- Covered In His Dust
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- Luke Chapter 13
Good morning! ☀️
"When disciples followed a rabbi, they followed him closely so they would never be out of his sight, never be someplace where they couldn’t hear him speak. They followed him so closely that his sandals often kicked up dust."
May you be covered in His dust.
If this is your first time getting Covered in His Dust, WELCOME!
Read Chapter 13 before reading my notes. They’ll make more sense.
Read past notes of Luke by signing into your account. Click “Read Online” at the top right of this post. Then scroll down. They’ll be there waiting for you.
Mixed Blood
Jesus addresses a crowd, which brings up two tragic events: one involving Galileans whose blood Pilate mixed with their sacrifices, and another concerning eighteen people killed when a tower in Siloam fell on them.
One is an instance of moral evil (murder), and the other is an instance of natural evil (an accident.)
The phrase "blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices" suggests that Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor, was somehow involved in a situation where people from Galilee were killed while they were offering sacrifices. The details of this event aren't clear from the Bible, but it's possible that Pilate's actions led to the deaths of these Galileans.
Jesus responds by questioning the idea that the people who died were worse sinners than others. He emphatically denies this idea, stating, "No, I tell you," and then uses these events as opportunities to teach about the importance of repentance.
Jesus's message is clear: rather than speculating about the sins of others, we should focus on our own need for repentance and turn back to God.
Neither group had any idea their lives would end the way they did. Their calendars were full. They had plans for tomorrow.
Work.
Family.
Vacations.
Sporting events.
When should we repent?
Yes!
The big takeaway from Luke 13:1–5 is that we should live lives of repentance. We’re not guaranteed tomorrow. Make your heart right before God today.
“Lord, in the face of life's uncertainties and tragedies, help me not to lose sight of the brevity of life and the urgency of repentance. Grant me the grace to turn from my sins and trust in Jesus as my Savior and Lord, living each day in readiness to meet You. May our lives proclaim the Gospel of repentance and belief in Jesus, guiding others to find forgiveness and salvation. Amen.”
A vinedresser is someone who cultivates and cares for grapevines and other fruit trees found in a vineyard.
Fig trees have a long history of cultivation in the Middle East, including Israel. They thrive in warm climates with well-drained soil, making them well-suited to the Mediterranean climate found in regions like Israel.
Fig trees have been cultivated for thousands of years in this area, and they are often found in gardens, orchards, and even alongside vineyards.
The vinedresser in the parable represents Jesus Christ, who intercedes on behalf of the unfruitful and pleads for more time and care to foster spiritual growth and repentance.
The fig tree represents people or groups of people who haven't shown spiritual growth despite being given chances. The vineyard owner's decision to cut down the unfruitful tree reflects the justice of God's judgment.
It may not be a coincidence that the three-year period in the parable lines up with Jesus' earthly ministry.
Just as the owner of the fig tree patiently sought fruit for three years, Jesus patiently ministered to the people, calling them to repentance and inviting them to bear fruit in their lives. The lack of fruit on the fig tree despite the owner's efforts may reflect the spiritual condition of Israel during Jesus' ministry—despite Jesus' teachings and miracles, many people remained spiritually resistant to his message.
And he answered him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure.
That tiny scripture says so much. Is Jesus pleading on behalf of Israel? Is Jesus pleading on behalf of humanity?
“Give Me one more year.”
“I’ll heal ten lepers,” Luke 17:11-19.
“I’ll heal a blind man,” John 9:1-41.
“I’ll feed 5,000, Matthew,” 14:13-21.
“I’ll raise a man from the dead,” John 11:1-44 and John 12:10, 11.
I can hear Jesus saying, “Give Me one more year. More will believe.”
(These miracles happened during the latter part of Jesus' earthly ministry.)
Out of His mercy, God bestows upon us,
each new day,
each passing hour,
and every breath we take.
Christ patiently stands at the door of every heart,
knocking,
seeking entry,
and calling for repentance from sin.
However, if there remains no evidence of spiritual fruit or repentance, God's patience will ultimately reach its limit.
In this context, "a daughter of Abraham" refers to the woman's Jewish identity. By calling her "a daughter of Abraham," Jesus is highlighting her belonging to the Jewish people, specifically recognizing her heritage as a descendant of Abraham, the patriarch of the Jewish faith. This term reinforces her position as one of God's chosen people.
Jesus uses two parables to describe the nature and growth of the kingdom of God.
Jesus compares the kingdom of God to a tiny mustard seed that grows into a big tree, providing shelter for birds. This shows how God's kingdom starts small but becomes impactful, offering refuge and protection.
He also compares it to leaven that makes dough rise, demonstrating how the kingdom spreads and transforms gradually.
These parables reveal that God's kingdom may begin humbly but grows to influence and change the world, offering renewal to all who accept it.
Will I be saved?
It’s a good question. Maybe the most important question.
When Jesus says, “Strive to enter through the narrow door,” He’s saying there’s one door, and it won't be easy.
It’s important to recognize that Jesus is the door in which we all must enter into eternal life.
Imagine there’s a race. All of your priorities are at the starting line.
Work
Family
Money
Exercise
TV
Sports
Friends
And Jesus.
The starting gun goes off. Where do you place Jesus in your life? What place will He come in?
First?
Second?
Last?
“FIRST! Absolutely.”
The thing is, God doesn’t want to be first in your life.
God wants to be ‘the only’ in your life.
The narrow gate is… all of you. Your time. Your thoughts. Your money. Your relationships. Your ambitions.
Not everyone will find or choose to enter this door. It requires a deliberate decision and commitment to follow Jesus.
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,
The call to "strive to enter" isn’t just a suggestion; it's a command to repent and step through the gate.
We're not called to stand outside the gate, evaluating or complaining about its size or difficulty.
We're not called to ask about who else is or isn't entering.
Instead, we're to press forward, urging others to do the same… before it's too late.
Who is Jesus calling a fox?
It seems unusual that the Pharisees would warn Him about Herod's intentions. However, it's important to consider the context and motivations behind their actions.
The Pharisees' warning probably wasn’t a genuine concern for Jesus' safety but rather an attempt to manipulate the situation to their advantage. They may have wanted Jesus to leave because of his growing popularity and the threat he posed to their authority and influence.
By ‘warning’ Jesus about Herod, they could ‘appear’ concerned while actually getting Him out of the public eye. This would allow them to maintain their power and control over the people.
If you take a closer look at the text, Jesus may have been talking to the Pharisees when he said, “Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I finish my course.”
Just a thought.
Jesus ends the chapter in anguish.
Read verses 31-35 again, and then close your eyes and imagine the scene. Can you see it? Can you feel His pain? His sorrow?
This must have been one of the most difficult experiences for Jesus during His ministry to the people of Israel.
They were the chosen ones.
They were given the scriptures.
They were promised the Messiah.
They were the only people on earth with whom God made a covenant.
For three years, the promised Messiah walked with them, but they did not recognize Him.
As with Jerusalem, Jesus longs for us, but He will not force us.
Do
We
Recognize
Him?
My wife has been out of town for a week, so it was my job to keep our five little ones alive 😆. Today’s notes are getting out a little late; please accept my apologies.
I love you,
George
Uncovering Scripture
George Sisneros serves as a full-time missionary in Guatemala. He is the founder of Ordinary Missionaries and the El Rosario Christian Academy for Boys.
He’s a father to nine children, five adopted.
George and his family will be expanding to Cuba in 2014.