This chapter begins with Jesus repeating himself.
You know you should sit up and pay attention when he says the same thing twice in one conversation.
What did he say over ?
“I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.
Luke 13:3 NIV
I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.””
Luke 13:5 NIV
He’s facing the end of his earthly ministry. John the Baptist was the last of the prophets. He had been beheaded. People just weren’t getting it. His mission was to prevent his people from perishing and they weren’t hearing him.
He even goes into a parable to try to get his point across.
“Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it but did not find any.
So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’
“ ‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’ ””
Luke 13:6-9 NIV
Jesus was 3 years into his ministry. He still wasn’t seeing the people repent as a whole. He was still pleading to the Father in heaven to give them “one more chance”.
He continues to sit at the right hand of the Father and intercede for us.
“Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.”
Romans 8:34 NIV
Giving us another chance each and every day.
“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”
2 Peter 3:9 NIV
The sign over the gate of our spiritual garden should read: “Fruit or Consequences.”
Becky Brown
Dr Vet Sonya 