"Were They Worse Than You?"

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There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And he answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” Luke 13:1-5

In the Name of Jesus, who is always with you, dear fellow redeemed,

The examples Jesus gives today could just as easily be ripped from today's headlines. You've seen them, "Innocent bystander victim of drive-by shooting" "four killed in Japanese Earthquake". What do we do when we hear these headlines? Usually, we say “that’s too bad” and let our mind move on to the next story or scroll down the page. 

But what about when these things happen in our own families? An aunt has a case of breast cancer, but it was removed with minimal treatment, but her niece faces a much more serious battle with that horrible disease. Another man has cancer removed in only one surgery and does very well while his father-in-law struggles for a long time. “Why?” We ask. Did one person have more faith? Did one person do something horrible? We want to know why these things happen.

That is probably why these people come to Jesus and asked Him about these people from Galilee who were murdered by Pilate as they offered their sacrifices. Jesus was from Galilee, did He know any of these people? 

But listen to Jesus’ response to both of these. Do you think these people were any worse than anyone else? Do you think they were worse than you? He says this because this is our natural reaction. We figure that these bad things must happen as a punishment. How many times have we caught ourselves saying “what did I do to deserve this?” Then there are the voices from preachers on TV that say “If you only had enough faith you would be healed.” This only makes you question your faith and God's forgiveness if you aren’t healed already. Don't listen to lies like this. 

Jesus’ answer to these is completely different. Did this happen because these people were any worse than you? He says clearly “No”. Bad things do not happen because one person is worse than another or because one person has less faith than another. God is not rewarding or punishing people in this way. 

Jesus is doing something different. He wants us to see our own sin and repent. “Unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” He says. Here he’s not speaking of death in this body, but of being eternally lost in hell. 

What do events like cancer, war, earthquakes, and drive by shootings teach us? They remind us how fragile our life is. When we see them, we know that it just as well could have been us. This is what Moses teaches us in Psalm 90:12 “Teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.” Today could be the day that any one of us may stand before the Lord, so what then? 

God uses disasters, tragedy, and sickness to show us the law in a very real way. Death is coming for us all because we all sin. When we experience even the worst the world has to throw at us with faith, we humble ourselves, we repent. We turn from our sin. If God uses a disaster or tragedy to turn us from our sin and draw us to Himself, then He has already made something good happen out of something bad. 

That’s what we all should do every day. But what do we do if we are the ones who are suffering? We all know people right now who are between a rock and a hard place, have pain in their body, or are wondering where God is all this. If you haven't been there before you can be sure that someday you will be. 

We should remember we won’t find the proof of God's love in how we feel or what happens to us from day to day. Consider two verses from Romans chapter 5. “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (That's verse 1) We have peace with God through Jesus. God isn’t angry at us anymore. On the cross Jesus took all of God’s anger. He was punished for our sins. Therefore, there is no more punishment or condemnation for us who believe in Jesus as our Savior. 

If we want to see what God thinks of us, we don’t look at our own life or the world around us. We know that many faithful people suffer horribly, and many evil people succeed. So worldly success, wealth, and even health are not the ways God demonstrates His love. “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” That’s Romans 5:8. If you want proof of what God thinks of you, don’t look at how you feel, how much money you have in the bank, or your health. Look to Jesus’ cross. See Him pour out His life in love for you. Look at Jesus’ empty tomb. See that death and sin are defeated there.  

If that’s the proof that God loves us, then why does He allow these things to happen? Is it His will for people to be sick, hurting, and die? Has He lost control over the world or has Satan thwarted His good design? Is He unable to make His will happen? Maybe He doesn’t care at all. 

No, if that’s what we’re thinking, then we’re asking the wrong question. Here’s the question we should be asking. Listen to what it says in Romans 11:33-35 

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?” “Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?”

God doesn’t owe us an explanation for anything He does. It’s like God says to Job at the end, it’s basically, “I’m God, you’re not. Who do you think you are to even ask?” Job does what Jesus says to do, repent in dust and ashes. If we go digging in the depths of God’s will, we may not like what we find. Indeed, we may not even be able to understand it any more than your cat can comprehend calculus.  

So notice what Jesus does here. Jesus is taking us from the mystery of God’s will and its relation to evil to the promises of God’s Word. It is better for us to seek His promises in His Word than to speculate about His hidden will. There in God’s Word, we do see the big picture of God's will is clearly revealed.

We know God's will is clearly revealed in the Ten Commandments, which we have not kept. So we hear again God’s will for all clearly in the Old Testament reading from Ezekiel 33:11 

“As I live, declares the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways, for why will you die, O house of Israel?”

All are sinners, but God doesn’t want any sinner to die in their sin. He wants people to turn away from sin and turn towards Him. We have this promise attached to that. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9) This is part of God’s will too. We in learn in 1 Timothy 2:4 that God “desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” Yes, it is God’s will to save you! 

We also learn from the parable that Jesus teaches about the fig tree that doesn’t produce, that it is God’s will for us to produce fruit in keeping with repentance. This is why the Holy Spirit works to produce love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control in us. When we show these fruits to the world, we can be sure we are doing God’s will. Of course, God’s commands to make disciples by baptism and teaching are also part of His will, so is coming to the Lord’s Supper and receiving the forgiveness God offers for you there. 

God’s will is for us to repent, receive forgiveness in Christ, through baptism and the Lord’s Supper, to read His Word and let that guide our lives. Those things have happened for you, so yes, God’s will is being done in your life. Those are the big clear parts of God’s will that we know. This is already being done in your life now. Even at the end of your life, God’s will will still be done. Psalm 116:15 says “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.” In Christ, death doesn't get the last word. Jesus does, and He's already been through death and will bring us to life on the other side. We know His promise that He will transform our lowly bodies to be like His glorious body when Jesus comes again. That is His will.

If we trust God with these big, revealed parts of His will, then can’t we trust God with the smaller, personal, but hidden parts of His will? God’s Word promises “He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:32)

So, what should you say to someone who is going through something horrible? "God has a plan for you" is certainly true. But for me, it begs the question of God’s hidden will. "God has a plan for you" is not completely good news, or at least we should say it is not the Gospel. God’s will for you does include your death with faith, and there may be a good deal of suffering along the way. Consider saying something like this, "God will be with you no matter what happens, and nothing happens outside of His control." 

            Over the last two years we’ve faced the pestilence of COVID and now we’re staring down the prospect of another world war. This has caused some to wonder which of the four horsemen of the apocalypse we’ll meet this week. When we see these awful things take place, we repent, receive forgiveness, and then rest in God’s love for us which is stronger than death. May God give you peace as you do it. Amen.