Humanity’s ability to predict the weather has improved over the centuries. Simple observations of general weather patterns and seasonal shifts have evolved into highly technological advancements that allow us to predict or provide some best guesses regarding pending weather events several days in advance. I find it fascinating to see how meteorologists analyze storm tracking models from multiple different sources in order to provide probabilities of outcomes. And yet predicting the weather poorly can cause catastrophic outcomes.
While still far from our technological abilities today, in 1888 The Schoolhouse Blizzard struck the northern midwestern states. According to one account:
“After enjoying mild weather, rural communities in the northwest plains of the US were caught tragically ill-prepared as chilling winds and a snowstorm hit them with no warning. It was reported that the temperature fell nearly 37°C (100°F) in just 24 hours on 12 January 1888.
It’s thought 235 people died from hypothermia, many of them children and farm workers making their way home in the perilous conditions. According to reports, the Army Signal Corps (who were then tasked with weather reporting) chose not to issue a cold wave warning the previous night.”
Nearly 100 years ago (1927), the Kickerbocker Storm buried the District of Columbia in over 2.5 feet of snow after weather watchers predicted a mild weather just the day before.
Just over a decade ago, Super Storm Sandy surprised many weather predictors. One account notes:
It’s acknowledged that meteorologists largely got the forecast right for Hurricane Sandy, which tore up the Atlantic Coast from the Caribbean in October 2012 before transitioning into a so-called superstorm. However, the way the storm was classified may have influenced how the public responded.
Following protocol, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) chose not to issue hurricane warnings north of North Carolina once Sandy transformed into an unusual hybrid storm. This decision led to miscommunication and confusion among authorities issuing public alerts, causing people to underestimate the storm’s severity.
Weather is wonderful and very difficult to predict precisely. It’s clear that Someone else is in charge! While our technology has changed our methods of observation, as we’ll see today, Jesus uses our abilities to see weather patterns and make predictions that will help us generally make plans. The question is, are we observing and interpreting eternal things in the same way?
Open your bibles to Luke 12.
Over the last few weeks in our study of the book of Luke, Jesus has been urging us to have an eternal outlook on things. Fearing or revering God rather than people, trusting that God will supply what we need rather than being anxious, and being ready for Jesus’ return as demonstrated in our service and stewardship.
Today, we conclude what we might consider to be a mini-series or subset on eternal perspectives as we consider the call to respond to the gospel before it’s too late.
Luke 12:54–13:9 ESV
He also said to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west, you say at once, ‘A shower is coming.’ And so it happens. And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, ‘There will be scorching heat,’ and it happens. You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?
“And why do you not judge for yourselves what is right? As you go with your accuser before the magistrate, make an effort to settle with him on the way, lest he drag you to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the officer, and the officer put you in prison. I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the very last penny.”
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.”
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.’ ”
As we walk through this passage, we’ll consider it in four different sections:
Recognize Spiritual Signs (54-56)
Reconcile before judgment (57-59)
Repentance is for everyone (13:1-5)
Respond by bearing fruit (13:6-9)
So, let’s begin by considering Jesus’ admonition to…
Recognize Spiritual Signs (12:54-56)
Notice that in this section, Jesus turns his attention to the crowds. He has moved from a more private or shielded conversation with His disciples, to something that has broader implications for everyone. In doing this, He points out something that should have been familiar to all of them - that is responding to the weather.
Now, they of course didn’t have the apps that we have have or even the meteorologists who can try to predict what the weather will be like, but He is using their natural skills for observation in order to point out the obvious.
It’s as though he’s helping them see a pattern:
Observation
Prediction
Outcome
(and by implication) Response
You observe clouds in the west, predict rain and it does.
You observe or experience a wind coming up from the south, you predict scorching heat, and it gets hot.
The point of his argument is that they should be able to observe something spiritual happening in their day, predict an outcome and respond accordingly.
Which begs the question, what should they have observed and interpreted?
Back in chapter 7, some of John the Baptist’s disciples came to inquire of Jesus on John’s behalf (since he was in prison). They said: Luke 7:20 “…“John the Baptist has sent us to you, saying, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?’ ””
In response to this, Luke records Jesus actions and instruction: Luke 7:21–23 “In that hour he healed many people of diseases and plagues and evil spirits, and on many who were blind he bestowed sight. And he answered them, “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them. And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.””
Jesus essentially charged them to observe the signs and draw conclusions about that.
Now, these crowds that had been following Jesus around had opportunities to make similar observations and interpretations.
If the anointed one was supposed to do these miracles and Jesus is doing these miracles, then He must be the anointed one - He must be the Messiah. In his teaching, He is calling for repentance and obedience to the principles of the Kingdom of God. He seems to be subtly calling them to draw those conclusions.
But, when we look at this in our own lives, what does that look like? What are the spiritual signs that we need to recognize?
awareness of sin -
desire for God or at least a hunger for meaning
There may even be challenges that God places in our lives in order to get our attention.
I guess the question becomes, are we paying attention or are we simply ignoring the signs?
Jesus’ call to observe is followed up by a call to respond. In order to do this, he notes that we must…
Reconcile Before Judgement (12:57-59)
If the people in Jesus’ day would observe the signs properly, then they should come to the conclusion that Jesus is the anointed one or the Messiah from God. As we’ve seen throughout Jesus’ ministry, one of his roles is to bring reconciliation between God and humans.
In our day, as I understand it, many lawyers would urge their clients who are in the midst of a dispute to settle the dispute outside of court. The penalties, payments, timelines can be mitigated to some degree. There can be compromises. However, if a dispute is taken to court, the costs go up and the verdict that the judge renders generally results in a stricter sentence or penalty.
It must have been similar in Jesus’ day as he uses a legal dispute to be the backdrop for His call to action. Jesus uses a metaphor to help them understand that reconciliation can happen before the judgment. Once the judgment is laid down, then the punishment must be paid.
The writer of Hebrews even helps us to understand this.
Hebrews 9:27–28 ESV
And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.
The Apostle Paul notes in his first letter to Timothy…
1 Timothy 2:5–6 ESV
For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.
Jesus is communicating to his hearers that if they would recognize the spiritual signs, then they would understand who he is and would realize that He is the mediator; He has negotiated a judgment on our behalf.
Friend, if you are not yet a follower of Christ or are simply checking out Jesus, then let me encourage you to keep looking, keep seeking, but understand that Jesus exchanged His life for yours. He took the punishment for your sin - which is death.
Romans 6:23 ESV
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
He should not have died - he was holy, perfect, divine - and yet he voluntarily laid down his life for yours and mine. He offers a mediation from eternal condemnation. He offers reconciliation before the Eternal Judge renders His verdict. There will come a time when God will determine that the things written in scripture about the end times will come. No one knows when this will be.
Jesus is urging us to recognize who he is and then respond by seeking reconciliation.
So the way to be reconciled to God is through Jesus Christ comes in the form of …
Repentance for Everyone (13:1-5)
There are times in our lives when we look at events or tragedies and want to draw certain conclusions. When we hear about shootings or massacres or wars or even freak accidents we want to bring some sort of meaning to the mess.
Jesus’ listeners did too.
They raised a question about some people who had been killed or at least suffered and then their sacrifices were defiled in a dishonoring way. Their question surrounded whether or not those people were worse sinners than others because of that. To which Jesus replied…
Luke 13:3 ESV
No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.
He then goes on and refers to a freak accident that took the lives of 18 people. Were they worse sinners? Were they cursed by God? Again, Jesus’ provides the exact same response:
Luke 13:5 ESV
No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”
We frequently want to ask why bad things happen. Why do the seemingly innocent suffer? Why is life so difficult?
Jesus’ answer does not address the here and now, but really addresses the eternal significance of repentance.
Mike McKinley provides some very helpful considerations as to why bad things happen. He notes:
Luke 12–24 for You Chapter 2: Death Comes and the Kingdom Grows (Luke Chapter 13 Verse 1 to 14 Verse 6)
The Bible’s answer to that question is not simplistic; the book of Job represents an exploration of many of the potential reasons why suffering might come to an individual’s life. But what is clear is that we cannot look at any one disaster or tragedy and presume to know God’s larger purpose. Sometimes God sends suffering in direct response to sin (see Psalm 32:3–4). In other cases he sends pain in order to reveal himself to the person who is suffering (see the explanation for the man’s blindness in John 9 and the end result in the man’s life). Sometimes he intends for difficulty to help prevent sin from taking root in someone’s life (see 2 Corinthians 12:7; 1 Peter 4:1–3). When we see suffering in our lives or in the world around us, we need to resist the urge to draw rapid and unfounded conclusions about God’s purpose in sending it.
Jesus urges that our response should be repentance that brings reconciliation.
What is repentance?
Repentance is essentially a change of mind or heart and actions. It’s not simply mental assent or spiritual acquiescence, it’s a change of direction.
On the mind, have you ever noticed that our minds can be fickle and can shift between repentance and un-repentance? To this, Thabiti Anyabwile notes:
Exalting Jesus in Luke Disaster (13:1–5)
Martin Luther wrote that when Jesus said “Repent,” he meant repent and keep on repenting. We need to constantly turn from the brokenness of a sin-stricken world to our sin-atoning Lord. Suffering and tragedy invite us to come to the Lord.
Repentance becomes an ongoing process. God’s work in our lives is not finished at the moment of salvation. He is in the process of changing us little by little, moment by moment, day by day. Repentance is essentially that ongoing yielding to God’s way of thinking, which then will result in how we act.
Romans 12:1–2 ESV
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Change of actions
So repentance in not simply a change of mind, but a change of actions to which, McKinley notes:
Luke 12–24 for You Chapter 2: Death Comes and the Kingdom Grows (Luke Chapter 13 Verse 1 to 14 Verse 6)
Repentance involves both a change of heart and a change of life; when someone repents they feel remorse for their sin and they turn toward God in a desire to obey him.
If you’ve never trusted in Jesus Christ as your Savior - know that today is the day of salvation (2 Cor. 6:2). Just as these Galileans and those affected by the tower of Siloam did not know what day would be their last, Jesus’ encouragement is that we repent.
Acts 3:19–20 ESV
Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord…
So Jesus urges us to recognize the times, reconcile before judgment which comes in the form of repentance. As we continue in our journey with Christ, Jesus’ final call in this passage is that we…
Respond and Bear Fruit (13:6-9)
Jesus’ parable here may be referring specifically to some of the religious leaders of his day who were supposed to be leading God’s people. In his grace and mercy, Jesus as the vinedresser wants to allow another year before cutting the tree in judgment.
Understand the grace and patience of God!
Repentance results in fruit because we’ve yielded our lives to the ways of God.
Fruit happens when we…
let the Word of God nourish our souls
let the Spirit of God prune our lives - purging from us the deadness that leads to fruitlessness
let the people of God come along side - to walk with us, to pray with us, to encourage us.
let all of that flow out from our lives in ministry, witness.
Now, on one hand we can get into a legalistic mindset thinking that we must do and do and do in order to bear fruit. Rather, I think it’s helpful to think through the influences of our lives. What are we allowing in?
In contrasting legalistic performance and life in the Spirit, the Apostle Paul notes that the works of the flesh are self-serving and sinful (Galatians 5:17-21). But when we allow the Spirit of God to fertilize the soil of our lives, then He bears fruit in us:
Galatians 5:22–25 ESV
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.
Beloved, brothers and sisters in Christ, as we look at our lives, what kind of fruit is being born? Is it clear and healthy? Does the fruit of our lives make a difference in the lives of people around us? How?
Is our fruit anemic and lifeless? Is there any fruit?
If we find our that the fruit from our lives does not glorify God or make a Kingdom difference in the lives of others, then maybe we should again go back and follow Jesus’ pattern here -
recognize the spiritual signs - take note of what’s going on - acknowledge,
reconcile with Christ - come to Jesus in humility…
repent for places where we might not be glorifying Him fully and ask for His help so that we might
respond by bearing fruit through the power and work of the Spirit.
Let’s pray.
Benediction
Jesus said:
John 15:5 ESV
I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
Questions for reflection and discussion
Read Luke 12:54-13:9
To whom was Jesus talking? (12:54)
What did a cloud in the west and the wind from the south mean to Jesus’ audience? (12:54-55)
What name did Jesus call the crowd? (12:56) Why?
What did Jesus want His audience to do? (12:57)
What could be the consequences if people did not settle their differences? (12:58–59) How does that relate to us?
To what “signs” does God want us to pay attention?
What explanation for the tragedies of the Galileans’ sacrifice and those who died in the falling of the Tower of Siloam did Jesus propose? (13:2,4) How does that affect how we view tragedies?
What were Jesus’ listeners to learn from the two stories? (13:3–5)
Why do we often assume that people suffer because they are uniquely bad?
Whom do the fig tree, the man, and the vineyard tender represent?
What second chances have you been given?
“Why hasn’t Jesus returned yet?” How could you use these verses as part of an answer to that question?
Sources:
Anyabwile, Thabiti. Exalting Jesus in Luke. Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary. Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2018.
Bock, Darrell L. Luke 9:51-24:53. Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 1999.
Martin, John A. “Luke.” In The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, edited by J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985.
Liefeld, Walter L. “Luke.” In The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Matthew, Mark, Luke, edited by Frank E. Gaebelein, Vol. 8. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1984.
McKinley, Mike. Luke 12-24 for You. Edited by Carl Laferton. God’s Word for You. The Good Book Company, 2016.
Stein, Robert H. Luke. Vol. 24. The New American Commentary. Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1992.
The NET Bible First Edition; Bible. English. NET Bible.; The NET Bible. Biblical Studies Press, 2005. Print.
Wilcock, Michael. The Savior of the World: The Message of Luke’s Gospel. The Bible Speaks Today. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1979.
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