Luke 13:1-9
“Notice what you notice.” Intriguing to me – Jesus says the same exact words twice: No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. (vv. 3, 5) Offhand I cannot recall any other section where Jesus repeats Himself, word for word, one sentence closely following another, in the same incident. Yes, Jesus repeats His basic message of repentance many times on many different occasions. He also repeats details of His forthcoming death, but again on a number of different occasions. But to say the same words in the same setting – I can’t recall any other such incident. But if He says something twice, it must be something we need to hear!
The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree is, I think, a two-fold message, both messages implied and neither fully stated. First there is a call for us to bear fruit, to repent and turn to the Lord. He has waited three years to see fruit on the tree (and in our lives), but He will not wait forever. Don’t let yourself be cut down (like the fig tree) because of your stubbornness or pride – do it now!
Second, I think there is a message on the power of prayer. Clearly the owner has the final say on whether the tree should be cut down, but he has listened to the vinedresser and the vinedresser has put forth a good argument. There is no closing statement that the owner listened to the vinedresser, but in my mind I can see him giving a quiet nod and then walking away. God listens to prayer. The Lord listened to Abraham when he tried to negotiate over the destruction of Sodom (Genesis 18). He also listened to Moses when He was ready to destroy the Israelites over the Golden Calf incident. He granted Hezekiah’s request for a longer life. Finally, Jesus listened to His mother at Cana. Our Lord listens to our prayers!
Slava Bohu!
Fred, Good points! The power of prayer and Christ as our advocate. I was also thinking about the people killed – one group by an accident/catastrophe (I think of the many tsunamis, floods, crashes, etc.), the other by political cruelty (I think of civilians in violent areas, killed by terrorists or school shooters, holocaust, etc.). They didn’t “deserve” their death – Jesus counters any thought that their death meant that they were being targeted for God’s punishment or that they were bigger sinners or that we are better then them. It is a reminder that we ALL need to repent NOW, before whatever befalls us.
Before whatever befalls us – and before that unknown whenever for the whatever!