3/31/2020 – The Parable of the Budding Fig Tree

Passage: Luke 21:29-33

Written By: Emma Menio – Grad Student

Sometimes I wonder what it would be like to have been taught by Jesus. His directions were simple: love God and love your neighbor. That is a daily challenge, but I can grasp the concept and try to implement it. But then he would say puzzling things, talking in cryptic parables and prophetic words.

Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. Matthew 24:35

This parable comes during Jesus’ teaching at the Temple in Jerusalem. He is describing how when the fig tree buds, you will witness this as a sign and expect a change in season. The change in season is the coming of the Kingdom of God, which ultimately will overthrow all human establishments, but not without great suffering. The generation that Jesus taught would experience extreme persecution and even witness the destruction of the Temple by the Romans in 70 AD.

In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.

John 16:33

We open this Lenten season with: “from dust you came, and to dust you shall return”. Our temples, our achievements, even our bodies will all eventually face destruction and decay. What, then, can we build our lives on? The Word. God’s word, Jesus’ words—they are eternal and a firm foundation on which we can build. Jesus Christ has overcome this world, and that is an eternal conquering.

As modern people, we are fortunately able to access Jesus’ message in all types of bibles, online and in print and in all different languages. Our challenge is to find time in our busy lives to devote to study. It is so worth it!

If you are reading this, you have already taken the step to spend some time in the Word. Great work! I invite you today to pray for a renewal of your heart to cherish scripture, knowing that it is lasting, good, true, and dependable.

The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.

Isaiah 4:8