The Tuesday Tree

Tuesday of Holy Week.

Jesus and His disciples are walking into Jerusalem on tuesday morning and pass a fig tree that Jesus cursed the day before (since it had leaves but no fruit). The tree was now completely withered and dead. (Mk11:20-22; Mt.21:20-22) When the disciples marvel at this sight, Jesus answers them, "Truly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, 'Be taken up and thrown into the sea,' it will happen. And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith." (Mt.21:21-22)

I don't pretend to fully understand this, for such is the mystery and wonder of prayer. I only know that when we go to our heavenly Father and ask, our Abba, our Daddy always hears and answers. We may not get the precise answers we are looking or hoping for, but we can trust the heart and hand of our Father who always answers in the ultimately best and most perfect way for our greater good and His greater glory. O Lord, give us more faith to see, to understand, and to pray!

But aside from Jesus' lesson on prayer, I cannot help but think about that tuesday tree. How I love trees, and right now, at the cusp of spring, they are exploding with bounteous leaves and blooms and beauty! Yet here was a fruitless fig tree--a tree made by the Creator for an intended purpose, and it failed to fulfill that purpose. Just three days later, however, a different tree would fulfill it's terrible, wonderful redemptive purpose. For the King of Glory would offer Himself to be crucified on another tree and on that tree hung the hope of all mankind. On that tree justice and mercy kissed at the center of the cross. On that tree my sins, your sins, all sins, were nailed and covered by the blood which flowed freely, graciously, hideously, gloriously. On that tree, death and despair were defeated by love and grace.

Did Jesus think of that crucifixion tree, that salvation tree just three days in His future as He gazed upon the withered fig tree? How could He bear it--the weight of so much anticipated sin and evil and pain and humiliation? Yet He did, as He continued resolutely, faithfully on His way to that awful tree, our tree of hope.

Thank You Lord for that terrible, wonderful tree that spelled Your death, satan's defeat, and our destiny of eternal, abundant life. Help us to pray by faith and with faith, trusting You with the answers ...whatever, however, whenever.

Today, might we truly glimpse the trees You have so bounteously created that are all around us--the trees at every street corner, in every yard, so common, so ordinary--and, Lord, remind us again. With every tree we gaze upon, remind us of the price that was paid on another tree over two thousand years ago. Of the love that kept You on that tree. Of the blood that flowed. Of the forgiveness and grace it bestowed.

Give us grateful, faithful hearts, Lord, to see and believe. To the Savior who gave His life on a tree that we might live, be all the glory.