Now learn this lesson from the fig tree

Matthew 24 is not an easy scripture passage to understand. It concerns the destruction of the Jerusalem temple and the signs of the end times. Despite Jesus' unambiguous statement "But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father." (verse 36), there have been ongoing speculations of when Jesus will return, especially when wars and natural disasters strike. What then should be our attitude while we wait for this unexpected event? Jesus told us to learn from the fig tree:
"Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door. Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away." (verses 32- 35)

It is important to know that this sermon was one of the last sermons Jesus gave to his disciples. Jesus had been telling his disciples that his earthly mission was to suffer at the hands of the Jewish religious leaders and that he would eventually be killed and raised to life on the third day (Matthews 16:21). In response to his disciples' praise of the magnificent temple in Jerusalem (verse 1, Mark 13:1, and Luke 21:5), Jesus therefore reminded them (and predicted) that this earthly monument would soon be completely destroyed (verse 2).

D.A. Carson wrote:
"This must have been shocking to the disciples. They thought the Messiah was going to save Jerusalem and the temple, not allow both to be destroyed. As Jesus spoke of these things, the disciples must have thought about the end of gentile rulership and the glory of Israel, both which are prophesied so many times in the Hebrew Scriptures. They knew these events would occur at "the time of the end" (Daniel 8:17; 11:35, 40; 12:4, 9). It was at this time that the Messiah would appear or "come" to usher in the kingdom of God. This meant Israel would arise to national greatness as the spearhead of that kingdom."

So a little later when they were sitting on the Mount of Olives, over-looking Jerusalem and its temple buildings, his disciples asked Jesus (there were essentially three questions in verse 3):

1. When will these temple buildings be destroyed?
2. What will be the sign of Jesus' coming?
3. What will be the sign of the end of the age?

Jesus' answers to these questions:

1. Jerusalem and its temple will be destroyed in their generation (verse 34). Indeed Jerusalem was destroyed in A.D. 70 just as Jesus predicted.
2. The disciples were wrong to associate Jesus' coming with his "coming out" as the Messiah. Indeed Jesus will come again (his second coming) and "the sign" will be associated with his second coming, and not with the destruction of the temple.
3. The end of the age is not associated with the destruction of Jerusalem but it is some time in the future. No one knows when it will be, not even Jesus (verse 36).

D.A. Carson wrote:
"Rather than answering the disciples' questions on their terms, Jesus used the occasion to teach them three important things. One, he taught them that the scenario they were asking about was much more complicated than their simplistic notions. Two, they could not know when Jesus would "come," or as we would say, "return." Three, they should worry about or "watch" their relationship with God and not worry about "watching" world or local events."

This chapter is still very difficult to understand with its allusion to events that are certainly unfamiliar with us in modern times. But it is clear to me that (1) Jesus predicted the fall of Jerusalem and the destruction of the second temple (not the one King Solomon built); (2) His messiahship, i.e. he saved us from our sins by dying on the cross; his kingdom is not an earthly kingdom; (3) He is coming again to reign - accompanied by a new heaven and a new earth. I look forward to his coming. I enjoy now his spiritual presence and relationship while I watch and wait for the great day! I don't think there is a fig tree around where I live but I will look at any tree in the spring time to remind myself as certainly as leaves will come forth in the summer, Jesus is coming soon!