Jesus (At Times) Was an Embarrassment to the Gospel

(Note: In addressing this issue, I’ll assume the reader has a basic working knowledge of the Synoptic Tradition).

In the earlier Gospel of Mark, we find a pericope which tells us that after leaving Bethany with his disciples, a hungry Jesus sees a live fig tree in the distance. Given the change to stuff-his-gut, Jesus makes a bee line to it and finds nothing but leaves, since, as the writer of Mark even knows; hey, it’s not the season for figs.

So what does the Son of God do? He throws a temper fit just like a kid who didn’t get want he wanted. He uses his healing powers now to attack a defenseless fruit tree and kill it (Mark 11:14, 20; = Matthew 21:9).

Now, how is this embarrassing situation handled by the Synoptic Gospel of Luke (13:6-9)? Luke completely rewrites it. The pericope is now placed on the lips of Jesus in the form of a parable so you know it can’t go wrong! Plus, it will make Jesus look good.

The irrational action of an immature Jesus is now transformed and then transferred to a level headed and patient, wisdom-aged farmer who goes three times to the fig tree wanting fruit and finding none, he tells his vinedresser “Cut it down and reuse the ground.” But even the vinedresser pleads with the farmer not to be so impatient and to just give it one more chance by waiting another year. He’s sure, with just a little care and work, the tree will produce fruit. If not (and after the fourth year), the vinedresser agrees with the farmer that it would not be irrational to cut it down (kill it).

The author of Luke /Acts has taken an irrational story where an out-of-control Jesus is removed and it is totally reworked into a wise and intelligent parable of wisdom. By putting it on the lips of Jesus, Luke has now credited Jesus with a parable which will further the spread of the Gospel and not be an embarrassing hindrance to it.