Walking with Memories and Mysteries

Thank you for walking with me.  We arise to walk in a new day.

Today the air is filled with nostalgia.  Memories and mysteries seem to swirl around the Master’s head.

“Early in the morning, as He was returning to the city, He was hungry.  Seeing a lone fig tree by the road, He went up to it and found nothing on it except leaves.  And He said to it, “May no fruit ever come from you again!” At once the fig tree withered.”  Matthew 21:18-19

Here they are, it is early mind you, they are rubbing their eyes and putting one foot in front of another on the road from Bethany to Jerusalem.  Scripture says Jesus was hungry.  There is that humanity again.  But, wait, weren’t they staying at Lazarus’ house?  Where is Martha?  It wasn’t like her for someone to leave her house hungry.

Yet, here we are Jesus is hungry and he spots a fig tree.  In other Gospel recordings of this moment it indicates that it was not the season for a fig tree to bear fruit.  Jesus knew this yet he went expecting fruit.  Now, this had to be a moment to ponder for these sleepy-headed disciples.  They were accustomed to Jesus getting what He wanted when He wanted it especially where nature was concerned.  He calmed seas and multiplied loaves of bread and fish on more than one occasion.  Would they be surprised if there were figs growing on a tree out of season if Jesus was there?  Probably not.  Just one more mystery about their Master.  But not today.  Not this day.  This was a teachable moment and Jesus wanted them to wake up and pay attention.

“When the disciples saw it, they were amazed and said, “How did the fig tree wither so quickly?” Matthew 21:20

Really?  Heads muddled from sleep and the Master curses a fig tree for not bearing fruit and the question is, “How did the fig tree wither so quickly?” Sigh.  So, the Master, Rabbi, Teacher, Messiah of the World (even though He has not made that widely known yet) answers THEM.  I sit in amazement, truly.  How often have I asked such an obvious question of Him?  And like the Savior I know Him to be He answers me just as He answered them.

“I assure you: If you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you tell this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ it will be done.” Matthew 21:21

Teachable moment encapsulated in a bombshell.  What? Wait.  You mean if I have faith and not doubt I can kill a tree?  Or throw a mountain in the Sea of Galilee?  What? This is it – dazzling moment with the Master. Pouring life into them even as He takes it from a tree.

Then, there is this.

“And if you believe, you will receive whatever you ask in prayer.” Matthew 21:22 

Mind blown before breakfast.

I bet the rest of the walk to Jerusalem was silent.  They had spiritual food to chew on and the day was just getting started.

This is why I asked you to walk with me.  The spiritual nourishment that we find here on this day is life-altering.  The words Jesus speaks in these verses transforms life.  Your life.  My life.  As a disciple of Christ I want this truth to transform me into a fruit-bearing being.  What does it take?  Faith.  I want to immerse myself in it and wear it like a robe.  Let us walk together in FAITH urging each other to believe in the words Jesus said to His twelve closest friends.  Then, what? We journey on.

There is so much more to this day!  The memories and mysteries of this day range from weeping over Jerusalem to a holy righteous rage at the Temple.  I want to walk here with you.  I want to flesh it all out and sit and weep and glean every bit of knowledge there is!

But, I asked you to walk with me not trek across the Promised Land.  So we shall stop here and begin our walk anew tomorrow.  If you would like to journey on and dialogue via email, Facebook, Instagram or our website please do.

I welcome all the ways we walk together.

If your heart yearns for more then here are the verses for the rest of the story – Walk with Jesus into the Temple (Matthew 21:12-13, Mark 11:15-17 and Luke 19:45-46), sit with Him over Jerusalem (Luke 19:41-44) and listen at His feet as He teaches Truth to those who have ears to hear (Matthew 21:23-7 and Luke 20:1-8).

Grace and peace.  I look forward to where the road leads us tomorrow.

Laura Lea

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