Thoughts for the Day

Then Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple; and when he had looked around at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve. On the following day, when they came from Bethany, he was hungry. Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to see whether perhaps he would find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. He said to it, ‘May no one ever eat fruit from you again.’ And his disciples heard it.

(Readings this week reflect the order of events that happened during Holy Week, and are based on the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible)

Thoughts

In a furniture shop waiting to be served I watched a small boy pick up an apple from a bowl, only to discover that it was made of plastic. It looked so real, and his face was an absolute picture when he realised it wasn't an apple he could eat.

Our reading today always shocks me. The week before Passover Jesus has made his base in Bethany just outside Jerusalem, and each day he and the disciples walk to the Temple. One morning he sees a fig tree in full leaf, holding the promise of some early ripe figs, but it has none and he curses it. The image of the fig tree is often used for the nation of Israel, and this parable indicates how much promise it has initially shown. But Israel, like the fig tree, has failed to produce fruit. God called them to be His people again and again, but they chose to go their own way. This fruitlessness leads to judgement, and the parable may well have been remembered when Jerusalem was destroyed in AD 70 by the Romans.

However, Jesus the Messiah came to bring help. Through prayer and the power of the Holy Spirit, God's people (which includes us), can be saved and encouraged to grow spiritual fruit - that is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5.22-23). The question is, do we (or our family or church), appear perfect from the outside, with bright, fresh leaves, but produce no spiritual fruit? Time for prayer perhaps!

Lord Jesus Christ,
You offer us love and the possibility of forgiveness,
when we acknowledge our faults,
and with the help of the Holy Spirit
You encourage us to change.
Give us the faith to seriously consider our life
this Holy Week and to be honest with You,
that we may continue to grow good fruit.
Amen.