Kilgore Trout

Again I can't verify this information. You're probably just getting it from some apologetic site so it could be making up this information just to make jesus look correct.
Let' assume that it's correct.This does not take away from the fact that it says in Mark:

"When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs." Mark is saying that it is unreasonable to expect that a few could have been edible, otherwise he would have said "he found nothing even though these were Brebas figs and there was plenty of sunshine this year."

Sounds like standard apologetic thinking. The first link you gave said jesus expected to find buds and it said nothing about him expecting early fruit. Then when I point out that he was hungry you keep looking and find some apologetic site that says there may have been early fruit or whatever. So when someone points out a mistake, keep looking until you can find some "expert" who can back up your claim.

GakuseiDon

So, what is your explanation for why the passage occured?

Al Kafirun

Screw this literalist crap! What if this omnipotent God-man did think there should be figs? Should the incidental fact that there were none justify his damning of a figgin' tree? No! Nonsense. Move on!

Javaman

As I stated earlier, just as a simple demonstration of power, probably. Look how powerful Jesus is! He can wither a tree instantly (or nearly, at least)! A logical look reveals how childish the act itself was.

Kilgore Trout

I'm not sure why it's my job to know why the passage occurred. I'm sure the actual incident did not occur. I just observe the details they write. Jesus was hungry, he sees a fig tree hoping it will have figs on it. It doesn't so he gets pissed off at it and kills it. Why he doesn't make it grow figs instead is beyond me. That would be more in keeping with his alleged "forgiveness" policy. Was it to teach a lesson? Maybe. My point is that either it happened or didn't. If it didn't happen it's a lie. If it did happen, jesus is acting like a spoiled child. I am not going to excuse silly, destructive behavior just because someone wants to teach a lesson. Another point I could mention is doesn't someone own this tree? If so, he his destroying their property without their permission. Or it could be owned by the city or whatever. It's not his business to just kill it for no reason.

The same can be said about the incident where he sends demons into a herd of pigs, and they dive off a cliff. Even if you don't care about the animal's rights, it is considered stealing because someone owned that herd of pigs and was trying to make a living off them. Jesus is taking that away from them just so he can demonstrate his powers. Why send them to the pigs? It's needless grandstanding.

lpetrich

For more childish behavior on Jesus Christ's part, check out some of the noncanonical "Infancy Gospels" about his childhood. The Infancy Gospel of Thomas tells us how Jesus Christ zapped another boy for running into him.

He could also be snotty, like when he got preoccupied in the Temple at the age of 12, asking questions of the theologians there. His parents found him three days later, and he said "Don't you see I must be in my Father's house?" (Luke 2:41-50).

Spaz

I was thinkin maybe if the fig tree story really happened it went somethin like this...

Jesus and his guys were walking and Jesus saw the tree that was "afar off" so perhaps the disciples didn't follow him to the tree. Jesus cursed it all loudly so they could hear him, either the tree was already dying or he caused it to die and the next morning they passed by it and the disciples were all "look jesus you killzored up teh tree!!!111" and jesus was like "yeah and I can move mountains and so can you and stuff"

but that's just my weird little world, but hey, it's probably not that much less plausible than some of the other explanations.

Al Kafirun

I love those! LOL The 'orthodox' say its uncharacteristic but like you pointed out, judging from his snotty comment to his folks, sounds pretty spot on to me. He's like that kid from that Twilight Zone episode.

'Wish it into the cornfield, Anthony Fremont.'

Or Damien from The Omen series. Little monster.

French Prometheus

Jesus loves you as long as you obey him unquestioningly and indulge his every whim. Anyone or anything that stands in his way should and will be destroyed.

I thought the explanation was clear enough...especially in the light of other examples cited above.

Fr.Andrew

(Fr Andrew): How's this?
He was angry because the existence of a fruitless fig tree made a lie of his claim to Messiahship. When the Messiah comes, according to the prophet Ezekail: