“He struck … their fig trees, and splintered the trees of their territory” (Ps 105:33, NKJV)
One of the best typological illustrations of the previous teaching is Jesus’ conversation with Nathanael in John 1:45-51. Jesus is busy gathering his twelve disciples of the New Covenant (the preparations of the Old Testament equivalent of the twelve tribal fathers of Israel). Philip tells Nathanael that they have found Him of whom Moses had written in the law and the prophets – Jesus, the son of Joseph of Nazareth. Nathanael snidely responds to the supposed Messiah’s connection to Nazareth, but eventually agrees to meet Jesus. But note: Jesus then judges Nathanael in terms of his people when He says – “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!” A surprised Nathanael asks how Jesus knows him, upon which Jesus makes this important statement – “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.”
Nathanael’s reaction to what Jesus says, shows an immediately radical 180º shift in attitude, leaving behind his scepticism, when he answers and says, “Rabbi, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!”
Something much greater is to be found in this passage than we would see at first glance, and this is nestled in the fig tree. Almost all the Biblical commentators who write about this verse state that Nathanael was probably sitting under the fig tree, reading the Word and praying, as was the habit of many Jews. But this is pure speculation.
Despite this, according to Adam Clark’s exegesis, it is not a fig tree, but the fig tree, “one particularly distinguished from the others”. Most of the theological thinkers who garner Israel a prominent place in the end times, decidedly declare (on the basis of Hos 9:10) that the fig tree is symbolic of Israel. In the light of this Jesus’ prophetic warning in Matt 24:32-33 is very important – “Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branches has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near – at the doors! They thus see the creation of the independent state of Israel in 1948 as the period when Israel (=the fig tree) will again bear fruit. But this theory amounts to nothing in the light of the next verse – “Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place.” These words were spoken in approximately 30 AC, and one generation is 40 years, thus a precise correlation with the destruction of the Jewish temple, the symbol of the Jewish covenant life, in 70 AD.
The fig tree (Israel) did not bear fruit (Mark 11:12-13) and Jesus had cursed it (verse 14), and it perished (verse 21). Between verses 14 and 21, as Conrad Gempf has remarked in his book, Jesus states that the temple has become a den of robbers (verse 17)!
When Jesus sees Nathanael, He sees him under THE fig tree of Israel, according to the prophetic promise in Micah 4:4 and certain other passages, where “in the last days” (verse 1) all will sit under the fig tree, an expression which Solomon had used explicitly when referring to Israel (1 Kings 4:25) and which in Zach 3:10 is spelled out will happen under THE fig tree when Joshua/Jesus, the Branch, will come.
See clearly – the old fig tree of Israel has been cursed and chopped down (Matt 3:9-10); the new fig tree is Jesus. This is what Jesus predicted in Nathanael; and He could possibly have been praying Micah 7:1c – “there is nothing for food, not even an early fig for my desire”.
- Sela: Decide for yourself why the gospels – like the OT – can be read in a typological fashion.
- Read: Gen 13-15
- Examine how this has been fulfilled: Gen 14:18 (clue: Heb 7).
- For a deeper understanding: Read pp 67-70 of Conrad Gempf’s Mealtime habits of the Messiah.
