February 6, 2020

A Tower and a Fig Tree: The Master Teacher Takes Us to School 

Luke 13:1–21

Brent Buemi
Thursday's Devo

February 6, 2020

Thursday's Devo

February 6, 2020

Central Truth

Things happen in this world that are not good things because we live in a world that is not yet His Kingdom. But there is a righteous Judge, and He is coming. He will recompense men according to their deeds, and it is going to happen suddenly. Get ready!

Key Verse | Luke 13:5

"No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish."

Luke 13:1–21

Repent or Perish

There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And he answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. 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? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”

The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree

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. 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?’ And he answered him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure. Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.’”

A Woman with a Disabling Spirit

10 Now he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. 11 And behold, there was a woman who had had a disabling spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not fully straighten herself. 12 When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said to her, “Woman, you are freed from your disability.” 13 And he laid his hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and she glorified God. 14 But the ruler of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, said to the people, “There are six days in which work ought to be done. Come on those days and be healed, and not on the Sabbath day.” 15 Then the Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the manger and lead it away to water it? 16 And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day?” 17 As he said these things, all his adversaries were put to shame, and all the people rejoiced at all the glorious things that were done by him.

The Mustard Seed and the Leaven

18 He said therefore, “What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it? 19 It is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his garden, and it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches.”

20 And again he said, “To what shall I compare the kingdom of God? 21 It is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, until it was all leavened.”

Dive Deeper | Luke 13:1–21

As I write this entry, it was just two months ago that a gunman shot and killed 22 people at an El Paso Walmart. And a month later, Hurricane Dorian struck the Bahamas and claimed at least 60 lives. If God is good, how do we make sense of these horrific tragedies? What would God say about this?

Tragedies like this are not unique to our day. When Jesus, who was "God in a bod" (Colossians 1:15), walked the earth, there was a random, senseless mass murder at the temple where the Jews offered their sacrifices and another horrible tragedy that claimed many innocent lives. 

Jesus was approached here in Luke 13 about this, but they weren't humbly seeking answers from God, they were actually trying to create problems for Him. Their goal was to get Jesus to look like He was either a pro-Roman oppressor or a defender of the Jews who said what Pilate did was wrong so Rome would get rid of Jesus. But when you try to match wits with omniscient deity, it doesn't go well for you.

Jesus responded how He often responded—by asking a question. Then He states a sobering truth and good reminder for us: if you don't deal with your sin, which separates you from God, you will perish like those individuals. Jesus is saying here that you have to be ready. Because you don't know when your time is going to come, for everyone is going to die one day and then will face judgment (spoiler alert: before Jesus! Hebrews 9:27), and most likely you're going to die without warning or time to prepare yourself (Matthew 24:42-44).

And to illustrate His point, He then tells a parable about a fig tree that shows God is patient and there is often a second chance, but there also will be a last chance. So why does God not completely deal with all evil? Because He gives us the chance to shine a light first and bear fruit. Then He will come and finish the job. But right now, we have work to do.

Discussion Questions

1. Are you reconciled to God through an abiding faith in Jesus? (Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 10:9-10; John 5:24) If not, and you don't know how start a relationship with Jesus, use the link below and check that box under "contact me." Don't delay, for now is the day of salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2, NIV)!

https://watermark.formstack.com/forms/first_impressions

2. If you are reconciled to God, how are you doing in the call of bearing fruit in keeping with repentance (Luke 3:8-9)? If you are needing some opportunities to better live that out, here is a fruitful link for you:

https://www.watermark.org/ministries

3. If God is truly good and sovereign, then why doesn't He stop all tragedies? You will most likely have to answer that question one day from someone. Here is a short video that helps equip you to answer that question biblically:

http://realtruthrealquick.com/mass-shootings-terrorists-god/

4. Are there any other great questions that you have that you wish could be answered? If so, come hang out at Watermark on Monday nights for Great Questions. It is a safe place for those whose questions or doubts are keeping them from a relationship with God. It's a great place to inquire and ask the tough questions.

https://www.watermark.org/dallas/ministries/great-questions