Beginning Of A Crucial Day

WHEN Jesus leaves Jerusalem on Monday evening, he returns to Bethany on the eastern slope of the Mount of Olives. Two days of his final ministry in Jerusalem have been completed. Jesus no doubt again spends the night at his friend Lazarus. Since arriving from Jericho on Friday, this is the fourth night he has spent in Bethany.

Now early Tuesday morning, Nisan 11, he and his disciples are on the road again. This proves to be a crucial day of Jesus' ministry, the busiest thus far. It is the last day he appears in the temple. And it is the last day of his public ministry before his trial and execution.

Jesus and his disciples take the same route over Mount of Olives toward Jerusalem. Along that road from Bethany, Peter notices the tree Jesus cursed the previous morning. "Rabbi, see!" He exclaims, "the fig tree that you cursed has withered up."

But why did Jesus kill the tree? He indicates why when he goes on to say: "Truly I say to you, if only you have faith and do not doubt, not only will you do what I did to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain [the Mount of Olives on which they are standing]. 'Be lifted up and cast into the sea,' it will happen. and all the things you ask in prayer, having faith, you will receive.

So by causing the tree to wither, Jesus is providing for his disciples an object lesson on their need to have faith in God. As he states: "All the things you pray and ask for have faith that you have practically received, and you will have them." What an important lesson for them to learn, especially in vies of the awesome tests that are soon to come! Yet, there is another connection between the withering of the fig tree and the quality of faith.

Next time: Conclusion of Beginning Of A Crucial Day

The Greatest Man Who Ever Lived, 1991