In this pandemic, as in any tragedy, people ask, “why has God allowed this? What does it mean? What is God trying to teach us? What is the takeaway?”
The generation that Jesus ministered to during his earthly ministry had these same questions concerning catastrophes and disasters of their time. Jesus answered them and us in the gospel of Luke chapter 13.
1.) Jesus Was Asked Questions About Terrorism and natural disaster. (Luke 13:1-4)
There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. (Luke 13:1-5)
The Galileans were Israelites from the north. They had come down to Jerusalem for the Passover. This Passover feast was the only celebration that the common people, instead of the priests, would sacrifice their own offering. Pontius Pilate must have suspected the Galileans of being political enemies and had the worshipers murdered in the temple. The blood of the Galileans was mingled with the sacrificial lambs. The people in this passage of scripture inquired of Jesus about an act of terror that took place in the house of God. A similar thing happened on November 5, 2017 at First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas when a lone gunman came into the church and shot 26 people. Why would God allow terrible violence upon people who were in the very act of worshipping Him?
Jesus was also asked about a natural disaster. The tower of Siloam fell, and 18 innocent bystanders were crushed to death. Likewise, in 2004, a tsunami in the Indian Ocean killed 250,000 people. Whole villages were swept away and thousands upon thousands of families lost loved ones. Why does God allow these things to happen?
2.) Jesus Gives Us Two Explanations. (Luke 13:5)
We Are Not Better.
“…Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, Nay”
“…Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, Nay”
The people that die in tragedy or terrorism, are they worse than us or are we better than them? Were the people on Nov. 5, 2017 in Sutherland Texas at the First Baptist Church worse than us? Or are we better than the people who perished in the 2004 tsunami? Jesus tells us explicitly “NO” we are not better, and nor were they worse. Those of us who go one living and missing tragedy and calamity are not better than anyone else. Jesus knew our tendency to expect and feel entitled to seventy years of relative health, wealth, and happiness. If this expectation gets cut short, we demand explanation or may hold suspect the reason why God cut someone’s life short. In God’s sovereign will we are not all guaranteed an escape from tragedies no matter how “good” we might be.
We Will All Perish
“…ye shall all likewise perish” “…ye shall all likewise perish”
“The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23) All sin must be ended (put to death). “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:” (Hebrews 9:27). Man was put out of the garden after the fall of mankind so that he might not eat of the tree of life and live eternally as a sinner. Jesus died for us that we might live. Christ paid for our sin by dying on the cross. God offers us the gift of salvation and eternal life. Those who have received eternal life live forever, but sinful flesh will still die. However, “To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.” (II Cor. 5:8)
Jesus said, “…ye shall all likewise perish.” No one ever died in a terrorist attack or in tragedy who wasn’t going to die at some point anyway. God speaks to mankind in these calamities and through them saying, “you are all going to die, and you are not in control of when so you better get ready to leave this world.” We will all stand before God, so be prepared! Jesus illustrated this in the parable of the rich farmer. The rich farmer spoke in his heart: “I will tear down my barns and build bigger!” God said to him, “Thou fool, this night is thy soul required of thee!” The farmer was a successful fool who was not ready to stand before God. Be ready! Don’t be “…ashamed at His appearing!” (I John 2:28)
3.) Jesus Gives Us Instruction. (Luke 13:6-9)
Repent.
“except ye repent” “except ye repent”
God has given us, the living, a space of grace to turn from our sin to the Saviour. Jesus calls for men to change their mind about their sin and turn to Jesus for salvation.
“We all have been affected by the deadly virus of sin. We can be healed through faith in Jesus Christ and escape certain death. Sin has 100% mortality rate, but Jesus has 100% success rate in saving the sinner. The best news is that any individual infected by the deadly virus of sin can be healed through saving faith in the blood of Jesus Christ, God’s Son, and escape certain eternal death. Sin has a 100% mortality rate, but Doctor Jesus has a 100% success rate for those who come to Him by the door of saving faith. ‘For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord’” (Romans 6:23) – Evangelist David Cloud
If you do not know Christ as Saviour, call upon Him now to be your Saviour! You will be eternally grateful.
Be Fruitful.
He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none. Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground? And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it: And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down. (Luke 13:6-9)
Jesus next explained calamity with a parable of the fig tree. Israel was often illustrated in the Bible as a fig tree. God planted Israel with the patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob). God instructed them with the law of God, the prophets, and the tabernacle worship system. Christ worked the vineyard of Israel for “three years” (the space of his earthly ministry). He expected fruit but found none. You and I as believers have been entrusted with the complete Word of God, the Holy Spirit, and the New Testament Church. We have been given more than Israel ever had. God has given us, the living, a little space of grace to be fruitful (“let it alone this year”). We should, “Work for the night is coming” (John 9:4). For us, the living, we have a short window of time to work for Jesus.
Essayist Charles Lamb told of a certain man whose life was in three stages: 1.) When he was young, they said, “he is going to do something with himself.” 2.) When he was a young man they said, “he could do something if he tried”, and 3.) when he was older, “he could have done something with his life if he had wanted to.”
Let this not be said of us! Let’s pray, “Lord help us to be fruitful!”