LifeWay Explore the Bible Series for Nov. 28: Following Christ is about relationship, not ritual_112

Posted: 11/19/04

LifeWay Explore the Bible Series for Nov. 28

Following Christ is about relationship, not ritual

Luke 13:1-35

By Pakon Chan

Chinese Baptist Church, Arlington

The synagogue ruler is the person who takes care of the building and the services. He also assigns the readers and determines the order in which readers are called to the reading desk to read Scripture. A man in such a position usually will care more about the system and order than people. A dilemma developed between Jesus' ministry and the existing religious system, since Jesus cared about personal needs so much.

The Sabbath originally was installed for people to focus on their relationship with the Creator by refraining from work (Exodus 31:13). It started from the spiritual need of humanity to the later development of a formal religious rite. Once a spiritual act or personal piety turns into a religious rite, it will lose its personal flavor to become a formality of religious duty.

A fruitless fig tree

No one is more evil than the other (13:5); we all are sinners and will perish. Jesus looks for the fruit of repentance in us. If he cannot find any fruit in us, we will not be able to sustain in God's judgment. In the parable, Jesus makes a plea for us. We may have wasted a lot of time before, but if we are serious about our lives, we still have some time to make it up (vv. 8-9). Make the choice now to accept Jesus to be our personal Savior, and we will be saved and allowed into God's kingdom.

What do we care?

While Jesus was teaching in the synagogue on the Sabbath, he encountered a woman who for 18 years had not been able to straighten her bent body. Jesus immediately spotted the need of the woman and responded to her need by laying hands upon her to heal her (vv. 12-13). Unfortunately, the synagogue ruler did not see the need of the woman and did not appreciate Jesus' good deed. He cared more about his religion and its rituals than people. Ritual to him had become its ends and people its means. People were used by religious leaders to fulfill their religious duties.

Sometimes we invite people to church just because we want to have a bigger church. In some cases, churches increase their membership by transferring members and not by baptizing new believers. It is a tragedy for God's kingdom if we are satisfied with this situation. From time to time, we have heard complaints from non-believers that they were used by Christians to fill up their churches. They did not feel any genuine friendship from Christians. It is very sad if we care more about our religious duty or church attendance than people.

The Sabbath not only is a religious rite; it also is the blessing of God to those who want to find rest in him. Jesus wanted to set the woman free from Satan's bondage and give her rest in God (v. 16).

The kingdom of God

After Jesus had healed the woman, he changed the subject to the issue of the kingdom of God. Again Jesus told them that God's kingdom was the place people could find rest. The gospel message of Jesus is just like the mustard seed. If we plant it into people's heart, it will grow into a big tree they will find rest in (v. 19).

The kingdom of God also is a life-changing power–once we receive it, it will change our whole life to make us a new being (2 Corinthians 5:17). It is like the yeast in the flour to “work all through the dough” (Luke 13:21). Yeast will grow and spread. We, as Christians, should be like yeast to reach out to our neighbors and lead them to Christ.

Someone in the crowd asked Jesus as he was approaching Jerusalem, “Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?” (v. 23). Jesus answered and encouraged them to keep on striving to enter God's kingdom (v. 24). Jews think they are in God's good graces since they are descendants of Abraham. They expect the door to God's kingdom to be wide open for them. But Jesus said the door is narrow, and they should “make every effort to enter through the narrow door” (v. 24).

No one can take anyone into the kingdom of God except Jesus. Nationality, church membership or family tradition cannot bring a person into God's kingdom. Each person must make his or her own choice to enter God's kingdom through Jesus. It does not matter if they are coming from the east or west, north or south, they all will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God (v. 29) if they have faith in Jesus.

The Jews may think they have first priority or the first place in God's kingdom. On the contrary, Jesus said, “Indeed, there are those who are last who will be first, and first who will be last” (v. 30).

Discussion question

What do you care about most?

What have you learned from this chapter about the kingdom of God?