And If; But If

And if it bears fruit, well. But if not, after that you can cut it down.

We conclude this week’s meditation listening to the words of the servant-keeper to the owner. He has been brought before us as a servant, exhibiting respectful power, resolute persuasion and reliable promise. We are still listening to his response to his master’s orders to cut down the fig tree.

A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. Then he said to the keeper of his vineyard, Look, for three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree and find none. Cut it down; why does it use up the ground? But he answered and said to him, Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it. And if it bears fruit, well. But if not, after that you can cut it down. Luke 13: 6 - 9

Here is the keeper of the vineyard who is pleading for the life of a tree that needs to be cut down. Can we hear this servant-keeper? He has placed himself between the fig tree and his master, as it were, saying that if the master grants the undeserving fig tree, one chance more, just one more year, he will personally deal with it, to one intent and aim. He will do what is necessary to have the barren fig tree bear fruit for the owner.

I must stop to ask you this, as I can’t keep it any longer. Is there something niggling deep within your spirits? Have you been having flashes of someone, whose Name you want to shout out loud, yet there is a constraining force that keeps you bowed low? From the time that servant-keeper opened his mouth, all I could hear was Jesus; all I could see was Jesus; all I could feel was Jesus, all I could think was Jesus. How about you?

Here is my story and the story of many like me. We are looking at facts. We have been planted by Father God in His vineyard. He has given us to His Son Jesus Christ, to care, tend and nurture us. Sadly, we are not bearing the fruit God wishes. God comes to us and what do we have to offer Him? No fruit! God is merciful, just, considerate and patient with us. He gives us chances to change and bear good fruit, but year after year we remain fruitless.

God has come to have us cut down, as He passes His Righteous Judgment. Jesus listens and pleads for our lives. He makes intercession for us. He speaks to God and promises that He will take sole responsibility for our lives. He will do all the work that needs to be done in us. He will teach us, feed us, school us, nurture us, discipline us, and more, to bring us to the place where we will bear fruit. Jesus never placed the burden of my life on His back, and then flopped. He never took me on and then decided it was useless, because I was too far gone and He could not make head nor tail of me. Jesus never tried to save me, a tree stamped and sealed for hell; the wages of sin is death. No! A never-ending eternity of, no upon no. Jesus took on the role of servant, a suffering servant as well, to save me from being cut down. It is exactly the same for you.

Returning to the parable, it ends in a peculiar fashion, don’t you think? There is no clear word-given conclusion, to the work of the servant-keeper. In other words, Luke, the writer, does not go on to provide us with any of this information, for example. The keeper dug around the tree and fertilized it and it bore fruit, so that when the owner of the vineyard returned the following year, seeking fruit on this fig tree, he found some. There is nothing to hear him call the servant-keeper of the vineyard and say to him, well done good and faithful servant, my tree is bearing fruit to my glory and honour, through you. There is no, “And if …” given in letters.  

Likewise, there is no clear word-given conclusion, on the counter side. Again, Luke does not flourish us with any specifics about the results of the servant-keeper’s reliable promise to work on the barrenness of the fig tree. There is no information, saying this, for example. The keeper dug around the tree and fertilized it but it bore no fruit, so that when the owner of the vineyard returned the following year, seeking fruit on this fig tree, he found none. There is nothing to hear him call the servant-keeper of the vineyard and say to him, badly done, wicked and unfaithful servant, my tree is still not bearing fruit to my glory and honour, through your failed efforts.

There is no, “But if …” given in letters.

We conclude in the spirit of the parable;

And if it bears fruit, well. But if not, after that you can cut it down.

Thank God for Jesus, who to us draws near,

Who comes to save us from God’s wrath severe,  

Sinners, barren, those who His fruit don’t bear,

Thanks to Jesus, saved lives bear fruit and to spare.

Amen!