Story of Jesus, December 13th

Luke Chapter 13

About this time Jesus was informed that Pilate had murdered some people from Galilee as they were offering sacrifices at the temple. Jesus asked, “Do you think these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans?” Is that why they suffered this way? I tell you, no! But unless you repent your sins and turn to God, you too will all perish.”

Then Jesus told this story: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?'”

And he answered him, ‘Sir, give it one more chance. Leave it another year, and I’ll give it special attention and plenty of fertilizer. If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then you can cut it down.'”

One Sabbath day as Jesus was teaching in a synagogue, he saw a woman who had been crippled by an evil spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all. When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said to her, “Woman, you are healed of your sickness!” Then he laid his hands on her, and immediately she could stand up straight, and she praised God.

But the ruler of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, said to the people, “There are six days for work. So come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath.”

The Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! Each of you works on the Sabbath day! Doesn’t each of you untie your ox or donkey from the stall and lead it out for water? Then should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen years, be set free from what bound her, even on the Sabbath?”

When he said this, all his adversaries were put to shame and humiliated, but the people were delighted with all the wonderful things he was doing.

Then Jesus asked, “What is the kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it to? It is like a tiny mustard seed, a man planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches.”

Again, he asked, “What shall I compare the kingdom of God to? It is like yeast a woman used in making bread. Even though she put only a little yeast in three measures of flour, it permeated every part of the dough.”

Then Jesus went on his way through towns and villages, teaching and journeying toward Jerusalem. Someone asked him, “Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?”

He replied, “Strive to enter through the narrow door to God’s kingdom, for many will try to enter but will fail. Once the master of the house has locked the door, it will be too late. You will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Lord, open the door for us!’ But he will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you came from.'”

Then you will say, ‘But we ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’

But he will reply, ‘I tell you, I don’t know you or where you came from. Get away from me, all you evildoers!’

There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you will be thrown out. And people will come from all over the world; from east and west, north and south, to take their places in the kingdom of God. Indeed, some who seem least important now will be the greatest then, and some who are the greatest now will be least important then.”

At that time some Pharisees came to Jesus and said to him, “Leave this place and go somewhere else, for Herod wants to kill you.”

Jesus replied, “Go tell that fox, ‘I will keep casting out demons and healing people today and tomorrow; and on the third day I will accomplish my purpose.’ Nevertheless, I must keep going today and tomorrow and the following day, for surely no prophet can die outside Jerusalem!

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones God’s messengers! How often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you wouldn’t let me. And now, look, your house is abandoned. I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord!'”