In today’s lesson, we will see some people asking Jesus about current events of their time. Often, we look around us at things which are happening, and we try to make sense of tragic and horrifying things and we may even bring those questions to God, seeking answers that make sense. But sometimes, bad things happen in the world, and we cannot explain them in terms of what is fair or what someone deserves. This is the crux of today’s lesson.
At that time, Pilate and Herod were mortal enemies. An incident had occurred, prior to Jesus’ ministry, where Pilot had wanted to build an aqueduct from the Pools of Solomon to the city of Jerusalem. To fund it, he had demanded money be taken from the Jewish Temple in Herod’s jurisdiction, money which had been dedicated to Israel’s God. This, of course, outraged the Jews and they sent a delegation to beg for their money back. In retribution, Pilate sent some of his soldiers into the Temple crowd, disguised as common folk, and on signal, they pulled out daggers and attacked those who had asked for the money. Their blood was spilled right there in the Temple and mixed with the blood of the animals being sacrificed to God on the altar… a horrible sacrilege to the Jews. This may or may not be the same incident referred to in our text for today, but it is typical of Pilate’s behavior.
The Tower of Siloam was an ancient structure in Jerusalem which fell and killed 18 people. This was another current event of Jesus’ time that is mentioned in today’s text. Read Luke 13:1-5.
There were some people at that time who came and told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with the blood of the sacrifices. This would have been a serious desecration of their Temple. At that time, people often believed that when bad things happened to people, it was because they had sinned and God was punishing them. These folks may have been wondering if the people who had been killed were being punished for bad sin or whether the Israelite people were being punished as a whole through a judgment against their Temple. Jesus understood their concerns and told them that no, this was not the reason this happened. However, He told them that unless they repented of their sins, they would all perish.
Jesus was very clear, when asked, that the reason for misfortune was not sin. Misfortune happens to everyone and clean living will not protect you from it. But He made sure to tell them that there is a consequence for sin. Jesus’ ministry was based on warning people of the consequences of sin. He was habitually telling people of their need to confess their sins and seek forgiveness. Without repentance comes eternal death and punishment (Rom 6:23).
Jesus then brought up another current event from that time. He mentioned the 18 people who had recently been killed when the Tower of Siloam fell on them and He asked whether the people thought that this happened to them just because they had been worse sinners than the other people living in Jerusalem. And then again, He stated that without repenting from their sins, they would also perish just like the 18 had. He did not mean that a tower would fall on them also, but that they would spend an eternity in Hell. It was a warning to the unrepentant.
Read verses 6-9. In these verses, Jesus then told the people a parable about a man with a vineyard. This man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard and he checked it regularly for fruit, but it didn’t seem to ever produce any. In the Bible, vineyards and orchards typically represent the nation of Israel. In this parable, the fig tree represents an individual man in that nation of Israel. The man (God) regularly checked the fig tree for good fruit (service to God) but doesn’t find any. Apparently, He has been checking for three years (length of Jesus’ ministry on earth) and is ready to cut down the tree. But the man taking care of the vineyard (Jesus, who intercedes on our behalf), asks Him to give the fig tree a little more time before giving up on it.
You see, folks, the Bible tells us that God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to know Him and have everlasting life (2 Pet 3:9). After His death and resurrection, Jesus ascended into Heaven, and now sits at the right hand of God, the Father, where He is making intercession on our behalf (Rom 11:1-5, Rom 8:26-34). Here, Jesus was illustrating God’s patience with Israel as a nation and with mankind as individuals but noting that He will not wait forever for man’s repentance. Heed His warnings. Repent of your sins and come to know Him as your savior and Lord.
Record John 11:25 in your journal.
Responding to God: Worship God in His holiness. Seek His understanding when tragic things occur and allow Him to comfort and guide you. Offer aid and comfort to those who are suffering.
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