Beth Lundberg

I can honestly say that I, too, have cursed a fig tree. We got a fig bush a decade ago and I was super excited about fresh figs. I did all the right things- planted it in direct sun, pruned it, watered it. But year after year it would grow but yield 5-10 figs all year- for five years. It was as tall as me and still would not bear the fruit it was supposed to. It was irritating, I wanted fig jam and fig ice cream. Should I start over? Buy a new one? It was so big though and I was lazy. Then on its sixth year that fig tree I cursed started to bloom and from that year on has given us more figs than we can eat.

The tree Jesus cursed withered and died instantly and the disciples asked Jesus “hey how did that wither so fast?” And He replies “Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.” Jesus constantly compares plants, vines, etc. to Israel. Jesus was frustrated that His people were not bearing fruit, like the fig tree, and having faith in Him. Every time the Israelites disobeyed and and turned to other gods, they stopped yielding fruit. We should recognize that God truly desires for us to live authentically, yielding fruit that comes from a heart focused on Him.

My own life can be seen in that fig tree in my yard, there were years of bearing no fruit and not having an authentic faith but I’m reminded that because of this week and what was done on the cross Jesus paid the price and there is nothing I can do to make God love me more, nothing I can do to make God love me less. It is this reason that I strive to live an authentic faithful life serving Him.