Reclaiming the Truth
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. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.” Matthew 21.20-21
Redeeming the Time
During Passion Week, Jesus spoke gently and compassionately. He also spoke with great boldness and conviction. In this text, Jesus curses a fig tree. It was the season for this tree to produce fruit, the tree itself looked like it should have produced fruit, the leaves were in good shape, the soil, the structure and other trees in the area were full of figs, but not this one. Jesus speaks about the rejection of the nation of Israel. The religious leaders were only days away from arresting Jesus and finally being finished with Him, or so they thought.
Jesus also uses this opportunity to teach His apprentices about prayer. “If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.” Jesus even uses this tree as an object lesson. He has faith the tree will be cursed, and so it was as He spoke. His point was a little faith can accomplish great feats. Jesus makes a very important point here. He’s not saying we get everything we ask for, rather He is saying when we pray, we are to believe God can do anything we request, and He will do what is consistent with His will and what He has promised to do.
One of the most repeated prayers at Sanctuary has been the prayers of the dad who brought his sick son to Jesus. After a brief interaction with Jesus, the man says, “I believe. Help me with my unbelief.” (Mark 9.24).
Jesus is not calling for us to muster up belief. He’s not saying if we only believed more then He would act. He’s inviting us to believe in greater things. He’s inviting us to believe He can, He will, and His love will prevail.
Do you believe?
Reflection
- How do you resonate with the prayer, “I believe. Help my unbelief?”
- How have you seen your faith grow during this season of Lent?
- Where and when are you most tempted to disbelieve? What brings you to that place? How has God met you there in the past?
Resting in His Redemption
Rest and receive the words of Kathleen O’Meara (1839-1888).
“And the people stayed home. And read books, and listened, and rested, and exercised, and made art, and played games, and grew gardens full of fresh food, and learned new ways of being, and were still. And listened more deeply. Some meditated, some prayed, some danced. Some met their shadows. And the people began to think differently.
And the people healed. And, in the absence of people living in ignorant, dangerous, mindless, and heartless ways, the earth began to heal.
And when the danger passed, and the people joined together again, they grieved their losses, and made new choices, and dreamed new images, and created new ways to live and heal the earth fully, as they themselves had been healed.”
