Passion Week in the Holy LandSample

Monday of Passion Week

Sometimes what we expect isn’t what we get. Monday of Passion Week proved that way for Jesus.

After His Triumphal Entry the day before on Palm Sunday, Jesus entered the Temple area in Jerusalem and found the Court of the Gentiles—the area for Gentiles to worship God—filled with markets and moneychangers.

The next day, Jesus returned to Jerusalem via the Mount of Olives, as He did the day before. He saw a fig tree in leaf, which typically indicated that it would have unripe figs to eat. But the tree offered only leaves. No fruit for breakfast. So Jesus cursed the tree. His disciples heard Him.

After that, He and His apostles entered the Temple area. Jesus began to drive out those who were buying and selling in the temple, and He overturned the tables of the money-changers. The book of Mark tells us:

“And He began to say to them, ‘Is it not written, My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations?’ But you have made it a ‘robbers’ den.’” (Mark 11:17)

Mondays are tough for most folks. Was that all it was for Jesus—just a bad morning? Of course not. So, why did Jesus curse the tree for having no fruit on it—and then get so heated in the Temple? The answer was the same for both. Jesus cursed the tree, not in a fit of anger, but in order to represent what He had seen the day before in the Jewish leaders and in the Temple. There was no good fruit present in the leaders of Israel when all indications suggested otherwise. Plenty of leaves, for sure, but nothing of substance.

Only a few days later, Jesus would tell His disciples that He chose them for a particular reason. He said,

“You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain” (John 15:16).

Jesus desires the same for us. He comes to us and wants to find us fruitful, not just leafy. In fact, He said that’s why He chose us—to bear fruit that would remain. The lives of the religious always bear leaves but not always fruit. When Jesus looks at our lives, He wants to find our faith lived out in authenticity. May our lives today offer Jesus more than fig leaves!