The Word This Week
Luke 13:1…
Jesus addresses the wrong-headed concept some, maybe even most have pertaining to the relationship between sin and suffering. Some think in this world when we are in sin we are judged by some form of suffering, as if we deserve to suffer because of our sin.
Jesus corrects that notion.
The news has been reported to Him of Galileans killed by Pilate - a story Jesus was obviously already aware of. The inference is somehow their deaths were deserved because of their sin, as is commonly assumed when something like this happens. There must be some hidden reason they have suffered so.
Jesus dispels this thinking and reminds them all are sinners. How does calamity fit the scenario they seem to have in mind when all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God?
Jesus instead emphasizes the great need to repent, understanding calamity could happen at any time in life. There is no way to prepare for sudden calamity when it comes other than to be prepared for death. Being born into a religion and continuing in its practice is no such preparation.
Their concern about Galileans having strayed from the faith in some sort of wrongful presentation of sacrifices resulting in their deaths under Pilate should be a warning to repent, not a presumption of some sort of guilt on the part of the Galileans.
Jesus says this focus on Galileans is misplaced. What about the Judeans the tower in Siloam fell on and killed? He asks them if they think these men were worse sinners than those living in Jerusalem?
This brief discussion reminds us we are all in peril on this earth which was and is still ruled by Satan. As much as we dread calamitous events, they are inevitable, and we must not judge those caught up in them as anything other than helpless victims of great tragedy. To judge them individually or collectively is wrong.
The point is to be reminded we must all be prepared for death because it could happen at any time. We are each one breath or one heartbeat away from physical death. Calamity should instead cause us to judge ourselves. Am I prepared for eternal life in God’s kingdom?
Pastor Bill
Jesus addresses the wrong-headed concept some, maybe even most have pertaining to the relationship between sin and suffering. Some think in this world when we are in sin we are judged by some form of suffering, as if we deserve to suffer because of our sin.
Jesus corrects that notion.
The news has been reported to Him of Galileans killed by Pilate - a story Jesus was obviously already aware of. The inference is somehow their deaths were deserved because of their sin, as is commonly assumed when something like this happens. There must be some hidden reason they have suffered so.
Jesus dispels this thinking and reminds them all are sinners. How does calamity fit the scenario they seem to have in mind when all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God?
Jesus instead emphasizes the great need to repent, understanding calamity could happen at any time in life. There is no way to prepare for sudden calamity when it comes other than to be prepared for death. Being born into a religion and continuing in its practice is no such preparation.
Their concern about Galileans having strayed from the faith in some sort of wrongful presentation of sacrifices resulting in their deaths under Pilate should be a warning to repent, not a presumption of some sort of guilt on the part of the Galileans.
Jesus says this focus on Galileans is misplaced. What about the Judeans the tower in Siloam fell on and killed? He asks them if they think these men were worse sinners than those living in Jerusalem?
This brief discussion reminds us we are all in peril on this earth which was and is still ruled by Satan. As much as we dread calamitous events, they are inevitable, and we must not judge those caught up in them as anything other than helpless victims of great tragedy. To judge them individually or collectively is wrong.
The point is to be reminded we must all be prepared for death because it could happen at any time. We are each one breath or one heartbeat away from physical death. Calamity should instead cause us to judge ourselves. Am I prepared for eternal life in God’s kingdom?
Pastor Bill