seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
Matthew 21:18 Early in the morning, as Jesus was on his way back to the city, he was hungry. 19 Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then he said to it, “May you never bear fruit again!” Immediately the tree withered.
20 When the disciples saw this, they were amazed. “How did the fig tree wither so quickly?” they asked.
21 Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done. 22 If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”
Did Jesus wither that tree or did the tree wither itself? Did the tree listen to Jesus and wither in response? A tree doesn't have ears to hear, but Jesus is the Son of God, so there are exceptions, right? Or was withering the tree a method of making it never bear fruit again? Is winning the lottery harder than moving a mountain? I really believed I would win a couple of times. I really believed Jesus was going to let me have the money so I could help the widows, orphans, and homeless.
I've questioned my ability to believe, after reading these verses over and over and over again over the years. This morning it hit me.... why would I doubt the quality of my believing because I have not won the lottery or moved a mountain [let alone that pothole that kept getting in my path].
Jesus had bigger faith because He has been in Heaven.... He knows.... He's had firsthand knowledge. It's easier to solve a math problem once you have seen it solved. It's much easier to put a puzzle together when we see the box. It's much easier to craft a crocheted puppy when we've seen the pattern. I aspire to that! I aspire to say "Oh, I see!"
Now I have new questions. Now that I can stop hating myself for not believing... I can ask other questions. Do emotions get in the way? It doesn't say Jesus was Hangry.... it says He was hungry. It doesn't say Jesus was angry at the tree. It says He was hungry. It seems to say Jesus was disappointed with the tree. What could a tree do?????
This is after John the Baptist was beheaded. This is after Moses and Elijah came to visit. This is after Jesus tore up the temple. Jesus is responding to earthly matters.
I think Jesus was getting tired of dealing with ignorant self-centered clueless humans.
Was Jesus Hangry?
