A Call to Humble Repentance - Luke 13:1-9

1. A Prayer For The People of God
God who is Father, Son and Spirit,
I ask, in the name of Jesus,
that you would shape us
and transform us by your grace,
that we may grow in wisdom and in confidence,
never faltering until we have done all that you desire
to bring your realm of shalom – of peace between
you and all of your creation – to fulfillment.
Amen.

3. Luke 13:1-9
a call to HUMBLE repentance

4. PONTIUSPILATE
JesusChristSuperstar–BenDaniels

5. THETOWERofSILOAM
JamesJacquesJosephTissot(1890)

6. PARABLEoftheFIGTREE
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7. “Tragedy is no sure sign of sinfulness,
just as the absence of tragedy
is no sure sign of righteousness.
All alike…are sinners and all alike
must repent before God.”

8. Luke 13:1-9
a call to HUMBLE repentance

9. At that moment some people
came up and told them the news.
Some Galileans had been in the Temple,
and Pilate had mixed their blood
with that of the sacrifices.
“Do you suppose,” said Jesus,
“that those Galileans suffered
such things because they were
greater sinners than all other
Galileans? No, let me tell you!
Unless you repent, you will all
be destroyed in the same way.”
LUKE
13:1-3
(KNT)

10. “The same way? That’s the key.
Jesus isn’t talking about what
happens after people die…
Jesus is making it clear that those
who refuse his summons to change
direction, to abandon the crazy
flight into national rebellion against
Rome, will suffer the consequences.
Those who take the sword will
perish with the sword. Or, if not
the sword, they will be crushed by
buildings in Jerusalem as the siege
brings them crashing down.”

11. “And what about those
eighteen who were killed
when the tower in Siloam
collapsed on them?
Do you imagine they
were more blameworthy
than anyone else
who lives in Jerusalem?
No, let me tell you!
Unless you repent,
you will all be destroyed
in the same way.”
LUKE
13:4-5
(KNT)

12. He told them this parable…
LUKE
13:6-7
(KNT)

13. “In most cases…a parable
is an expanded analogy used
to convince or persuade…
the question for each parable is:
How did Jesus seek to change
attitudes and behaviors with
this parable?”

14. He told them this parable.
“Once upon a time there was a man
who had a fig tree in his vineyard.
He came to it looking for fruit,
and didn’t find any.
So he said to the gardener,
‘Look here! I’ve been coming
to this fig tree for three years
hoping to find some fruit,
and I haven’t found any!
Cut it down! Why should it
use up the soil?’
LUKE
13:6-7
(KNT)

15. ‘I tell you what, Master,’
replied the gardener;
‘let it alone for just
one more year more.
I’ll dig around it
and put on some manure.
Then, if it fruits next year,
well and good; and if not,
you can cut it down.’”LUKE
13:8-9
(KNT)

16. “…life is lived in the tension of the offer
of mercy and the reality of judgment,
even if the parable is more about
delay and mercy. We do not know
when we will be called to account
for our lives (but) the privilege of
being God’s people (needs to)
lead to productivity (and) still
leads to judgment.”

17. “Tragedy is no sure sign of sinfulness,
just as the absence of tragedy
is no sure sign of righteousness.
All alike…are sinners and all alike
must repent before God.”

18. Luke 13:1-9
a call to HUMBLE repentance

19. Coffins of Christians
murdered in Nigeria

20. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardem
comforting people in the wake
of murders at a Mosque in
Christchurch, New Zealand

21. Massive, historic flooding in NE/IA/KS/MO that has
displaced 2,000+ people and killed 1,000s of livestock

22. Cyclone devestation in
Mozambique/Malawi/Zimbabwe

23. how NOT to INTERPRET/RESPOND…

24. how NOT to INTERPRET/RESPOND…
WITH PRESUMPTION
We are not in the position to accurately interpret
the “why” of such events, nor are we asked to do so

25. how NOT to INTERPRET/RESPOND…
WITH PRESUMPTION
We are not in the position to accurately interpret
the “why” of such events, nor are we asked to do so
WITH DEFLECTION
It is not helpful, or necessary, to use one tragedy
to deflect attention or compassion from another;
tragedy is not a time for followers of Jesus to
engage in “whataboutism”

26. how are we to INTERPRET/RESPOND…
WITH HUMILITY
Because the truth is: (1) we don’t KNOW “why,”
(2) our response should be the same no matter what,
and (3) our own need for repentance still exists

27. how are we to INTERPRET/RESPOND…
WITH HUMILITY
Because the truth is: (1) we don’t KNOW “why,”
(2) our response should be the same no matter what,
and (3) our own need for repentance still exists
WITH LOVING COMPASSION
Because we, as part of God’s creation, are all
in this together; there is no “them,” only “us”

28. how are we to INTERPRET/RESPOND…
WITH PRAYERFUL ACTION
“Thoughts and prayers” are sometimes all we can do,
but other times we can – and must – tie them
to direct action, which calls for a spirit
of wisdom and generosity…

30. Benediction
God of infinite goodness,
throughout the ages you have persevered
in claiming and reclaiming your people.
Renew for us your call to repentance,
surround us with witnesses
to aid us in our journey,
and grant us the time
to fashion our lives anew,
through Jesus Christ our Savior.
Amen.