Read the Book: January - MarchSample

Week 3

Luke 13

The Character of God

This chapter appears to weave in and out of seemingly random events—Jesus engages various audiences, teaches through parables, heals, and is constantly traveling. We even hear Jesus allude to his own upcoming fate in Jerusalem. But a common theme emerges to teach us something indispensable about the character of God.

First, we learn about the call Jesus has for us all—the call to repentance. Repentance means to have an “about turn”—to turn away from our sins and toward God. Accordingly, Jesus explains that we are all expected to bear fruit to honor and resemble the Gardener’s efforts who designed and planted us. 

Second, we learn that the same God who designed us, calls us, and warns us against perishing—He is the same one who goes to great lengths to break the cycle of sin and death. He invests Himself in us. He considers nothing beyond His dignity as He pursues our salvation. He digs around us, fertilizes us, and will even break social conventions in order to lavish us with His compassion and mercy. This compassionate longing is displayed by Jesus’ sorrow over Jerusalem who He longs to gather as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings.

All of this reminds us that Jesus is the perfect display of the character of God. It also reminds us that the life of discipleship is not so much sentimental spirituality but a real transformation of life. If this sounds impossible, that’s because it is. But He does the work that we cannot do, and His promise is that the small seeds planted in us will become mature trees that bless others (v. 19).

Family Connection: As you are eating fruit this week, ask your family where it comes from! What does a fruit tree need to grow? When fruit trees are planted in good soil and have water and sunshine, they give us tasty things to eat and enjoy. The Bible tells us that we are kind of like fruit trees! When we are rooted in God’s love, when we pray and read our Bibles and trust the Lord, our lives will have good things come out of them. What kind of fruit do our lives produce?