A Barren Fig Tree

We have studied the gospels for nearly two thousand years and frankly speaking, we have not exhausted the meanings for every story. Each time we study them, we will discover something new. The stories have a life of their own and they really speak to us.

Today, we read of the parable of the Barren Fig Tree in the gospel of Luke (Luke 13:1-9). The message seems to be simple --- we are fig trees planted by God. If we do not bear fruit, God will cut us down. In other words, God looks for our repentance. If we don't repent, we will perish.
The immediate context of this parable was a political incident brought to the notice of Jesus. Recently, some unpleasant thing happened, perhaps in Jerusalem. Pontius Pilate, the notorious Roman Governor, killed some Galileans, perhaps rebels, and mingled their blood with their sacrifices, to defile them (Luke 13:1). Ancient people naturally would conclude that these unlucky Galileans must have done something very wrong and thus incurred God's wrath on them. They told Jesus this incident, perhaps expecting Jesus to agree with them. However, Jesus did not concur. Jesus brought up a larger issue.
"I tell you, No; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish." (13:3, 5).
Jesus spoke it twice, together with another accident/incident, the collapse of the Tower of Siloam, killing 18 people. Therefore, the message is loud and clear. Repent or Perish! In such a context, Jesus told the story of the Barren Fig Tree.

The first curious thing that attracted my attention was the location of the fig tree. Why did the owner of the vineyard plant a fig tree in his vineyard? I am only an urban book worm and have no agricultural experience. Can fig trees grow in vineyards? Is the soil appropriate? Will the fig trees do harm to the vines, or vice versa? What is the point of planting a fig tree in a vineyard?
In fact, a search in the Bible will yield verses forbidding mixed cropping, e.g,
"You shall keep my statutes. You shall not let your cattle breed with a different kind; you shall not sow your field with two kinds of seed; nor shall there come upon you a garment of cloth made of two kinds of stuff." (Leviticus 19:19)
"You shall not sow your vineyard with two kinds of seed, lest the whole yield be forfeited to the sanctuary, the crop which you have sown and the yield of the vineyard.
You shall not plow with an ox and an ass together. 
You shall not wear a mingled stuff, wool and linen together." (Deuteronomy 22:9-11)
I raised this question in the Bible sharing session of the deacon monthly meeting. Deacon Francis Cheung Ka-wai was kind enough to enlighten me that it is a privilege for the fig tree to be planted in a vineyard. The Lukan Jesus was trying to stress the point that with such privileged provision, the fig tree still failed to bear fruit. Therefore, it was righteous of the owner to cut it down. The fig tree deserves to be cut down.

Given that when the fig tree is given a second chance and still does not bear fruit and thus it deserves to die, who is going to cut it down? The owner told the vinedresser to cut it down in 13:7. But after the advocacy for the fig tree, the vinedresser told the owner to cut it down himself in 13:9!
Superficially, the Father plays the role of a Judge and the Son the role of an Advocate. The Son refuses to play the role of an Executioner. He prefers the role of a Redeemer. However, it doesn't seem right. God the Father will not play the role of a Judge. The Father is reluctant to destroy His Creation, especially human beings. He wants all to be saved because He is not God of the dead, but of the living (Mark 12:27). Furthermore, the command "Cut it down; why should it use up the ground?" (Luke 13:7) sounds more from the Devil than from the Father.
Of course, we have to understand that no analogy can completely convey the transcendence of God. The command does not only serve to convey the righteousness of God, but also His mercy! The command is a warning. We ignore it at our peril! If God does not warn us, we perish. He warns us and we follow His instruction, we live. Of course, we ignore it at our own peril! We are stupid. What we need is the moral courage to repent, to return to the Father.

Sweet Jesus, I thank You for Your advocating for me. Pull me up and waste not Your mercy. Amen.