"...proving that this is very Christ." _ Acts 9:22
"...proving that this is very Christ." _ Acts 9:22

AUGUST 25th

THE BARREN FIG TREE

 

Scripture Reading: Luke 13:1–9

 

1There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.

2 And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things?

3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

4 Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?

5 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

6 He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none.

7 Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?

8 And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it:

9 And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.

 

     To set the tone for this parable the writer wishes to emphasize that the adversary’s tactics are always meant to be an affront to all that is pure and holy. Through our God, our adversary is always proven shallow and falls short in his effort to harm us. The setting begins with grim details recounting the spiritual insult of the enemy against the Galilaeans whose blood Pilate mingled with their sacrifices. Galilee was the home of our Lord. His first recorded miracle occurred there at a place called Cana where he turned water to wine. With the reminder of that miracle, may the focus now turn to and remain on all things spiritual.

 

     The Prophet Isaiah (Chapter 9) prophesied concerning Galilee of the nations where he foresaw a people who sat in darkness seeing a great Light. Even when Nicodemus attempted to intercede on Jesus’s behalf, the Sanhedrin replied, "Art thou also of Galilee?.... Out of Galilee ariseth no prophet (John 7: 45-52)." The affront of the adversary starts to on momentum now. With Jesus Himself living in Galilee until maturity and completing much of His public ministry there, no wonder such a heinous act was committed by Pilate against those Galilaeans. Further, Galilaeans marveled all as they spoke at Pentecost declaring the wondrous works of God with such power that all language barriers were overridden with the Language of the Spirit. The kingdom of darkness did not sit idly by as the Light pierced it. Watch its destructive, death-dealing desperation as this situation continues to unfold.

 

Continued

 

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