I like this passage as it comes at the issue of theodicy: God and human suffering in a different way than we often address it. Most notably, Jesus does not ascribe to God the responsibility for evil. Jesus does not say that suffering is a learning experience. Jesus does not compare types of suffering. Jesus does not blame the victims of suffering. Jesus does not see the suffering as divine punishment nor a divine teaching tool.

Notice that we get both natural evil and human evil. Do you approach them differently or the same way in terms of God's involvement?

 

The parable is one of patience. The fig tree was sometimes a symbol for Israel. when do you want to give up on someone or something/ what pushes you to keep on keeping on?