{"id":292,"date":"2010-08-12T19:00:22","date_gmt":"2010-08-12T18:00:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.pender.org.uk\/?p=292"},"modified":"2011-08-26T11:44:08","modified_gmt":"2011-08-26T10:44:08","slug":"syrup-of-figs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pender.org.uk\/index.php\/2010\/08\/syrup-of-figs\/","title":{"rendered":"Syrup of figs"},"content":{"rendered":"

Syrup of figs is a memory which springs from way back in my childhood, and I was surprised to see today that it is still on sale. I am sure that it was good for me at the time, but I always remember cringing when the words “syrup of figs” were mentioned by my mum or dad. Because of the dread I had for the stuff, it has somehow taken on the status of a punishment. I am sure that it was never administered in this way, but I will speak to my parents of my concerns in this regard, gently reminding them that as we all grow older, tables turn and that I shall perhaps one day assume the role of Medicine Deliverer!<\/p>\n

Perhaps it was because of this that it was a long time till I tasted a fig, then I suddenly realised what I had been missing, and that figs and punishment were actually at opposite ends of the spectrum.<\/p>\n

Figs were a very important part of the diet among the ancient Greeks, who even had very strict export controls over the trade of figs, and it was a major part of the food of Roman slaves. Some fig trees only produce fruit once a year, some twice, and a few fruit three times a year.<\/p>\n

\"figs<\/a><\/p>\n

18 <\/strong><\/sup>In the morning, as Jesus was returning to Jerusalem, he was hungry, <\/strong>19<\/strong><\/sup> and he noticed a fig tree beside the road. He went over to see if there were any figs, but there were only leaves. Then he said to it, “May you never bear fruit again!” And immediately the fig tree withered up.<\/strong> (Matthew 21:18-19)<\/p>\n

(Holy Bible, New Living Translation)<\/h5>\n

I hear and read a lot about ‘bearing fruit’<\/em>, but I must admit that I tend to find it a bit vague, with no real definition, no time-line, no target, no immediate accountability – one of these things that I can think I’m OK, and I can always catch up tomorrow. This passage in Matthew, though, removes all the possible confusion and fuzziness. Here is Jesus looking for something he needs, and not finding it. He then takes drastic action.<\/p>\n

Figs were an important food in his day. Today in Mediterranean regions, figs are known as “poor man’s food.” Man can’t live on bread alone, he needs more. There are a lot of people in this world who are poor – I don’t mean physically, but spiritually.<\/p>\n

Perhaps Jesus will come to me today, looking for something he needs, some figs that he wants to give to a poor man.<\/p>\n

Will he find fruit?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In the morning, as Jesus was returning to Jerusalem, he was hungry, and he noticed a fig tree beside the road. He went over to see if there were any figs, but there were only leaves. Then he said to it, “May you never bear fruit again!” And immediately the fig tree withered up.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[26,48],"class_list":["post-292","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-christian","tag-curse","tag-jesus","category-5","description-off"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pfWaLo-4I","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":7424,"url":"https:\/\/pender.org.uk\/index.php\/2023\/06\/23-lashings-of-lashes\/","url_meta":{"origin":292,"position":0},"title":"23 – Lashings of Lashes","author":"Robert Pender","date":"10\/06\/2023","format":false,"excerpt":"[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=\"7426\" img_size=\"full\" alignment=\"center\"][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]There are a lot of things happen when you get chemotherapy, but everyone is different and it all depends on the recipe of drugs which they put into you for your particular cancer. 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The trouble is that we are seldom, if ever in control.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Life"","block_context":{"text":"Life","link":"https:\/\/pender.org.uk\/index.php\/category\/life\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":7182,"url":"https:\/\/pender.org.uk\/index.php\/2022\/12\/11-held-and-healed\/","url_meta":{"origin":292,"position":2},"title":"11 – Held and Healed","author":"Robert Pender","date":"03\/12\/2022","format":false,"excerpt":"[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=\"7183\" img_size=\"full\" alignment=\"center\"][\/vc_column][vc_column][vc_column_text] Held Well, that has been a bit of a week! Last weekend, I probably did a bit much. It's hard to tell, to be honest. In August I was as fit as a fiddle, now there are a few strings broken. I know I can't do\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Life"","block_context":{"text":"Life","link":"https:\/\/pender.org.uk\/index.php\/category\/life\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":7454,"url":"https:\/\/pender.org.uk\/index.php\/2023\/09\/25-believe-it-or-not\/","url_meta":{"origin":292,"position":3},"title":"25 – Believe it or not","author":"Robert Pender","date":"01\/09\/2023","format":false,"excerpt":"[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=\"7463\" img_size=\"full\" alignment=\"center\" style=\"vc_box_shadow_3d\"][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Believe it or not, it is exactly one year ago today that I contacted the GP surgery with my current condition. Believe it or not, I thought I had an infection. If you read my blog from the start of this series, you will find that\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Life"","block_context":{"text":"Life","link":"https:\/\/pender.org.uk\/index.php\/category\/life\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":7406,"url":"https:\/\/pender.org.uk\/index.php\/2023\/06\/22-questions-questions\/","url_meta":{"origin":292,"position":4},"title":"22 – Questions, Questions","author":"Robert Pender","date":"01\/06\/2023","format":false,"excerpt":"So, did I buy the turbo trainer, or didn't I? Well, the answer to that is easy - it's yes. Yes to both questions!","rel":"","context":"In "Life"","block_context":{"text":"Life","link":"https:\/\/pender.org.uk\/index.php\/category\/life\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":7389,"url":"https:\/\/pender.org.uk\/index.php\/2023\/05\/to-buy-or-not-to-buy\/","url_meta":{"origin":292,"position":5},"title":"21 – To buy or not to buy","author":"Robert Pender","date":"07\/05\/2023","format":false,"excerpt":"[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=\"7390\" img_size=\"large\" alignment=\"center\" style=\"vc_box_shadow_3d\" css_animation=\"slideInLeft\"][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=\"\"]To buy or not to buy, that is the question. But before we get to the answer, it would be a good idea to let you now how I actually got to the question. 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