“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.” Matthew 21:18-22

There are so many wonderful vineyard, fig tree, food stories and parables in the Gospels. My favorite is a different fig tree parable – one found in the Gospel of Luke, chapter 13, verses 6 – 9. It is a wonderful story that truly defines G-d’s grace.

Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it but did not find any. ⁷ So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’ ⁸ “‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. ⁹ If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’”

We are all fruitless at times, only worthy of being cut down. Yet, G-d’s grace allows us the opportunity to be fed, to receive additional nourishment at his table of Grace and in his Word and in our interactions with others. And then, full of G-d’s Grace, we go forward to feed others. When someone is hungry for the word, or just plain hungry, dare we become barren in our response?  Do we feed people who need to be fed? The good news is that, even if we fail to act in every circumstance, G-d’s Grace still saves us. Therefore, we always have a second chance to live into the joy of that Grace.

Pastor Dave

“When two full years had passed, Pharaoh had a dream: He was standing by the Nile, ² when out of the river there came up seven cows, sleek and fat, and they grazed among the reeds. ³ After them, seven other cows, ugly and gaunt, came up out of the Nile and stood beside those on the riverbank. ⁴ And the cows that were ugly and gaunt ate up the seven sleek, fat cows. Then Pharaoh woke up. ⁵ He fell asleep again and had a second dream: Seven heads of grain, healthy and good, were growing on a single stalk. ⁶ After them, seven other heads of grain sprouted—thin and scorched by the east wind. ⁷ The thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven healthy, full heads. Then Pharaoh woke up; it had been a dream. ⁸ In the morning his mind was troubled, so he sent for all the magicians and wise men of Egypt. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but no one could interpret them for him.”  Genesis 41:1-8

When two whole years had passed…  This is how the Genesis text begins this day, chapter 41, verse 1. For two years Joseph sat in the prison, waiting for something to happen. Joseph had interpreted the dreams of the cupbearer and the baker. He asked the cupbearer to remember him to Pharaoh, but it did not come to pass. And so he waited, and waited, and waited. How often do we feel like Joseph, waiting for something good to happen?  Waiting for a new job opportunity – waiting for a new relationship – waiting for a change, any change at all. We often feel like we are in prison, the prison of  waiting, the prison of doubt and despair.  But, patient waiting bears out the day for Joseph, for his opportunity to serve G-d and to serve the people finally comes to him.

Jesus says, “whoever wishes to be great among you must first be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be your slave.” Joseph learned to be a servant for the Lord, as well as a servant for people. Jesus will fulfill the “Suffering Servant” passages we hear from Isaiah in the cross event. We have models for living the servant life, and for being patient for the Lord. It is not always easy, but being a servant in any capacity is neither alluring, nor is it first on our wish list. But when we consider what Jesus did for you and me, then living the Christ-like life of service for others becomes less of a chore, and more of a challenge.

Pastor Dave