Luke 13:1-9. Turn back to God!! 27/2/11
1 Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. 2 Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? 3 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. 4 Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.” 6 Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it but did not find any. 7 So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil? 8 “‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. 9 If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’”
Again this last week we have had another tragic disaster occur in our near vicinity. As a result many people are beginning to wonder what is going on. There has been so many major and exceptional events happen in a short space of time and in our near proximity; and so we are left wondering. And so we should! These things are allowed to happen for a purpose; and we would do well to ponder over this for some time. It certainly unsettles us in our thinking; and leaves us saddened for the people going through these ordeals and their wider families; and a little more uncertain about our own futures. Sadly, it also brings out elements of self-righteousness and judgmentalism in some who are not directly affected.
Therefore we need to take careful note of what Jesus has to say here in out text today.
1 Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. 2 Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? 3 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. 4 Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”
So, very quickly Jesus turns the focus of the thinking to each of us as individuals and he leaves us without doubt as to what needs to be in the forefront of our thinking in the face of these disasters. But unless you repent, you too will all perish. We are all sinful and equally deserve the worst to happen to us. Because of our rebellion against God and how he would have us live, we have brought troubles and heartache on ourselves and our world. Sure, most of us say that we believe in God, but none us live as though he is God Almighty; we instead put ourselves on a pedestal.
God clearly tells us this, right back at the time of Adam and Eve, and all along since. To Adam he said, “Because you listened to your wife and ate fruit from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘You must not eat from it,’ “Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat food from it all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food [Genesis 3:17-19] These things, together with the fires, floods, cyclones, earthquakes and sickness and death, are all reminders that we all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God and thereby deserve the full wrath of God.
We might wonder why Christchurch, North Queensland or Grantham or any other disaster area is singled out for such a catastrophe, and here we don’t know the mind of God. But the same devastating catastrophe plays itself out in our very own community on a daily basis. The devastating carnage of road accidents, murders, cancer and other terminal illnesses and the list could go on of the tragedies the occur on an ongoing basis all around us. They are all reminders that something is horribly wrong. They are all reminders that we cannot bury our heads in the sand and think that all will and should go well for us.
Interestingly however, it would seem that the more that we turn away from God; from seeking his help and forgiveness the more that these things increase. Not that the ‘good Christian’ is any less spared, for we are all tarred with the same sinful brush. The temptations is there in us all to become lax in our Christians lives and need to be shaken out of our apathy and our desire to be self-seeking and self-serving, egotists.
The parable of the fig tree, that Jesus goes on to talk about, spells out quite clearly as to why we have been spared at this time. It is surely by God’s grace that we have been spared. God is give us further time so that we can be fertilized and nurtured in the hope that our lives may produce the fruit that he is looking for. But all too often we only look for sustenance when we are hungry and thirsty. So also do we only turn to Christ when we are faced with trouble and disaster.
But now as we are confronted with all these disasters, and forced to recognise that at any time it could be our turn. Whether that be our own earthquake or whatever; or our own personal disaster of sickness, tragedy and finally death; nothing is surer than it will occur, sooner or later. And these disasters remind us again that it could come far sooner than we think. So, what are we going to do about it?
Sure the hardened, self-seeking person will question the fact that if there is a God why does he allow these things to happen. But for many, even non-churched people, we see that they quickly see in these disasters that we need to far more readily be community minded and supportive of one another: that we need to have something more and better than our simple selfish, humanistic materialism. There is a recognition of the need for a change toward a better approach to life.
Here in God’s Word to us, that call is even more focussed. The call is for us to repent. Yes, to repent so that we do not perish. To repent because we are reminded that our current selfish living is not sustainable and ultimately leads to disaster. But also to repent because there is something far better for us if we would only allow ourselves to be a part of that better life. As we recognise our sinfulness that has brought on ourselves these disasters and turn to God as not only the source of life but also as the God who truly loves and cares for us; we find that which gives confidence, certainty and the life that we really need and long for.
As we turn to God, we find first and foremost a God who has come right down into our sinful and disaster filled world to do what was needed for us to have life and hope. Instead of expecting us to climb up out of our mess; which we ultimately can’t do, he has come down to give us a sure way out, that is open to everyone. He has come so that we, even though we suffer and die because of our sinfulness, can have the sure hope of eternal life. And so at the end of our life here in this troubled, disastrous world, in whatever way it comes, we can have the certainty of a life beyond that is absolutely free of all that is bad and wrong.
Even though God’s holiness deems that all sin must be punished, he placed that punishment on Jesus Christ and made him die in our place so that we might have forgiveness for all of our sin and the certainty of this new and better life ahead. So Jesus comes and suffers the greatest and most disastrous event of all, for us. He allows himself to be totally forsaken by God so that we do not have to experience that most tragic of all disasters: eternal separation from God. There is hope. There is now a future for us, no matter what befalls us now in this life. To him be all glory and honour, now and forever.
So now in the midst of the turmoil and disasters that surround us and even befalls us, we have someone and something to hope and trust in. Jesus is right there with us to help us and provide a way through it all to something far better beyond. As we face the uncertainty, turmoil and even tragedy when it comes, he there with us to give us a confidence and hope that defies all human logic. Now instead of burying our heads in the sand and hoping that none of these disasters come our way, we can boldly go forward recognising they will happen, but there is one with us who has the love and power to get us through; even death itself.
With that now there for us, we now have one to turn to, even now for us who are not directly afflicted by any of these disasters. Now is the time and the impetus for us to turn back to God and take him seriously so that we are equipped to handle these catastrophes when they come. We surely, will regularly gather together in his presence so that he can give us and sustain in us all that need to face those times. But also we will take him seriously now all the time so that we are able to help the people around us to see and know this wonderful good news, in the face of adversity.
So with these reminders let us repent so that we do not perish; but also so that we are able to help others to see the hope that all can have in the midst of any and every disaster. Turn again to Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour. To him alone belongs all glory and honour, now and always. AMEN.
Pastor Roger Atze
Glandore/ Underdale Lutheran Parish
1 Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. 2 Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? 3 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. 4 Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.” 6 Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it but did not find any. 7 So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil? 8 “‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. 9 If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’”
Again this last week we have had another tragic disaster occur in our near vicinity. As a result many people are beginning to wonder what is going on. There has been so many major and exceptional events happen in a short space of time and in our near proximity; and so we are left wondering. And so we should! These things are allowed to happen for a purpose; and we would do well to ponder over this for some time. It certainly unsettles us in our thinking; and leaves us saddened for the people going through these ordeals and their wider families; and a little more uncertain about our own futures. Sadly, it also brings out elements of self-righteousness and judgmentalism in some who are not directly affected.
Therefore we need to take careful note of what Jesus has to say here in out text today.
1 Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. 2 Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? 3 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. 4 Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”
So, very quickly Jesus turns the focus of the thinking to each of us as individuals and he leaves us without doubt as to what needs to be in the forefront of our thinking in the face of these disasters. But unless you repent, you too will all perish. We are all sinful and equally deserve the worst to happen to us. Because of our rebellion against God and how he would have us live, we have brought troubles and heartache on ourselves and our world. Sure, most of us say that we believe in God, but none us live as though he is God Almighty; we instead put ourselves on a pedestal.
God clearly tells us this, right back at the time of Adam and Eve, and all along since. To Adam he said, “Because you listened to your wife and ate fruit from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘You must not eat from it,’ “Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat food from it all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food [Genesis 3:17-19] These things, together with the fires, floods, cyclones, earthquakes and sickness and death, are all reminders that we all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God and thereby deserve the full wrath of God.
We might wonder why Christchurch, North Queensland or Grantham or any other disaster area is singled out for such a catastrophe, and here we don’t know the mind of God. But the same devastating catastrophe plays itself out in our very own community on a daily basis. The devastating carnage of road accidents, murders, cancer and other terminal illnesses and the list could go on of the tragedies the occur on an ongoing basis all around us. They are all reminders that something is horribly wrong. They are all reminders that we cannot bury our heads in the sand and think that all will and should go well for us.
Interestingly however, it would seem that the more that we turn away from God; from seeking his help and forgiveness the more that these things increase. Not that the ‘good Christian’ is any less spared, for we are all tarred with the same sinful brush. The temptations is there in us all to become lax in our Christians lives and need to be shaken out of our apathy and our desire to be self-seeking and self-serving, egotists.
The parable of the fig tree, that Jesus goes on to talk about, spells out quite clearly as to why we have been spared at this time. It is surely by God’s grace that we have been spared. God is give us further time so that we can be fertilized and nurtured in the hope that our lives may produce the fruit that he is looking for. But all too often we only look for sustenance when we are hungry and thirsty. So also do we only turn to Christ when we are faced with trouble and disaster.
But now as we are confronted with all these disasters, and forced to recognise that at any time it could be our turn. Whether that be our own earthquake or whatever; or our own personal disaster of sickness, tragedy and finally death; nothing is surer than it will occur, sooner or later. And these disasters remind us again that it could come far sooner than we think. So, what are we going to do about it?
Sure the hardened, self-seeking person will question the fact that if there is a God why does he allow these things to happen. But for many, even non-churched people, we see that they quickly see in these disasters that we need to far more readily be community minded and supportive of one another: that we need to have something more and better than our simple selfish, humanistic materialism. There is a recognition of the need for a change toward a better approach to life.
Here in God’s Word to us, that call is even more focussed. The call is for us to repent. Yes, to repent so that we do not perish. To repent because we are reminded that our current selfish living is not sustainable and ultimately leads to disaster. But also to repent because there is something far better for us if we would only allow ourselves to be a part of that better life. As we recognise our sinfulness that has brought on ourselves these disasters and turn to God as not only the source of life but also as the God who truly loves and cares for us; we find that which gives confidence, certainty and the life that we really need and long for.
As we turn to God, we find first and foremost a God who has come right down into our sinful and disaster filled world to do what was needed for us to have life and hope. Instead of expecting us to climb up out of our mess; which we ultimately can’t do, he has come down to give us a sure way out, that is open to everyone. He has come so that we, even though we suffer and die because of our sinfulness, can have the sure hope of eternal life. And so at the end of our life here in this troubled, disastrous world, in whatever way it comes, we can have the certainty of a life beyond that is absolutely free of all that is bad and wrong.
Even though God’s holiness deems that all sin must be punished, he placed that punishment on Jesus Christ and made him die in our place so that we might have forgiveness for all of our sin and the certainty of this new and better life ahead. So Jesus comes and suffers the greatest and most disastrous event of all, for us. He allows himself to be totally forsaken by God so that we do not have to experience that most tragic of all disasters: eternal separation from God. There is hope. There is now a future for us, no matter what befalls us now in this life. To him be all glory and honour, now and forever.
So now in the midst of the turmoil and disasters that surround us and even befalls us, we have someone and something to hope and trust in. Jesus is right there with us to help us and provide a way through it all to something far better beyond. As we face the uncertainty, turmoil and even tragedy when it comes, he there with us to give us a confidence and hope that defies all human logic. Now instead of burying our heads in the sand and hoping that none of these disasters come our way, we can boldly go forward recognising they will happen, but there is one with us who has the love and power to get us through; even death itself.
With that now there for us, we now have one to turn to, even now for us who are not directly afflicted by any of these disasters. Now is the time and the impetus for us to turn back to God and take him seriously so that we are equipped to handle these catastrophes when they come. We surely, will regularly gather together in his presence so that he can give us and sustain in us all that need to face those times. But also we will take him seriously now all the time so that we are able to help the people around us to see and know this wonderful good news, in the face of adversity.
So with these reminders let us repent so that we do not perish; but also so that we are able to help others to see the hope that all can have in the midst of any and every disaster. Turn again to Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour. To him alone belongs all glory and honour, now and always. AMEN.
Pastor Roger Atze
Glandore/ Underdale Lutheran Parish
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