ's return instead of continuing to labor to manifest the kingdom of heaven by their faithful activity. They need to be encouraged to hold the hope and vision of the kingdom, but at the same time to find their security in living out Christ's commands in facing and overcoming the evils that surround them.
Christians also need to be wary of those who think their knowledge is superior to Jesus in fixing the day and hour when God must act. God introduces surprises into history, but usually in ways not according to any human anticipation. The Christian's security is found in trust in God's righteousness and goodness and love.
2. Your Redemption is Drawing Near. Jesus may be absent in the flesh. We may experience the absence of his spirit in our everyday existence. The Christian shows faith in Christ by steadfast watching, waiting, and working. Even through these periods they may be more aware of the absence than of the presence of Christ.
In the experience of absence many forces may seem to control life. The internal forces of appetites and desires may seek to control persons. It does not have to be the obvious ones such as addiction to drugs. It may be the simple desire to eat, drink, and be merry. It may be in the desire to escape the pain that accompanies growth and acceptance of responsibility.
External forces may also dominate and become the master of life. The pressure to make money, for job advancement, for economic security can become the master. The desire for social approval and acceptance may dominate life. The drive for fame and to have a name in history may become the driving force.
It takes continuing effort and support of a spiritual community to be alert and awake to the forces that may overpower and lead astray. Those who persist in faithfulness in the hope that Christ will return and confirm their faith know that Christ is always present in the spirit even though absent in the flesh. Through his actions in our life we can know that our redemption is drawing near, in fact, is already present when we place our trust in him and live in obedience to his teachings and example.
Illustrative Materials
1. Signs of God's Activity Today. All the predictions ten years ago were that South Africa would continue in racial strife for a long period of time. The end would come in a great bloodshed as the majority black population rebelled against a minority white population.
It was hardly conceivable that a white ruler such as de Klerk and a long-time opposition figure such as Nelson Mandela could agree and work together harmoniously to move to a more equitable and just future. The facts that the white governing party had deep roots in Christianity and Nelson Mandela had known the power of nonviolence brought about a tremendous change. God was working in the midst of both parties to affect change and reconciliation.
2. Alert While Watching and Waiting. In a Salvation Army settlement house on the southwest side of Chicago the staff sometimes set up a ball game for the children inside the gym. At the time they did not have nerf balls so they used a kind of softball made from rags.
The rules of the game said that a person could bat once. Whoever caught the ball had the next turn at bat. The staff person was the catcher. In that position he could observe and was ineligible to bat.
As the game progressed one day with a group of first and second graders, he noticed that little Tony was getting increasingly unhappy. He could never catch the ball. The bigger children always got the ball before he could. He wanted very badly to have a turn at bat. Then the staff person saw that Tony was on his knees with his hands folded and his eyes closed. Obviously he was praying and it was clear what he was asking.
While Tony prayed, the pitcher threw the ball, the batter hit it, and it rolled right to Tony and bounced off his knee. Unfortunately, before Tony opened his eyes and saw the ball lying directly in front of him, one of the other children quickly jumped in and grabbed the ball.
Tony was waiting but forgot to watch and be alert for the answer to his prayer!
3. Israel and the Second Coming. In 1967 a tour group was going to Israel. It was in August -- one of the first groups to get into the country after the Six-Day War. Israel had swiftly and soundly defeated a coalition of Arab states. John, one of the tour members, was sure that the events were a sign that the prophecy about Christ's return was soon to be fulfilled. Since the Israelis now occupied all of Jerusalem, including the site of the Temple, he asserted confidently that Christ would soon return. That would be a glorious occasion.
The group stopped first in Greece. When they departed from Athens to fly to Tel Aviv, the director collected all the tickets and checked in the whole group. After they were on the plane, he thought he had returned all the tickets.
Shortly after take-off he felt a hand on his shoulder. There stood John looking disconsolate. He could not find his and his wife's tickets. He wondered if they had been returned. Assured that they were, he said he had looked everywhere for them -- through his pockets, his hand luggage, and his wife's purse. The tour director teased a bit by saying that he should not worry since John had been saying that Israel was the best place to be for the Second Coming. That did not seem to console him!
A short time later, the hand fell on the shoulder again. There stood John with a chagrined look on his face. He had reached into one of his trouser pockets and pulled out a crumpled-up wad of papers. He thought they were scrap to be discarded. It was the two tickets he had absentmindedly jammed into his pocket. He was relieved not to have to stay in Israel!
4. On Our Guard and Alert -- for What? The Toledo Blade (24 September 1994, p. 11) reported a study by sociologist Robert Wuthnow published under the title God and Mammon in America (The Free Press). He is reported to say, "We live in a materialistic culture and we want money and possessions, and very few people have heard a powerful voice telling them to resist these impulses, or how to resist these impulses."
Wuthnow reported that a survey revealed that 75 percent said their choice of jobs was not influenced by religion. Only 10 percent said religious values definitely influenced their choice, while twelve percent said maybe religion did.
The survey asked how serious several conditions were in society. Of those responding 92 percent said the condition of the poor was extremely serious or serious. The breakdown of families was chosen by 91 percent; selfishness by 81 percent; too much emphasis on money by 75 percent; and materialism by 74 percent.
However, when asked how important certain things were to them, they reported the following as very or fairly important: having a high-paying job -- eighty percent; having a beautiful home, a new car and other nice things -- 78 percent; wearing nice clothes -- 75 percent; ability to travel for pleasure and see interesting things -- 72 percent; and eating at nice restaurants -- 50 percent.
One woman who had earnings in six figures said she would have to earn an additional $50,000 to live comfortably.
29Then he told them a parable: "Look at the fig tree and all the trees; 30as soon as they sprout leaves you can see for yourselves and know that summer is already near. 31So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. 32Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all things have taken place. 33Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
34"Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life, and that day catch you unexpectedly, 35like a trap. For it will come upon all who live on the face of the whole earth. 36Be alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of Man."
Context
Context of Advent 1 in the Church Year
The season of Advent prepares us for the coming of the birth of Christ. While our celebration is usually associated with expectation, hope, and joy, the events themselves have an underlying tone of tragedy and sorrow. Tragedy and sorrow are most explicit in the account of the slaughter of the innocent children at Herod's orders in his attempt to eliminate a potential rival to his throne.
A less evident underlying theme of sorrow is the injustice existing in the world when babies have to be born in the absence of adequate shelter and care. It is not only Jesus who was born in such circumstances, but multitudes of others even now in our world. If the precious gift of life with all its potential is to be realized, such children need to survive despite such difficulties. The tragedy is that many do not survive and that potential is wasted because society does not provide adequately for their possibility to be realized.
The birth of Jesus with his promise also stands under the shadow of the cross with its tragedy and sorrow. That God's goodness is in part thwarted by the evil machinations of the world is also written into our knowledge of the advent of God's son in our midst.
The event is not unrelieved tragedy, however. The church year moves toward resurrection as well. In it is the hope and faith that God's goodness and grace cannot be ultimately thwarted. The church celebrates with joy and expectation because the resurrection points beyond the evil and its tragedy in the world to a far greater reality.
Context of the Lectionary
The First Lesson. (Jeremiah 33:14-16) Jeremiah assures the people that the promises of the Lord made to Israel and Judah will be fulfilled. A righteous successor in the Davidic line will bring justice and righteousness to the land. He will guarantee safety for Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the Lord.
The Second Lesson. (1 Thessalonians 3:9-13) In response to an encouraging report from Timothy, Paul gives a prayer of thanksgiving and looks forward to a personal visit. He concludes the section with a benediction. At the end he prays that their hearts may be strengthened in holiness and that they may be found blameless at the return of Christ.
Gospel. (Luke 21:25-36) The parable of the budding fig tree is embedded in a warning about apocalyptic events that are to come. His disciples should be alert and on their guard for these cataclysmic occurrences.
Psalm. (Psalm 25:1-10) The psalmist offers a prayer for divine guidance. He does not want to give his enemies a chance to gloat over his failures. He looks to God's mercy and love for forgiveness. He ends with an affirmation of the goodness of God toward those who keep his covenant and decrees.
Context of Related Scripture
Somewhat parallel passages are found in Matthew 24:29-31 and Mark 13:24-27. Similar warnings about the coming of "that day" of judgment are found in the Old Testament in the following passages: Isaiah 13:9-16 and Joel 2:10, 30-31.
Fig Tree Allusions:
Genesis 3:7 -- Adam and Eve sew fig leaves together for covering.
Song of Solomon -- The fig tree bears fruit and gives a fragrance.
Isaiah 28:4 -- A warning to Ephraim that the people will be like the first ripe figs of summer which are quickly consumed.
John 1:48 -- Nathaniel is observed sitting under a fig tree.
James 3:12 -- A warning against saying one thing and doing another is compared to a fig tree that does not produce a different fruit.
Revelation 6:13 -- A use of the winter fig is made as a warning contrary to the use of the first leaves of summer as a sign of coming events.
Admonitions for Watchfulness:
Matthew 24:42 -- Jesus admonishes the disciples to be always watching since the day of the Lord's coming is uncertain.
Matthew 26:41 -- The disciples in Gethsemane are urged to watchfulness.
Context of the Parable in Luke
This section of scripture is part of a chapter that corresponds to the apocalyptic warnings by Jesus in Matthew and Mark as noted above. It immediately precedes the plot to kill Jesus, the celebration of the Passover, and the crucifixion.
It was in this larger context that Jesus spoke to his disciples. On the one hand he wanted the disciples to be prepared for the catastrophic events that occur in history. He catalogs the kinds of disasters that can happen. On the other hand he points above and beyond them to other realities. The disasters, both human and physical, are not the final determinants of life and history.
The parable encourages the disciples to maintain watchfulness and hope in the midst of conditions where they might despair. They must guard against the uncertainties of the future and the bleakness of a given moment which may tempt them to abandon hope and faithfulness. If they are aware of the dangers and can look beyond them, knowing that they are transitory, they will be able to persist in faithfulness. These words were also important to the early church as it experienced persecution and difficulties.
In times of distress and tumult, when great wrongs are inflicted upon the people, they should look beyond the moment. They look for a time in history or beyond when good and righteousness will triumph. They long for a time of justice and peace, for ideal conditions to be established.
In Judaism the longing for the ideal conditions was expressed in terms of the day when God would fully disclose his power and establish his will fully. It was present already in the Old Testament period. The expectation was heightened during the life of Jesus because of the occupation of Palestine by the Romans with their oppression. They especially threatened the religion of the Jews. Surely things were so bad that God had to bring an end to them before his chosen people were completely destroyed.
Content
Precis of the Parable
Jesus uses apocalyptic images to encourage his disciples to persist in times of uncertainty. He uses the parable of the fig tree as a lesson about reading the signs of nature. They should not waste time, however, in idle speculation or perverted curiosity about when the end will come. Jesus purifies them from such misplaced efforts by assurance that they will experience his real presence and be redeemed.
The disciples should not be unduly worried or burdened about what happens in the world. Judgment will come upon those who perpetrate evil. The disciples are to be on their guard and constantly alert that the forces of evil do not overwhelm them.
Thesis: Christians can be assured that God is in control of the cosmic and historical conflicts between the forces of disorder and of good.
Theme: Persist in being alert, on guard, and prepared for God's final intervention to bring redemption.
Key Words in the Passage
1. "Signs in the Sun, the Moon, and the Stars, and on the Earth." (v. 25) The created order has within it forces of order and disorder. They are portents of the continuing struggle that goes on between evil and good.
2. "Fear and Foreboding." (v. 26) People respond to natural events with apprehension about their existence and the meaning of natural catastrophes. They wonder if these events have some larger significance for their lives.
3. "The World." (v. 26) The Greek word translated as "world" is oikemene. It is the same word used for the ecumenical movement. It encompasses the entire earth.
4. "The Powers of the Heavens Will be Shaken." (v. 26) People at the time of Jesus believed personal forces affected cosmic events. The personal experiences of internal conflict were mirrors of the larger conflicts in nature. Powerful personal forces affected the movements of heavenly bodies.
5. "The Son of Man." (v. 27) This was an obscure apocalyptic term found in Daniel and some other non-canonical writings. It refers to God's special personal agent who exercises judgment over the faithful and unfaithful at the end of history.
6. "The Fig Tree and All the Trees." (v. 29) Luke adds the phrase "and all the trees." Perhaps it was added since Luke was writing for Gentile readers who might not know about a fig tree leafing out at the beginning of the summer season in Palestine. The point of the parable as the need to read the signs of change would be lost on readers who did not know the fig tree's cycle of growth.
7. "My Words Will Not Pass Away." (v. 33) The material or physical manifestations will have limited existence. The truth of personal existence will transcend these transitory natural phenomena of the physical universe.
8. "A Trap." (v. 35) A trap is a concealed or disguised device that is triggered unexpectedly. With the uncertainty of temporal life, one should be ready for the end at all times since it may be sprung by surprise. The message is to be constantly prepared as long as we have a contingent existence in the flesh.
9. "Be Alert at All Times." (v. 36) The implication of uncertainty of knowledge of the future does not mean futility or despair. Rather it calls for alertness. We may be driven by desired ends to try to assure the future and use wrong means. We may rely on our own cunning, wisdom, and power to guarantee the future rather than relying on the power of God to use our faithfulness to bring about right ends.
Contemplation
Issues and Insights
1. Dealing with Life's Insecurities. Life is filled with insecurities. We live in a fragile environment with a relatively small margin where life in the flesh is possible. A recent television ad illustrated how tentative life can be. It points out that persons can only live weeks without food, only days without water, and only minutes without air. We also know that the range of temperature is relatively small. Too cold and we freeze; too hot and we cook.
Disasters come in many forms. Earthquakes can kill thousands in a brief span of time. The reports from Kobe, Japan, indicated that most of those who died in the earthquake were dead within fourteen minutes. Hurricanes, tornadoes, and cyclones likewise snuff out life in their path. Floods sweep hundreds to their death. Droughts, when widespread, lead to famine with massive numbers of deaths.
The sensational press had a field day when fragments of a comet smashed into Jupiter in 1994. They recalled the theory that dinosaurs became extinct when a similar calamity happened to our planet. They pondered the possibility that such an encounter could happen again and bring human life to an end. Proposals were put forth to track any such space materials and send up a mission with nuclear explosives to alter the trajectory of such a body so it would bypass the earth.
Facing the facts could cause people to become depressed. For others it could lead them into hedonism: enjoy the physical pleasures as fully as you can without regard to consequences. Life is fleeting at best.
Christianity offers another possibility. The sum total of life is not found in the flesh. It is realized most fully in the spirit. Life in Christ transcends the vicissitudes of this world with all its threats and dangers. Life in Christ gives a quality to life that makes it worth the living, even if it is the only experience of existence we may know. In addition, the Christian faith gives promise of a new dimension of existence beyond that experienced in this world. Life in Christ is only a foretaste of that other and greater dimension of being which we perceive here and now only dimly.
2. Apocalyptic Writings. The passage in Luke accords with what is called the Little Apocalypse in Mark and has parallels in Matthew as well. The book of Revelation is full of imagery which would be easily understood by the people at the time when it was written. We often find such writings strange and difficult to interpret.
Certain themes persist throughout the apocalyptic writings of the Old and New Testaments. The following would be among the main themes that underlie all such writings:
a. God's reign is universal.
b. History has meaning and purpose.
c. God is in control of the final outcome of history.
d. In history a continuing struggle exists between good and evil.
e. Ultimately the good is redeemed and evil is judged.
3. The Peril of the Predictors. Many schemes try to unfold the future. People have scanned the scriptures looking for clues that would help them to construct a timetable of history. They look back and develop a design to history which they are sure has brought us to this point. They then attempt to project that design into the future and predict when and how the future of history will come to consummation.
Luke 21, Mark 13, Daniel, Revelation, and similar passages of scripture have been "mined" repeatedly to provide elaborate and detailed timetables. Certain predictors were so certain that they had cracked the code that they set the date for Christ's second coming. They have led to some disastrous consequences. Notorious examples would be the Mnsterites in Germany in the sixteenth century, the Millerites in the United States in the nineteenth century, a group that left the Ukraine and went to Siberia in the nineteenth century, and the Branch Davidians in Texas in this century.
These groups have ignored the clear warning of Jesus to his disciples that only God knows the future with certainty. We should be wary of any who claim to predict exactly when, where, and how Christ will return and usher in a new age on earth.
4. Certainty in the Midst of Uncertainty. While life is fragile and the future fraught with uncertainty, we do not need to live with constant apprehension and anxiety. Christians make affirmations about certainties that enable them to live in the midst of the sound and fury of the world with calm and assurance.
A fundamental affirmation is that the God revealed to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to the prophets of the Old Testament, and above all in Jesus Christ is a good God. God, as known through these revelations and experienced since in the church, is also powerful to accomplish his purposes.
God has purposed an abundant life for those who have responded to his invitation to share the life of the spirit. Regardless of what may come to pass, we may live with certainty that its outcome transcends all the evils of the world. It finds its fulfillment in riches beyond our greatest imagination.
Homily Hints
1. Living with Uncertainty. (vv. 25-36) This is the season of Advent. In the time of Jesus' birth people lived with high expectancy. Most did not recognize the signs of the time. Nevertheless they lived with hope that God was active and gave signs of his constancy.
A. Signs of God's Work in the Past
B. Signs of God's Work in the Present
C. Assurance of God's Work in the Future
2. Stand Up and Raise Your Head. (v. 28) The passage can be a message of hope in the midst of natural tragedies. A. No Evil is Beyond Redemption
B. Raise Your Head and See God's Power and Glory
C. Hope in God's Ultimate Triumph over Evil
3. Jesus' Word Will not Pass. (v. 33)
A. Truth Endures the Test of Time
B. Human Nature Remains Essentially the Same
C. Character Continues Despite Cultural Changes
4. Avoiding the Trap. (v. 35) Christians need to be on guard against the trap of temptations that enter in subtle ways. They very easily assail faith and practice.
A. Traps of the Flesh. The grosser and more evident sins of lust, gluttony, and similar sins arising from the appetites.
B. Traps of the Mind. The subtle sins of pride, prudence, and similar sins of reason.
C. Traps of the Will. The sins of apathy, lack of courage, anger, hate, and similar sins that undermine love of other persons.
5. Are You on Guard? (v. 34) Is the church on guard or is it acting as though it is asleep by its failure to be active for the kingdom of God?
A. Signs of the Church Asleep. Apathy and Inaction.
B. Who Sounds the Alarm? The call to faithfulness.
C. Where the Church Is on Guard. What happens in an alert church?
6. Be Alert at All Times. (v. 36) God intervenes in unexpected ways in history. Certain times are propitious for accomplishing God's purposes. Preparedness for such times affords us opportunity to work with God when the time is right.
A. Know the Scripture. Be prepared by seeing how persons took advantage of special times in the biblical periods.
B. Know Church History. When the time was ripe remarkable changes came through the church.
C. Know Where God Acts Today. God is still bringing about changes for peace and righteousness in our world through prepared people.
Contact
Points of Contact
1. A Secure Future. As the year 2000 approaches speculation will increase about the Second Coming of Christ and the end of history as we know it. At least on every occasion of the turn of 500 or 1000 years on the calendar in the past, such speculation was rife.
Already some are pointing to signs that conditions are ripe for such an event. Some are presenting various kinds of evidence which they say portend a cataclysmic return of Christ. While earlier it was the Communist threat with its atheistic doctrine, it is now the emerging of a world government. The European Union with the possible extension into Eastern Europe is frequently cited.
The gospel has reached almost every nation. The Bible is available in numerous languages. With the use of radio and television almost anyone in the world can now be evangelized. Purveyors of the hope of an imminent Second Coming see that as a certain indication of the fullness of time leading up to the end.
The increase of crime and violence throughout the world is another evidence given as preparing for the culmination of history. While no major world war is presently being fought, many wars are taking place. They tend to be within nations, such as in the former Yugoslavia, Rwanda, and Somalia.
More refugees are roaming the earth in search of survival and a livelihood than ever before in history. Population pressures, oppressive governments, ethnic conflicts, and economic distress all contribute to the mass movements of people.
While wars and violence rage, some steps are taken toward peace. The most obvious which is seen as fulfillment of prophecy is the accord worked out between Israel and some Arab states. The consolidation of Israel's power and government in Palestine is proposed as a condition necessary for the return of Christ.
The apathy of many so-called Christians is also taken as a symptom of the need for Christ to return. In many countries where Christianity has been the dominant religion of the past, it is doubtful if that is any longer true. In several European countries, for example, the attendance at church on most Sundays is less than five percent of the population. The growth of Islam and Eastern religions is also viewed as an indication of the decline of Christianity.
Others also point to the changing nature of the family as a portent of the time for the return of Christ. Divorce, the large number of children born to unmarried mothers, single parent families, and open homosexual relations are among the indicators of a breakdown of the traditional family.
These factors and others disturb many Christians. They look for some final solution to these problems in an ideal world where Christ would rule and establish finally and completely the kingdom of heaven on earth. They may be all too ready to find hope for a secure future by following those who assure them that they have correctly cracked the code of prophecy. They propose with certainty that they know when the great event will occur.
People may be inclined to put their hope in waiting for Christ's return instead of continuing to labor to manifest the kingdom of heaven by their faithful activity. They need to be encouraged to hold the hope and vision of the kingdom, but at the same time to find their security in living out Christ's commands in facing and overcoming the evils that surround them.
Christians also need to be wary of those who think their knowledge is superior to Jesus in fixing the day and hour when God must act. God introduces surprises into history, but usually in ways not according to any human anticipation. The Christian's security is found in trust in God's righteousness and goodness and love.
2. Your Redemption is Drawing Near. Jesus may be absent in the flesh. We may experience the absence of his spirit in our everyday existence. The Christian shows faith in Christ by steadfast watching, waiting, and working. Even through these periods they may be more aware of the absence than of the presence of Christ.
In the experience of absence many forces may seem to control life. The internal forces of appetites and desires may seek to control persons. It does not have to be the obvious ones such as addiction to drugs. It may be the simple desire to eat, drink, and be merry. It may be in the desire to escape the pain that accompanies growth and acceptance of responsibility.
External forces may also dominate and become the master of life. The pressure to make money, for job advancement, for economic security can become the master. The desire for social approval and acceptance may dominate life. The drive for fame and to have a name in history may become the driving force.
It takes continuing effort and support of a spiritual community to be alert and awake to the forces that may overpower and lead astray. Those who persist in faithfulness in the hope that Christ will return and confirm their faith know that Christ is always present in the spirit even though absent in the flesh. Through his actions in our life we can know that our redemption is drawing near, in fact, is already present when we place our trust in him and live in obedience to his teachings and example.
Illustrative Materials
1. Signs of God's Activity Today. All the predictions ten years ago were that South Africa would continue in racial strife for a long period of time. The end would come in a great bloodshed as the majority black population rebelled against a minority white population.
It was hardly conceivable that a white ruler such as de Klerk and a long-time opposition figure such as Nelson Mandela could agree and work together harmoniously to move to a more equitable and just future. The facts that the white governing party had deep roots in Christianity and Nelson Mandela had known the power of nonviolence brought about a tremendous change. God was working in the midst of both parties to affect change and reconciliation.
2. Alert While Watching and Waiting. In a Salvation Army settlement house on the southwest side of Chicago the staff sometimes set up a ball game for the children inside the gym. At the time they did not have nerf balls so they used a kind of softball made from rags.
The rules of the game said that a person could bat once. Whoever caught the ball had the next turn at bat. The staff person was the catcher. In that position he could observe and was ineligible to bat.
As the game progressed one day with a group of first and second graders, he noticed that little Tony was getting increasingly unhappy. He could never catch the ball. The bigger children always got the ball before he could. He wanted very badly to have a turn at bat. Then the staff person saw that Tony was on his knees with his hands folded and his eyes closed. Obviously he was praying and it was clear what he was asking.
While Tony prayed, the pitcher threw the ball, the batter hit it, and it rolled right to Tony and bounced off his knee. Unfortunately, before Tony opened his eyes and saw the ball lying directly in front of him, one of the other children quickly jumped in and grabbed the ball.
Tony was waiting but forgot to watch and be alert for the answer to his prayer!
3. Israel and the Second Coming. In 1967 a tour group was going to Israel. It was in August -- one of the first groups to get into the country after the Six-Day War. Israel had swiftly and soundly defeated a coalition of Arab states. John, one of the tour members, was sure that the events were a sign that the prophecy about Christ's return was soon to be fulfilled. Since the Israelis now occupied all of Jerusalem, including the site of the Temple, he asserted confidently that Christ would soon return. That would be a glorious occasion.
The group stopped first in Greece. When they departed from Athens to fly to Tel Aviv, the director collected all the tickets and checked in the whole group. After they were on the plane, he thought he had returned all the tickets.
Shortly after take-off he felt a hand on his shoulder. There stood John looking disconsolate. He could not find his and his wife's tickets. He wondered if they had been returned. Assured that they were, he said he had looked everywhere for them -- through his pockets, his hand luggage, and his wife's purse. The tour director teased a bit by saying that he should not worry since John had been saying that Israel was the best place to be for the Second Coming. That did not seem to console him!
A short time later, the hand fell on the shoulder again. There stood John with a chagrined look on his face. He had reached into one of his trouser pockets and pulled out a crumpled-up wad of papers. He thought they were scrap to be discarded. It was the two tickets he had absentmindedly jammed into his pocket. He was relieved not to have to stay in Israel!
4. On Our Guard and Alert -- for What? The Toledo Blade (24 September 1994, p. 11) reported a study by sociologist Robert Wuthnow published under the title God and Mammon in America (The Free Press). He is reported to say, "We live in a materialistic culture and we want money and possessions, and very few people have heard a powerful voice telling them to resist these impulses, or how to resist these impulses."
Wuthnow reported that a survey revealed that 75 percent said their choice of jobs was not influenced by religion. Only 10 percent said religious values definitely influenced their choice, while twelve percent said maybe religion did.
The survey asked how serious several conditions were in society. Of those responding 92 percent said the condition of the poor was extremely serious or serious. The breakdown of families was chosen by 91 percent; selfishness by 81 percent; too much emphasis on money by 75 percent; and materialism by 74 percent.
However, when asked how important certain things were to them, they reported the following as very or fairly important: having a high-paying job -- eighty percent; having a beautiful home, a new car and other nice things -- 78 percent; wearing nice clothes -- 75 percent; ability to travel for pleasure and see interesting things -- 72 percent; and eating at nice restaurants -- 50 percent.
One woman who had earnings in six figures said she would have to earn an additional $50,000 to live comfortably.
