The Impossible-s

One of my teachers always asked an impossible-to-answer question: “Have you stopped beating your wife?” This question can’t be answered without getting me in trouble. If I say, “Yes,” it means that I used to beat my wife and stopped. If I say, “No,” it means that I still beat my wife. No way I can answer.

The Lord Jesus put a plant in a similarly bad situation. It was spring, and the fig tree had leaves as would in springtime. From looking afar, it looked inviting. But it wasn’t time for the fig to have fruit. It was early in the season with leaves, flowers, and buds. Jesus – knowing it wasn’t the season for fruit – still expected fruit (Mark 11:12–13). When he didn’t find it, he said to it:

“Never, for eternity, from you, no one may eat fruit.” (11:14b)

Was there a necessity to say “never” and “for eternity” and “no one” (meketi . . . eis ton aiona . . . medeis)? Absolutely not. But the Lord said those so that the disciples would hear it (11:14c) and remember his statement (11:21). It’s like our mothers calling us by all given names to get our attention.

Significant in this story was Jesus addressing the tree – “you” (sou) and speaking “to her” (autei) (11:14a). It was a conversation between the creator and his creation.

Was Jesus harsh to pronounce such a statement to the tree while not having fruit unseasonably? Absolutely not. He used an optative mood, expressing an anticipated blessing. Paul wrote, “May the Lord give mercy to the house of Onesiphorus!” (2 Tim 1:16). Similarly, Peter wrote, “May grace and peace be multiplied in the knowledge of God” (2 Pet 1:12). The Lord Jesus wasn’t instructing and commanding the tree to wither. He wished it would wither: “May no one eat.”

To understand this passage (and what followed the next day), we need to return to the Garden of Eden. When Adam disobeyed, not he but the land incurred the curse – with difficulty, it would produce its yield (Gen 3:17b–19). The Lord was freeing the fig tree of that curse. He cursed the curse, thus reversing it. He wished its toil and pain to end. Paul expanded on this (Rom 8:22–25).

Freed from the curse of living long and finding it difficult to yield fruit, taking the exhortation from the creator, the tree had withered to its roots (11:20), leaving an object lesson:

“Have faith in God.” (11:22b)

Anything was possible, provided one believed God to accomplish it. Even uprooting a plant – reversing a curse – and moving the mountains weren’t impossible for God. He can do those with a word. The disciples must ask in faith (11:23–24). Such faith comes with one stipulation:

“Let go if you have anything against anyone, just as your father in heaven let go your transgression.” (11:25)

Curses reverse in Christ, but it begins with a heart of forgiveness. Jesus freed the fig tree of its curse to teach the disciples that they, too, can free people of bondage. It begins with them forgiving others as God forgave them.

Holding grudges can hurt us. Letting them go can free us. I find it difficult to forgive those who hurt me and refuse to ask for forgiveness. But I find that not letting those hurts rule me frees me to love God and others, and experience a joy of renewed spirit, just like the fig tree that no longer had to suffer in this world.