Luke 13 - If There Was Another Way to Be Saved, Why Did Jesus Have to Die?

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Repent or Perish

Jesus teaches that some people are not better than others, and that bad things don't happen to people because they are bad. Jesus focuses on the fact that no one is good before God. Though bad things happen to good people and bad people alike, their relationship with God is based on repentance and trusting in him.  The death from failing to repent, is worse than natural death, because it has eternal consequences. 

Jesus mentioned two disasters that were well known in His day. One was an evil done by the hand of man, and the other was seemingly a natural disaster (eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them).

We normally think of some people as good and some people as bad and find it easy to believe that God should allow good things to happen to good people and bad things to bad people. Jesus corrected this thinking.

Jesus tells a short story about a landowner. who had a fig tree that had not borne any fruit for three years. So he told the landscaper to cut it down, because it was taking up space that could be used for a fruit bearing fig tree. The man who took care of the tree asked if the owner could wait for one more year before he cut it down. The landowner agreed to do this.  

This parable could very much be related to the Jewish people, who were planted in the original vineyard of God. They were supposed to bear fruit by being the people who God would use to bring the Messiah into the world. But they rejected Jesus. The question might have been, should God have judged the Israelites right away, or give them more time to repent? The end of the parable shows God is rich in mercy, as he gave them more time to repent, though it was only a year. 

This illustrates the truth of 2 Peter 3:9. "God is not willing that any should perish but to come to a knowledge of the truth."

Jesus Heals a Crippled Woman on the Sabbath 

On the Sabbath Jesus was teaching and a woman who had been crippled for 18 years was bent over and could not straighten up. Jesus called her up, put his hands on her, and healed her. She straightened up and praised God!

It shocking how the synagogue leader responds to what just happened. He says there are six days to get healed, why wait until the Sabbath Day. Jesus cites his hypocrisy by pointing out that the ruler would be okay with untying his ox or donkey to bring it to get water, which technically doing work on the Sabbath.  

Jesus says, 

"Then should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?”

His response suggests that Satan is responsible for some the physical illnesses we experience in this life. Remember Satan came to steal, kill, and destroy everything, including our health. This doesn't mean that every sickness is caused by Satan. Jesus then reminds them that this woman is a "daughter of Abraham".

She was a daughter of Abraham, a Jewish woman, with a covenant connection to Abraham. This may also indicate that she was a woman of faith, as well as her attendance at synagogue. Guzik

The Parables of the Mustard Seed and the Yeast

Jesus tells two short parables about how the kingdom of God grows. It can start very small, but its influence can extend way beyond its original form. In this case the mustard seed became a huge tree with many birds in its branches. The small amount of yeast worked through the dough and provided 60 pounds of bread. 

This is why we should never be overly concerned about numbers, or other things the world values. God can take our meager offerings and efforts and multiply them many times over, as we offer them in faith to Him. 

"This parable accurately describes what the kingdom community became in the decades and centuries after the Christianization of the Roman Empire. In those centuries the church grew abnormally large in influence and dominion, and was a nest for much corruption. “Birds lodging in the branches most probably refers to elements of corruption which take refuge in the very shadow of Christianity.” (Morgan)

The Narrow Door

As Jesus continued to make his way to Jerusalem, the people wondered how many people were going to be saved. 

"The question seems to reflect a debate that existed among Jews at the time of Christ.” (Pate) Pate then cites two rabbis, one who said that all Jews would be saved, and another that said only a few. Yet Jesus would not be drawn into that debate. His only question was, “Are you saved?”

I see this a lot today, as people question who will saved, and why Christianity is so "exclusive". "Why is Jesus the only way?  Historically people say things like, "What about all the people in Africa, who have never heard about Jesus?" Or, "What about people that are raised in other religions?"

Of course, those are logical and understandable questions, but often can be used to deflect their own personal response to Jesus. Jesus made it clear that He loves all people equally. No matter what someone has done, he offers them the free gift of forgiveness by what He has done on the cross. 

Jesus was the most "inclusive" man who ever lived. So what is the narrow door all about?

Jesus describes the narrow door also in John 14:6. He says, 

"I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except by me!" 

Is this narrow or does it open up the way for all to follow Jesus. It is only narrow in the sense it requires someone to put their hope of salvation in Christ alone. After all, if there was another way to be saved, why did Jesus have to die? 

Though it is a narrow road in that sense, it is a wide road in that it is open to anyone who would would come to believe that, 

"For so God so loved world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him would not perish but have eternal life!" John 3:16

Simply put, Jesus is the way to God but it is open to everyone! 

Jesus’ Sorrow for Jerusalem

Though Jesus was the only way for salvation, it doesn't mean that he was extremely saddened by those who rejected his free offer of salvation. The Pharisees come to Jesus and feign they are concerned about him by telling he should leave because King Herod wants to kill him. I believe secretly they just wanted to get rid of him. 

But Jesus calls their bluff, and tells them he is on his way to Jerusalem and every step of the way he will continue to preach and teach about the kingdom and then manifest it by driving out demons and healing people.  

Jesus laments his fellow people, the Jews, 

“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing. 35 Look, your house is left to you desolate. I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’”

Though Jesus is sad, he realizes he cannot control them. One day they will be desolate when their temple is destroyed (A.D. 70). The next time they see him, they will say "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!"

This gives the impression that there will be some Jews who believe when Jesus returns a second time. Is Jesus then just talking to the Jews who will eventually believe in him as the Messiah?

“Till after the fulness of the Gentiles is brought in, when the word of life shall again be sent unto you; then will ye rejoice, and bless, and praise him that cometh in the name of the Lord, with full and final salvation for the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” (Clarke)

It will take a great deal to bring Israel to that point, but God will do it. It is promised that Israel will welcome Jesus back even as the Apostle Paul said in Romans 11:26: And so all Israel will be saved.