
There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 And he answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? 3 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. 4 Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? 5 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” 6 And he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. 7 And he said to the vinedresser, ‘Look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down. Why should it use up the ground?’ 8 And he answered him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure. 9 Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.’”
Luke 13:1-9
Introduction
Many of you know stories where people were miraculously healed from all sorts of conditions and diseases, but what about when that doesn’t happen? Does that mean that those who did not receive healing do not have true faith or enough faith? That is some of the worst theology out there, often called the prosperity gospel, and it has no grounding in the Bible. There are many reasons why this theology is completely wrong. But Jesus makes clear for us one basic reason here in Luke 13:1-9, tragedy and suffering can happen to anyone despite their faith or lack of faith in Him. As tragic as physical death can be, there is something far more tragic, eternal suffering. And unless we realize this, we will be not only be unable to process and deal with suffering and death when we face it here on earth (and we will face it here), but we will also face suffering and death eternally. That is a double misery.
The Lord offers us a far better future for believers of Christ, and yes, sometimes suffering and even death is a part of that future. Sometimes the means by which we suffer could be as a result of the sins of others like the 9/11 terrorist strike against the World Trade Center, or sometimes it could be a tragic accident like the Haiti earthquake. But our God understands suffering because He Himself suffered so that our suffering, when we believe in Jesus, will be merely a light and momentary affliction. That is the good news of grace. So to understand grace through suffering, we must examine tragedy today and life eternal.
Tragedy Today
What does tragedy today look like? Luke records for us an incident in Luke 13:1-5 that describes such tragedy: “There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 And he answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? 3 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. 4 Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? 5 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” Jesus had just given His warnings to those who were listening to prepare for the day when He returns, when judgment will come. Some of the crowd relayed stories to him that was probably in the public conscience of the day, stories that had a feel of judgment, but also led to some theological confusion that had practical ramifications. The first story is a tragedy caused by the sins of others, in this case Pilate. We all know who Pilate was, the man who condemned Jesus to death. Pilate was also often known as a cruel governor and this one instance describes an incident where Pilate massacred some Jews from the north, probably during the Passover since that was the only time animals were sacrificed in Jesus’ day. He had not only murdered these people, but he intentionally profaned the Jewish feast day by mingling their blood with the animal’s blood, thereby blaspheming the God they worshipped. This was just one more scenario of the evil Roman Empire that the Jews detested. And since Jesus was possibly the Messiah who was preaching on judgment and vindication, surely this would be an instance where the Messiah would rise up and incite rebellion against this evil villian. Thus, in this instance, tragedy is a direct result of the sin of others, in this case Pilate.
The second story is about the tower of Siloam. The tower was on the southeast walls of Jerusalem and its collapse was obviously shocking news since 18 people died. Again, this a genuine tragedy. Families were broken because of this incident. But unlike the previous story, this tragedy was a result of an accident and not a result of both sins.
You see, the people had probably assumed that those who suffered and died had probably committed some sin that led to their tragic circumstances. He knew their hearts. That’s why He didn’t even consider the political circumstances. He was not trying to change the world through regime change. Instead, He asked a question in verse 2: “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way?” and in verse 3, “Do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem?” Do you see what He’s saying by asking these questions? He’s addressing their presupposition that tragedy only happens to sinners, to those who are ‘more disobedient’ before God. The flip side of this theology is also probably their presupposition, people of faith prosper in this world. And so Jesus challenges his hearers, did these people suffer in this way because they were worse sinners and offenders than you? He simply wouldn’t have asked these questions if they didn’t believe them. They believe the abominable idea that suffering people have less faith and wealthy and successful people have greater faith. And this has plagued the church not only in Jesus’ day, but it continues today and sadly, it will continue till Christ returns.
For example, the prosperity gospel is growing at breakneck pace in the poorest of places, especially in the continent of Africa. Christianity Today reported on this growth. The story is told of Rev. Felix Omobude in Lagos, Nigeria, one of the poorest areas in the world, who is preaching before 4000 people. He promises women will find husbands, audience members will buy new cars, and the barren will birth twins. He also encourages the crowd to give about $200 in offering. The article reports: “Local schoolteachers earn only $150 per month, so the amount is significant. Yet more than 300 people swarm Omobude, who rubs oil from a bowl on their palms. Within minutes, the church nets a tax-free $60,000.” I’ve seen this firsthand when we were in South Africa. I had an opportunity to preach on a Sunday and I preached about the Gospel of Christ that gave greater grace to the suffering and the need of our humility before a gracious God. One brother in Christ came up to me and told me that they had not heard the gospel preached in that church ever. It was always that if people wanted to be successful and wealthy, they needed to give more offering. And so, it makes sense that HIV-AIDS is just as prevalent in the church as it is outside the church. Sin is hidden, not only for the shame, but also to hide the idea of a sin that is unforgivable and can only lead to ‘bad spiritual luck.’ After all, one’s sins might rub off and make everyone guilty of that sin, and it might also keep one from being prosperous by even caring for such a person. This type of thinking is no different than those Jesus was confronting in Luke 13.
And my friends, lest we think that these Africans and the Jim Bakers of the world are the only ones who follow this false faith, we need to examine our own hearts. It’s easy to trust in Jesus when everything is going well. But faith only during times of plenty and comfort and health is simply not faith at all. Heb 11:1 reminds us: “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Things hoped for and things not seen are usually states of being that are quite difficult for us. Faith is when we don’t see the fruit of our labor, work not recognized, service given to others that is unseen, health taken away and we are still trusting and joyous regardless. It can even be when promises are yet to be fulfilled. It’s praying for healing for a loved one and seeing no healing and still we trust God’s wisdom and goodness and love Him despite any response. The conviction of the unseen is believing God in His character and nature is ultimately sufficient that despite our inability to see fruits, we trust that ALL things work for the good of those who love Him (Rom 8:28). Or as the prophet Habakkuk so beautifully puts it: “Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, 18 yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation.” (Hab 3:17-19) These biblical texts emphasize a common message: Any faith that trusts in God only when circumstances are prosperous is not true biblical, Christ-glorifying faith. Oh but when there is trust and joy and hope when one understands that even death is near, is faith. Most of you know Rachel Barkely, the mother of two who went to be with the Lord after her battle with cancer. I keep going to her website when I think of living hope, joy and faith in the midst of suffering. May I quote to you something she wrote? She writes about her cancer:
I want it to be over. It’s a long long journey and I’m tired. Tired of feeling lousy, tired of needing help, tired of not being able to see the end. I suppose that’s why I’ve been so long to write because I am tired – physically and emotionally – and I don’t want anyone else to see. I know this is the toughest part right now. Slugging through treatment. Waiting. Watching the days tick by. Too slowly and, in some ways – when I think of when the next chemo is – too quickly. These days, the best way I can describe myself is to say I feel “dry.” A strange thing to say but it is the closest to how I feel. But I know this is God’s plan for me. He is sovereign. He is good. And he loves me more than I know. I trust that. Living without knowing that would be so much worse than having to walk through this desert without hope.
I’m reading this book about saints who suffered and one man, William Cowper, wrote a hymn that says it well:
Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust him for his grace;
Behind a frowning providence
He hides a smiling face.
His purposes will ripen fast,
Unfolding every hour;
The bud may have a bitter taste,
But sweet will be the flower.
I love the picture of God smiling. I can’t help but smile back.
Believing that the Christian only prospers materially, that everything works out perfectly when we pray so that people are physically healed, and debts are erased, and money is placed into our bank accounts, is utterly short-sighted and completely bankrupt of what God really promises, eternal joy with Him, our Savior God. We simply won’t know faith, we won’t know our God, and we won’t know joy and grace if all we faced was prosperity. It’s not that we should look for suffering, but since I know that at some point in our lives, because death is a reality, we will all face suffering. So when suffering comes, will you have faith that exhibits joy in the midst of tears, or will you walk as Rachel Barkley so aptly describes, ‘through this desert without hope’?
Do you believe God is very good to you regardless of the circumstances of your life? If you are overlooked at work, even treated poorly and unjustly, is God still gracious to you? Is He good? Do you still love Him? How do you respond when people sin against you? Do you sin back? Do you grow embittered, unforgiving? Are you easily irritated by others, even those closest to you? Do you love your kids only when they’re lovable? Do you respond to your spouse with mercy only when they are showing you kindness and treating you well? When you’re in the middle of an argument, do you pronounce judgment from on high on those you disagree with, or are you able to love and show mercy even when they’ve sinned against you? What about when you’re tired, worn, ill, depressed, irritated, do you fight to see God’s grace and mercy to you a sinner, or do you cave in to your flesh? Oh how difficult it is to love others, to care for others when things have gone wrong. But my friends, that is true biblical, Christ-glorifying faith. Who needs faith when everything is going well? And what about when we’ve been laid off from work, or we believe that we’ll never be married, or we are going through serious physical trials, will we question God’s goodness, live in a huff, be constantly depressed and angered, or will we live in faith? We are all like the African prosperity evangelists, like the Jim Bakers and Jimmy Swaggerts of the world if we live in such a way during trials. We like to believe in Jesus when its comfortable for us and when things are well. And this is exactly what Jesus tackles here in Luke 13, the heart of faithless self-righteousness.
What’s the answer? The answer to this faithlessness is not to pray for more faith. It’s not to give money to the church to prove your faith. It’s not to go on missions and die for Christ. Jesus tells us the answer twice in verse 3 and 5, “Repent!” And really, what he’s telling them to do is to repent of their righteousness. These were probably Jews who tried to live by the law. They looked at the Galileans and those who were crushed by that wall and thought that they were terrible sinners, hence their tragic faith. But they were not worse sinners. In fact, Jesus’ audience was guilty of the sin of faithless self-righteousness. They were used to lists of do’s and don’ts that determined their faith. Their faith was based on these type of questions: “Can I drive a particular car?” “Can I listen to secular music?” “Can I wear certain clothing?” Or these type of affirmations: “I don’t drink, smoke, play cards, watch TV. I went to Bible Study, had my quiet time today, taught at VBS, went on the missions trip, and tithed faithfully, therefore, God will bless me and keep me prosperous and free of trial.” Thus, when faith is based on what we do or don’t do, we become quick to judge others for their lack of ‘faith’ AND we equate our trials to what we did or failed to do. I know of people who quickly equate their illness to not reading enough of the Bible or a car accident as a result of a missed prayer.
We must regularly repent of our desire to live by our own faith and self-righteousness and our lack of mercy and grace who fall to sin just like we do. Bob Kauflin tells about a time where he felt hopeless and so he went through a time of depression. When he confessed this hopelessness to a pastor, to his great surprise, the pastor responded, “I don’t think you’re hopeless enough.” He thought the pastor was joking, but he explained, “If you were completely hopeless, you’d stop trusting in what you think you can do to change the situation and start trusting in what Jesus Christ has already done on the cross for you.” Bob noted, “A light went on,” and every time he felt tempted to feel hopeless and faithless, he would say to himself, “I am a hopeless person, but Jesus Christ died for hopeless people.” (Quoted from Tim Chester, You Can Change, 46) Repentance is regularly seeing your own sin placed on the broad shoulders of Jesus on the cross. And its recognizing that you put Him there and that only by seeing this reality will you come to be free from the power of that sin over you. Only then will you have the faith to actually live beyond what you can either do for God or how you have failed God. Only then will you love God, find Him good, and find Him wise, despite any circumstances in your life. Repentance is God’s kindness. It allows you to live in freedom eternally. But repentance and forgiveness and mercy is not an offer that will last forever. There will be a day when there will be no more time to repent and a failure to repent will have devastating consequences as Paul warns in Romans 2:4-5: “Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? 5 But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.”
Life Eternal
So to understand grace through suffering, we must not only understand tragedy today, but the life we have eternally. And to help us understand life eternal and make sure people realize that God’s offer of repentance is not endless, Jesus tells a story in Luke 13:6-9: “And he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. 7 And he said to the vinedresser, ‘Look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down. Why should it use up the ground?’ 8 And he answered him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure. 9 Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.’”
Biblical Commentator Darrell Bock entitled this parable, “It Is Almost Too Late,” (Darrell Bock, Luke Vol. 2, 1208) because of the urgency that this story conveys. Fig trees produce fruit annually, and are often quite strong. But in the story, the man finds the fig tree he planted produced no fruit. I don’t grow fruit trees but my uncle does and he’s quite proficient at it. One time I visited his house and he was growing all sorts of fruit. But there were some that seemed unfruitful. When I asked him about them, he told me that he was planning on replacing them. After all, who wants a fruit tree that bears no fruit. It’s simply a waste of space and is an eyesore. Also, fruit trees that produced no fruit required resources (water, nutrients) that were precious and should be used on the healthy trees. So, the man’s desire to cut down the tree after three years of growing opportunity is quite understandable. When the man consults with the vinedresser, the vinedresser asks for a second chance for the tree. Perhaps after fertilization and care, the tree will produce fruit. But this second chance will not be indefinite.
So what does the story mean? God is the man who planted and owned the fig tree. The tree represents Israel. And His care over that tree is quite evident. He has given them His Word through the Law and the Prophets. He led them through leaders like the Davidic kings. He has given them the covenant. And now He has sent His only Son to demonstrate through signs, wonders, and teachings that they should and must repent and turn to Christ alone. So, there is no excuse for unbelief. The Israelites should have believed in Christ, but they didn’t.
My friends, Christians, we are no different than the Israelites. We have the Bible. We have the gospel that is revealed to us through Scripture. We have the empowering Holy Spirit who leads us to follow Christ. There should be no reason why we bear no fruit unless we were never saved to begin with. So we should and must bear the fruit of salvation. We must see that because we are saved, we are being renewed and transformed into the likeness of Jesus. We should exhibit the gifts of the Holy Spirit. We should have softened hearts that are regularly self-examining. We should be growing with a view of eternity, remembering that this world is not our eternal home. There should be a desire for to obey Christ and to trust His Word in all circumstances of life.
And the parable is also a reminder to us, that God is an incredibly patient God who recognizes that many of us are in the process of transformation and sanctification. We are not perfect, but we are growing in Christlikeness. Peter tells the church: “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). And the parable tells us that we have a vinedresser who intercedes on our behalf. Hebrews describes Him as “a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people” (Heb 2:17). Jesus’ whole life was a life of intercession and sin-bearing and judgment-bearing and wrath aversion. And so, you must respond today while you still have time. The Lord is patient and has no desire for people to perish, but as the parable makes clear, this time does have an end. Peter adds in the immediate next verse in verse 10: “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.
As you now know, Sammy and Jane Yang had to say goodbye to their son Luther this past week. We have been interceding for them and for Luther for a month now, and to say goodbye to a precious child is perhaps the most painful experience a person can know. And truly, we should mourn with them. But Luther taught me much about God. Looking at that precious child take his last breaths here on earth was another reminder to me that God knows the pain of suffering and death because He Himself also had a son suffer and die. And so, I couldn’t help but think not only of the pain that Sammy and Jane and Luther were going through in those last hours, but also the agony that our God went through to bring Luther home eternally. Luther, you and me, we will all die. The time will come. But it is because of God’s own suffering with His Son that allows all of us to have this living hope. The vinedresser pleads and God hears. But the time for repenting is short. We must not assume that we have more time. I praise God that Sammy and Jane trust in Jesus. If they didn’t, what hope would they have? What hope would you and I have at all when death comes, and it will come. You have a choice, repent and live eternally with the Father or as Jesus says in verse 5: “…unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” Please do not delay. Trust in Jesus as your Savior and Lord today!
Conclusion
I’d like to close with the story of Stephen Saint, Nate Saint’s son. Nate was one of the missionaries alongside Jim Elliot who was killed by the Waodani Indians. One of the men who killed Stephen’s father Nate was Mincaye, who would later come to trust in Jesus when the whole tribe was saved. As an incredible picture of God’s grace, Stephen took Mincaye into his home and his children now call him ‘Grandfather’ because he has become a member of the family.
But that’s not even the story I wanted to share. He and his wife Ginny, after having three boys had a daughter named Stephanie. She eventually grew up (to her father’s disfavor because he wanted her to stay a little girl for the rest of his life), and began to travel around the world for a year to share the gospel with different groups. When the year was over, they met her at the airport to welcome her home, the whole family including Mincaye. They went home to have a welcome home party for her.
A while later, Ginny said, “Steve, Stephanie’s back in her room. Let’s go back and be with her.” So they ditched everyone at the party. Stephanie was in her room because she had a headache and she asked her dad to pray for her. While he was praying, Stephanie had a massive cerebral hemorrhage and so they had to rush her to the hospital.
As they waited for her in the hospital, Mincaye asked Steve, “Who did this to her?” Steve said: “And I saw a look on his face that I’d seen before, and I knew that he’d be willing to kill again to save this granddaughter whom he loved.” I didn’t know what to say, ‘I don’t know, Mincaye. Nobody is doing this.’ And just like that, this savage from the jungles grabbed me again, and said, ‘Babae, don’t you see?’ No I didn’t see. My heart was absolutely tearing apart; I didn’t know what was going on. He said, ‘Babae, Babae, now I see it well. Don’t you see? God himself is doing this. And I thought, what are you saying? Mincaye started reaching out to all the people in the emergency room, saying, ‘People, people, don’t you see? God, loving Star, he’s taking her to live with him. And he said, ‘Look at me, I’m an old man; pretty soon I’m going to die soon too, and I’m going there.’ Then he said, with a pleading look on his face, ‘Please, please won’t you follow God’s trail, too? Coming to God’s place, Star and I will be waiting there to welcome you.’” (John Piper and Justin Taylor, eds., Suffering and the Sovereignty of God, 114-121)
Mincaye’s plea is really Jesus’ plea for the world. Repent and turn from your sins and trust in Him today and you will be welcomed home. And it is not avoidance of suffering and death that leads us to see God’s grace and power. No, it is exactly in our suffering that we begin to realize just how gracious God truly is and why Jesus Himself had to suffer and die. Please do not delay. Turn and trust in Jesus today!