Today Christians around the world celebrate Holy Tuesday in the lead up to Easter. It is often also referred to as Fig Tuesday, referring to the gospel accounts of when Jesus cursed the fig tree. Mark’s narrative reads:
12 On the following day, when they came from Bethany, [Jesus] was hungry. 13 And seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to see if he could find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. 14 And he said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard it.
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20 As they passed by [the next] morning, they saw the fig tree withered away to its roots. 21 And Peter remembered and said to him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree that you cursed has withered.” 22 And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God. 23 Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. 24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received[b] it, and it will be yours.”
What do you make of this story and the lesson Jesus draws from it? Is it compelling, or just confusing? And, why do you think it has been so important to Christians for nearly 2,000 years? Give it some thought…
And have a wonderful day.
