![]() Introduction: Today is Palm Sunday, and thus begins “Holy Week.” Today, we will look at Jesus’ triumphal entry, more commonly known as Palm Sunday, found in the Gospel of Matthew, and at Jesus’ unusual encounter with a fig tree. The triumphal entry is one of a few occurrences recorded in all four Gospels. While all four are similar in subject, there are some differences in how the accounts are re-told. I would encourage you to read them all this week and see how they differ. Matthew 21:1 - 3 Jesus was preparing for his royal entry, and this first Palm Sunday was the first time he publicly accepted praise and worship as the Messiah. Jesus and his Disciples went to Bethphage, approximately 2 miles east of Jerusalem, to the Mount of Olives. A great crowd of people followed him and listened to his teachings. The crowd most likely consisted of people who pilgrimaged to Jerusalem for Passover. This pilgrimage was an annual event and the most important feast day. Historian Josephus wrote that there was one Passover where over two million people came to Jerusalem. We are unsure if that was normal, but this holy day had the potential for a large gathering of people in Jerusalem. As Jesus and his disciples drew near the Mount of Olives, he sent two disciples to the town to borrow a donkey colt. According to the Gospels of Mark and Luke, the donkey should have never been ridden, so it was pure and undefiled. Matthew and John tell us this occurred to fulfill the words penned by the prophet Zechariah. Zechariah 9:9 - 10 This verse is a prophecy about the coming King of Zion or, more specifically, the coming Messiah. In this prophecy, the people of Israel were told to rejoice and shout because the King was coming soon. They are to rejoice because He is a righteous King and will bring redemption and salvation. He will be a gentle, humble, and victorious king, and this will be evident by his riding on a colt’s donkey. Jesus tells the disciples that when the owners ask what they are doing, tell him, “The Lord needs it.” They do as he says. Matthew 21:9 Jesus rides into Jerusalem, and the people begin shouting and rejoicing, saying, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!” Hosanna – Greek transliteration is “Save us!” It’s an exclamation of exaltation and praise, implying rulership and a king. Again, this is the first time Jesus receives praise from the people. But let’s go a few verses down and observe an unusual moment between Jesus and a fig tree and its significance. Matthew 21:18 - 20 Jesus seems to be doing something that looks a little out of his character. The one who has taught about loving God, loving others, mercy, forgiveness, and compassion is seen here cursing a fig tree that is not producing figs when, in fact, it wasn’t even fig season. Now, before we go and claim Jesus is a big bully to this poor tree, we need to look at the context and symbolism of what is happening. The first thing we should note is this fig tree did not bear any fruit, but it did have leaves. Figs are a fall fruit, and this account happens in the springtime; however, it is not entirely uncommon for a fig tree to sprout a fruit that is unripe yet edible during the springtime. Fig trees typically bear the fruit first, and then the leaves follow. So, this tree gave a false impression that even though there was unripened fruit, the tree was still barren. The fig tree, typically when referred to by the prophets of the O.T., is often symbolic of the nation of Israel or the Temple. Jesus cursed the tree because it appeared healthy and free and produced edible fruit, but the tree only had leaves. This is where Israel and the Temple come into play. Jesus is making a statement or prophecy of the impending destruction of the Temple, which occurred in 70 A.D. The Temple had become the national symbol of the nation of Israel. The Temple had become its political, economic, and religious epicenter. This Temple had become Israel’s identity. Recall that the original command from God was for Israel to be God’s representative to the nations, and the Temple, which was in Jerusalem, was intended to be a place of sacrifice and prayer for all nations. It was to be a place to bring people together. Through the Temple, the Israelites would bear the fruit of bringing the nations together with God. Instead, it became a place that symbolized God’s exclusion from the rest of the world. There were warnings against Gentiles coming into the inner temple courts. They were only permitted to congregate in the outer courts. The Israelites were using God (in a sense) to proclaim they were better than everyone else since they were God’s chosen people and, in turn, gave the appearance that the God of Israel was exclusive only to the Jews. Ultimately, the Temple had become a barren and unfruitful object. Professor Dr. David Garland writes, “Time can run out for fruitless trees and prayerless temples.” So, as we can see, the root of the problem was not the poor tree that Jesus cursed. It is the judgment that Israel will face because of misrepresenting God. Thus, Jesus’ words, “May you never bear fruit again,” have a new meaning. It is commonly believed that Jesus proclaimed the Temple was no longer a necessary means to meet with God. The time of the Temple was over. So, as we can see in these two events, Jesus accepts praise as the Messiah, thus showing that he has authority, and the fig tree is a stern warning of the things that are about to come. The Temple had become a national symbol that symbolized Israel’s separation from the nations instead of bringing them together. The coming judgment was necessary because if He was the God to all people and this place was initially intended to be a house of prayer for all nations, then the walls would come crashing down. What the Fig Tree Can Teach Us I can’t help as I read this account and ask the question, “Has the Church become like the Israelites and our buildings like the Temple? Have our worship centers become places where we worship and hide ourselves from outsiders? Has the “Church structure” become one that does not leave its doors open for everyone? Have Christians become like the Jews and think we are the chosen people and God has no room for outsiders in our midst? These are questions I ask regularly. I get so angry when I find that so many in the body of Christ are quick not to welcome the outsider. We tend to view individuals who may not have their lives all together, and we may look down on them and refuse to accept them in our midst because they are different. We won’t welcome them until they conform to our ways. Or maybe, Lord forbid, some of us have written individuals off as too far gone and unable to be rescued, saved, or worthy of investing our time. I pray that this church here in Bradenton will never become like this. May we never become a fruitless tree? May we never give the impression that we have Christ our Lord, Savior, and King in our midst, but we have nothing. I pray we will never close the door to those seeking Christ, no matter how different they may seem to us. May we be a fruit-bearing tree? A healthy tree that blossoms into the tree that produces the fruit of life in Christ. May we be a tree that nourishes the hungry, a hospital to the sick, and one who introduces the lonely, downtrodden, addicted, and self-absorbed lover of sin to God's extraordinary grace, mercy, and forgiveness through Jesus Christ, Our Lord, and Savior? May this building, this shell of wood and concrete, be a symbol to our community and neighborhood that God is with us, and may it never become a symbol or barrier between the saved and the sinner. May we be a fruitful fig tree not for our glory but for God’s glory! May we be a house of prayer entirely and utterly dependent on the grace of God and the power of the Holy Spirit! Conclusion As we reflect on the events of Palm Sunday and Jesus' encounter with the fig tree, we are confronted with profound truths about our faith and our role as followers of Christ. Just as Jesus accepted praise as the Messiah amidst the shouts of "Hosanna," we are called to acknowledge His authority in our lives and to welcome Him as the true King. Yet, we must also heed the warning presented by the fig tree, recognizing the danger of appearing fruitful while lacking actual spiritual substance. Unlike the Temple of old, let us guard against becoming exclusive and inward-focused, instead embracing the call to be a community that welcomes all who seek Christ, regardless of their background or circumstance. Let us strive to be like the fruitful fig tree, bearing the life-giving fruit of God's love, grace, and mercy for all to see. May our lives and church be a testament to Christ's inclusive and transformative power, drawing others into His abundant grace.
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Jeff has been in full-time ministry for thirty years. He currently serves as Executive Director at Anchor House Ministry at SeaPort Manatee in Palmetto, FL and he is a part-time Campus Pastor at West Bradenton Southside in Bradenton, Florida.
Jeff Has authored A Lent Devotional (A Spiritual Journey to Lent) an Advent Devotional (The Advent of Jesus) and a devotional on the book of James (James: Where Faith and Life Meet). All three are available on Amazon. He is married to Carrie and they have four children, Micaiah, Gabe, Simon, and Berea. Preview or purchase Jeff's Books
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