JESUS HEALS A CRIPPLED WOMAN, Dr. Samuel Lee
REPENT OR PERISH
Passage: Luke 13:1~9  
Key verse: 3
Repent or Perish
13 Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate(A) had mixed with their sacrifices. 2 Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way?(B) 3 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. 4 Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam(C) fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, no! But unless you repent,(D) you too will all perish.”
6 Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it but did not find any.(E) 7 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!(F) Why should it use up the soil?’
8 “‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. 9 If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’”
Cross references
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source:  BibleGateway
People in Jesus’ time (and ours too) believed that tragedy befell people because of sin. (ex. Jn 9:2) Two examples are noted here that Jesus uses to teach us to turn to God and repent. Pilate had killed some Galileans and mixed their blood with their sacrifices. A large tower in the town of Siloam fell, killing 18 men. These tragedies didn’t happen because these people were worse sinners than others. Tragedies happen on a regular basis, and not only to the worst of sinners. Jesus died a horrible death and he was sinless. Our response to tragedies shouldn’t be to ask what kind of sinner the victims were, but to turn to God and repent.
2. The parable of the fig tree (6-9)
Fig trees are supposed to bear fruit. When they do not bear any fruit, they might as well be cut down. In the parable, God is the planter, we are the fig tree and Jesus the caretaker. We are meant to bear fruit to God. If we don’t bear fruit, we will be judged. Thank God for Jesus who intercedes for us with the Father and helps us so we can bear fruit.
Prayer: Lord, Jesus teaches that we must repent or perish. We can only bear fruit when we repent. Help us repent and bear fruit to you through Jesus Christ.
One Word: Repent and bear fruit