WEBVTT 00:00:01.520 --> 00:00:07.759 Well, we are in the season of Lint, also known as March Madness basketball season. 00:00:08.000 --> 00:00:09.199 Have y'all been watching? 00:00:09.359 --> 00:00:21.039 Y'all have been watching the last two days I've spent on my back porch watching basketball, just sitting all afternoon, evening, watching basketball, letting the pollen just wash over me, amazing out. 00:00:21.120 --> 00:00:22.960 Just want to just let the pollen cover you. 00:00:23.039 --> 00:00:23.679 It's been amazing. 00:00:23.760 --> 00:00:26.320 So it's not just pollen season, it is Lent season. 00:00:26.399 --> 00:00:30.879 We're in week three of Lent, the 40 days that leads up to Easter. 00:00:30.960 --> 00:00:34.719 So let's jump into our text, Luke 13, verses 1 through 4. 00:00:34.960 --> 00:00:41.600 There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 00:00:41.759 --> 00:00:50.000 And he answered them, so Jesus, do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all of the other Galileans because they suffered in this way? 00:00:50.159 --> 00:00:54.960 No, I tell you, but unless you repent, you all likewise perish. 00:00:55.200 --> 00:01:03.600 Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? 00:01:03.920 --> 00:01:08.799 So to whatever horrible event happened here in the text, we're not actually sure what the event was. 00:01:08.959 --> 00:01:11.439 Something horrible happened, and they're saying, hey, what happened? 00:01:11.519 --> 00:01:12.640 Were these people horrible sinners? 00:01:12.799 --> 00:01:13.120 What happened? 00:01:13.200 --> 00:01:17.040 To that, Jesus said, Hey, we're all, we're all imperfect. 00:01:17.200 --> 00:01:20.319 We are all sinners in need of his grace. 00:01:21.280 --> 00:01:24.799 This week, my daughter showed me this painting by Bainsky. 00:01:24.879 --> 00:01:31.519 So Bainsky is that unknown artist in the world who puts art in different places out in the world for people to discover. 00:01:31.760 --> 00:01:33.359 This was in 2014. 00:01:33.439 --> 00:01:35.280 This painting showed up in Bristol, England. 00:01:35.439 --> 00:01:41.519 It's of two lovers that are in an embrace, but instead of staring at each other, they're staring at their phones. 00:01:41.680 --> 00:01:44.480 So it's a commentary on addiction to technology. 00:01:44.799 --> 00:01:52.159 Instead of their phones, you know, instead of their faces being a romantic glow, their phones are lighting up their faces. 00:01:52.480 --> 00:01:58.879 And to this, I reacted and I thought, this is what's wrong with our freaking world. 00:01:59.519 --> 00:02:02.239 Like I just, oh my, are you kidding? 00:02:02.400 --> 00:02:17.520 I am so like like people are not loving their families, men are not loving their wives, like these people, these people doing this, and my daughter comes up to me while I'm studying this, and she's saying, like, hey dad, can you hold like hold on? 00:02:17.599 --> 00:02:22.319 I'm like, I am studying something on my phone and my computer right now. 00:02:22.560 --> 00:02:26.000 Can you just hold on a second? 00:02:26.159 --> 00:02:30.159 Like, I'm learning how horrible everybody is. 00:02:30.319 --> 00:02:34.479 I mean, how dare you come up to address me while I'm doing this? 00:02:35.120 --> 00:02:37.360 So I'm the man in the painting. 00:02:37.680 --> 00:02:39.840 You're the man, you're the woman. 00:02:40.159 --> 00:02:41.280 I do this all the time. 00:02:41.360 --> 00:02:46.080 I choose my phone or my interest over the people I love the most. 00:02:46.159 --> 00:02:48.400 Now, if we look back at the paint, look how attractive they are. 00:02:48.719 --> 00:02:49.680 Wouldn't that be nice, right? 00:02:49.759 --> 00:02:50.800 I mean, wow. 00:02:51.199 --> 00:02:51.520 Right? 00:02:51.599 --> 00:02:59.039 And we spend all this time to get ourselves to even try to look like this, to look a certain way. 00:02:59.759 --> 00:03:07.520 And then we're with the people we love the most, and how much energy are we actually putting forth toward them? 00:03:09.599 --> 00:03:14.080 Or worse, maybe we actively hurt them or we degrade the relationship. 00:03:14.400 --> 00:03:20.639 And I just say all that to say, I'm the man in the painting, you're the man in the painting, you're the woman in the painting. 00:03:20.719 --> 00:03:25.680 Like we're all imperfect, we all are sinners in need of God's astonishing grace. 00:03:26.159 --> 00:03:28.960 Do you remember Jesus' teaching about sin in Matthew 7? 00:03:29.120 --> 00:03:40.400 Matthew 7, 1 and 2, judge not that you be not judged, for the judgment you pronounce, you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. 00:03:41.840 --> 00:03:50.639 This judge speaks of, this judging speaks of the harsh practice of lowering someone else to raise yourself up. 00:03:51.360 --> 00:04:03.599 John Stott wrote, this is a fault finder who is negative and destructive toward other people and enjoys actively seeking out their faults. 00:04:05.680 --> 00:04:09.599 And it's impossible to judge them without judging yourself. 00:04:10.560 --> 00:04:20.399 It's impossible to lower somebody else without measuring yourself because you need to know how far you need to lower them to feel better than them. 00:04:21.680 --> 00:04:30.160 And Jesus is calling us out of that kind of judgmental life into a life of generosity and grace toward other people and toward ourselves. 00:04:30.319 --> 00:04:30.800 But how? 00:04:30.959 --> 00:04:32.240 How do we get there? 00:04:33.279 --> 00:04:35.759 How do we live a life of grace? 00:04:35.920 --> 00:04:43.199 Well, it's different than you would think, because the way we get there is actually by seeing our own imperfection and sin. 00:04:44.160 --> 00:04:51.920 In Matthew 7, he continues, verse 3, why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 00:04:52.079 --> 00:04:57.839 Or how can you say to your brother, let me take the speck out of your eye when there is a log in your own eye? 00:04:58.160 --> 00:04:59.120 You hypocrite. 00:04:59.279 --> 00:05:04.720 First take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye. 00:05:05.040 --> 00:05:12.079 Point number one is this we cannot see ourselves clearly if we are focused on other people's imperfection. 00:05:13.279 --> 00:05:16.399 The people in Luke 13 are doing this. 00:05:17.120 --> 00:05:18.720 They're not dealing with themselves. 00:05:18.879 --> 00:05:21.600 They're saying, hey, these people, something horrible happened. 00:05:21.839 --> 00:05:23.120 Like, what'd they do? 00:05:23.360 --> 00:05:24.480 What'd they do? 00:05:26.160 --> 00:05:28.319 Something bad happened to them, what'd they do? 00:05:28.399 --> 00:05:31.920 They had to do Jesus, they had to do something bad, so because something bad's happening to them. 00:05:32.079 --> 00:05:39.040 And I must be better than them because something bad happened to them, and they must have done something bad, and nothing bad's happened to me, so I must be better. 00:05:39.519 --> 00:05:43.439 Priest and author Henry Nowen says this about Matthew 7. 00:05:43.600 --> 00:05:51.439 The desert fathers said that judging others is a heavy burden, while being judged by others is a light one. 00:05:51.759 --> 00:05:59.199 Once we can let go of our need to judge others, we will experience an immense inner freedom. 00:05:59.920 --> 00:06:03.920 Once we are free from judging, we will be also free from mercy. 00:06:04.160 --> 00:06:09.199 Let's remember Jesus' words do not judge, and you will not be judged. 00:06:09.839 --> 00:06:13.040 Now, back in our text at Luke 13, that's what the people are doing. 00:06:13.120 --> 00:06:15.360 Hey, something bad happened, so they must be bad. 00:06:15.439 --> 00:06:16.319 What'd they do? 00:06:16.480 --> 00:06:22.240 And to that, Jesus mentions, hey, a tower fell, killed the 18 people. 00:06:24.399 --> 00:06:27.040 And Jesus is saying, hey, sometimes bad stuff just happens. 00:06:27.120 --> 00:06:30.879 Sometimes a tower falls and kills 18 people. 00:06:31.759 --> 00:06:43.519 And the people want to explain bad things by making the other people out to be horrible sinners, and they're not, because maybe then maybe I'm better than them. 00:06:43.680 --> 00:06:46.240 And maybe that horrible thing couldn't happen to me. 00:06:46.720 --> 00:06:51.680 Point number two is this everything bad in our lives is not because we made a mistake. 00:06:52.639 --> 00:06:55.199 Now, maybe, maybe you made a mistake. 00:06:55.360 --> 00:06:56.560 That was possible. 00:06:56.879 --> 00:06:59.439 And maybe there's a consequence for that mistake. 00:06:59.600 --> 00:07:05.680 But everything bad in your life, everything bad in your life is not because you made a mistake. 00:07:05.839 --> 00:07:10.720 Because sometimes, sometimes just a tower falls and kills 18 people. 00:07:10.879 --> 00:07:13.360 Sometimes we just live in a broken world. 00:07:14.079 --> 00:07:17.519 The faulty way of thinking goes like this: bad things happen to bad people. 00:07:17.680 --> 00:07:32.560 It sounds so wonderful at first because it means if you are good and you're hard working and you don't smoke weed and you come to church, if you do all that, you're doing all the good things for your righteousness report, then you're safe. 00:07:34.399 --> 00:07:38.000 You can control bad things happening to you. 00:07:38.560 --> 00:07:42.800 But it also means you're incredibly judgmental toward other people. 00:07:43.199 --> 00:07:52.800 Because as soon as something bad happens in their life, it means that you actually believe that they have not been good enough. 00:07:53.600 --> 00:07:55.120 And it all works. 00:07:55.360 --> 00:08:05.839 It all works until you lose the money, you lose the relationship, your child rebels, you lose your health. 00:08:06.079 --> 00:08:08.319 See, then it comes back and it bites you. 00:08:08.399 --> 00:08:25.519 When that rug gets pulled out from underneath your feet, the tornado hits your house, the phone rings at your house, the cancer comes to your house, and then all this, if faith is performed and God will reward you, suddenly now you are not enough. 00:08:26.319 --> 00:08:30.480 And Jesus just refuses to participate in this kind of thinking. 00:08:31.199 --> 00:08:36.960 Jesus says to all that kind of thinking, he says, Hey, you're all sinners. 00:08:37.279 --> 00:08:39.519 And you are all in need of grace. 00:08:40.399 --> 00:08:52.159 Point number three is this Jesus calls us out of a judgmental life toward oneself and others, calls us out of that and into a self-aware, repenting life. 00:08:52.720 --> 00:09:01.120 Verse 5, no, I tell you, but unless you repent, repent, you will all likewise perish. 00:09:02.159 --> 00:09:05.679 Last Sunday I was at my daughter's fifth, sixth grade lacrosse game. 00:09:05.840 --> 00:09:07.039 Lacrosse is new to our family. 00:09:07.200 --> 00:09:08.240 It's our first season. 00:09:08.320 --> 00:09:13.200 Um trying to learn the rules at this point in a fifth, sixth grade girls lacrosse game. 00:09:13.279 --> 00:09:21.919 It just looks like a bunch of girls running around trying to scoop up a scoop up a ball, little ball. 00:09:22.080 --> 00:09:23.039 You can't even see it. 00:09:23.200 --> 00:09:24.399 The crowd can't see it. 00:09:24.799 --> 00:09:27.519 So really we're just watching people run around, is all we're really doing. 00:09:27.679 --> 00:09:29.919 And they're all just trying to scoop it up, is what they're trying to do. 00:09:30.159 --> 00:09:31.679 I thought we should just score the scoops. 00:09:31.840 --> 00:09:32.879 That's what we should do. 00:09:33.039 --> 00:09:34.000 So, like, there's one. 00:09:34.080 --> 00:09:34.639 We got one. 00:09:34.799 --> 00:09:36.320 Oh, feels great. 00:09:36.639 --> 00:09:38.000 That would be fantastic. 00:09:38.159 --> 00:09:41.840 All right, suddenly this one girl scoops up a ball, which is a miracle. 00:09:42.000 --> 00:09:43.200 The crowd's going crazy. 00:09:43.279 --> 00:09:44.000 There is a scoop. 00:09:44.080 --> 00:09:46.000 She picks it up, she's already twirling it, right? 00:09:46.240 --> 00:09:54.720 You've seen this how you because it's got a the ball, if you don't twirl it, apparently the ball will fall out of the, it's like a glove on top of a pole, right? 00:09:55.039 --> 00:10:02.159 And if you don't twirl it, so she scoops, she's right by the goal, she starts twirling and she makes a run. 00:10:02.320 --> 00:10:04.240 It is an unbelievable run. 00:10:04.480 --> 00:10:11.200 She is breaking free, she is fast, she's twirling, she is moving, and you're going, this this is a Michael Jordan moment. 00:10:11.279 --> 00:10:12.000 This is unbelievable. 00:10:12.159 --> 00:10:14.480 She's breaking free, you're like, she's gonna go all the way. 00:10:14.639 --> 00:10:15.519 It's unbelievable. 00:10:15.679 --> 00:10:21.200 Her teammates catch up to her around midfield, inform her she is running the wrong way. 00:10:24.639 --> 00:10:31.679 And she does not, she does not ignore them, she does not argue with them. 00:10:32.000 --> 00:10:36.080 She immediately turns around, keeps the twirl going, heads back to the other way. 00:10:36.559 --> 00:10:37.759 And that's repentance. 00:10:37.840 --> 00:10:38.320 That's my point. 00:10:38.399 --> 00:10:39.600 That's repentance. 00:10:41.039 --> 00:10:46.000 I was going one way, I become aware that this is not the way. 00:10:46.639 --> 00:10:50.480 I become aware, and then don't deny it, don't ignore it. 00:10:50.720 --> 00:10:51.759 It's not gonna help. 00:10:51.919 --> 00:10:54.080 Just turn around and go the other way. 00:10:54.799 --> 00:10:57.440 Pastor author Jack Miller says this about repentance. 00:10:57.600 --> 00:11:06.080 Repentance is our ongoing calling to collapse on Jesus, acknowledging our need and receiving his supply. 00:11:07.200 --> 00:11:09.679 We repent to become a Christian. 00:11:09.919 --> 00:11:13.360 That's part of our surrendering our lives to Jesus. 00:11:13.600 --> 00:11:14.559 We become a Christian. 00:11:14.639 --> 00:11:20.960 And then as a Christian, there's a path of repentance, ongoing collapse into Jesus. 00:11:21.519 --> 00:11:26.399 Jesus' teaching in Luke 13, it moves from repentance into growth. 00:11:26.799 --> 00:11:29.279 Luke 13, 6 through 9. 00:11:29.519 --> 00:11:37.039 And he told this parable a man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it, found none. 00:11:37.279 --> 00:11:43.840 And he said to the vine dresser, Look, for three years now I've come seeking fruit on this fig tree, I find none. 00:11:44.000 --> 00:11:45.120 Cut it down. 00:11:45.519 --> 00:11:47.679 Why should it use up the ground? 00:11:48.000 --> 00:11:55.440 And he answered him, Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure. 00:11:55.840 --> 00:12:00.960 Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good, but if not, you can cut it down. 00:12:01.360 --> 00:12:08.159 Point number four is this Jesus is patient with us to create fruit in our lives. 00:12:08.399 --> 00:12:11.120 So the vineyard owner is God the Father. 00:12:11.440 --> 00:12:12.879 We are the fig tree. 00:12:13.200 --> 00:12:14.720 Jesus is the gardener. 00:12:14.879 --> 00:12:19.360 And the owner says, Hey, that tree is not producing fruit, let's cut it down. 00:12:19.600 --> 00:12:20.960 Let's cut it down. 00:12:22.799 --> 00:12:26.000 And the gardener steps in, it's the good news of verses 8 and 9. 00:12:26.159 --> 00:12:38.399 The gardener steps in and Jesus says, Oh, oh, that beat up, broken down, exhausted, self-righteous, judgmental Christian, miserable. 00:12:38.960 --> 00:12:40.960 Please give me I I know him. 00:12:42.799 --> 00:12:43.600 I know her. 00:12:44.480 --> 00:12:45.440 Give me some time. 00:12:46.080 --> 00:12:46.720 Give me some time. 00:12:47.279 --> 00:12:51.519 Oh, that rebellious, miserable, hedonistic. 00:12:52.000 --> 00:12:53.840 That I know him. 00:12:54.399 --> 00:12:54.960 I know her. 00:12:55.120 --> 00:12:56.720 Give me some give me some time with them. 00:12:57.039 --> 00:12:58.080 Give me some time. 00:13:00.320 --> 00:13:03.759 As we live and surrender to Jesus, Jesus works in our hearts and lives. 00:13:03.919 --> 00:13:06.080 There's this beautiful imagery in this passage, isn't it? 00:13:06.399 --> 00:13:07.600 He digs around. 00:13:08.320 --> 00:13:18.960 So it's the imagery of a gardener that's gonna dig around the roots of a tree to loosen up those old roots that create space for new growth. 00:13:19.440 --> 00:13:23.440 And Jesus says, and I'm the gardener, I'm gonna dig, I'm gonna do that work, I'm gonna dig around. 00:13:23.840 --> 00:13:25.360 I'm gonna unearth. 00:13:28.559 --> 00:13:30.240 We need him to do that. 00:13:30.720 --> 00:13:31.919 Like in our hearts. 00:13:32.080 --> 00:13:35.200 We need to let him dig around a little bit. 00:13:35.600 --> 00:13:37.519 Dig around our motives. 00:13:38.159 --> 00:13:40.159 Dig around our wounds. 00:13:41.440 --> 00:13:44.879 Let him dig out that old stuff, allow some new growth. 00:13:45.120 --> 00:13:50.080 We need to be quieted by his love to let him dig around. 00:13:50.320 --> 00:13:52.000 And the Holy Spirit will use that. 00:13:52.080 --> 00:13:54.480 The Holy Spirit will do that work in us. 00:13:57.919 --> 00:14:04.480 Back in 1991, one of the most famous gardeners in the world, Monty Don, gardeners in the crowd, you all know, gardeners in the church. 00:14:04.559 --> 00:14:05.200 You know Monty Don. 00:14:05.360 --> 00:14:06.159 That's Monty Don. 00:14:06.320 --> 00:14:07.120 He's British. 00:14:07.440 --> 00:14:08.720 That's his wife Sarah. 00:14:08.879 --> 00:14:14.000 Back in 1991, they bought a two-acre plot in England called Longmeadow. 00:14:14.159 --> 00:14:17.039 And they began to garden this two acres. 00:14:17.120 --> 00:14:19.200 They split into four gardens. 00:14:19.360 --> 00:14:27.279 And since 1991, these two have worked side by side, week to week, season to season, to garden this land. 00:14:28.480 --> 00:14:30.960 We're going to look at two of the gardens of the four. 00:14:31.120 --> 00:14:34.320 This is Paradise Garden back in 1991. 00:14:35.360 --> 00:14:38.399 And then here's a picture of Paradise Garden today. 00:14:40.000 --> 00:14:43.919 And here's a picture of Jewel Garden back in 1991. 00:14:44.480 --> 00:14:47.360 And here's a picture of the Jewel Garden today. 00:14:48.799 --> 00:14:52.000 So what happened at Longmeadow? 00:14:54.399 --> 00:14:57.279 A caring gardener showed up. 00:14:59.600 --> 00:15:01.120 And he tended it. 00:15:01.440 --> 00:15:02.799 And he pruned carefully. 00:15:02.879 --> 00:15:04.559 And he mulched like verse 8. 00:15:04.639 --> 00:15:07.840 He dug around some old roots, created space for new growth. 00:15:08.000 --> 00:15:10.480 He unearthed some stuff. 00:15:13.200 --> 00:15:18.240 This parable is a warning to non-Christians to give your life to Jesus. 00:15:19.840 --> 00:15:25.200 For Christians, the point of this parable is not that you will be fruitless and be cut down. 00:15:25.919 --> 00:15:26.960 It can't be. 00:15:27.200 --> 00:15:30.399 We read any passage of Scripture in light of all the scriptures. 00:15:30.559 --> 00:15:33.840 The New Testament doesn't let us read it this way. 00:15:35.600 --> 00:15:40.720 It also doesn't mean that you as a Christian will be flourishing in fruit just forever and perfect. 00:15:41.120 --> 00:15:44.320 Or that you'll be perfect in your repentant practices. 00:15:44.639 --> 00:15:51.440 The point is for us as Christians that the owner will never have the chance to cut you down. 00:15:53.039 --> 00:15:55.360 Because a caring gardener showed up. 00:15:56.639 --> 00:16:00.000 You can never be disowned by the owner. 00:16:00.639 --> 00:16:03.360 Because we have a gardener committed to us. 00:16:04.399 --> 00:16:09.440 Jesus' response to the owner is a call for more grace. 00:16:10.720 --> 00:16:12.480 Just give me some more time. 00:16:14.080 --> 00:16:14.960 I know him. 00:16:15.600 --> 00:16:17.200 I know he's a mess. 00:16:17.519 --> 00:16:23.679 I know he looks really ragged and but I know him. 00:16:23.919 --> 00:16:24.720 And I know her. 00:16:24.799 --> 00:16:25.840 Give me some time with her. 00:16:26.000 --> 00:16:27.039 Just give me some more time. 00:16:27.519 --> 00:16:29.279 I'm gonna unearth some stuff. 00:16:29.440 --> 00:16:30.960 I can unearth some stuff here. 00:16:31.039 --> 00:16:32.799 I can dig around a little bit. 00:16:32.960 --> 00:16:34.480 And I'm gonna grow them. 00:16:35.120 --> 00:16:36.639 He'll come around. 00:16:37.759 --> 00:16:39.519 Point number five is this. 00:16:39.840 --> 00:16:44.879 For all of our half-hearted repentance, the work of Jesus is always enough. 00:16:46.559 --> 00:16:52.240 Our sins have been taken from us and put on Christ, and his righteousness is given to us. 00:16:52.559 --> 00:16:56.639 So we are forever God's daughter and God's son, fully righteous. 00:16:56.799 --> 00:16:59.679 The relationship is secure by Jesus' work alone. 00:17:00.799 --> 00:17:02.639 And Jesus is saying, give me some more time. 00:17:03.360 --> 00:17:04.960 Just a call for more grace. 00:17:06.559 --> 00:17:10.000 To close, this parable gives us two gospel implications. 00:17:11.839 --> 00:17:20.079 Number one, live in astonishment of God's limitless grace, ongoing collapse in Jesus, confessing your sin. 00:17:20.960 --> 00:17:25.680 So that's a comment on the repentant life that we live as Christians. 00:17:27.119 --> 00:17:35.119 And then the second part of our text, trust there is a gardener who cares for you even when you are having a hard time. 00:17:36.720 --> 00:17:42.880 Now, if you have any questions about that or some other questions, or you would like prayer, there'll be a pastor down front afterward. 00:17:42.960 --> 00:17:43.759 We'd love to pray with you. 00:17:44.240 --> 00:17:45.039 Let's pray together. 00:17:46.000 --> 00:17:49.839 Heavenly Father, we're so thankful that you do not leave us on our own. 00:17:50.799 --> 00:17:52.400 But you have happened to us. 00:17:52.559 --> 00:17:54.799 A spring is happening around us. 00:17:56.160 --> 00:18:00.559 And Jesus, you are the caring gardener that has showed up into our hearts and lives. 00:18:01.359 --> 00:18:08.160 Thank you that it is not a call to perfection, but a call to know you more, to rest in you more. 00:18:08.720 --> 00:18:15.359 We invite you, Holy Spirit, to unearth stuff in our hearts. 00:18:16.480 --> 00:18:19.599 And that in your kindness you would call us to repentance. 00:18:20.400 --> 00:18:24.480 That we would collapse all the more in Jesus this morning and this week. 00:18:25.279 --> 00:18:27.200 And that our lives would honor you. 00:18:27.519 --> 00:18:28.640 In Christ's name. 00:18:28.880 --> 00:18:29.279 Amen.