It's a confusing story, dark, even. Jesus takes a look at a fig tree, finds it to be unsatisfying, and curses it, after which it withers and dies.
Is it the story of a capricious and arbitrary God-man smiting something that doesn't go His way? Or can we read it in its context as a story in Holy Week that deepens our understanding of Who Jesus is, what He comes to do, and how He is going to accomplish it?
Joseph references some scripture, so here's as much as he can recall:
Matthew 21:18-22--Jesus curses the fig tree
Mark 11:12-14--Jesus curses the fig tree
Psalm 1--A blessed man is like a tree by a stream
Ezekiel 47:8-12--A blessed tree is planted by the stream coming from the Temple of Ezekiel's vision
Hosea 6:6--God desiring mercy, not sacrifice
John 4:32+34--Jesus' food is the will of the Father
John 4:6-7--So technically Jesus doesn't say He's thirsty, but He does ask for a drink here from the Samaritan woman
John 19:28--Jesus thirsts
Matthew 4:2--Jesus fasted and was hungry
John 19:34--Blood and water flow from Jesus' side
And here's a link to a random blog that has a lot of pictures showing the Kidron valley, the Temple Mount, and the Mount of Olives: https://collecting-maps.blogspot.com/2015/12/kidron-valley-mount-of-olives-map.html
As always,
