Third Sunday in Lent Sermon and Video
People, as a general rule, in every age do not like unanswered questions. We do not like, not knowing, why something has occurred. If something terrible happens, we want to learn the cause because there must always be a cause. If we cannot discern the cause, then we will speculate. Perhaps, far too often, we bring God into our answer and speak authoritatively on His behalf. In the process, we forget to clarify that we are speculating, and we really do not know why this bad thing has happened.
The most well-known example of this is the endless speculating and accusations toward Job by his well-meaning friends. His story is told in the Biblical book of Job which is in the Wisdom section of the Old Testament. As you recall, Job is a successful independent businessman and a man of significant faith and conviction. He has wealth, a thriving business, a wife, and children. Then, through a series of freak events, his business is ruined, his family is decimated, and he is a afflicted with ghastly, visible, painful, sickness. In a brief span of time, he has no business, no heirs, and no health.
Why did this calamity happen to Job?
He has friends who come to him to accompany him in his considerable grief and agony. They also come with a conviction based on their own speculations about why all of this turmoil and suffering occurred. After a while, each of his friends, begins to explain it to him. Job has sinned. When he denies any wrongdoing, they accuse him of lying or being in denial that he has sinned. Being the good friends that they are, they exhort Job to confess his sin and repent so that the Lord will restore his good fortune. Job refuses. Thus proving their point that he is hiding something.
Those of us who are removed from the actual events, know the truth of the matter. Job is indeed a righteous man in the very best use of the term. God is allowing Satan to tempt Job because God knows that Job is a righteous, faith-filled man, who will remain faithful and righteous. Job’s friends have it all wrong. It says so in the book of Job.
In the Gospel reading, Jesus is being asked to comment on two terrible events that had recently happened. The first is that the Roman ruler Pilate and his army came upon Jews in Galilee that were worshiping and for whatever reason were killed. Survivors report that the worshipers’ blood was mingled with their sacrifice. The second is that a tower in Siloam fell and killed eighteen people.
All we know about these incidents is what is reported in Luke 13. There is no other biblical citation nor surviving external historical documents that refer to these incidents.
Jesus is clearly asked to comment on the “why” of these two terrible events. His response is instructive. Paraphrasing Jesus here: Don’t assume the worst. Don’t assume that those killed were worse sinners than others. Don’t assume that the dead received a divine punishment for some offense or deeper level of depravity. Instead, use this as an opportunity for self-examination that leads to an honest assessment of your walk with God. Self-examination questions might include the following: Are you living with complete faith in your Lord Jesus Christ? Do you trust Him to provide for your earthly needs? Do you recognize and give thanks for all the gifts and blessings that the Lord has placed all around you? Or, do you think that these gifts and blessings are your own doing or that you are somehow entitled to them?
We heed Jesus’ counsel to turn from assigning blame and to reflect upon our own frailty and turn to God in repentance. John Calvin explains Jesus’ intentions this way:
To correct the false and cruel judgment which we are accustomed to pass on wretched sufferers, and, at the same time, to shake off the indulgence which every man cherishes towards himself, he shows, first, that those who are treated with severity are not the most wicked of all men; because God administers his judgments in such a manner, that some are instantly seized and punished, and others are permitted to remain long in the enjoyment of ease and luxury. Secondly, he declares that all the calamities which happen in the world are so many demonstrations of the wrath of God; and hence we learn what an awful destruction awaits us, if we do not avert it. (Calvin 2:152)
When terrible things happen around us, and they happen all the time, what is to be done? A few thoughts that God’s Word teaches us: Pray for those who suffer and grieve. We support and accompany the grieving as best that we can. In death, we put the best construction on things that we can.
We let the mystery of the situation stand as a mystery. We resist the innate desire to wonder if the person or family deserved it or lay blame on them because of a sin. Instead, we live with trust in God. We remind ourselves and others as appropriate that we do not know all the answers.
We recognize that the Lord has granted us an opportunity to reflect and to engage in self-examination. Don’t worry, the Holy Spirit will point something out that we need to repent of. This opportunity for self-examination is the lesson of the fig tree. We may be ripe to be taken out and we do not know it. We need the nourishment of faith that trusts that the Lord Jesus Christ has died on a cross for our sakes so that we can receive his forgiveness and have the courage to forgive and love others. We need the nourishment of faith that is active in Christ’s love so that we blossom and grow and produce fruit that is a blessing for our neighbors.
The peace of God which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.
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