The Worse Sinner is?

March 11, 2007 (Lent 3)

Rev. Steven D. Spencer, Pastor

Luke 13:1-9

1 Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. 2 Jesus answered, "Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? 3 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. 4 Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them-- do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish." 6 Then he told this parable: "A man had a fig tree, planted in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it, but did not find any. 7 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?' 8 "'Sir,' the man replied, 'leave it alone for one more year, and I'll dig around it and fertilize it. 9 If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.'"

"What sin did they commit do to deserve this?" That seems to be the question behind our Gospel account. Everybody knows that Pilate isn’t the sharpest pencil in the box, the brightest bulb in the lamp, when it comes to administering justice; he's committed some incredible blunders along the way. Among them, apparently he slaughtered some innocent Galileans. To make matters worse, it was while they were offering sacrifices at the temple. That would be like having the Salem police coming in during the Lord's Supper and gunning down worshipers at the altar.

The people pass this story on to Jesus. What did these Galileans do to deserve this? What sin did they commit? If they didn't deserve it, well, then Pilate is the rogue that we all think he is. And if you're really a king, Jesus, shouldn't You be doing something about a good-for-nothing Pontius Pilate? That’s the same mistake made by the other people in the Gospels: They believe that Jesus is a king whose objective is to overthrow the Romans. They're half right: Jesus is a king, but His kingdom isn’t of this world. He's not out to overthrow temporal rulers; rather, He's come to give eternal life.

That's why Jesus isn't going after Pilate, no matter how much of a weasel Pilate is. So setting aside the injustice, He speaks of eternal consequences instead: Luke 13:2&3 "Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish." It must have dumbfounded the people, could they have been so wrong? They've been wondering what those Galileans did to deserve killing. According to Jesus, maybe it wasn't that they got worse than they deserved; instead, maybe everybody else has gotten better than they deserve.

And to make sure that they don't think He's simply anti-Galilean, Jesus brings it home to the Holy City in verse 4: "Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will likewise perish." That one wasn't Pilate's fault, but rather one of those tragedies that "just happened." So, were those who died worse sinners? No, says Jesus. Rather than ask, "What did they do to deserve this?” the people should be asking, "Why did the tower not fall on us, too?"

Jesus is driving home an very unpopular point: The wages of sin is death, no one deserves the Lord's help or His favor. Therefore, rather than worry about Pilate, and others sins, they ought to worry about their souls and repent, because sooner or later death will strike. It's only a matter of time, and you’ll want to be ready.

This lesson rubs raw the Pharisee-like beliefs that the Old Adam loves, including our Old Adam. We sinners thrive on the foolish notion that "God loves us because we're better than those other people." We’re attracted to the belief that "If something bad happens to someone, they’ve obviously had it coming." Good things happen to good people, and bad things happen to bad people-right? Let's ask some other questions instead: What makes those who believe such things better in the eyes of God? It certainly isn't their arrogance, their pride or their prejudice. What makes them so pleasing to God? Or, to put it another way, with what is the Lord pleased?

Jesus answers this question with the parable of the fig tree. Fig trees take a few years to bear fruit, but there comes a time when the figs should be there. In the parable, the fig tree looks good, but it's never yielded any fruit; so the owner tells the vineyard keeper to cut it down. Why should something so useless use up ground and water? The keeper responds by asking for one more cycle of time. He'll dig around it and fertilize it, giving it one more last chance to bear fruit; but if it doesn't produce, both he and the owner agree that the time has come for it to be turned to kindling.

By this parable, the Lord warns the people that they are like a fig tree. They might look fine, but they lack the fruit that God desires. What is that fruit? He's told them twice already: It's repentance! To turn from their sin and trust in the Savior-that's the fruit the Lord is looking for. But, their high opinion of self indicates that they haven’t acknowledged their sin nor confessed it. Their desire is for Jesus to get rid of Pilate. They don't acknowledge Jesus as Savior the one who can save them from their sin.  They haven't repented; and because they remain in their sin and unbelief, they deserve to be cut down. However, God is gracious and is giving them more time to repent. But if they fail to do so, judgment will come.

It may seem unfair to some that Jesus warns of judgment for those who fail to repent; but heed the rest of the story before accusing Him of being lax. Not only is God mercifully giving them time to repent, but He’s also giving His Son to redeem them. Jesus is to be the One who is cut down in their place, in our place, for sin, so that they, that we, may have forgiveness and life. Forgiven, they will, we will, bear the fruit of repentance.

All in all, Jesus' abrupt statements here deal a blow to our Old Adam's pride. He tells us that the normal safety of our lives is far more than we deserve; it's a gift from a merciful God, not something we've earned. Not only is God merciful, but He is also gracious. Thus He has sent His Son into the world-not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. Jesus is going willingly to that cross so that we might repent and live.

But still you may be asking, “Pastor, why do bad things happen when they happen, and, why do they happen to the people that they happen to?” It's a question that gets debated a lot. Sometimes the answer is explained away with a lame sort of karma, “what goes around comes around,” you know people eventually get what's coming to them. Sometimes the answer is exploited by false preachers, who tell you that only good things will happen to you-as long as you only have enough faith. Of course, sooner or later something bad happens, even to such an arrogant one. This ends with one of two results. Either he says, "I'm not bad enough to deserve this, so it's just a fluke," or "I've done some terrible thing that I don't know about to deserve this; and until I find out what it is, I'm lost."

Now, I don't think that many of us here will buy into karma or the chatter of the televangelists; but the Old Adam is inside us, sometimes flirts with that same line of thinking.

That question is natural enough though, why do bad things happen when they happen? But rather than ask that question to which the Lord gives no answers, we have a different, difficult task before us. We must confront some very uncomfortable Law. God’s Law leaves us with no room whatsoever to feel good about ourselves. But remember our reason for hearing the Law: It shows us our sin. As we see the depth of our sin, we see our need for the Gospel all the more.

Are you ready? I present it with fear and trembling, because I know that many of you have suffered much, far more than I can comprehend. But here it is: “No matter your situation in life, it is better than you deserve. No matter how much anguish and trouble you endure, life is still better than what you are worthy to receive.”

We acknowledge that the wages of sin is death, for the Bible says so. But I think-- if we’re really honest about it, that we believe that we deserve that death to only arrive after many fruitful years of life. And of course to arrive while we’re sleeping. But this isn’t what Scripture says. It doesn't say, "The wages of sin is death, but you're not so sinful that you don't deserve a good life first." According to Scripture, we sinners remain alive solely by the mercy of God, who doesn’t strike us down immediately with the judgment that we deserve. You want to see who is the worse sinner? Look in a mirror!

No matter your situation in life, it is better than you deserve. If you don’t acknowledge this truth, all sorts of sin and trouble results. Do you want to be content with what you have? Then acknowledge that everything you have is an undeserved gift from God. The one who doesn’t believe this, is the one who fights with discontentment and covetousness. Do you want to trust the Lord in time of trial? Then acknowledge that, despite the trial, your life is still more than you merit before Him. If you reject this truth, then you will have resentment, not trust, toward the Lord.

What's the purpose of this undeserved life? According to the parable of the fig tree, the purpose is repentance. The Lord continues our lives so that we might live as His repentant people, and so that we might declare that repentance and forgiveness to others. To live a marvelously successful life in this world, to do all sorts of famous acts of kindness and generosity- is to throw away life if you don’t repent. Because, eventually, you will perish.

It's not exactly a happy bit of Law before us today, is it? One is tempted to be angry with God for making such a law. It's unfair, right? Ah, but don't forget the rest of the story.

In other words, hear the Gospel: There’s only one who didn’t deserve death for His sin, because He wasn't sinful. I speak, of course, of Jesus Christ. He bore perfect fruits of righteousness and obedience to His Father; He didn’t earn the wages of sin. Yet, all the same, He paid them. He went to the cross and shed His blood-not for Himself, but for you and for me. The One who didn't have to die for His sin died for your sin. He was your substitute on the cross, offering the perfect Sacrifice to God.

Now, we ask: What did Jesus do to deserve the cross? Nothing! It was no sin of His that put Him there. He didn't deserve that judgment and death, but He willingly endured it for you. Rising victoriously, He showers you with the forgiveness of sins. Now, what have you done to deserve such grace and favor? Again, nothing! This grace is undeserved, freely given, no strings attached. And that is cause for rejoicing: For when you acknowledge this Law and Gospel, then you are left with the joy of certain salvation. You see, if you had to do something to deserve such forgiveness, then you could never be certain that you’ve done enough. But if Christ did it all and gives it all to you, then He did all the work. He got the job done. That's why your salvation is certain.

Your Old Adam wants you to believe that you deserve God's grace and not His judgment. But it's the other way around: We deserve the judgment, not His grace. But God still gives it to us anyway for Jesus' sake. Therefore, we rejoice to repent. We gladly admit we are the worse sinner and confess the sin that would bring well deserved judgment upon us. Yet we rejoice because the Savior suffered in our place.

Oh, yes: Rejoice to repent, because-quite undeservedly and solely by the grace of God-you are forgiven for all of your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost for Jesus sake and in Jesus name, Amen and Amen!