Where Is The Fruit?

Introduction and Setting:

In today’s Gospel lesson we hear Jesus telling his disciples similar stories about two shocking, horrific episodes. The first is about a recent atrocity that would have been well known to the disciples: how Pontius Pilate had murdered a group of Galilean pilgrims as they were making sacrifices in the temple.

Jesus evokes the unnerving picture of these murdered worshipers lying in their own blood amid the blood of their sacrificed animals.

This would have been a shocking story for the disciples, who were themselves Galilean.

But Jesus shocks them further when he says, “Do you think that because these Galilean suffered in this way they were worse sinners than all other Galileans? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as they did.”

Then Jesus tells them a second shocking story, again a tragedy from the local news, known to his hearers, about a tower that has fallen on innocent bystanders, killing eighteen of them.

He asks, “Do you think they were worse offenders than all the others living in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish just as they did.”

Jesus here calls into question the popular belief that all misfortune is punishment for sin.

How many times have we looked at the circumstances that person was in and said that what they get!

We may deny that we think that, but at some primitive level such a belief protects us from life’s harsh truths.

So when disasters happen to others, we often tend to think there must be a good reason.

When we read the obituaries we may imagine the AIDS’ victim is an IV drug user or perhaps involved in high-risk sexual behavior.

These are not fair assumptions, but they provide a way of distancing ourselves from the pain of others.

We make a bargain with God, that if we live relatively ordered and cautious lives we will be safe from the asteroids, safe from the terrorist malice, safe from drunk drivers.

And when misfortune does happen to us or those we love we all become theologians.

We ask, to use the title of Harold Kushner’s popular book of years ago: “Why do bad things happen to good people?”

We all become masters of Theodicy

It’s a question as old as the book of Job.

So Jesus, recognizing that their motives were not pure

Resort to a rather familiar pattern of teaching

he speaks to them in a parable

Jesus would often use parables as a way to captivate your attention so that you could recognize the lesson that he needed you to know

Jesus could tell that these men were not screaming and hollering because their fellow kindred had died

Jesus recognizes that these men were hollering and screaming because they had taken the position of being pompous and prideful

Parable Breakdown

The message of the parable is very simple

The man in the parable is God

The fig tree is the people of God

and the vine dresser is Jesus the mediator between the people and God

Jesus uses this parable to simply inform these men that despite your best efforts, if it had not been for me intervening between you and God

you would have been cut down

it’s important for us to acknowledge and recognize

that God has had an expectation on our lives since the very day we took our first breath

I see this often, but he did not save us for us to merely benefit ourselves

And much like these men in the text

many of us have taken the privilege of being in God vineyard in vain

We have a revelation of who God is.

We have a glimpse of His love for us.

We know that when we are burdened we can take it to God in prayer.

We know that when we are weak, He is strong.

We know where our help comes from.

Turn despite all of this knowledge and all of this insight

We have been found fruitless in the eyes of God.

You see this fig tree to an ordinary observer was doing all right.

As far as the passers-by could see it was doing well.

But when it was examined closely it was found to be fruitless.

How many of us in here are like that fig tree that looks good on the outside?

Looks good to those who hardly know us?

Looks good from a far?

Looks good to those who see us once a week?

You see it is easy church, it is easy to be like that tree.

We know how to put on that look that says that everything is alright with us.

We know the church smile and the holy look.

We know how to walk the right way and talk the right way.

We know how to greet everyone with a “Happy Sabbath,” and a warm hug. We know if we dress well enough and come early enough that folks will believe that we are being fruitful.

We know if we show up enough times and pay enough tithe that others will think that everything is alright with us.

But as the saying goes, you can fool some of the people all of the time and all of the people some of the time but you can’t fool my God anytime.

He knows the real you.

But my brothers and sisters were puzzles me about this entire parable is why did God have the expectation for the tree that was out of its element to produce?

How can I produce in an uncomfortable environment?

Body Point 1: The Parable: A Fig Tree Out of Place

The Oddity of the Setting: The parable opens with an unusual image: a fig tree planted in a vineyard. This wasn't common practice. Fig trees typically thrived in the wild, not carefully cultivated vineyards.

Fig trees aren’t usually placed in vineyards.

They grow by the wayside.

They grow on hard ground.

They depend on the rain that falls from the sky.

But there is something special about this fig tree for it has been planted in a vineyard.

The Vineyard's Structure: Location: The vineyard is strategically located on a hillside.

Irrigation: Positioning the vineyard on a hillside allows for natural irrigation from rainwater flowing downhill. Hedged or Fenced: The vineyard is protected by a hedge or fence to keep out animals and intruders.

Soil Cultivation: The soil in the vineyard is carefully cultivated to ensure it is fertile and rich in nutrients. Regular tilling and fertilization help maintain the soil's quality, promoting healthy growth.

Choice Vines: Only the best, choice vines are planted in the vineyard to ensure a high-quality yield. These vines are selected for their ability to produce excellent fruit.

Watchtower: A watchtower is built within the vineyard. The watchtower serves as a lookout to protect the vineyard from thieves and animals. It also provides a vantage point to oversee the growth and health of the vines.

The Fig Tree's Disruption: The fig tree, in this environment, was an anomaly.

this fig tree in this environment could either have been a blessing or a curse

Horticulturalist would tell you that The only time you plant a fig tree in a vineyard is winning you want the birds to attract the birds that would normally eat the grapes.

This shows that the idea that in order to produce you must be in the right environment in order to be effective

It is important that we seek to understand why God has us planed where we are

It disrupted the order, took up valuable space, and failed to produce the expected fruit.

Transition: But the parable doesn't end with frustration; it offers a path to transformation. And that path begins with repentance.

Body Point 2: Repentance: Adapting to God's Expectations

Repentance as Adaptation: Repentance is often seen as turning away from sin, but it's also about adapting to God's expectations. It's about recognizing our misalignment and making the necessary changes to thrive in His vineyard.

Brothers and sisters Jesus in this parable forms us that the only way for us to truly repent is we’re going to need his help.

Notice what he says here in verse number seven, When the Vineyard owner made his decision that he had had enough, Had declared judgment upon the tree, The dresser of the Vineyard presents the argument that perhaps the problem is not the tree, but rather the soil is too hard.

So he presents the solution it’s right here in the text he says until I dig around it

Now Jesus is arguing that he would dig around the roots of the tree.

Roots are very sensitive and there are two ways they can become unusable

Physical Damage: When digging or performing construction near a tree, even small cuts or disturbances can sever roots, leading to reduced water and nutrient uptake. Root Pruning or Trenching: Cutting roots, whether intentionally or accidentally, can remove significant portions of the root system, destabilizing the tree and reducing its ability to absorb nutrients and water.

Digging Around the Sensitive Parts: The vinedresser's actions, digging around the fig tree's roots, can be likened to spiritual surgery. It's uncomfortable, even painful, to have the sensitive areas of our lives exposed and worked on. The Sensitive Areas: These are the parts of us we'd rather not touch: our pride, ego, traditions, habits. They're deeply ingrained, and change can feel threatening.

And often times what makes us resist. The digging that is necessary in our lives is because Jesus is methods are unconventional.

only Jesus would remove the crutch of a sacrifice and tell people to believe in him

Only Jesus would take teenagers and turn them into voices to the nations

Only Jesus would Call strangers to foreign lands to proclaim his gospel

Only Jesus would use a stranger on the sidewalk to speak a word of encouragement

Only Jesus with our pride and our ego for the sake of our salvation

You see in Jesus it takes a lot for Jesus to dig Around us

And I’ve discovered that you will often resist what is foreign or uncomfortable to you

Many of us have developed fears and phobias because of things that are uncomfortable

Many of us have has resisted change it was uncomfortable

Jesus says that change that you are resistant may be the very thing that saves your life

The Fertilizer: Fruits of the Spirit: The fertilizer represents the transformative power of the Holy Spirit. It's designed to change our growth patterns, but it can only work if we allow it to penetrate to the roots. Transformation Starts at the Roots: Until the roots change, there will be no lasting transformation. Surface-level adjustments aren't enough. We need deep, internal change to adapt to God's environment.

Body Point 3: The Vinedresser's Investment

The Vinedresser's Livelihood: Vinedressers were often paid with a portion of the vineyard's yield. Their livelihood was directly tied to the fruitfulness of the vines. This means that every plant's productivity directly affected their income and survival. If a plant did not yield fruit, it jeopardized their ability to provide for themselves and their families. The vinedresser's meticulous care for each vine was not just about the plants; it was about ensuring a sustainable future.

A Risky Plea: The vinedresser's plea for the fig tree was a personal investment. He was linking his own future to the tree's potential. This decision was fraught with risk. By pleading for more time and resources to be invested in the fig tree, he was essentially staking his reputation and livelihood on the hope that this tree could turn around. It was a gamble that required faith in the unseen potential and the unseen work that could be done with the right care and conditions.

Believing in Potential: Despite the tree's unfruitfulness, the vinedresser saw its potential. He was willing to risk his own well-being on the hope of its transformation. This belief in potential speaks to the heart of his character - one of hope, patience, and perseverance. The vinedresser saw beyond the current state of the fig tree and envisioned what it could become with proper nurturing. He understood that growth takes time and that sometimes, the most challenging cases yield the most rewarding results. His willingness to invest his time, effort, and resources into the fig tree reflects a deep commitment to fostering life and growth, even when the outcome is uncertain. The Vinedresser's Expertise: The vinedresser's decision was not based on a naive hope but on a deep understanding of horticulture. He knew that with the right interventions, even a seemingly barren tree could be revived. His expertise allowed him to see what others might overlook

Have you any rivers

That seem uncrossable?

And have you any mountain

That you cannot tunnel through?

God specializes

In things thought impossible

And He will do what no other

No other power but Holy Ghost power can do

Is there any bond here?

That knows

That God

Is not an ordinary physician

By delving deeper into the vinedresser's investment, we see a rich tapestry of hope, expertise, grace, and long-term vision, offering profound insights into the nature of God's care for us and the potential for transformation.

Conclusion:

Adapting to an uncomfortable environment requires digging deep, allowing God to work on the sensitive areas of our lives, and embracing the transformative power of the Holy Spirit. It's a process that can feel unsettling, even painful, but it's essential for growth. Like the fig tree, we may find ourselves planted in unfamiliar soil. But remember, God is the ultimate vinedresser. He sees our potential, even when we don't. He's invested in our growth and is willing to give us the time and resources we need to flourish. So let's not resist the digging, the pruning, the fertilizing. Let's embrace the discomfort, knowing that it's leading us to a place of deeper rootedness, greater fruitfulness, and ultimately, a more fulfilling life in His vineyard.

Call to Action:

Reflect on the areas of your life where you're resisting change. Are there sensitive parts that need to be exposed and worked on? Invite the Holy Spirit to dig deep, to fertilize your roots, and to transform you from the inside out. Trust in God's timing and His investment in your growth. Embrace the discomfort, knowing that it's leading you to a place of greater fruitfulness.