There will be Judgement

A beautiful garden in eSwatini.

Scripture:

Luke 13:1   At that very time there were some present who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. ² He asked them, “Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were worse sinners than all other Galileans? ³ No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as they did. ⁴ Or those eighteen who were killed when the tower of Siloam fell on them—do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others living in Jerusalem? ⁵ No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish just as they did.”

Luke 13:6   Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and found none. ⁷ So he said to the gardener, ‘See here! For three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and still I find none. Cut it down! Why should it be wasting the soil?’ ⁸ He replied, ‘Sir, let it alone for one more year, until I dig around it and put manure on it. ⁹ If it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.’”

Observation:

While Jesus was gathered with the crowd, they mentioned to him some news from Jerusalem. It’s believed that the incident regarding Pilate may have occurred at the time fo John the Baptist’s beheading. Then, there is the story about a tower that has fallen by the pool of Siloam, killing eighteen. The people were wondering whether this was judgement from God and whether these individuals had been sinners. Jesus knew that there would be incidents perpetrated by evil people and there would also be accidents. The victims of these events were not the ones who were responsible. These people were no worse than any other individuals who lived in Jerusalem. The requirement for repentance was for all, and no one would be saved from God’s judgement, unless they repented. 

The parable served to illustrate what Jesus had just said. Jesus, himself, may have been the the one who had been growing the fig tree for three years — as his ministry was now going to take him to Jerusalem and his death. For there to be a harvest, there would need to be repentance. The people had not been paying attention to what was required from them, instead placing blame in all the wrong places. The man caring for the fig tree begged for one more year. The tree would be given one last chance to repent. Would the people repent if they witnessed the death and resurrection of Jesus? If not, they would have to face judgement. 

Application:

Repentance and judgement are topics that we would prefer to avoid. It sounds like the people were avoiding them in the first century as well. It was easier to think about God raining down punishment on people to whom bad things have happened. Jesus refused to go there — and instead focused on each person’s responsibility and culpability in sin. 

Each one of us has sinned and needs to repent and turn from our wicked ways. Jesus was getting tired of peaching this news with little response. Repenting is not an easy thing to do, especially when the world is telling us that there is no sin and we can each make our own decisions regarding right and wrong. When that concept is embraced, then there is no need for repentance. The idea of sin and repentance actually becomes repulsive. Therefore, people have to explain away bad experiences as some kind of natural punishment for something hidden in peoples’ lives. 

The good news is that God is patient and will keep working through prevenient grace to till the soil of our lives. Eventually, however, we will need to respond!

Prayer:

Lord, may I be sensitive to the places of my life where you challenge me. Amen.