April 14, 2025

Good Evening Allen Temple Family and Friends,

The journey to the Cross continues. After the events of Palm Sunday, Jesus spent the night in Bethany. With sunrise, he left the hometown of close friends Mary, Martha, and Lazarus and headed back to the Temple. According to the 21st chapter of Matthew, Jesus grew hungry and noticed a fig tree by the side of the road. He went over to it looking for figs but the text says, he found nothing except leaves. Jesus curses the tree and it immediately withers.

Scholars continue to debate and offer commentary about why Jesus cursed the fig tree. But for some reason, the phrase that sits with me this Holy Monday is simply Nothing Except Leaves. Resisting the urge to exegete, I can only imagine the frustration and disappointment of his unmet expectations. This seems to be the sentiment of the season. For the Pharisees and even the disciples, Jesus did not meet the expectations of a their desired Messiah. For many of them, he was the fig tree falling short of their ideal. It caused me to reflect on how to handle unmet expectations.

For so many, election outcomes, executive orders, and constant campaigns of chaos has created a sense of global anxiety and instability. Even in our own personal lives, there are times when we seek but find nothing except leaves. Life is full of false advertisements and trees with leaves but no fruit. It's during these times that the temptation to disconnect, detour, and despair seems most appealing. But Holy Monday is both reflective and instructive. Jesus goes on to remind the disciples that in a world full of deception and hypocrisy, the power of faith and prayer remains true!

Jesus answered them, “I can guarantee this truth: If you have faith and do not doubt, you will be able to do what I did to the fig tree. You could also say to this mountain, ‘Be uprooted and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. Have faith that you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.” Matthew 21.21-22 GW

It's Monday! Don't let the Fig Tree Fool You...there's more to Life than Leaves!

Blessings to you!

Dr. Jacqueline A. Thompson
Senior Pastor