The Lord’s Mercy & Our Accountability
Sermon March 23, 2025 Luke 13:1-9
The Lord’s Mercy & Our Accountability
Pastor Fred Okello
Human suffering is varied. Some suffer from sickness, others from natural disasters, and others from economic hardships or social rejection. Suffering is a reality that touches every life in different ways. Some are victims of tragic accidents, like those in Jesus’ example—the Galileans whose blood Pilate mingled with their sacrifices or those who perished when the tower of Siloam fell. In the face of such suffering, many ask: "Why did this happen? Was it because of sin?"
This was the same mistake made by Job’s three friends, who wrongly assumed that Job's suffering was because of his sins. But Jesus corrects this perspective. He teaches that suffering is not always a direct result of personal sin but is a reminder that we all need to repent and align ourselves with God.
When tragedies strike, we often search for explanations. We may think, "That person must have done something wrong." But Jesus warns against such assumptions. He shifts the focus from judgment to personal responsibility. "Unless you repent, you too will all perish." Jesus is not saying that disasters will befall the unrepentant, but rather that all people need to turn back to God. Instead of focusing on whether others are greater sinners, Jesus invites us to examine our own hearts and repent.
Jesus follows up His lesson on repentance with the parable of the barren fig tree. The vineyard owner wanted to cut it down immediately because it bore no fruit, but the gardener pleaded for more time. This is a picture of God’s patience. He does not demand immediate perfection but gives us time to grow.
Sometimes, we want things to happen faster than they should. We get frustrated when people take time to understand or respond. We may feel impatient with slow progress in our lives, careers, or relationships. But just as a tree needs time to bear fruit, we need patience in our spiritual journey and in our dealings with others. God expects both patience and productivity.
I remember struggling to grasp certain concepts while I was at high school. I watched others in my class quickly understand things that took me years to fully comprehend. In fact, some of the lessons I struggled with back then only made sense to me 30 years later! Imagine that—someone the same age as you could be three decades ahead in understanding. How does that make you feel? It reminds us that we all learn and grow at different paces. A good teacher recognizes that each student is unique, with varying levels of comprehension. In God's kingdom, He does not reward the genius and punish the slow learner. Instead, He gives us grace, time, and opportunities to grow. We must extend the same patience to others, just as God is patient with us.
In our modern world, we are addicted to speed. Fast technology, fast food, fast communication—but also fast frustrations, fast anger, and fast decisions. Our rush to make things happen quickly often leads to more problems. Wars have been started by hasty decisions, relationships have been broken by impatience, and errors have been made because people refused to wait.
God is simply asking us to slow down and bear fruit. Spiritual growth, character formation, and maturity take time. You cannot plant a tree today and expect fruit tomorrow. Instead of rushing ahead, we must cultivate patience, trusting that God is working in us.
God’s patience is not an excuse for laziness or complacency. The extra year given to the fig tree was an opportunity for it to bear fruit. In the same way, the grace we receive must be used wisely. Are we producing the fruit of love, joy, peace, kindness, and faithfulness? Are we using our time and opportunities for the glory of God? Jesus’ warning is clear: If we remain unfruitful despite God’s grace, we risk being cut down.
Jesus calls us to repentance, patience, and fruitfulness. Instead of blaming suffering on sin, He invites us to self-examination. Instead of rushing through life, He teaches us to wait on God’s timing. Instead of wasting His grace, He urges us to bear fruit. May we slow down, trust in God’s patience, and live lives that are truly fruitful in His kingdom. Amen.