Today’s meditation is based on the parable that Jesus taught in Luke 13:6-9. We read in Luke 13:6, “Then Jesus told them this parable:”(GNB)
The Background to the parable
While Jesus was teaching there were some who shared this information with Him. The news they brought to Jesus is found in Luke 13:1, “At that time some people were there who told Jesus about the Galileans whom Pilate had killed while they were offering sacrifices to God.” (GNB)
The report they brought to Jesus was that Pilate had killed some Galileans while they were worshipping God by offering sacrifices to Him. This was the response they received from Jesus as recorded in the verse below.
On suffering and sins
We read in Luke 13:2, “Jesus answered them, "Because those Galileans were killed in that way, do you think it proves that they were worse sinners than all other Galileans?” (GNB)
Jesus knowing their thoughts, and the reason why they conveyed this message to Him, asked them the above mentioned question, if they thought that the Galileans who were killed were worse sinners than those who escaped.
When some people face some calamities, there are those who assume that the ones going through the hardships have committed some grave sin. They conclude that the difficulties in their lives are therefore a consequence of their sinfulness.
Observe the life of Joseph in the Old Testament, and many would have concluded that the ill-treatments he went through were because of some sin in Joseph’s life. So also, when Job went through untold hardships, this was the thought of many, and even his own friends concluded that he was suffering as a result of something wrong that he had done. Eventually, God Himself testified that all of their assumptions were erroneous.
Oftentimes, we too are at fault when we judge people this way and conclude that their calamities are a result of their sins. If we have thought this way, the Lord reminds us that this is wrong thinking that needs to change.
We read in Luke 13:3, “No indeed! And I tell you that if you do not turn from your sins, you will all die as they did.” (GNB)
Jesus was categorical to teach them that everyone needed to repent of their sins. The first lesson we learn from this incident is that we have no right to judge or condemn anyone based on the difficult situations that they encounter in their lives. Secondly, each one of us has to search ourselves, and should repent of our own sins and wrong-doings.
It was in this context that Jesus shared this parable with the people.
Fig tree in a vineyard
We read in Luke 13:6, “Then Jesus told them this parable: "There was once a man who had a fig tree growing in his vineyard. He went looking for figs on it but found none.” (GNB)
This vineyard was owned, and the owner that this represented in this parable is the Almighty God who is the creator of heaven and earth.
Tending a vineyard
There were certain ways in which the vineyards were planted and preserved.
Isaiah, the prophet talks about this in Isaiah 5:1-2, “Listen while I sing you this song, a song of my friend and his vineyard: My friend had a vineyard on a very fertile hill. He dug the soil and cleared it of stones; he planted the finest vines. He built a tower to guard them, dug a pit for treading the grapes. He waited for the grapes to ripen, but every grape was sour.” (GNB)
Generally vineyards were planted in fertile soil. Moreover, there was much care taken to protect the vineyard, and it seemed that the vineyard mentioned in the parable had all the facilities needed for the functioning of a good vineyard. The soil had been cleared of all stones, and the finest vines had been planted.
In the parable that Jesus taught, there was a fig tree that was growing in the vineyard. A fig tree did not really need much care, as fig trees grew freely in that region.
There are two incidents where the fig tree is mentioned which I would like to highlight.
The fig tree Jesus cursed
We read in Matthew 21:19, “He saw a fig tree by the side of the road and went to it, but found nothing on it except leaves. So he said to the tree, "You will never again bear fruit!" At once the fig tree dried up.”(GNB)
This fig tree was one which grew by the side of the road which meant that no one would have taken special care of it or tended it.
The fig tree Zacchaeus climbed
We also read in Luke 19:4, “So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way.” (ESV)
Zacchaeus was a chief tax collector, who was despised and shunned by the people in his town. However, Zacchaeus had a desire to see who Jesus was, but being short of stature, he was hindered from doing so. When Zacchaeus heard that Jesus would pass by his town, we know that he climbed a sycamore fig tree to get a better view of Jesus. Here too there was a fig tree that was by the way side.
The care the fig tree received
However, the fig tree that Jesus spoke about in the parable, was found in the middle of the vineyard, which is well taken care of.
This vineyard which is fenced and protected, refers to the church of God at large. If we think about what the owner of the vineyard did for the vine, it is nothing in comparison to all that the Lord accomplished for the church. When Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, right there itself God had a plan to redeem fallen mankind back to Himself. It was this plan that prompted the God the Father to send His Son Jesus into the world, and allowed Him to take on the sins of all mankind on Himself. Jesus became that atoning sacrifice for us by dying on the cross so that we can be reconciled to Him, and be at peace with God.
The owner looked for fruit
This vineyard was a special place, but somehow an ordinary fig tree also found its place in that vineyard. We read in Luke 13:6, “Then Jesus told them this parable: "There was once a man who had a fig tree growing in his vineyard. He went looking for figs on it but found none.” (GNB)
The fig tree was allowed to be there in the vineyard for the sole purpose that it would bear fruit. This fig tree had the special privilege of being in a fertile environment, and hence it was not surprising that the owner looked for some fruit on the tree.
All of mankind too was in a deplorable condition, lost in sin when God the Father, through His Son Jesus brought us from there, and planted us in the vineyard which is the church. The purpose of us being planted in the church is that we too will bear fruit.
The owner wanted it cut down
We read in Luke 13:7, “So he said to his gardener, 'Look, for three years I have been coming here looking for figs on this fig tree, and I haven't found any. Cut it down! Why should it go on using up the soil?'” (GNB)
After all the tending and care the fig tree was of no use to the owner of that vineyard as it failed to produce fruit. The owner was not making a call after a short span of time, but he had waited for three long years hoping that the fig tree would bear some fruit. The owner of the vineyard asked the gardener as to what was the purpose of such a tree, which was just occupying space, and using up soil, and that it would be better to cut it down. As the fig tree grew in size, it was probably preventing sunlight from shining on some of the vine, it was consuming water, and taking up nutrients, but was not bearing any fruit.
There are so many who have been members of the church for many long years, but have no thought to bear fruit in any way. We need to comprehend the purpose for which we belong to a church. The church was bought with the blood of Jesus, and He gave His life for it. God had graciously made us part of this church, and the question is, ‘What kind of fruit are we bearing for the Lord?’ and ‘As members of the church what kind of fruit is being evidenced in our lives?’ God’s purpose of us being a part of the church is not that we go once a week, worship and get back to our old ways of living without producing any sort of godly fruit in our lives. God expects us to bear fruit, and we should take a check to see if God is pleased with us.
When Jesus saw the fig tree by the wayside and saw that it had no fruit, we read that He cursed that tree. He cursed the tree saying, ‘let no one eat fruit from you ever again.’ The disciples heard this and they all walked away, but the next day when they came that way, they saw that the fig tree had withered to its roots. Sadly the fig tree did not fulfill the purpose for it being there and that was why Jesus cursed it.
As members of the body of Christ, if we too have received the forgiveness of sins that Jesus offers, enjoy His protection, and still remain unfruitful, it implies that we too are not fulfilling the purpose for which God called us. Amongst churches there is competition, ill-feelings, discord, divisions, and this grieves the heart of God. We must ask God to change us from deep inside our hearts. This was the call to repentance that we looked at earlier. Repentance is not something that happens once, but we have to keep on turning our hearts towards the word of God as He speaks to us every day. Maybe the first time we had the opportunity to repent, we confessed our sins, and asked God to forgive us. However, there are still some of those sinful qualities that linger on inside of us.
If after being part of the church for many years, we continue to live in sin, and without fruit in our lives, we can be sure that we are grieving God. To the ones who are not willing to bear fruit, the command of God is forthright. He demands that the tree be cut off because the fig tree had lost the very purpose of existence. Oftentimes, we console ourselves that we have the grace of God lavished on us. Nonetheless, we are reminded that those who have received God’s grace also have certain responsibilities that are placed on them. As a child of God we should be able to testify that the Lord has brought definite changes in various areas of our lives.
We read about Saul who was persecuting the church, and those who believed in Jesus. However, when Saul met Jesus, there was such a transformation that the very things he destroyed, Saul began to rebuild. Is there a definite change that is evident to all to see after you have committed your live to Jesus? If there is no change, and no fruit in our lives, we must understand that we are only in this period of grace that God has extended towards us.
Chosen to bear fruit
The reason God saved us is mentioned in John 15:16, “You did not choose me; I chose you and appointed you to go and bear much fruit, the kind of fruit that endures.” (GNB)
We see that the owner (God the Father) commanded that the fig tree be cut off. That’s exactly what God would do to those of us who do not bear the fruit that He is looking for.
The one who interceded for us
We read in Luke 13:8, “But the gardener answered, 'Leave it alone, sir, just one more year; I will dig around it and put in some fertilizer.”(GNB)
Who is this gardener who is interceding, it is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ.
In Romans 8:34, we read, “Who, then, will condemn them? Not Christ Jesus, who died, or rather, who was raised to life and is at the right side of God, pleading with him for us!”(GNB)
God chose us to bear fruit, and He comes seeking for fruit. However, when we are in a state of not bearing fruit, the Lord Jesus is interceding on our behalf to the Father.
Today there are many who are looking for various ways to find God. There are others who are running to people to help them.
The word of God is clear in 1 Timothy 2:5, “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;”(ESV)
Only the Lord Jesus can be the mediator between God and men, because He alone died for our sins, and was raised again from death. No one triumphed over death like Jesus did. There were many great men who were in this world, but all of them died, and their graves still remain closed. Jesus alone rose from the dead, was taken up into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father interceding for us. Just as the gardener was willing to take more time to till the soil and add more fertilizer, so the fig tree could bear more fruit, the Lord Jesus is pleading for more time, doing all that He can so that we too will be fruitful,.
Jesus prayed for Peter
When Satan desired to tempt Peter, these were the words of Jesus to Peter as recorded in Luke 22:31-32,"Simon, Simon! Listen! Satan has received permission to test all of you, to separate the good from the bad, as a farmer separates the wheat from the chaff. But I have prayed for you, Simon that your faith will not fail. And when you turn back to me, you must strengthen your brothers." (GNB)
We see how Jesus had prayed for Peter, and we must remember that the only one who can intercede on our behalf is the Lord Jesus Christ. Irrespective of the tradition or background you are from, if you believe on the Lord Jesus, and are ready to obey Him, you will see changes in your life. A man who is pleading for justice in court, will find a good lawyer who can speak on his behalf. So also, we have the Lord Jesus who is constantly interceding for us in the court of heaven.
The verdict
It is written in Luke 13:9, “Then if the tree bears figs next year, so much the better; if not, then you can have it cut down.” (GNB)
This is what the gardener said to the owner. Just a little more time and if it bears fruit that would be good, but if not I will cut it down.
We must examine our lives to see all those areas where we have to repent, and turn to God. Each one of us has various areas where we struggle with things that do not please the Lord. We must humbly confess, and repent of these sins in our lives. For some it may be dishonesty in dealing with money, for others it may be the inability to keep your word, or for some it may be lack of faithfulness in your family life. For some others it may be this addiction to the mobile phone, where they are spending countless hours in unnecessary sites, corrupting their minds in the process. Whatever it is let us decide to set all of them aside, and repent of our sinful ways.
Bring forth fruits worthy of repentance
We read in Luke 3:8, “Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.” (KJV)
This was a caution given to the people in those days that they should not lean on Abraham, and their traditions, and think that those could save them. Listen to the response that Jesus gave them. He told them that God can use stones to raise up children of Abraham.
What this means to us today is that our lives should show forth by our actions that we have truly repented of our sins. We have many today who pride themselves that they are Christians for many generations that they are members of a renowned church, but these are immaterial to God. May we never live in the clouds thinking that we have achieved much, but let us be ready to change in all those areas where we need to change. May we allow the Spirit of the Lord to search our hearts, and instead of complaining about others, let us have the grace to change in every area where we need to change.
The message of John the Baptist and Jesus when they commenced their mission was the same, ‘Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Let there be a difference in our thoughts, our words, and our actions, and this is possible only if there is repentance. Pray for these changes, and the Lord Jesus is ever willing to help, for He is there to intercede for us. However, if we justify ourselves, and continue in our rebellious ways, we are cautioned that the time is running out, for the Lord will not wait for long. This period of grace that God has granted to us, may we treasure it, and do all that we can to bear much fruit in our lives.
Rev. F. Andrew Dixon
www.goodnewsfriends.net
Transcribed by: Sis. Esther Collins
