Luke 13:10-21 "Little By Little Changes Everything"
I have this tree in front of my house. It’s not a great tree. A couple of the branches have fallen during storms—one time barely missing my house, another time it landed between my car and dad’s truck. The tree’s kind of a nuisance but it also provides some shade in the summer which helps keep the house cool and the electric bill down. I still don’t know how much longer I want to keep it.
The worst thing about the tree is how attractive it is to birds. A few times a year a bunch of black birds think my tree is the best tree on the block. Or else they’ve designated it as the official toilet. Because they just paint our cars white—it’s disgusting. Door handles, windshield. I get in and use washer fluid and the wipers to smear the windows with bird poop. Sometimes there’s a squishy one hiding on the other side of the door handle and then I have to boil my hand in bleach.
I’ve only needed to go back inside and change my shirt a couple times because of aerial assault but I doubt if it’s due to a lack of trying on the birds' part. I think they’re just bad shots.
I’ve tried the plastic owl thing, shiny windchimes, I’ve tried to reason with them by shouting up into the leaves. Birds don’t care. It’s the reason I fantasize about chopping the tree down. Every year I cut off more dead branches—it’s going away just slowly.
Today Jesus is going to compare the kingdom of God to a mustard seed that grows into a tree big enough for birds to build nests and make a home. All I could think about was how much I hate birds—pretty sure that’s not supposed to be the take-a-way.
We started going through the Gospel of Luke verse by verse in November of 2021. If we’re going to call ourselves Christians we should probably get to know the guy we’re named after. Took a few weeks off for Christmas and the Real Good Relationships series. Today we’ll dive back in picking up where we left off, chapter 13, starting at verse 10…
Now he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath.
This is where you could always find Jesus on Saturday—He went to synagogue. Most of what we do in worship for church on Sunday is based on what Jesus would have done in worship at synagogue. Saturday was the last day of the week, the day God rested from creating the universe—the day He commanded them to keep holy and worship Him. But the resurrection happened on Sunday, which was the first fruit of a new creation so Sunday became the new Sabbath. The apostles started meeting for worship on what they called the 8th day of the week—Sunday, the Lord’s Day. Both the first and last day of the week.
Say what needs to be said Don’t ever let some know-it-all bully you by saying something like, “don’t you know the Sabbath is Saturday, not Sunday?” You can answer them by saying, “you’re right, it used to be, before Jesus rose from the dead on a Sunday and changed everything—including the day God’s people get together for worship. New Testament, new sabbath.” Say that and then be done with it. You said what you needed to say, there’s no reason to argue any further. Just plant the seed, let God take care of what He wants to do with it.
So Jesus always went to worship on Sabbath. Even if it was Superbowl Sunday or one of His nieces had a soccer game. Little things like being faithful in worship is a big deal.
This particular week He was the guest speaker—He’s going to introduce an object lesson that the local leaders won’t like at all. So while Jesus is giving the message…
Verse 11:
And behold, there was a woman who had had a disabling spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not fully straighten herself. Luke13:11
It doesn’t tell us her age but I imagine a little old lady. She’s all bent over and miserable. She’s been like this for eighteen years, can’t stand up straight. Hurts to walk, she probably doesn't make it to church most weeks. Luke tells us the reason for her condition was a disabling spirit—a demon.
Not all sickness is caused by evil spirits but some is. This doesn’t mean all sickness and pain are caused by evil spirits but it does mean that some are. I know that kind of thing makes the skeptic in us narrow our eyes a little but if we start thinking we’re too modern and sophisticated to believe in supernatural things like devils and demons—we need to go back to square one: Why do we believe in God? We can’t believe in God and then ignore what He told us about Himself and the way the world works.
Verse 12:
When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said to her, “Woman, you are freed from your disability.” And he laid his hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and she glorified God.
Luke 13:12
Jesus is teaching, He sees the deformed woman and tells her to walk over to Him. He would have been sitting on a little platform in front of the congregation. The women and men would have been seated separately. She slowly and painfully makes her way up to where Jesus is seated. She didn’t raise her hand, she didn’t ask to be healed—Jesus just saw her and knew what she needed. Had to be nerve-wracking standing up in front of everyone—watching her hobble up there, what if she trips? Imagine if I called on you to come up here right now in the middle of the sermon.
Once she’s in front of Him and everyone sees clearly how awful her situation is, Jesus speaks to her. It doesn’t say He prayed. Doesn’t say He asked everyone else to pray. He doesn’t speak to the demon. He just says, “Woman, you are freed from your disability.” As He said it He laid His hands on her—which was a very liturgical thing to do, a priestly thing to do—and she was immediately made straight. I wonder if they could hear the bones cracking as she lifted her face and straightened her back.
She immediately glorified God. Her life was changed. She couldn’t contain how thankful she was—I wonder what “immediately glorifying God” looked like?
I’m sure everyone there was amazed. What a day to be in worship! Jesus is the preacher, they get to see a miracle. They had to all be so thankful. Right? Not so much…
Verse 14:
But the ruler of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, said to the people, “There are six days in which work ought to be done. Come on those days and be healed, and not on the Sabbath day.” Luke 13:14
Local preacher doesn’t like it when the guest speaker outshines him. Jealous much?
He doesn’t address Jesus, he scolds the congregation instead. I get the sense there were a lot of guests that week. People who usually didn’t show up were there to see Jesus. This was extra annoying to the synagogue leader and the regulars because it was messing with their nice little weekly worship service. Some new person sitting in their seat. It’s too crowded. Following the teaching time there would have been discussion—with this many people how am I going to get to say everything I want to say? And worst of all, a bunch of these people had shown up to be healed. This isn’t a hospital. That’s not what worship is for! You shouldn’t expect to get anything out of it—it’s a duty, something we do out of obligation, something we do for God. It’s not for us. Right?
So he rebukes the people that came to see Jesus. He tries to find a theological reason to justify his hard heart and grumpy attitude. “If you want to be healed, there are six other days you can ask Jesus to play magic doctor for you.” He’s not supposed to work on the Sabbath, so keep that nonsense out of my synagogue. Jesus doesn’t agree with the assessment.
Verse 15:
Then the Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the manger and lead it away to water it? And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day?” As he said these things, all his adversaries were put to shame, and all the people rejoiced at all the glorious things that were done by him. Luke 13:15-17
Jesus points out the absurdity of the leader’s theological argument. Healing was not forbidden on the sabbath just like untying animals so they can drink water wasn’t forbidden. If God expects us to take care of animals on the sabbath, how much more would He want to care for His people? This woman had been tied up by the devil for eighteen years—of course she should be set free on the sabbath.
For once they didn’t argue. The crowd that was there to see Jesus and probably some of the regulars were like, “Yeah! What Jesus said!” And they also felt the joy of the woman who was healed. The leader and everyone who agreed with him were put to shame. It was a good day in church after all.
Then Jesus finished His sermon.
Verse 18:
He said therefore, “What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it? It is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his garden, and it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches.” Luke 13:18-19
Jesus came to earth to bring the kingdom of God—the reign of God. Christianity is the kingdom of God—the reign of God. Jesus came to set free all the people who are bound and under the oppression of the world, the flesh, and the devil—like that woman. She was set free. She’s no longer in misery looking at the ground unable to straighten up and look to the heavens. She’s a picture of what Jesus has done for all of us.
The kingdom of God is where Jesus reigns. Where His people have been set free to straighten up and live their lives on earth as it is in heaven—the place where Jesus rules and reigns from. Christians are the citizens of the kingdom of God.
So what’s this kingdom like? Jesus compares it to a mustard seed—a tiny seed. Someone takes that little seed and plants it in their garden. Then it grows bigger than any of the other plants. It gets so big wild birds build nests and move in.
Does anyone want a bunch of wild birds moving into their garden? Eating the things you’re trying to grow? Making a bunch of racket? Pooping all over everything? I mean, it’s good for the birds, I guess. But I hate birds.
The synagogue leaders showed up each week and read the Word of God. They prayed and sang songs of praise. They better watch out, something might actually grow from all those little seeds. Like they might start expecting a Savior. They might even recognize Him when He shows up. Wouldn’t that be the worst?
Jesus tells another story with a similar point.
Verse 20:
And again he said, “To what shall I compare the kingdom of God? It is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, until it was all leavened.” Luke 13:20
Leaven is yeast. A teaspoon of yeast is enough to raise a pound of dough—a typical loaf of bread. Three measures of flour is a lot of flour—this is enough to make about 60 loaves of bread. He’s saying the kingdom of God is like a woman who has 60 pounds of dough, it only takes a little yeast to turn it into bread. A little makes a big difference.
It’s the same point as the tiny seed that grows into a tree that birds can live in.
The seed and the yeast are the Gospel. Telling people what God has done for us through Jesus that we couldn’t do for ourselves.
The guy who planted the mustard seed had absolutely nothing to do with creating that seed that could grow into a tree. Make sure that skeptical part of your mind pays attention to this—science can’t make a working seed. Life is a mystery—even plant life. He can only bury the seed. That might make him feel like he’s the one making it happen but the seed does the important work.
Same with the yeast. It’s alive—a living organism. The woman might feel like she’s the one making something happen when she adds yeast to dough—but it’s the yeast that does all the important work.
And it only takes a little.
A little Gospel can change everything. The smallest word of hope. The tiniest bit of mercy. Forgiving someone instead of being offended or getting even. Offering understanding and kindness instead of condemnation. Showing a little humility instead of being defensive. A little thing can make a big difference.
Maybe someone at work is talking about the Grammys or the State of the Union Address—what are you going to add to that conversation? A little word could go a long way.
Like you could say, “I have to believe God knows what He’s doing and this is all going somewhere good.” Or, “I’m sure glad my hope for mankind isn’t based on pop stars or politicians.” Or, “My pastor’s always talking about how Jesus came to save us from all this nonsense.” Those are the kind of things that might make someone interested in joining you on Sunday.
Or you can just add to the hopelessness and chaos,
“Yeah, it’s all going to hell in a flammable basket—I just want to get a good seat to watch it burn.”
Or act like you personally hate the people you think are ruining the world. Call them names. Mock them. Mean spirited comments are not going to make things better.
In New Testament times, the Roman government was brutal—awful to God’s people, completely against everything Jesus stood for and came to do. But there’s not one verse where Jesus or any of the apostles said anything bad about them. The Gospel changes the world but it does it from the inside out, little by little. Jesus didn’t complain about Rome.
You know who did? The same people who complained about Jesus—the Pharisees, the religious leaders. And Jesus saved all His harshest words for them.
The section we’re covering today started at the beginning of chapter twelve. In verse one Jesus said, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.”
So, a little Gospel is like yeast—but so is a little hypocrisy.
Hypocrisy is when you say one thing but do another. You say you’re a Christian and you go to church but you don’t act like it at work or school or at home. You might be a hypocrite if you’re more upset about other people’s sins than your own. Jesus says a little of that is like yeast—but instead of making bread to feed people, it gets puffed up with mold and gross. Just a little ruins the whole thing. No one wants it.
Instead of growing a tree that attracts wild birds and gives them a place to call home, they’re like a bunch of scarecrows. No one is going to come to a church with a bunch of unrepentant angry hypocrites chasing everyone away, acting like they’re better than everyone else. It only takes a little of this to get the job done. They’ll see it from a mile away.
A little hypocrisy, a little thinking we’re better than other people, a little selfishness—snapping at people, being unkind, impatient, rude, defensive or passive aggressive, a little pointing out their sin like we’re disgusted with them—just a little of that will turn our hearts black and lead people away from the grace of God. We live in an entire culture that is repulsed by the way Christians have misrepresented the Gospel.
We need to change that. Little by little will make a big difference.
A little Gospel, a little loving people the way God has loved us—a little patience, kindness, gentleness, forgiveness—these are the little things that will go a long way toward pointing people to Jesus and saving them.
Start at home. One word of grace to your kids or grandkids. No more yelling. Just don’t do it. No more acting out in anger. No more threatening your family with your emotions. The Gospel is planted by these little things—the smallest moments.
With your friends. Little words of encouragement. Guys are especially bad at just teasing each other all the time and busting on each other. Try a few words of kindness now and then. Don’t join in on the gossip and speak well of people when they’re not around instead.
With your husband or wife. They shouldn’t wonder if you ever think about your faith. Bring it up now and then. Tell them what you’d like prayer for. Mention something you found interesting in a sermon or Bible reading. Don’t act like all this Jesus stuff stays at church.
The Gospel is sharing what God has done for us through Jesus but nobody wants to be preached at. The Gospel isn’t a baseball bat to hit people over the head with.
Some people think sharing the Gospel means getting up on a soapbox and letting people have it. All talking, no listening. Big long speeches with lots of accusations and thou shalt nots. If you talk about Jesus, people are going to disagree with you. You want to know what to do when people disagree with you? Say what you need to say with as much kindness as possible and then be done with it. There’s no reason to argue any further. Just plant the seed, let God take care of what He wants to do with it. Make sure it’s a word of grace.
Jesus says it’s like a mustard seed. A little yeast. One little word of Gospel. Say it, then sit back and let it do its work.
Faith comes by hearing the word of Christ. God’s Word never returns to Him empty—it always accomplishes what He sent it to do. Just plant the seed, add the yeast. Trust the Holy Spirit to do the important work.
Jesus said to the woman, “you are freed from your disability.” “You are set free from your infirmity.” “You are healed of your sickness.”
He did this in front of an assembly of people. I’m sure she wasn’t the only one there who needed healing. I’m sure she wasn’t the only one there who was being tormented by demons. By healing her right in front of their eyes He showed them that He has the power to heal them, too. Maybe not that day, maybe not in this life, but He will absolutely heal them and deliver them in the life to come.
It’s the same with all of us. Jesus might heal you today. He still does such things. Miraculous healings. He doesn’t promise to heal you now but He has shown us that He’s able, and He’s promised He will when He returns. You will either be healed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, or you will be raised from the dead with a body that will never know sickness or pain again. It’s a promise. This is not just wishful thinking, He gave you His word—and the Word of God always accomplishes what He sent it to do. The Word of God can be trusted.
He also promises Your sins are forgiven. You have the promise of eternal life. The parables talk about a tree that’s a home for wild birds and a woman making enough bread to feed a small army. Jesus is the Bread of Life and all who eat of it will live forever. Revelation says He’s preparing a place for you to live in His garden city near the tree of life—He said in my Father’s house are many rooms. One of them has your name on it.
NewChurch is also a little seed that’s been planted in the Master’s garden. We’re growing. Might be at an awkward stage of development at the moment but “Despise not the days of small beginnings.” The idea is to grow into something that will attract the wild birds in this community. Birds that don’t have a place to call home. Thankfully, we’re not actually talking about birds. Or trees.
We planted NewChurch to be a place for people who haven’t been attracted or welcomed by other churches. To do something different. The problem with doing something different is the people who are used to doing things the same old way won’t get it. They won’t like it. They’ll try to come up with theological reasons for why it shouldn’t be done this way. They’ll argue that worship has to look a certain way. That we shouldn’t hang out with certain kinds of people. Shouldn’t spend our time eating and drinking with sinners. They would have called Jesus a glutton and a drunk, too.
I’ll share the vision of what NewChurch wants to be when we grow up at our voter’s meeting following worship on February 26th. Even if you’re not a member, I invite you to come and hear where we hope this is going. Come with an open mind. I hope you’ll want to be part of what God is doing here.
I’m going to end today with one last challenge, and it’s a heavy one. We’re eight years old now. Maybe the reason we’re still in a gym and haven’t grown into the church that God has called us to be is because we’re not ready to welcome the people He’s going to bring here. Maybe we don’t know how to plant those little words of Gospel yet. Maybe we’d still be inclined to shoo away all those wild birds so they don’t poop on our nice church. Maybe we have resting scarecrow face. Something to think about—and pray about.
That’s all. As the band is coming back, let’s pray.