Holy Tuesday: The Unfaithfulness of the Israelites

In Jesus’ time, the state of Israel and her people were abysmal. Israel was occupied by Rome, Jewish Zealots were thirsting for war, and the Pharisees were adulterated with corruption. So shortly after Jesus’ triumphant entrance into Jerusalem, He wastes no time in addressing these issues in memorable and remarkable fashion. 

On the morning of Holy Tuesday, Jesus passed by a fig tree, and as He went to inspect the tree for fruit he quickly realized that it had no fruit to bear. After this realization Jesus said, “May no fruit ever come from you again!” (Matthew 21:19) and the tree quickly withered and died.

Although Jesus was hungry, He did not kill the tree out of a fit of rage, rather he killed the tree to demonstrate a lesson to His disciples. In the earlier stages of Jesus’ ministry, he taught His disciples that you can recognize false prophets “by their fruits” (Matthew 7:16) and that a “healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit” (Matthew 7:18). From what we know, and what Jesus teaches us, the fig tree is symbolic of the people of Israel and how they have turned against their covenant with God. The tree is full of leaves but no actual fruit, showing how the religion and people have been filled with hypocrisy. 

As Christians, we are called to bear good fruits, because as James says “faith without works is dead” (James 2:26). So the question is: what is the line between genuine good works, and the empty works of the Pharisees, or the “whitewashed tombs” (Matthew 23:27)? The answer to such a complicated question is quite simple: “Love the Lord, all you his saints! The Lord preserves the faithful but abundantly repays the one who acts in pride” (Psalm 31:23).  If we do our acts out of love for the Lord, and not out of our own pride then we know that we are bearing good fruit. 

So on this Holy Tuesday, remember to love the Lord and work for Him. He has a plan and purpose for us, and He loved us so much that He sacrificed His only Son for us. It’s not a chore to act and work on behalf of the Lord; rather, it is a privilege that we as Christians need to cherish. So go out into the world, make disciples, and work joyfully for the Lord!

The Sick Rose by William Blake

O Rose, thou art sick!

The invisible worm

That flies in the night,

In the howling storm,

Has found out thy bed

Of crimson joy:

And his dark secret love

Does thy life destroy.

Much as Gomer's unfaithful relationship with Hosea is reflective of the rebellious and unfaithful nature of Israel, this short poem about an affair describes the effects it has on all involved. Jesus challenges the heart of Israel to turn from its sinful ways and bear the fruit that they were called to bear, as they have replaced God with a desire to be perfect.

MUSIC

Israel in Egypt: The sons of Israel do mourn, by George Frideric Handel 



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