Under the Fig Tree

Hello! I realize it has been a while since I’ve written in this blog. I took a little summer hiatus while doing an internship with the Center for Biblical Equality (CBE) International. I got to do some editing and writing and review a few new books - it was awesome. Stay tuned for some e-books with my name on them... Now the plan is to pick this back up. Thanks for sticking with me.

This summer on our family vk to Jamaica, I saw a fig tree for the first time in my life. They are large trees with a broad canopy and leaves over a foot in diameter, perfect for a little shade on a hot day. I learned recently that some species of fig trees actually live up to 300 years! That's a lot of years of figs.

I thought about that fig tree this past Sunday in church when we read an otherwise very familiar passage in John 1. After John's poetic opening to his gospel, he begins describing how Jesus gathered His first disciples. Specifically, we read the passage about how Jesus called Philip from Bethsaida. Then, we read how the first thing Philip does after being called is to go find his buddy, Nathaniel.

We don’t know what the relationship was specifically between Philip and Nathaniel. Had they been neighbors, or schoolmates? Had they grown up together? Were they each other's ride or die? The text doesn't say. However, I’d like to think they were close because when Philip got this incredible invitation to be the disciple of the new rabbi, the very first person he thought to go and grab was Nathaniel. He finds Nathaniel under a fig tree, the text tells us, and invites him: You have to come and see this guy. I think he’s the Messiah! And the fact that Nathaniel listens, gets up and goes, also suggests a close relationship.

When they find Jesus, He greets Nathaniel in an unusual way. He says, Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit! 

That's weird, right? If you met someone for the first time and that's what they said - wouldn't you have questions? I think I'd be suspicious, like, what's this guy's game here?

Nathaniel chooses to reply, How do you know me?  (Okay, that's interesting, too. But we'll get back to that.)

Then Jesus said, I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you. And Nathaniel is convinced that Jesus is indeed the Son of God, the One they had been waiting for.

Why?

Simple answer: There’s no way that Jesus could have known where Nathaniel had been when Philip went to find him. Assumedly, he was out of Jesus' sight, perhaps even a long distance away. This is how I had always understood this passage.

But this week... something else occurred to me.

What was Nathaniel doing under the fig tree?

The other disciples that Jesus had called just before this had been out fishing. They’ve been out making a living. Contributing to society. And Nathaniel? He was hanging out under a fig tree. Doesn’t sound very productive. Doesn’t sound like he was getting any work done. Maybe he was burned out. Maybe he didn’t have any direction in his life. Maybe he didn’t even know what to do with his life. Was he maybe… Praying? Contemplating his future? Thinking about something he had done or something he was thinking about doing?

Could it be that Jesus called Philip because he knew Philip would go and get his best bud, Nathaniel, who was sitting around questioning his purpose? Jesus was able to call Philip because of his proximity. Nathaniel, well, Philip had to go looking for him. He wasn't following Jesus. He wasn't out looking for the Messiah. He was doing anything. He was just chillin' under the fig tree. It is interesting to note that in Jewish society back in Biblical times, the fig tree represented prosperity. Was perhaps Nathaniel praying for prosperity? Food for thought (no pun intended).

Think about Jesus' words to him: this is a man within whom there is no deceit. I wonder if there’s a clue there. Could it be that Jesus not only knew where Nathaniel was but knew what Nathaniel had been thinking? Could it be that Jesus' strange words were a response to a prayer or a cry that Nathaniel had made to God? Or could it be that it was a conviction regarding something he had done or was thinking about doing?

Truth is, we don’t know. We can only guess. But I think that there was a message for Nathaniel in that comment. A message known only between him and Jesus. Something that he needed to hear in that moment.

Have you ever had a fig tree moment? A moment where you were out not doing what you were supposed to be doing, maybe not sinning, per se, but taking a time out from where God had called you?

But then a friend called you. Or a pastor. Or a spouse. Or God Himself. Called you out - come and see. I have more for you. There is more.

I know I have.

I heard a story once from this guy who was talking about his grandma. And he said that his grandma would get uncomfortable when she wasn’t doing something for or with God. For example, one time he took her to the movies. It was a PG movie, clean, nothing offensive in it, but she looked really uncomfortable. He asked why, and she said to him, This is not where I want to be found when Jesus comes again. I want him to find me at work.

Now, to be clear, I’m not saying we shouldn’t go to the movies. I love going to the movies. I’m not even saying that we’re not allowed to occasionally take a rest under the fig tree. That's why God created the Sabbath. We all need a rest sometimes - even God rested on the 7th day of creation!

What I'm saying is... we shouldn’t pitch a tent there, you know what I mean? There is work to be done.

The days are short. The times are hard. People are suffering. They need the Church. The real Church. The Church that puts their money where their mouth is, the pedal to the metal, and their feet to the ground. The work of feeding the hungry and clothing the naked and welcoming the stranger. The work of justice and compassion and self-sacrifice. THIS is the work of the Church.

Our country is dying for the Church to step up and be the Church. It's not political. It's not socialism. It's who we are called to be.

We can’t be lounging around under fig trees.

I get it. It’s hard right now. The battle is tough on every front. It may feel... hopeless. It may feel... confusing - where do we even start?

Well. Go and see. What has you lit a fire? What is the arena that most draws you? Start there.

Or start with what’s in your proximity. Your neighbors. Your city. Your workplace. Your school. Whatever your circle of influence might be.

If you’re wondering whether or not you’re called, well, guess what. You are. We are all called. Every single one of us. We are all called to make a difference, to bring His kingdom come, and to be someone else's miracle.

Go and find the purpose, the work, that God has for you. He knows you. He knows you just like He knew Philip and Nathaniel. He knows your strengths and weaknesses, your doubts and your tears. And He has a plan for you.

Don’t give up.

Now is not the time to be caught taking a time-out under a fig tree.

Go and see.

FOR MORE FROM ME... 

- Subscribe to my blog through Substack: https://substack.com/@jadedevangelical.

- Pick up my book, "Letters to the Jaded Evangelical: Finding Jesus in the Shards of Religion." 

- Follow me on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@jadedevangelical.smreed