Luke 13:1-17
Q.1. How did the response of Jesus to tragedy underscore the essentiality of the Gospel? How should we respond to such tragedies? – (Lk.13:1-5)
There has always been tragedy. The technology of our day multiplies our exposure to such events. However, we can be indifferent to tragedies, unless they involve our family or friends. People told Jesus about a slaughter of Galileans by Pilate. He then reminded the crowds of another recent disaster when a tower toppled at Siloam, taking eighteen victims. We feel very sad about those taken suddenly. The response of Jesus was illuminating. He placed both the victims and the living in the same category – you will ALL likewise perish (Lk.13:3 & 5). Length of life was not a testimony to special favour because all people are under condemnation – unless you repent (Lk.13:3 & 5). Survival in tragedy does not mean salvation. This is where the Gospel comes in. It calls on all men everywhere to repent and come to Jesus. This will turn the inevitable condemnation into everlasting life (Jn.3:16-18). That is ultimately the right way to respond to tragedy. We need to allow tragedies to be an opportunity to encourage people to come to Jesus.
Q.2. What is the Lord looking for from His children? How would the people have understood the parable? – (Lk.13:6-9)
It is not enough to just bring people into the membership of a church. Jesus, in this parable, revealed He is seeking for more. In it He included a fig tree and vineyard … both symbolic of Israel, God’s people. God is patiently looking for fruit – transformation into Christlikeness, and also souls brought into His kingdom. Jesus wants us to be His disciples. However, even more … He wants us to become disciple-makers (c.f. Mt.28:19-20; 2 Tim.2:1-2). Those hearing Jesus would have been well aware of the parable of God from the pen of Isaiah the Prophet (c.f. Isa.5:1-2 & 7).
Q.3. Where was the focus of Jesus and the synagogue official on the Sabbath? Why did God give the Sabbath? – (Lk.13:10-17)
Part of Christ’s focus as He worshiped, was to make a difference to others. Luke told us that when Jesus taught in the synagogue – 11 there was a woman who for eighteen years had had a sickness caused by a spirit; and she was bent double and could not straighten up at all. 12 When Jesus saw her, He called her over and said to her, “Woman, you are freed from your sickness (Lk.13:11-12). Jesus could not worship and at the same time ignore the plight of this woman. Her encounter with God in the flesh left her standing straight and glorifying God (Lk.13:12-13). However, worship meant something different to the leader of the synagogue. For him, it was about gaining credit by following the religious activities … all followed to the letter of Judaism’s laws and traditions (Lk.13:14). In their traditions, they treated a donkey with greater dignity than a person. Jesus drew attention to such hypocrisy (Lk.13:15). The Sabbath was given as an aid to worship. To love others, was inseparable from true worship (Lk.13:16-17). The crowds rejoiced at the liberty Jesus brought into their lives (Lk.13:17).