...pay attention and pray...

“1 At that very time there were some present who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 He asked them, ‘Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were worse sinners than all other Galileans? 3 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as they did. 4 Or those eighteen who were killed when the tower of Siloam fell on them — do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others living in Jerusalem? 5 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish just as they did.’

6 Then Jesus told this parable: ‘A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and found none. 7 So he said to the gardener, “See here! For three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and still I find none. Cut it down! Why should it be wasting the soil?” 8 He replied, “Sir, let it alone for one more year, until I dig round it and put manure on it. 9 If it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down’” Luke 13:1-9.

What can Jesus be talking about here: “Unless you repent, you will all perish” (verse 5)? Jesus’ warnings are very stark and specific. We don’t like this “side” of Jesus. But here’s the point. Jesus isn’t being vindictive or hostile. He doesn’t want to see us destroyed. What does He want us to repent of? Look, Jesus tells us things we don’t always want to hear. Jesus is saying that Israel is one bad move, one bad choice way from being stamped out by Rome. Jesus wants too save His people! So He is willing to take the full force of Rome’s anger upon Himself. If you follow Christ, you will be safe. Ignore Christ, and you will not make it! If you behave and make choices that, like the fig tree, fail to bear fruit in your life, you will be cut down and die. Jesus is telling Israel about the dangers of violent nationalism that is causing Galileans to suffer. He is telling them to take head of the building that collapsed and killed 18! And so Jesus says: “Unless you repent, you will all perish just as they did” (verse 5).

So get praying that Jesus’ warnings about the dangers of violent nationalism  may be heard in our world.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God,

have mercy on me a sinner.