I Need A Savior

Flight 1549 in the Hudson River

In a church setting, the statement "I need a savior" makes us think big picture, as in Jesus Christ returning to save all of mankind from destruction, or saving all believers from death. After all, it's built right into His name - Jesus (Joshua or Yehoshua in Hebrew - Strong's(Yehoshua) [1]) means "Jehovah will save". But saving someone can be less grand than that. Remember Captain  Chesley Burnett (Sully) Sullenberger who was forced to land a plane, US Airways Flight 1549, in the Hudson River in 2009, and no one was lost - Wiki(Sully) [2]. He was a savior to the 155 people on that flight. Remember the Akedah, where Isaac was saved by an angel at the last second from being sacrificed by Abaham Gen 22:1-14.

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I fell and broke my hip at the beginning of the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles 2024. Friends helped me off the floor and into bed. The next morning, those same friends and more helped me to a car, and drove me to a hospital near home, where I spent the last day of the Feast, receiving  hip replacement surgery 24 hours after my fall. I think of  those friends and the surgeon as  saviors.

I needed saviors.

One Sick Puppy

We think of the Feast of Tabernacles as picturing God's Kingdom, His millennial reign here on the earth. How then can something like this happen DURING the Feast? How can it be that a boy is hospitalized for months due to a car accident on the way to keep God's Feast? I saw many people get ill during the Feast that year, including my wife and me. Some people seem to get sick every year when exposed to hundreds of people at church services. How Millennial is that?

That boy needs a savior.

We have all had savior experiences in our lives, where we were unable to help ourselves, but someone happened along and rescued us, maybe something as simple as helping with a flat tire. Maybe you've had angelic help in your life, like a friend who while driving heard a voice say "stop", and was saved from getting hit by a car running a red light. On June 20th 2024, four-year-old Cristian Ramirez went missing near Huntington Lake in Fresno, CA, while playing with other children. After searching for him, his family called 911. Cristian needed a savior. The good news is that he was rescued after 22 hours later unharmed - Crosswalk [3]. Imagine the anxiety his parents felt, and then the relief when he was found. His father described it as a miracle. And we like hearing those miracle stories, but I'm sure some who hear such stories say to themselves "where's my miracle", "where's my savior"?

Cristian Ramirez and His Saviors

Sherlock Holmes

Whether by nature or nurture, we all want to be saviors, especially men, who want to protect their families, to rescue them in time of need. It's part of the draw of becoming a soldier or a fireman or policeman, or a doctor or ambulance driver (EMT), or even a lawyer or judge. A teacher can save a child through education. TV Detective shows are popular because they appeal to our desire to see justice done, to see the innocent saved from tragedy, to see the guilty brought to justice. But that's TV. In real life? How about Chicago, Illinois? Here's Chicago mayor Brandon Johnson speaking to Congress.

In D.C., Johnson claimed that everything was going well and crime was down in Chicago, but, Chicago authorities are once again rigging crime statistics by not recording crimes, not making arrests and not solving crimes. Johnson shut down ShotSpotter which helped detect homicides. And only 1 in 7 violent crimes ended in an arrest. Chicago authorities now claim that they have cleared 60% of murders. Last year they claimed to have a clearance race of 54%, but the actual clearance rate for murders that ended in an arrest is only 23%. Or less than 1 in 4 murders. Daniel Greenfield(Chicago) [4] 

And it's not a problem isolated to one city in America. Consider Essex, England.

The Essex police have stopped answering calls about drug dealing and a Sun column noted that, "in the last year, Essex police have solved just 1 in 8 robberies and violent assaults, a mere 1 out of every 10 sexual assaults and 1 in 15 burglaries. Daniel Greenfield(Essex) [5] 

 

Most of the victims needed a savior, but none came.

Some people view Donald Trump as the savior of America. Even if he kept every campaign promise, got the US out of all wars, rescued the economy, secured the border, etc., he can't do it all. He can't lead the country to the repentance that God wishes to see. Especially when half the country thinks that repentance means going to church on Christmas and Easter. True repentance will take THE Savior.

For every story of rescue, there are stories where a savior never came. I think of the 21 Christians who were beheaded by Muslims in 2015 - Wiki(Copts_martyr) [6]. I think of Adam and Eve, who lost their son Abel - Gen 4:8-16. Seth was a replacement - Gen 4:25, but I imagine they thought of Abel often. I also think of Job, who lost his fortune and his 10 children in one day. At the end of the book of Job, his fortune was restored double, and he had 10 more children. But I'm sure he never forgot the first 10. I know people who have had to bury a child. They have told me they think of them every day, even 50 years later.

For many, their savior didn't show.

We often turn to the book of Job to help understand trials. Until recently, I thought of Job as a one time event that happened probably during the time of the patriarchs. But now I'm thinking it's more than that. Job argues his case with his friends in chapters 3-37. My summary of Job's arguments is "it's not fair". And the arguments of his "sorry comforters" (Job 16:2) could be summed up, "you must have done something". But maybe Job represents every man. Every man is "right in his own eyes", and wants to judge God. We wouldn't express it that way, but we would likely say "it's not fair", which really means we think we know better than God. Again, I no longer think Job's experience was a one time thing. Satan is called the accuser of the brethren (Rev 12:10) , which says he is accusing US day and night not unlike the way he accused Job. And sometimes, God allows Satan the adversary to try us just like Job. Maybe it isn't fair.

Job needed a savior. We all need saviors.

But of all times, why do these trials happen at the Feast of Tabernacles, when we are picturing the peace and safety and abundance of the Millennium? I find one answer in Lev 23, where Moses records how to keep the Feast. I'll quote three verses here.

Lev 23:39 Also on the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you have gathered in the fruit of the land, you shall keep the feast of the Lord for seven days; on the first day there shall be a sabbath-rest, and on the eighth day a sabbath-rest. 

 41 You shall keep it as a feast to the Lord for seven days in the year. It shall be a statute forever in your generations. You shall celebrate it in the seventh month. 42 You shall dwell in booths for seven days. All who are native Israelites shall dwell in booths, 43 that your generations may know that I made the children of Israel dwell in booths when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.

Sukkah

These verses point us back to the Exodus, our ancestors living in booths, huts, sukkot in Hebrew. These huts were temporary structures, picturing our frail human bodies as "earthly tabernacles" - 2 Pet  1:14.  Israel was saved from Egypt, but wasn't taken out of the world. Shortly after crossing the Red Sea, they had to fight the Amalekites themselves (Exo 17:8-16). And we aren't taken out of the world even during the Feast, maybe we have extra protection, extra blessings, but we are still in these frail sukkot, still subject to the elements. At the end of Israel's sojourn in the wilderness, Moses tells them God's perspective.

Deut 8:2 Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands.

But a few verses later he also tells Israel this.

Dt 8:7 For the LORD your God is bringing you into a good land

The trials in this life, even at the Feast, are not the end of the plan. He is bringing us into a "good land" as well.

Rom 8:18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

We believe that the Holy Days listed in Leviticus 23 picture the plan of God, some already fulfilled, but Trumpets, Atonement, and the Feast of Booths (aka Tabernacles) lie ahead. The major prophetic events to come which are foreshadowed by the Holy Days are Jesus' return, binding of Satan, the Millennium and the White Throne Judgment. So yes the Feast does picture the Millennium, but we can't forget the symbolism of dwelling in a sukkah for seven days, of dwelling in an earthly tabernacle for seven decades. We picture the Millennium, but we are still in this world, looking for THE Savior to usher in His Kingdom, to right all the wrongs.

For all of those throughout history who hoped for a savior who didn't come, well, He is coming.

Rev 21:4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.

References

1. https://biblehub.com/hebrew/3091.htm

2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sully_Sullenberger

3. https://www.crosswalk.com/headlines/topics/positive-stories/dad-speaks-about-the-miracle-of-finding-his-missing-son-after-22-hours.html

4. http://www.danielgreenfield.org/2025/03/chicagoillegaland.html

5. https://www.danielgreenfield.org/2024/11/thought-police.html

6. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2015_kidnapping_and_beheading_of_Copts_in_Libya

Curse Of The Fig Tree

In Mark 11, we read a story where Jesus cursed a fig tree. And it is one of the harder  events in Jesus ministry to understand. Why did He curse the fig tree? What is the symbolism of cursing that fig tree?

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Olive, Vine, Fig

Before we get to the text, let's look at the history and context. Three trees are often mentioned together in the Bible, the olive, the fig, and the vine (yes I know the vine is not a tree). And they are cited as blessings, very much associated with Israel.

Dt 8:7 For the LORD your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of streams of water, of fountains and springs, flowing out in valleys and hills; 8 a land of wheat and barley, of vines, fig trees, and pomegranates, a land of olive oil and honey;

Mic 4:4 But everyone shall sit under his vine and under his fig tree, And no one shall make them afraid; For the mouth of the LORD of hosts has spoken.

The Olive and the Vine

In reading Romans 11:11-24, I think it safe to conclude that the olive represents God's relationship with the nation Israel. Paul talks about grafting in wild olive branches into a cultivated olive tree, meaning Gentiles grafted into Israel.

Rom 11:17 But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became partaker with them of the rich root of the olive tree,

And in reading John 15:1, I think it safe to conclude that the vine represents a personal relationship between Jesus and each believer. Fruit is a byproduct of “abiding in Jesus”.

Jn 15:1 I am the true vine, and My Father is the vine dresser.  5 I am the vine, you are the branches; the one who remains in Me, and I in him bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.

The Fig

Adam and Eve

But the fig is harder to figure out. The first mention of the fig is in Gen 3:7 where Adam and Eve sewed fig leaves to make an apron to cover their nakedness, then acted like it was normal. One Jewish tradition says that the tree of the knowledge of good and evil was the fig tree - Chabad [1]. The fig leaf came to mean “excuse”, as in the story of Samson.

Judges 14:4 However, his father and mother did not know that this was of the LORD, for He was seeking an occasion (a fig leaf) against the Philistines. And at that time the Philistines were ruling over Israel.

Covering one's self with fig leaves is offering excuses for an  embarrassing event or status. Offering an olive branch is offering  peace; but offering a fig leaf is to offer a temporary cover (an  excuse) - Yavoh_mag [2].

Unripe Figs

The fig tree has some unusual biology. In general, the green figs appear before the leaves. The fig tree produces two crops each year, spring and fall. The figs of the spring crop, called the breba harvest, have been described as a cross between a pear and a potato. These figs would only be eaten by the poor or hungry. The main harvest is in the fall, around the Holy Day season. These are the sweet figs one can even buy here in the US. The wood of the fig tree was the preferred wood for the altar in the Temple. Poor people would bring fig wood or salt as their gift for the Temple. On the one hand, it is a good strong tree offering shade and sweet fruit to man. On the other hand, it is also a symbol of poverty [2].

Chronology

Beginning in John 12

1 Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany

12 The next day the great crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. 13 They took palm branches and went out to meet Him, shouting:

Mark 11:1 occurs between John 12:1 and 12:12.

Mk 11:1 And as they approached Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany, near the Mount of Olives, He sent two of His disciples,

This is introducing the story of Jesus' Triumphal Entry riding on a donkey. We know this to be the day the lambs were chosen for Passover, that is, the tenth day of the first month. Most churches teach that this was Palm Sunday, but based on the events of the crucifixion week, it was the Sabbath day. It is the next day He cursed the fig tree. Note the two towns mentioned, Bethany and Bethphage. Bethany mean House of Poverty - abarim(Bethany) [3]. Bethphage means House of Unripe Figs - abarim(Bethphage)  [4].

Jesus Triumphal Entry

Cursing the fig tree appears to be a story in two parts, one morning to the next, separated by the cleansing of the Temple. But I think it is all one story, that cleansing the Temple is the key to understand why the fig tree was cursed. Continuing in Mark 11.

[Jesus curses the fig tree]

12 On the next day, when they had left Bethany, He became hungry. 13 Seeing from a distance a fig tree in leaf, He went to see if perhaps He would find anything on it; and when He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs*. 14 And He said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again!” And His disciples were listening.

 

[Jesus Drives Money Changers from the Temple]

15 Then they came to Jerusalem. And He entered the temple area and began to drive out those who were selling and buying on the temple grounds, and He overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were selling doves; 16 and He would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple grounds. 17 And He began to teach and say to them, “Is it not written: ‘MY HOUSE WILL BE CALLED A HOUSE OF PRAYER FOR ALL THE NATIONS’? But you have made it a DEN OF ROBBERS.” 18  And the chief priests and the scribes heard this, and they began seeking how to put Him to death; for they were afraid of Him, because all the crowd was astonished at His teaching. 19 And whenever evening came, they would leave the city.

 

Jesus Cleansing the Temple

 [The fig tree is withered]

 

20 As they were passing by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots up*. 21 And being reminded, Peter said to Him, “Rabbi, look, the fig tree that You cursed has withered.” 22 And Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God*. 23 Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it will be granted to him. 24 Therefore, I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted to you. 25 And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you for your offenses. 26 But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your offenses.”

How is cleansing the Temple like cursing a fig tree without fruit? I believe the fig tree represents religion - TorahToday [5], that is, Israel's relationship with God through religion. That is what I will now try to show. Money changers and dove sellers are like leaves without fruit, worshipers are not fed by this “form of godliness”. I doubt the money changers showed up in the courtyard without the blessing of the Pharisees, who no doubt took their cut. A fig tree that has leaves and no fruit is symbolic of a religion that is all show, a false religion. The Temple was an example of a religion that no longer produced fruit (withered from the roots). I submit that the withered fig tree foreshadowed the destruction of the Temple, the destruction of the religion of the scribes and Pharisees. In other words, "Judgment is being visited upon Israel" - Catholic_mag [6.].

Religion can have fruit and leaves, or just leaves, the “form of godliness”. Religion can be a great blessing, a source of spiritual food for the people, but it has to have fruit. Think of the centuries when ancient Israel had the Tabernacle or the Temple – what a blessing it was for the nation. Religion can bring people to God, or when corrupted, be used to exploit people and enrich the leaders.

In the parallel account in Matthew 21, some parables follow, then in chapter 23, Jesus gives 8 stern warnings to the scribes and Pharisees, these are known as the 8 woes, which parallel the 8 blessings in Matthew 5. Highlighting a few verses from 23:1-12.

Mt 23:1 Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to His disciples, 2 saying: “The scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in the chair of Moses. 3 Therefore, whatever they tell you, do and comply with it all, but do not do as they do; for they say things and do not do them. 4 And they tie up heavy burdens and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves are unwilling to move them with so much as their finger. 5 And they do all their deeds to be noticed by men [like leaves]; for they broaden their phylacteries and lengthen the tassels of their garments. 6 And they love the place of honor at banquets, and the seats of honor in the synagogues, 7 and personal greetings in the marketplaces, and being called Rabbi by the people. 8 But as for you, do not be called Rabbi; for only One is your Teacher, and you are all brothers and sisters. 9 And do not call anyone on earth your father; for only One is your Father, He who is in heaven. 10 And do not be called leaders; for only One is your Leader, that is, Christ. 11 But the greatest of you shall be your servant. 12 Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled, and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted. 

The 8 woes begin in verse 13 and carry through vs 33, I don't have space to quote them all, but I encourage you to read them. All but one of the woes begin with the words ”woe to you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites”. Over and over again, “woe to you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites”. Jesus gave His strongest rebuke to the leaders of the Temple, the ones who sat in Moses' seat. While we all have to watch ourselves for hypocrisy, he aimed these woes at the leaders, the Scribes and Pharisees, the shepherds, not the sheep.  The lesson of the cursed fig tree reminds all of us to uproot the leaven of hypocrisy in our lives.

References

1. https://www.chabad.org/parshah/article_cdo/aid/983693/jewish/What-Sort-of-Fruit-Tree-was-the-Tree-of-Knowledge.htm
2. https://yavohmagazine.com/messianic-teachings/judgement-and-the-fig-tree
3. https://www.abarim-publications.com/Meaning/Bethany.html
4. https://www.abarim-publications.com/Meaning/Bethphage.html
5. https://torahtodayministries.org/lesson/what-kind-of-fruit-are-you
6. https://www.catholic.com/magazine/online-edition/why-does-jesus-curse-the-fig-tree