Life Marks: NO NEED TO PERISH
If you remember from last week, we spent some time trying to understand the SADD world in which we live, a world complete with “Sin,” “Accidents,” “Disease,” and “Disasters.” We focused upon the story of Job, who felt that God was targeting him for maximum pain when, in spite of continuing to live a “righteous” life, he lost virtually everything that he held dear, including his family and his health. In the end, God spoke, and reminded Job that he simply did not understand God’s thoughts or His ways, which places us in the same boat as Job. As much as we try, we just don’t know the answer to those gnarly “Why?” questions that we so often ask. Like Job, we must acknowledge our lack of understanding, and rely upon God’s wisdom in allowing pain and loss to come our way.
In Jesus’ day, a crowd had gathered and began to ask Jesus some questions about two tragic current events that were fresh in their minds (Lk. 13:1-5). The first event had to do with Pilate (the often brutal Roman Governor of the province) “…mingling the blood of Galileans with their sacrifices,” which suggests that there was a massacre of a group of Galilean pilgrims who had come to Jerusalem to offer sacrifices at the Temple. Tensions between the Roman occupying force and the local residents were always volatile, and zealot bands were always a threat to the “Roman Peace.” The Romans had built what is called the Antonia Fortress, a tower overlooking the Temple Mount, in order for Roman soldiers to keep an eye out for trouble in the Temple area. Although we don’t know the exact cause of the massacre, apparently there was a disturbance near the altar of sacrifice, and Pilate ordered the killing of those who were the instigators.
The crowd wanted Jesus to affirm their “bad theology” by saying that “these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans because they had suffered this way.” Jesus was silent about the reason for Pilate’s actions, but used this opportunity to warn them about another tragic event that was still to come. But before we look at that, let’s look at the other “current event” that was mentioned by the crowd.
The second event had to do with the collapse of a tower near the Pool of Siloam in Jerusalem in which eighteen people were killed. It was likely a water tower used to fill the Pool itself, which had become unstable and suddenly buckled under its own weight. Or, knowing that earthquakes were also common in the region, this may have been the cause of the collapse. Again, the crowd was convinced that those who died had to be “…worse sinners than all the others living in Jerusalem.” And once again, Jesus chose not to address their question directly (which would have been an emphatic “no”) and instead, pointed to another disaster that was soon to come upon them, just as He did when addressing the crowd about Pilate’s murder of Galileans.
In addition to being the Messiah and the Son of God, Jesus was also a prophet. As a prophet, He not only proclaimed God’s truth, but also warned about the future. During His earthly ministry (AD 26-30), He could also see ahead to what would occur in AD 70 when the Romans would destroy both the Temple and the City. He even talked about it just a few days before His crucifixion, warning the people that when they saw “…Jerusalem surrounded by armies, don’t go into the city, but get out as quickly as possible” (see Mt. 24, Lk. 21, and Mk. 13). Jesus knew that unless the heart of the people changed their fate would be sealed.
And so, how did Jesus answer those who asked Him about those current events? Without agreeing or disagreeing with their “bad theology,” He simply said, “Unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” Jesus’ statement had both temporal and eternal implications. He was asking them to change their minds about their sin and need for God, and believe that the Father had sent the Son to redeem them. In the end, they killed their own Messiah, and as a result, they were given forty years to repent before the Romans would destroy the Temple, the Priesthood, and the entire Sacrificial System, along with tens of thousands of Jews from Galilee to the north all the way to Jerusalem in the south.
Of course, Jesus’ warning to those in the crowd that had gathered two thousand years ago has implications for us today. Though a tragic end may not be awaiting us in our future as it did with Israel, death certainly is, At that time, our life on earth will end and we will step into eternity and stand before the King of kings and Lord of lords. And we will either stand alone, or we will stand with our “…personal Advocate (our own Defense Attorney), who is Jesus Christ the Righteous One, who is the atoning sacrifice for our sins” (1 Jn. 2:1-2). He is the same One who told His disciples early in His ministry that, “God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever puts their faith and trust in Him, will not perish, but have eternal life” (Jn. 3:16).
Maybe it’s time to repent and “change your mind” about your need for a Savior. No need to “perish,” just believe that He came to redeem you, and then accept Him as your Savior and Lord. He will give you the gift of “LIFE,” the gift that lasts for eternity.
