God's Patient Grace

Luke 13:1-9

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Patience is a virtue. At least, that’s what my mom continually told me when I was growing up. That’s probably because, no matter how old I am, I’ve never been very patient. Many people say that they struggle with impatience, so I’m not alone. Perhaps you also find yourself not as patient as you would like to be. People are often in a hurry to get things done. Roads clogged with traffic are an annoyance, people who walk slowly in the hallway are an inconvenience, speakers who can’t get their point across quickly are irritating, and meetings that go on longer than you think are necessary are obnoxious. When things take too long, people will often reach for their smartphone to occupy their time or their mind will start to wander. “Let’s get this over with” is a mantra, not just in our own time, but throughout human history. People have been complaining about how long it takes to get things done for centuries, and people have been recognizing their own impatience for centuries, too.

Springtime is a time full of impatience. Most of us are ready for the weather to be warm and clear. No more wind, and no more cold would be exactly what we want. If you have a green thumb, you would like to get your garden and your planters in. Some of you have ordered all your seeds. At least one of you has a hot bed so you were able to put your plants in the soil and cover it so the plants will grow and you can transfer them when you’re sure the frost is past. The closer we get to nice weather, the closer we get to growing gardens. On the years that I have planted a garden, the realization that the sooner I have seedlings in the ground is also the sooner that I have my first fresh tomato of the year. Spring and looking for a fruitful harvest soon seem to go hand in hand.

So, Jesus’ parable about the vineyard owner who was looking for figs from his fig tree seems appropriate. It wasn’t uncommon for fig trees to be planted in vineyards, but these slow-growing trees couldn’t be hurried. A fig tree wouldn’t start bearing fruit for at least three years after it was planted. Yet, the vineyard owner in Jesus’ parable wanted the tree cut down so it wouldn’t use up the soil. His vinedresser slowed him down, asking him to be patient. The vinedresser wanted to fertilize the tree for another year and to be patient with this tree. He wasn’t ready to chop it down quite yet. The vinedresser was patient, not wanting to rush to destroy the unfruitful tree before all hope was lost.

Like all of Jesus’ parables, this isn’t mere agricultural advice. Jesus isn’t trying to make you a better vinedresser, but He is teaching you about the kingdom of God. In this parable, the vineyard owner is God the Father. In the Old Testament, the people of God are often compared to a vineyard. In John’s Gospel, Jesus calls His Father the vinedresser. It is God’s place to judge the fruitfulness and productivity of His people. God has every right not just to cut down unproductive trees, but also to destroy the sinners who reject His word and who refuse to repent and live by faith. There are so many illustrations of sinners that should be judged that, in our impatience, we might want to breeze by this part of the sermon.

But let’s not be hasty. Here, we need to stop and recognize that we don’t always live lives that are repentant and fruitful. How often do you recognize an action, desire, thought, or inclination that God says is contrary to His will and you do it anyway? God’s word is full of prohibitions against drunkenness, and sometimes you just can’t put down the cocktail glass or beer mug. Lust and lewdness are condemned, but you look and lust in real life, in pictures and media, and on the internet. The Lord commands you to not be envious, jealous, or covetous but you are quick to desire what you don’t have. Scripture commands that you not quarrel or pick fights, and that’s exactly what you do anyway. Yet, the Lord doesn’t simply look at the number of wrong things that you do and judge based on that. He judges on repentance. We are quick to judge, quick to criticize, quick to complain, and impatient that Lord deal with our enemies. But don’t forget that this parable follows Jesus’ teaching that, when you see tragic and terrible things happen around you, you should receive that as a call to repentance. The governor commits an atrocity - repent. A tower falls down and kills 18 people - repent. A wind storm blows through your region - repent. You hear of chronic diseases ending lives and hurting livelihoods - repent. The Lord isn’t only looking for righteousness, but for repentance. This parable is, then, incredibly personal.

At the same time, this parable is broadly corporate. Not only is Jesus calling you personally to repent, but He is warning all creation that God is judging the world. In a world where it seems that fewer and fewer people care about God and His Word, they are called to repent of their unbelief and live in God’s forgiveness. This is not merely a call for the world to be filled with good boys and girls, with righteous people who are nice and kind. Instead, this is a call for the world not just to do good things, but to believe that God is in control of all things. God doesn’t just want you to be nice, but He wants all people to believe in Him and call on His name. The world is slow to repent, and slow to produce fruit, and slow to believe in the promises of God.

God has every right to judge harshly and to chop down the unproductive tree. He has every right to judge you for your willful, stubborn sinfulness and He has every right to destroy the world for a lack of faith, like He did in the days of Noah. But the vinedresser intercedes. Instead of bringing an axe, He brings a wheelbarrow full of fertilizer. “Don’t chop the tree down yet,” He pleads. “Give me some time. Let me fertilize it. The time for judgement will come, but be patient.” The vinedresser who intercedes for the fig tree is Jesus, our Lord. Like 1 John 2:1 says, “We have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” Jesus, your advocate, speaks on your behalf. He also speaks on behalf of the world so that the unrepentant aren’t destroyed hastily, but that they have more time to hear the word of the Lord and to believe in Him, because all who believe in Jesus shall not perish but have eternal life. (Jn 3:16) John 3:17 also says “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” Instead of condemnation, Jesus comes with a patient plea, “No, don’t destroy the tree yet. More time, please. Don’t lose hope.”

Psalm 85:4–5 that we prayed before begs, “Restore us again, O God of our salvation, and put away your indignation toward us! Will you be angry with us forever? Will you prolong your anger to all generations?” We ask for God’s patience. While He has every right to be angry with us because of our sin, and while He has every right to destroy the world, we too beg for His patience and His mercy. The Lord is righteous and fair. He always does the right thing. Still, we stand with Jesus and plead, “Be patient. Don’t judge yet. Will you be angry with us forever? Have mercy on us, O Lord!”

When we beg for God’s mercy and patience, we confess that we believe what the Lord says throughout Scripture. About 10 times in Scripture, the Lord is described as being “gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love.” The Lord isn’t impatient to cut you down, cut you off, or condemn you or anyone else. Your sin is ever before you. You are tempted, just like God’s people in the wilderness were tempted. They were tempted by adultery and immorality and they even put God to the test. They even fell into sin. If you think you stand, take heed unless you fall.

Your hope is fixed in Jesus, your advocate and Savior. He patiently calls you to repent from your sin and follow Him. Believe in Him. It is in Him that you have life. Don’t be fooled and think that you can live however you want, no matter what God’s Word says. Your merciful Lord has forgiven your sins because He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.” He doesn’t give up on you, but He forgives you. Live in His grace and take comfort in His mercies which are new every morning, and be confident that His mercy is for you today. Amen.