Holy Week: A Walk Through Jesus' Final DaysSample

Holy Tuesday

Jesus knows He is just days away from His trial and crucifixion. So on His final day of publicly teaching in the temple as a free man, He confronts the religious leaders, preaches the Word of God to the people, and prepares His disciples for what was to come.

On their way to the temple that morning, He and the disciples pass by a familiar fig tree. According to the gospel of Mark, Jesus had cursed this same fig tree the day before for bearing leaves but no fruit. As they pass by this second time, the disciples notice that the tree has withered completely and they were amazed as they remembered what Jesus had said.

This is a unique story we find leading up to Jesus’ crucifixion, but it sets up what Jesus intended to communicate upon His arrival at the temple that day. The unproductive fig tree was not living out what it was intended to do. It was not accomplishing its purpose. Sure it had lots of leaves, but it bore no fruit! This was symbolic of the people of Israel, especially the religious leaders. They appeared righteous and godly on the outside, but on the inside, they were not producing any Godly fruit.

This can be true of us as well. We know that the fruit of the Spirit, according to Galatians 5:22-23, is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. As a Christ follower, these are things that should be flowing from us. The more time we spend with God the more like God we will become. Don’t settle for simply looking the part of a Christian, let’s be people that produce Godly fruit for those around us!

Reflection/Prayer

Jesus informs His disciples when they question Him about the fig tree that the pathway to purposeful living is having faith in God, spending time in prayer to God, and forgiving others the way God has forgiven us. As you assess your life in this season, is it marked by these things? What stands out to you as an area where you are unproductive? Ask God to help you in this area and pray that the fruit of the Spirit will be evident in your life.