Excitement brews with the hiring of a new government official that you voted for. He made promises you couldn’t resist and the public coronation into office was delightful. But then comes the job in all its facets. He begins with warnings and/or termination of employment for some. This official brings excitement and promise, but he also brings seriousness to his job—and rightly so.
Monday of Holy Week takes a sharp turn with the pronouncement of judgements. Jesus entered into Jerusalem accompanied with Israeli public celebration, but now He takes issue with Israel. Mark tells us,
12On the following day, when they came from Bethany, he was hungry. 13And seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to see if he could find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. 14And he said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard it.
15And they came to Jerusalem. And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold and those who bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. 16And he would not allow anyone to carry anything through the temple. 17And he was teaching them and saying 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 den of robbers.” (ESV)
Why did Jesus curse a fig tree and flip tables over in the temple area? He did this to communicate a message of judgment about Israel. As the fig tree failed to bear fruit, so did Israel. Although given the promises and grace of God, they failed to respond. As the temple became a distracting impure place, so did Israel. Therefore, Jesus pronounced judgment upon the people of Israel for their failures.
Jesus is the Messiah (Palm Sunday) who has come to save. But He is also the judge who will set things right (Monday). He will save those who believe upon Him as the Messiah and Son of God. But He will judge those who reject Him.
Application: Let us take fruit bearing seriously. Believe upon Jesus and bear fruit. What kind of fruit does Jesus desire to see? Faith and the results of the Spirit (see Galatians 5:22–23).
Prayer: True and just are your judgments Lord Jesus. We are no better than Israel and deserve your judgment. But we praise you for taking our judgments upon yourself. Thank you for your mercy and forgiveness.
1Bookman, Doug. “Holy Week Timeline (Passion Week): Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday,” Feb. 14, 2024. Accesses March 13, 2024. https://www.christianity.com/wiki/holidays/a-time-line-of-the-passion-week.html.
2Strauss, M. L. Mark. Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament Series, edited by C. E. Arnold. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2014.