Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1882-08-02
Sunday School Lesson Notes.
BY REV. ]. o. sHERBURN.

ZION everywhere, DuJ III Jnlo eiuB 10 ihebohOo
he pronounces curse and destroys life.
1t is an interesting inquiry how it was
that Jesus was suffering from hunger so
early in the day. Had the thoughtful care
of Martha failed and thus was the Master
obliged tc begin his walk to the city with
ont a morning meal? Or were Martha
and her sister now so much interested in
the movements and teachings of jesus
that both sought place near him and thus
failed to provide for bis human needsP
We have no real answer to bring from
Scripture to these inquiries. 1t is doubles
true that the hospitality Of the people II
and near Jerusalem was taxed at th
great ieasts to the utmost. Aud mtn
without doubt were 80 eager at this teas
TO see and hear wha. SHOULD transplre tha
they paid little regard 10 regular meas,
or even to sufficient supply of food 70
their actual needs Some have suppose
that on this occasion Jesus started Yer
early with his disciples, that he might
in the city as soon as the solemnities .
the day began.
1t may be true that he went from Beth
any to relieve those who had lodged them
of any further care, and thus make it easy
for them also to spend the day in Jerusa
lem.
Be this matter as it may the fact ap
pears to be this: after short walk Jesu
was suffering from hunger, and turne'
aside to seek fruit on fig tree growing
by, or as 1t may be rendered, over, th'
the highway. 1t is also curious episode
that Jesus should have sought figs out Of
their season. Various explanations have
been suggested to this fact. Some writers
claim that two crops Of figs sometime
matured in Palestine; occasionally tree
ripening its second crop in the spring
time. Others hold that the fig tree Of tht
cast puts forth its leaves after the figs are
mature, and only then, and the fact tina
Jesus saw leaves was sufficient ground
for expectation that there might be fruit.
1t is evident that Jesus came looking TO,
fruit; as hungry man he did not exercise
his divine presence or he would hav,
known that no fruit was on the tree ever
before reaching it. 1t is also clear that he
had some reasonable ground Of expecta-
ion that there might be fruit upon the
tree. Such thing was not a natural
impossibility, as l think, in that region
Not finding the food he sought, Jesus
uttered the words, /" let no man eat fruit
of thee hereafter forever" The meaning
of this peculiar incident is not easy to
fathom. Christ made it serve q purpose
as we see further on, by teaching his
disciples the power of faith He shows
that greater wonders than that could bt
wrought by those who doubted not the
power of God in those matters But why
curse upon fig tree which furnished ne
fruit, though it gave promise of providing
it? Christ made no mere wanton displays
of power. His miracles uniformly took
very practical turn. He wrought them il
the interests of suffering humanity. Wa
this an exception to the general rulei
Most likely not. Some Scripture writers
have held that in this one case Jesu
curses and destroys that it might be for
ever settled that he has such power. an
will at the flung time exercise it agains
those who fail 10 meet the obligations tha
are upon them and thus become like tn
fruitless tree. This explanation is sug
gestive and brings out an important truth
but can hardly be said to meet the Gas
fully. The more recent commentators Il
disposed to look upon this translation II
symboical. Christ taught by parabl'
and they would unders and this event ;,
an acted parable. They were doubtless :,
sight Of Jerusalem. An awful doom hun
over the city; Jesus him elf uttered wor
of agony as he foresaw that doom. Th
class of writer's last mentioned woul
have US believe that the cursng of the fl
tree foreshadowed this terrible fate whic
overhung the Holy City.
The people of Jerusalem had the a.
pearance of religious life; certainly {
this great feast week, but it was lit
more than appearance. The real fru
which Christ seeks of all was not ther
They drew near to God in form and GER
,,,onu l,,t tho;r boo rtc an1 l;uos ,uara N,
filled with the fruits of the spirit. Fro
this fact destruction awaited the cit
After little time Jerusalem becan
indeed like the tree dried up from Il
roots. The symbol and prophecy of thes
sad events is said to be contained In Il
cursing of the fig tree. None OF the
expositiona appear to meet every point
the case fully, and we can we'll afford
give protracted study to this incide
before we accept, in Toto, any explanati'
which has yet appeared.
When Jesus, with his com pany, can
to the temple they find that the activiti
of the busy day have begun. The temp
resounds with the lowing Of bullocks al
the bleating of sheep and the discorda
cries of the money changers, as th
announce in the various tongues spoken
the time their readiness to exchange 4
coins of the various countries represent
for the current coin Of Judea.
The spirit and manner of conduct
all this business was contrary to the desi
which allowed such provision to be ma
for those who came from far, or
whom the way was too long, as De,
1924 has it. So Jesus, asserting. as
his early ministry, his right over
Fathers house, drove out these men ser
ing for gain, and greedy to secure t
most possible from this feast He declal
that instead of house of prayer the tel
Pile has become den of thieves. But Il
bold and well merited rebuke only stir
n