“Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this wayI I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”

Luke 13:1-3

News traveled south along the road from Galilee: Pilate had committed a gruesome massacre. Pilate was notoriously violent toward religious gatherings he considered subversive. From Jesus’ ‘answer’ (v 2), it seems that the crowd were questioning whether these deaths were deserved as the old covenant teaches that good people were blessed and bad people cursed. This is the only context in the Gospels where Jesus deals specifically with innocent suffering. His answer is clear: those people had not suffered because they were worse sinners than others.

We live in a fallen world where God permits human sin and corrupted earth to run their course. Both will cause suffering and death, until God brings this age to its close and creation is finally restored. Jesus warns us that, when confronted with news of such disasters, we should be thoughtful, reminded of our own mortality, using the opportunity to repent – that is, to turn our lives around and reorient ourselves to the right path. Like the fig tree, we always have another chance (7-9). However, like the fig tree’s reprieve, that chance does not last forever.

CLOSING PRAYER

Lord, show me where my heart and actions are not in tune with your will for me and lead me to repentance, even if this will not be the first time I’ve asked for forgiveness. I praise you, the God of second chances.

(Edited from Encounter with God)