Scripture: Luke 13:1-9; Psalms 63:1-8 and Isaiah 55:1-9
Theme: Repentance and Transformation leading to Bearing Life Giving Fruit for Christ
Proposition: In Luke 13:1-9 we find the Parable of the Barren Tree. Jesus speaks of an 1. Inspection and an Indictment 2. An Intercession and an Infusion 3. An Insistence of Grace that will lead us to being able to bear life giving fruit for Christ
INTRO:
Grace and peace from God our Father and Jesus Christ who came to take away the sin of the world!
What do you say when someone around you sneezes? Most of us will quickly say " God Bless You " or Gezundheit (which is the German word for Good Health). Have you ever wondered why we say "God Bless You" when someone sneezes? Jewish sages tell us that it has to do with an ancient belief that the Lord just blessed that person with another day here on His earth.1
In the Midrash (commentary on Jewish scriptures) it is written that the Patriarch Jacob was the first person to die of an illness. At the age of 147, Jacob became sick and simply passed away. Before Jacob, according to the Midrash, when it was a person's time to die they simply sneezed and died. It was believed that just as God breathed into everyone giving them life, a sneeze was the way that God would take away that life giving breath. Therefore, when a person sneezed and was still alive and breathing, it was a moment of rejoicing and celebration. Saying "God Bless You" was a both a praise and a thanksgiving for your loved one still being alive. It was a time to rejoice.
This morning, I would like for us to focus on the Parable of the Barren Fig tree that we find in verses 6 - 9. As you meditate on this parable you can almost hear the man saying to the Fig Tree - "GOD BLESS YOU" as it has been granted more time to repent ( to turn around ) and to become the tree that it was designed to be by the LORD. You can almost hear the words "GOD BLESS YOU" as the tree is encouraged to live and bear life giving fruit.
Before Jesus shared the story of the barren fig tree he had to first address a misguided view of sin recorded in verses 1 - 5. Luke tells us that there had been two recent events that once again stirred up the old question surrounding theodicy. The first event had to do with some people who had been violently murdered by Pilate as they worshipped and the second event had to do with 18 people who lost their lives in a natural disaster. The tower in which they were staying collapsed and all 18 were tragically killed.
The people around Jesus began to question why both groups died in such horrible tragedies. The common consensus was that they all must have been guilty of committing some horrible sins which resulted in God having to severely punish them. Many Jews believed that such things as illness, poverty, disease, loneliness and death were God's punishment for sin(s) either known or unknown. Logically therefore, those who had suffered such tragedies must have all been great sinners.
Jesus confronts that misguided view by explaining to everyone that these groups were no more sinful than anyone else. God had not singled them out because of their sinfulness. God had not willed their deaths. The reality is bad things happen to good people. We live in a fallen, broken world in which violence and suffering strike without reason or meaning. In fact, as Luke writes later in his Gospel the One without sin suffered the most and died on a cruel cross at Calvary. Luke shares with everyone that Jesus suffered more than any other man and yet He was without sin. Just because a bad thing happens to a person does not mean that they are sinners.
In verses 3 and 5, Jesus wants to redirect their attention to their own individual lives. He tells them that everyone must repent of their own sins and be born from above. Jesus wants all of them to focus on their own spiritual state and not waste time speculating on the spiritual lives of others. He wants them to make sure that whenever their time comes to die that they are ready to meet the LORD.
To press His point home, Jesus shares the Parable of the Barren Fig Tree. Let's spend some time looking at what Jesus wants us to understand this morning:
I. Jesus shares in this Parable that there was an Inspection that lead to an Indictment
Jesus' story centered on a particular fig tree that growing in a certain man's vineyard. Since the time of King Solomon (1 Kings 4:25) families were encouraged to grow both fig trees and grape vines near their homes. They were companion plants that grew well together and symbolically they represented the Lord's presence, peace and favor. Each family rejoiced when both their fig trees and their vineyards yielded great crops. It was seen as a sign of being blessed by the LORD.
Jesus tells us in verse 6 that owner of the land came around to INSPECT his fields. His vineyard and other plants were doing quite well. However, when he came upon this certain fig tree he noticed that it had not produced any figs. In fact, he remembered that over the last three years it had failed to produce any fruit at all. The tree wasn't dead or diseased but for some reason it was barren. All the fig tree was doing was growing branches and leaves. It was making a great shade tree but a lousy fig producing tree. It was able to provide temporary comfort but it could not provide life giving fruit.
When the owner originally planted the tree he had envisioned that one day this tree would provide he and his family plenty of figs to eat or share with others. The average fig tree at that time should have produced about 25 pounds of figs each year. That means by this time, this tree should have produced around 75 pounds of figs and yet, it had produced nothing. It certainly was mature enough and had enough time to be productive. His inspection of the tree led him to the following INDICTMENT:
a. The tree was simply hopeless - after three years of not bearing fruit he believed that the fig tree would never bear any fruit - it would always just be a bunch of growing branches and leaves
b. All the tree was doing was taking up valuable space and wasting good soil that could be put to better use growing either another tree or other plants
c. The tree had become too costly of a liability. The time and resources spent on keeping it alive were more than the tree was worth.
In verse seven we read that the owner came to a conclusion and an indictment. He believed it was time to count his losses and get rid of the tree. He instructed his gardener to go and get an axe and chop the tree down. The tree could at least be used for fire wood. The owner was fed up with it not producing any figs. Perhaps they would dig up all the roots and plant another fig tree. All the owner knew was that this one fig tree was useless. It has proven itself to not be worth anymore time or effort. He mind was made up on the matter. The tree had to be cut down.
II. Jesus then shares that there was an Intercession that lead to an Infusion
In verse eight, Jesus tells us that the gardener INTERCEDED for the fig tree. He didn't want to see it chopped down and used for fire wood. In his heart, he believes that he knew what needed to be done to help the tree bear fruit. He fully understood why his boss wanted to get rid of the tree but at the same time he wanted his boss to be a little more patient. He wanted the life of tree to be spared and so he intercedes in behalf of the tree.
The gardener knew that when a tree doesn't bear fruit that there may be something wrong that might be corrected. I believe he was thinking that maybe with just a little more time and effort this tree could repent (turn around things) and begin to bear fruit. Being an expert gardener this man knew that:
+There comes a time when a fig tree gets so old that it is unable to bear fruit. At that time there is nothing more to do than to cut it down and use it for fire wood. However, the gardener knew that the age of this tree was just right. It was still young and it should have been able to bear some life giving fruit.
+He knew that a water issue could cause the fig tree to be barren. It could be that the tree was getting either too much water or not enough water. Both would cause the tree not to be able to bloom and produce figs. However, again this doesn't seem to be the issue. It appears that the gardener was doing an excellent job in watering both the fig tree and the grapes.
+He also knew that poor pruning could cause a tree to not sprout flowers and would cause it not to be able to grow fruit. But this doesn't seem to be the case either. He knew that he taken good care of the tree and had pruned it for maximum growth and productivity.
+He then thought that perhaps there was something wrong with the soil. Sometimes the soil around a tree can become so packed that the water can't reach the roots. At other times the soil might be too high in nitrogen and too low in potassium. When the soil is too high in nitrogen all the plant will do is produce leaves and no fruit. If the tree doesn't get enough potassium it will not bloom and therefore will not produce fruit.
From what we read here in this passage, it seems that the gardener thought that these last two things might very well be the problem. From what we read in verses 7 and 8 we can see that he believed that the soil was too compacted around the roots that it might not be allowing enough water to reach them. And so, he proposed to the owner that he be allowed to loosen up the dirt around the tree for the next year.
He also believed that the soil was lacking the necessary amount of potassium. We know this because in verse 8 the gardener tells the owner that he will spread some manure around the tree. Most likely that manure was sheep manure which is high in potassium and phosphorus both which will help a fig tree produce a bumper crop.
The gardener doesn't simply want to just wait. He wants to INFUSE the tree with some needed nutrients and some needed digging. He believes that if he can get to the roots that he can solve the problem. He knew that the tree didn't have a leaf problem or a branch problem, it had a root problem. There was something that was blocking the roots from getting what it needed to be productive and so he went about working with the heart of the tree - its root system.
III. Jesus then ends His Story with an Insistence on God's Grace
Did you notice this morning that our parable ends rather abruptly? In verse 10, Luke leaves the Parable of the Barren Fig Tree and quickly goes on to miracle story of Jesus with the lady who had a spirit of infirmity for 18 years. He tells how Jesus touched her and healed her of her infirmity. Luke leaves the story of the Barren Fig Tree open ended. We don't know what happened to the tree.
We read in verses 7 - 8 - "Sir, let it alone for one more year, until I dig around it and put manure on it. If it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down." And then the story suddenly ends. Nothing more is said.
What happened that next year? Over the few months did all the hard word that the gardener do for the tree work? Did the tree begin to blossom and bear fruit? When the owner came back to inspect the tree was he overjoyed at seeing this tree loaded down with figs? Was he so glad he had listened to his gardener? Had the gardeners intercession and infusion paid off?
Or when the owner came to inspect the tree did he find just the opposite? Did the owner discover that the tree sadly was still just taking up space? After 12 months nothing had changed. There had not been a turn around. Everything was the same. It was a tree full of branches and leaves but void of life giving fruit. The original indictment still had to be carried out. The gardener had to go and get the axe and chop the tree down. The tree's life was taken.
We simply don't know. We don't know what happened. Jesus didn't finish the story and Luke does not give us a hint as to what happened. Luke doesn't tell us anywhere in his gospel what happened to this fig tree. Why didn't Jesus finish this story? Why doesn't Luke tell us what happened? What was his reason for not telling us what happened to the fig tree? What was Jesus trying to say to us by not finishing his story?
I believe Jesus was teaching those that day and us today all about GRACE.
I believe Jesus was trying to share that our God has insisted that there be a set time of grace for repentance and spiritual transformation.
This little tree had done a poor job in bearing fruit just as the nation of Israel had done a poor job in walking with the LORD GOD. The people of God needed as much help as this little fig tree. Jesus had used the image of that fig tree in his story on purpose. He had placed that fig tree in a vineyard on purpose. Those that heard the story that day would know that He was really talking about them, about God's people. The fig tree symbolized God's People and the vineyard symbolized the Promise Land in which they lived. They understood that Jesus was saying that God's people were barren. They understood that Jesus was saying that God's people were alive but they were not producing life giving spiritual fruit. God had given them back their land, they even had a temple and plenty of priests, scribes and teachers but they were still as barren as this fig tree. They had all the appearances of being able to bear life giving fruit but upon inspection they were barren.
They also understood that the owner in the story was Almighty God Himself. And that God had inspected His people and found them to be wanting. However as they heard the story they also understood that God did not want to destroy His people. Instead, the LORD had interceded in the behalf and had sent them HIs son Jesus. Jesus had come to bring them new life and make their lives fruitful. In Jesus they would be able to bear life giving fruit.
Jesus had come to take care of their deepest root problem. Just as the fig tree in the parable had a root problem so too did God's people. The root problem in their lives was sin. Unrepentant sin was the reason for them being a spiritual barren people. Unrepentant sin was blocking the power and presence of the Holy Spirit in their lives. Unrepentant sin was preventing them from being able to bear life giving spiritual fruit.
Oh, God's people had plenty of wealth among certain classes and they even had a new temple. But when God inspected the temple and His people He found them to be like the fig tree; all leaves and branches but void of any real fruit of salvation and spiritual transformation. God's people had the appearance of holiness and righteousness but none of its life giving fruit. Like the fig tree they could give temporary shade/temporary comfort but could not give life giving substance. When a person is starving they need something more than comfort, they need food. When a person is spiritually starving they need more than comfort, they need a place that can give them spiritual food that will transform them and renew their hearts and lives.
In the story the owner allows for the tree to have a time of grace to repent and to transform. The owner allows that pitiful, good for nothing tree a time of grace. Grace to change and become fruitful. Grace to change and be a life giving, fruit producing tree.
Jesus was sharing that same message to all that would hear Him that day. His Heavenly Father was granting them a time of grace. A time of grace to repent and change their own destinies. Unlike those who had just died in those two tragedies they were still alive. Instead of worrying about whether or not those people were sinners, Jesus was wanting them to realize that today was their day of salvation. Today they could repent, receive God's Spirit and be transformed. Today was their day to go from being barren to bearing God's fruit.
Luke shares with us in his second book, the Acts of the Apostles that many people took Jesus up on His offer of grace and salvation. They understood that they were like the barren fig tree and needed to call upon the LORD. We read in Acts 1 and 2 that they repented of their sins and were filled with God's Holy Spirit. As a result they were able to bear fruit that enabled them to reach out to others and help them find God's salvation. They were able to give to others life giving fruit through the power of the Holy Spirit.
This morning, all of us are similar to that fig tree. Without Christ's redemption and grace we are barren. Without Christ we will never bear any life giving fruit. Without Christ we will fail God's final inspection and will be cut down and put into the lake of fire.
We must cry out to the LORD for Him to work in our hearts, in our root system so to speak. We must ask Jesus to dig around us and infuse us with His grace. We all know that there are plenty of people and even some churches that sadly only produce what could be called spiritual leaves and branches. They are alive, but all they can offer is a little temporary comfort. All they can do is to provide a little spiritual shade for those that come their way. They can't give what people really need - life giving, life transforming spiritual fruit. They can't help people find freedom and salvation. They can't help people find Jesus.
We know this morning, that is not what the LORD wants for us as individuals or as His Church. Instead, He desire for all of us to receive from Him the presence of His Holy Spirit that will enable us to produce life giving fruit. Life giving fruit that will enable us to share with those who are spiritually hungry and are looking for redemption, renewal and restoration. Life giving fruit that will lead them to experience Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit in their lives.
Our world needs the fruit that only Holy Spirit filled and led people and churches can produce and share. The Devil doesn't mind us being alive as long as all we are plants of God that only grow spiritual branches and leaves. The devil wants us to stay spiritually barren. He does not want us to be able to bear the Spiritual fruit that will lead others to repentance and spiritual transformation.
The devil doesn't mind a church to simply be a place of temporary comfort and shade. He doesn't mind a church that only bring a little relief and ease into people's lives but isn't able to lead people to be transformed. He doesn't mind a church that has all the appearances of growth but in reality is only a mass of spiritual branches and leaves. He knows that those churches are not a threat.
What the Devil does mind is when in Christ we allow the Holy Spirit to re-energize our roots and cause us to be Spirit filled life giving fruit Christians. What the devil does mind is when we as the Body of Christ begin to bear the life giving fruit that leads to people coming to Jesus and experiencing life altering changes. What the devil does mind is when people are drawn to the newness and the sweet smelling fruit of the Holy Spirit in our lives and in our churches.
Did you know that many nutritionists consider figs to be the healthiest food on our planet? They also consider them to be one of the sweetest foods on our planet. What a great combination - healthy and sweet. Many pastry chefs considered figs to be one of our planet's "perfect foods". Figs are defined as " lusciously sweet with a texture that combines the chewiness of their flesh, the smoothness of their skin, and the crunchiness of their seeds." Doctors tell us that a steady diet of figs can help a person have a healthy heart, healthy eyes and even be able to lose weight. Eating figs has even been proven to prevent some forms of cancer. No wonder the Ancient Romans and others considered figs to be sacred. Once you have eaten a fig you are hooked. You want more and more and more and the good thing is that they are good for you.
This morning, Jesus wants you and me and all of His churches to be like the fruit of His fig trees. He wants us to produce the life giving fruit that will help others with their spiritual hearts, their spiritual eyes and that will help them get rid of some excess baggage called sin. He wants us to be more than spiritual branches and leaves that can only give temporary comfort. He wants us to be as sweet and healthy to our world as figs are so that people will want to join us in worshipping and praising Him as Savior and LORD. He wants us to be able to share with them His message that will transform them inside out.
As we close this morning, lets allow the Holy Spirit to come and inspect our individual lives. Let's allow the Holy Spirit to ask us how our own personal spiritual fig tree is doing? Are we bearing the kind of fruit that is leading others to Christ? Do we bear fruit that is sweet and that is able to bring healing and wholeness to those around you? Or are we barren and at best we are able to only provide a little comfort and shade to those around us?
Do we as a church body want to be a Body of Christ that is constantly bearing the LORD's life giving spiritual fruit that will lead others to repentance, salvation and spiritual transformation? Do we want to be a place where those hungry for Jesus can find spiritual food and drink? Or are we simply happy being a temporary place of shade and comfort to those who come by? Able to take care of some physical needs but unable to help them experience a true and lasting heart transformation.
This morning, as we sing our song of invitation if you feel a barrenness in your own heart and life our altars are open for you to come and allow the LORD to infuse you with His mercy, grace and love. If the Holy Spirit is telling you that you need to come and pray - then please just step out from your pew and make your way down to the altar to talk with the LORD.
This morning, if you want our church to always be bearing the life giving spiritual fruit necessary for others to come to Christ, to experience salvation and spiritual transformation our altars are open for you to come and pray for God's anointing on your life and on the life of our church. Our altars are open for you to come and ask God to help us be the place where people can find Jesus.
The Bible tells us that Jesus is coming back. At that time He will once again inspect our fruit. Only then if we are still barren then we will be cut off and cast away into the lake of fire. But that day is not right now. Right now is our day of grace. Right now, I believe that we are called to be fruit bearers that will bring salvation to our community and to the world. I believe that if we allow Jesus we can continually bear life giving, Spirit-filled fruit that will help us bring family, friends and others to experience the joy of everlasting salvation. Right now is our opportunity. As we sing, let us obey the leadings of the Holy Spirit.
As we close let us sing - JUST AS I AM
1See http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/2283283/jewish/What-Does-Judaism-Say-About-Sneezing.htm and http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/931721/jewish/Why-say-gezuntheit-after-a-sneeze.htm
What is the origin of saying "gezuntheit" or "G d bless you" after someone sneezes?
Answer: Although not technically part of Jewish Law (halachah), saying gezuntheit, tzu gezunt, labreeyut, or G d bless you is considered a mannerly custom. It is written in the Midrash that the Patriarch Jacob was the first person to become ill before passing on. Before that, people would sneeze and die. When G d infused the soul into Man, He "blew it" into Adam's nostrils. Thus, when it came time for the soul to be returned to its Maker, it would leave through the same portal it arrived.
2 http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=24
