Tyrants, Terrorists, and Tragedies (Part 2 of 7)

This is a multi-part series that is looking to the Bible in Luke 13:1-9 for help in answering the difficult questions facing Christians when confronted with evil and tragedy in our world.

Go to Part 1

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In Luke 13:1-9, Jesus is responding to news about a tragedy. Pilate, the Roman governor had executed some people from Galilee when they were coming to worship at the temple in Jerusalem. Not only did he kill these people, he took their blood and mixed it with the blood of the animals they brought as a sacrifice to the Lord! Imagine the outrage and confusion felt by those questioning Jesus! How could God let this evil happen? What horrible sins must have been committed by these Galileans for God to allow such a savage penalty!

Jesus’ response can help us understand the evil and cataclysmic events that continue to happen today in the world around us.

Understand sin and judgment from God’s perspective

^{Luke 13:1-3
1}There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. ² And he answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? ³ No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.

In verse 2 Jesus, in his typical fashion, teaches his inquirers with a question that turns the implied questions of their news right back on them! Jesus gives the correct answer to his own question, which is ‘NO! They weren’t more evil.’ Jesus makes it very clear in verse 3 that ALL, including the people coming to Him asking the question, deserve death!

What about today? When an evil dictator slaughters his own people, what are we supposed to think? When Islamic terrorists crash a plane into the World Trade Center or blow people up on the subway in London, what is our response? What about when a criminal kills or seriously injures someone we know? Where is God when evil people do bad things to innocent people? Jesus’ response, from this passage is that there are no innocent people. There are no people who don’t deserve to die in those ways (or worse)...no exceptions!

People today don’t want to hear Jesus’ answer. We want someone to blame! We want to be outraged by the evil actions of someone else. We don’t want to be bothered to think about the evil that resides right inside our hearts! I pray that the Lord will help us take the truth of verse 3 to heart when faced with tragedy in our lives or in the news. Go to Part 3