LUKE 13
JESUS HEALS ON THE SABBATH + TEACHES OF THE NARROW GATE
When asked about the death of innocent people, Jesus deconstructs the idea that bad things happen due to a person’s sinfulness or wrongdoing. He does not dismiss the idea that there are often consequences to sin, but teaches that tragedies, murders, or disasters are not always the result of someone's offenses or punishment from God. Jesus encourages His followers to repent, so that they can inherit eternal life and not perish.
Jesus shares a parable of a vineyard owner and a gardener. After three years of owning a fig tree in his vineyard, the vineyard owner wants to cut down the tree when no fruit was produced. The gardener advocates for the tree, asking for another year to tend its growth. In this parable, the tree represents the Israelites who have not repented. God is personified as the owner who has grown impatient with the fig tree that does not grow fruit. Jesus stands in the middle as the gardener, patiently tending to the tree, anticipating its growth. Through His death on the cross, He takes on God’s wrath towards the sin of the people. This parable is also a reminder that growth takes significant time and effort.
While at the synagogue on the Sabbath, Jesus encounters a disabled woman who is unable to stand upright. Instead of the woman coming to Jesus for healing, He pursues her upon realizing she is in need. After being criticized by the Pharisees for healing on the Sabbath, He confronts their hypocritical accusations, reminding them that they would bring their animals to water on the Sabbath. How is Jesus providing for the woman different from their provision for their flock? After saying this, He heals the woman, and His adversaries are put to shame.
Jesus teaches that a small amount of faith can have a great impact, using the example of the tiny mustard seed growing into a large tree and a small amount of leaven raising a large amount of flour.
Jesus continues teaching and traveling towards Jerusalem. Along the way, He is asked how many people will be saved. Because this question is vague, it is unknown whether the man is referring to salvation from Roman oppression, from suffering, or from sin. Jesus does not answer directly, but instead gives the image of a narrow door. Although many will want to enter through the door, only those who personally know God will enter. For those who have repented of their sins and trusted in Him as their Savior, the door will be opened.
Jesus laments over the rejection He has faced from the people of Jerusalem. He wants to gather God’s children, uniting them together, but they have been unwilling. Referring to Jerusalem as the city that kills prophets, Jesus says He will not enter the city until the time they will say, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord,” prophesying His entrance into Jerusalem (Luke 19).
