Green or Dry tree!
Luke 23:31" For if people do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?”
How do you think it feels when you hear the person you love talk bad about you, when they totally don't understand you, despite all your investments - emotionally, financially, mentally and physically? Nothing more painful and agonizing than that!
Jesus heard the people whom He loves, shout persistently "Crucify Him, crucify Him...(v21). Jesus was upbraided, humiliated, mocked, brutally beaten and tortured even though everybody knew He has done nothing to deserve such treatment. Verse 24 says, " Pilate surrendered Jesus to their will." Unimaginable! It is like giving into the hands of stray dogs...
Everybody watched, verse 27 says 'large number of people followed Him". Here, we have a great lesson, Jesus turned and said to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children. (Verse 28). What that statement meant was:” you are crying for a blameless, green tree but watch out your own life, you have no prayer, no Bible reading, no church, no fear of God, no fasting, no Christian fellowship, you hate, you talk about your pastor behind his back, you lie, you cheat, you lust, you steal, you manipulate and still call yourself as a Christian – weep for yourself said Jesus. Are you listening?
Jesus said 'If they do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry? -v31
Jesus makes use of an expression, frequently used by the Jews, who compare a good man to a green tree, and a bad man to a dead one. A green tree is not combustible, not able to begin burning easily, a dry one is. A "green" tree is not easily set on fire; a dry one is easily kindled and burns rapidly; and what Jesus meant was - "If they, the Romans, do these things to me, if they punish me in this manner what will happen to people drenched in sins.????
Frolicking : People who work in corporate sectors think that they can create their own 'Disneylands' - fun, fun, frolicking away to glory, not aware of anything. In western countries, they work and save for luxurious holidays. That fever has caught India too, 'enjoy now, pay later offers' with eye-catching EMI facility, people swipe their credit cards, and go for expensive vacations and live the rest of the year paying back the debts. After the vacation when the bill comes, it is heart attack..!
Mindless frolicking ends in tragedy!
Accident waiting to happen: Part 2
Luke 23:26-31" If they do these things in the green tree, what shall be done in the dry?"
Back when I worked for a multinational bank, the 'weekend lethargy' fills the air right from Thursday, people plan different kinds of fun , different kinds of eatery outlets etc., just not the pagans, the Christians too don't think of Sabbath day, Bible or God, they are ready to compromise church for work.
Pain, suffering or trials are not in their dictionary, they think they can skip, hop, jump and escape them but Jesus said, 'do not weep for me but weep for yourself.' When I went to visit a patient who had undergone cancer operation, the patient was talking to his son-in-law and said ' the pain was unbearable' his son-in-law an alcoholic replied, ' why should you suffer when today you have the best pain killers available? ' I looked at that insane, stupid guy who later got divorced and lost his very well-paid-high-position-job too, he thought he can get away from all the sins he had committed. Such people are referred to as Dry tree!
Illus: Train accident: West Bengal train crash:
On 17 June 2024, two trains collided in Darjeeling district in the Indian state of West Bengal. A goods train collided with Sealdah–Agartala Kanchanjunga Express, a passenger train near Rangapani railway station. 11 people were killed and more than 60 were injured. Human error, disregard for signal, automatic signalling system down - all combined caused the deadly accident.
There's something more, how do trains operate when automatic signals break down?
As per railway officials, the loco pilot of the freight train that rammed into Kanchanjunga Express drove the train at a speed greater than prescribed limit in situations involving signal failure. Did you see that? There were multiple failures that suddenly led to such colossal tragedy and misery! The tragedy was an accident waiting to happen!!!
Accidents waiting to happen: When a situation that is likely to lead to disaster or misfortune, especially because of negligence or neglect, it is said to be 'accidents waiting to happen.'
Many lives are like the above train crash today! Are you listening?
Examine your life today: divorce, neck deep debts, fatal diseases etc., do not just pop up suddenly, may be they are the result of living without God and His values for a very long time! Repent today!
Green tree! Splendid cedar! Part 3
Luke 23:26-31" If they do these things in the green tree, what shall be done in the dry?"
Green trees are people whose lives are built on the Rock Jesus! Say Amen. They are not people who shake like a leaf or break down at the drop of a hat but are strong and able to endure trials and sufferings with God-given wisdom. The Bible says: Matthew 7:” 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. “
Jeremiah 17:7 says “But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. 8 They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.” Friend, we need to be fearless green trees trusting God at all times!!!
These people are ‘so fertile and flourishing’ that they would be a blessing for others. Say Amen.
The Bible says: ”On the mountain heights of Israel I will plant it; it will produce branches and bear fruit and become a splendid cedar. Birds of every kind will nest in it; they will find shelter in the shade of its branches.” Ezekiel 17:23
I love the above scripture, let me repeat, ‘birds of every kind will nest in it’ – that’s how a Christian should be! Being a blessing for others, not selfish, self-centered Pharisees, some Christians don’t even smile at their neighbors leave alone help. Sad!
Testimony: When a young man with a 8 year old son got diagnosed with blood cancer, we did not say, 'I will pray for you' and move on but immediately we (group of believers) got together on mobile conference and started wresting in prayer ‘daily for an hour’ just only for that gentleman – we did not miss a single day. During the day, I would send updates about his health and then we would pray about it in the evening with tears and groans. Miracles started happening, God started working in the hearts of the family, repentance and transformation started taking place, God is doing wonders and we are continuing to pray as a group. Green trees! “ It will produce branches and bear fruit and become a splendid cedar!”
Psalm 1:3 – "He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.
