Today on our journey through Holy Week, we arrive at Holy Tuesday—a day filled with powerful lessons from Jesus that still encourage and challenge our hearts today.
In Matthew 21:18–22, Jesus shares a surprising object lesson using a fig tree. At first glance, it might seem confusing, but Jesus was teaching something so important: faith in Him isn’t just something we say—it’s something that changes us from the inside out.
This hands-on devotional and craft activity is a beautiful way to help children understand that while we are saved by believing in Jesus, our lives begin to grow spiritual fruit as we walk with Him. Whether you’re a homeschooling parent, a Sunday school teacher, or a family looking to grow in truth and love this Easter season, this Holy Tuesday lesson will bring your Bible time to life!
Bible Story & Reflection
Scripture: Matthew 21:18-22
“Now in the morning as he returned into the city, he hungered. 19And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away. 20And when the disciples saw it, they marvelled, saying, How soon is the fig tree withered away! 21Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done. 22And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.’”
What Happened on Holy Tuesday?
What Happened on Holy Tuesday?
On this day, Jesus taught many lessons about the heart of faith. One of the most striking moments was when He cursed a fig tree.
This wasn’t just about a tree—it was a picture. The fig tree had lots of leaves and looked alive and healthy, but it had no fruit. In the same way, there were people—especially some religious leaders—who looked very spiritual on the outside, but their hearts were far from God.
Jesus used this moment to teach His disciples (and us!) that God cares about what’s really going on inside us. He desires hearts that love Him, trust Him, and seek to live out His ways—not just people who look religious but don’t really know or follow Him.
But there’s more! Right after that, Jesus told His disciples that if they have real faith—faith that truly trusts Him—they will see God’s power in amazing ways. So this story reminds us to keep our hearts close to Jesus, trusting Him sincerely, not just going through the motions.
Discussion Questions
- Why did Jesus curse the fig tree? It had leaves but no fruit! Jesus used this as a symbol to show that faith should be real—not just for show.
- What does it mean to “bear good fruit” in our lives? It means that when we truly love and follow Jesus, it shows in how we live—through kindness, honesty, love, and faith.
- What did Jesus say about faith? That even small faith can lead to powerful things when our trust is in God.
Closing Prayer
“Dear Jesus, thank You for showing us the importance of having real faith—not just on the outside, but deep in our hearts. Please help us to trust You more every day and live in a way that shows Your love. Grow good fruit in our lives as we follow You. Amen.”
Craft Activities
1. Faith-Filled Fig Tree Craft
Supplies:
- Brown and green construction paper
- Glue
- Markers
- Fruit shapes
Instructions:
- Cut out a tree trunk from brown paper and leaves from green paper.
- Glue the tree onto a larger sheet of paper.
- Write “Faith Bears Fruit” at the top.
- Use stickers or draw fruit to represent good actions (kindness, patience, faith, love).
(Variation: Write a “good fruit” (kind action) on a paper fruit and add it to the tree.)
The Big Lesson: When we have real faith in Jesus, it shows in our lives—just like a good tree shows fruit.
2. Withered Fig Tree Craft
Supplies:
- 2 sheets of brown paper
- 1 sheet of green paper
- A small piece of cardboard or thick paper
- Glue and/or tape
- Scissors
Instructions:
- Create the Tree Trunk: Take one sheet of brown paper and roll it into a loose tube. Twist the middle to form a sturdy trunk, leaving both ends untwisted—one for the base and the other for branches.
- Secure the Base: Flatten one end of the trunk and glue or tape it to a piece of cardboard or thick paper. This will help the tree stand upright.
- Make the Branches: At the top of the tree trunk, separate the loose end into three sections to form branches. If you’d like fuller branches, cut extra strips of brown paper and glue or tape them onto the top.
- Prepare the Leaves: Cut leaf shapes from the green paper. At the tip of each branch, cut a small slit so you can slide a leaf into place.
- Assemble the Tree: Insert the leaves into the slits on the branches so the tree looks full and healthy.
- Make the Tree Wither: As you read the scripture, gently shake the tree so the leaves fall off, illustrating how the fig tree withered instantly.
The Big Lesson: God wants us to live out our faith—not just look good on the outside, but grow good fruit in our hearts.
3. Faith Can Move Mountains Craft
Supplies:
- Light blue construction paper (background – sky)
- Darker blue construction paper (sea cover)
- Green construction paper (land)
- Brown or gray construction paper (mountain)
- Scissors
- Glue or tape
- Stapler
- Paper strip for pull tab
Instructions:
1. Prepare the Background:
- Use light blue construction paper as the base (this represents the sky).
- Glue a strip of green at the bottom to represent land.
- Cut a separate strip of paper to use as a pull tab.
2. Create the Disappearing Effect:
- On the right side of the background, staple or glue a darker blue piece of paper (representing the sea) along the top and bottom edges only—leave the middle open to form a sleeve.
- This will allow the mountain to slide behind it when pulled.
3. Make the Mountain:
- Cut out a brown or gray mountain from construction paper, making sure it fits inside the blue sea sleeve when moved.
4. Assemble the Moving Effect:
- Attach the left side of the mountain to a pull tab using glue or tape.
- Slide the pull tab and mountain behind the blue sea sleeve.
- Secure the right side of the sea with staples or glue, leaving space for the pull tab to slide—but stopping the mountain from sliding all the way out.
5. Finishing Touches:
- Write “Be lifted up and thrown into the sea” somewhere on your craft to highlight the key verse.
- Use markers or crayons to draw waves on the sea to make it look more realistic.
- Add any extra details—like clouds in the sky or small fish in the water!
The Big Lesson: Even a small amount of faith can move big obstacles, because nothing is impossible with God.
What’s Next?
Tomorrow is Spy Wednesday! This is when Judas betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. Get ready for another powerful lesson on our Easter Journey to the Cross!
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Let’s keep planting seeds of truth and love in our children’s hearts.
God bless you always,
Amy 🌿
