“Are we there yet?” That question seems to be the most frequently asked question while traveling. We get so consumed with wanting to reach our destination that sometimes we miss the beauty in the journey.

This parable is explained well in the Believers Bible Commentary: “The man who planted a vineyard was God Himself. The vineyard was the place of privilege then occupied by Israel. The hedge was the Law of Moses, which separated Israel from the Gentiles and preserved them as a distinct people for the Lord.

People, as a whole, seem to struggle with the concept of authority. Maybe it’s your boss, or a friendly policeman who has pulled you over for speeding. It is our human tendency to justify why we did what we did.

At the beginning of today’s reading, Jesus’ words and actions seem confusing. But if we look closer, he isn’t just reacting like we would when we are hangry. Jesus walked up to a fig tree, when it was not yet in season, and cursed it because it did not have fruit.

This word lowly means humble, of low position. Jesus says He is humble in heart, even when arriving into the city with such fanfare. It must have felt good to be recognized! To be known for who He was! You and I would have treated it like the red carpet or our entrance to the big game, but Jesus remained humble. His motivation was His love for the Father, His love for us, and not His love for Himself. Whether we find our Savior in these pages serving, facing death, or entering the parade of a king, His heart remains the same. He is in humble submission to the Father.