There is wonderful material packed into the thirteenth chapter
of Luke’s gospel. I would like to see the relationship between the parable
of the fig tree and the woman who possessed a crippling spirit. The area of
commonality is grace. The fig tree was granted a gracious reprieve. The fig
tree was to be destroyed because it was not producing fruit. The purpose of
any fruit-bearing tree is to bear fruit. To be fruitless is synonymous with
being useless. Yet in verse eight a man asks that he be given one more year
to nurture and care for the tree and then to see if the tree would then bear
fruit. This story is a wonderful introduction to the next event in the chapter,
Jesus healing the crippled lady. Grace is the connection. When we cannot solve
our problem, grace is given. When we cannot save ourselves, grace is given.
The fig tree experienced a grace period.
As we listen to the event of the crippled lady, we see her condition
is serious. She has been crippled for eighteen years. Hers was a long-standing
ailment, an unshakable illness. She is described as being bent over, unable
to straighten up. That is a beautiful description of grace. We are in a serious
condition, unable to change it alone; we are not able to straighten up.
Jesus sets her free. Only through Jesus are we set free from
the infirmity of sin. God’s grace responds to our needs, while the religious
leaders of the day and age were concerned about peripheral concerns. If you
listen to this text you will see a wonderful example of what grace does in
one’s life.
As you work your way through the text, think of the parable
of the fig tree and the gracious offer to the lady with a crippling illness.
Think of how each helps illustrate grace in our day. Just as the fig tree
needed someone to intercede, we have needed grace extended to us. Most of
us did not respond to the gracious working of God the first time we heard
the message. There have been times of fruitlessness in our lives, and thanks
be to God He did not throw us away. He offered to us a grace period.
One cannot help but be amazed at the utter hopelessness of the
woman as she encounters Jesus. Eighteen years of a debilitating illness! We
can come to Jesus regardless of how deep the stain, or big the need. He is
extending His grace for our lives.
(For the full manuscript
of this sermon go to www.preachermagazine.org and click on “Sermons”)
I have taken time in this message to talk about grace periods.
A grace period is the extension that a creditor allows one to make a payment
and the payment is considered on time. Most of us at least once in our lives
have taken advantage of a grace period. I then played with this phrase in
relation to the parable of the fig tree. The fig tree was about to be destroyed
because of its lack of fruitfulness. Yet, it is offered another opportunity,
a grace period. To us is extended, from the Lord, a grace period. He is offering
His grace for our lives today.
It was certainly a period of grace for the lady in this passage.
She had been ill for so long, seemingly a hopeless situation, until she had
her encounter with Jesus. For her this was a grace period. The grace of our
Lord made the difference in her life. It is the work of grace in our lives
that we are to celebrate.
This work in this lady’s life was grace at work. You might say it was a grace period. Our people need to hear the message of grace preached loudly and clearly and biblically. Here is a passage where it is very plain and powerful.
