February 21, 2025

Luke 13: 2, 3 Jesus answered, “Do you think these . . . were worse sinners . . . ? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.” (NIV)

In times of tragedy, the most important question is not who caused it or why, but how will we respond.*

In this passage, we find Jesus using the big news stories of the day as a teaching opportunity. We don’t know much about the first incident except that Pilate was blamed for the slaughter of some Galileans as they were performing their sacrifices, causing human blood to mingle with that of the animals on the altar. The second event involved an unfortunate accident in which a tower fell on and killed eighteen people. Jesus presented his listeners with the thought-provoking question, “Did these people die this way because they were worse sinners than anyone else?”

It seems logical and fair that the punishment should fit the crime. In a civil justice system, that’s the way it should be. If sin were judged according to the same standards, it would stand to reason that bad things wouldn’t happen to good people.

Jesus redirected the focus from, “Why did this happen?” to, “What does this mean to us?”* He wanted his listeners – and us – to understand that life isn’t fair. Not every bad thing that happens is retribution for bad behavior, nor is good fortune an indication that an individual is a deserving person. His point was not that the people who had died were innocent but that they were not more guilty than anyone else.*

Paul echoed Jesus’ point when he wrote in Romans 3: 23 that all have sinned and fall short of God’s glory. Everyone is guilty therefore everyone should repent. Everyone dies and most are taken by surprise by it. And unless you repent of your sins, your fate is worse than death. Repent, Jesus said. Don’t live in fear of dying, and don’t be afraid that you will get what you deserve!

The ultimate disaster is carrying your sins to your casket.*