Brent Kuhlman

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Third Sunday in Lent “C”                                                                                     

7 March 2010                                   

St. Luke 13:1-9

Galileans.  Bloodily, brutally, and unjustly punished by Governor Pilate while they offered their sacrifices in the temple.  New Orleans.  Devastated by Hurricane Katrina. Haiti and Chile.  Mega quakes wreak massive destruction.  Thousands disastrously die.  Jerusalem.  Eighteen citizens are crushed tragically when the tower of Siloam falls on them.  Why does this happen?  Did the Galileans, citizens of Jerusalem, New Orleans, Haiti, and Chile suffer these shocking tragedies because they are worse sinners than everyone else in the world?  Do you suppose that all these folks are greater sinners than even you and me?   

One prominent American TV evangelist who ran for president a number of times answered Jesus’ question in the affirmative. He stated that Katrina struck New Orleans as divine punishment for the city’s rampant immorality.  And just recently he declared that Haiti was divinely devastated because the country made a deal with the devil a long time ago.  New Orleans.  Haiti.  Chile.  Galileans.  Greater sinners?  Therefore . . .

Your neighbor goes bankrupt.  The teenager from Plattsmouth jumps to his death into the Missouri River.  The farmer next door has a stroke.  A woman has a tiny hiccup in her DNA and the cells in her brain go wildly cancerous.  The man’s car hits a patch of black ice and slams into a tree.  A gang member randomly shoots his gun on an Omaha street and the bullet takes the life of a young child.  Why do these things happen?  Because theses folks are big sinners?  Is it because their sins are bigger?  Greater than even yours?

What’s that?  You’re not as bad as those folks, you say?  When you compare yourself with the neighbors or the Haitians, the Chileans, or the Galileans, you say that you rate pretty well?  Not so bad?  Not so great?  Average?  A bit above average you say?  If you grade yourself on a curve, where do you end up?  With a high B+ or a low A?   In the competition?  No?    Better than the competition?  That’s amazing.  No, that’s very sad.  Very tragic. 

Comparing yourself to others is one thing.   When we do the comparison jobs we usually end up on top.  We like that.  We’ll do anything to make sure that’s the case.   

But when the Lord Jesus shows up then everything changes! When you stand in His presence the ante goes up. Your grading scale is ruined.  Jesus doesn’t grade on the curve.  He does not say “A” for effort. 

When you stand before Jesus you’re exposed.  When you’re in the Lord’s’ presence, you’re not as hot as you think you are.  In fact, you’re worse than you ever imagined.  When the Lord Jesus shows up there’s only one name for which you qualify:  SINNER!  Total sinner.  Who deserves God’s temporal and eternal punishment.  After all, the wages of sin is death Scripture declares.     

No wonder then that Jesus puts it quite bluntly:  “Unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”  That’s the correct response to all the disaster, destruction, disease and death that happens in this world.  After all, the worst thing that can happen to you is not disaster, destruction, disease, or death.  It’s damnation.  And unless we all repent, we’ll be worse off than the Haitians, the Chileans, and those crushed by the tower in Siloam. 

And so Jesus tells the parable of the fig tree.  For three years he came looking for figs.  For fruit.  And at the end of the three years:  nothing.  Nada.  How will the owner deal with his fruitless fig tree?  “This tree is a waste!  Worthless!  Useless!  A waste of darn good soil.  I’m going to cut it down!  Gardener!  Where’s my saw?”  Well, that’s certainly one way to deal with a fruitless fig tree, isn’t it?  “It must produce fruit or die!”    

But then comes a surprise.  A huge shocker!  The completely unexpected!  The gardener pipes up:  “Hold on there Mr. Owner.  I know that fig tree’s been quite worthless these past years.  But what do you sayLet’s leave that fig tree alone.”  Literally the Greek verb here is, “Let’s forgive it!  Let’s forgive it!”  Incredible!  “Mr. Owner, I’ll dig around its roots.  I’ll put in a bunch of fertilizer.  And let’s see what happens!  What the heck!  Let’s leave this open ended.  If it bears fruit in the future wonderful.  If not, well, go ahead then, get out your chainsaw.” 

You and I are that fruitless fig tree.  Now tell me, which of the two ways would you prefer to be treated?  How do you want Jesus to deal with you?  Do you want Jesus to give you what you deserve?  Or do you want Him to be merciful to you?

Jesus keeps coming back day after day, week after week, year after year.  Digging.  Fertilizing and watering you with His Good Friday Body and Blood.  Tendering you His little fig tree.  Forgiving you!  Through every disaster, destruction, disease and death that happens anywhere and to anyone in the world.    

And when you see or hear of such tragedy the Lord Jesus would have you repent.  Today.  Tomorrow.  Every day.  And all the days of your life.  To confess your sin to Him.  And then to receive His forgiveness that He won for you through faith.  To trust that He is your Savior.  To put yourself in the same boat with St. Paul who declared, “Christ Jesus died for sinners of whom I am the worst.”  No that’s a fig tree that’s bearing much fruit.  All thanks to Jesus who died for you.  And nourishes you with His Body and His Blood.

In the Name of Jesus.