"Now at that same time there were some present who were reporting to Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. And Jesus answered and said to them, "Do you think that these Galileans were greater sinners than all other Galileans because they suffered these things? I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. Or do you think that those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them were worse offenders than all the men who live in Jerusalem? I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish."
Good Morning my beloved,
We welcome you to worship today in the name of God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Thank you for joining us today, whether it's your first time or you are a faithful member of our family in Christ, your presence is acknowledged and truly appreciated. Our goal is to glorify God, to see Christ lifted up and exalted, so that we might have a deep fellowship with Him. I'd like to encourage you to invite others whom you believe would benefit from knowing our Lord better.
If you have recently received Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, please contact us so that we can include you in our prayers. Though we all come from a variety of backgrounds, different ethnicities, cultures, and personal experiences, I cannot begin to describe the power we collectively possess as one unified body, bound together by a singular, transformative purpose: to honor and glorify our Heavenly Father and the Lord Jesus Christ through our worship and to pray with and for one another and those in need. If you are in need of prayer, I strongly urge not let this blessed opportunity pass you by to find the comfort and strength you need that can only be found in His presence. Write us and let us how we can be in prayer for you this week. What a tremendous privilege we've been given, one so many take for granted. Now, I ask that you would join us in this sacred calling to worship our Creator and experience the profound difference it can make in each of our lives.
I've preached on Christian suffering so many times over the years that I've lost count. Not long ago, I received a message from a woman which read, "Pastor, until I listened to one of your sermons, I never understood what Christian suffering was. After more than an hour and 20 minutes, now I get it! You have to be the most long-winded preacher I've ever encountered." My first instinct was to respond, "Apparently you've never read the New Testament." For the record, I didn't, I restrained myself. Instead, I replied since God wrote the Bible, "Thank you for your patience, I pray that you were blessed in some way, other than what it means to suffer through an extremely lengthy sermon. You see, I really don't choose my sermon topics, I just preach what comes next in the Bible, verse by verse. So, it's the Holy Spirit that really gives me what I am to preach on. Just remember, when you go into a jewelry store and ask the salesperson to look at diamonds, they never display the diamonds directly on the glass case, they always place them on a piece of black piece of cloth, so the brilliance and beauty of the diamond can best be seen. Similarly, the glory of God shines more brightly when displayed against the dark backdrop of our human suffering." Some of you know will know exactly what I'm talking about.
This is a message about tragedy, terrorism and towers. Many of you will probably think I'm talking about 9/11, when nineteen Islamic terrorists hijacked four commercial airliners, crashing two into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, one into the Pentagon in Arlington County, Virginia, and the fourth into a field in Pennsylvania after passengers attempted to overcome them, resulting in the deaths of 2,977 people, making it the deadliest terrorist attack in history, prompting the United States to launch the global war on terror, and later the invasion of Iraq. The horrific events also led to significant changes in U.S. domestic security, including the creation of the Department of Homeland Security and the passage of the Patriot Act, signed into law by President George W. Bush on November 25, 2002. Muhammad said it is the duty of Muslims is to subjugate everybody to Allah, by whatever means necessary, even if it means a holy war. Today, terrorists certainly have the attention of the entire world, because everyone is afraid of terrorists. They represent a new kind of war, which is very different than conventional war, they are willing to kill themselves for their cause, making them very, very effective. Our lives are literally bombarded day after day with the image after image of their deadly destruction. What makes these terrorists so deadly, so dangerous, is they are hidden; we don’t know who they are; we don’t know where they are; we don’t know what they’re going to do next, we don't know how they’re going to do it, and we don't know where they’re going to do it. And, we usually don't find out it's the attack is already over. They can strike anyone, anywhere, at anytime. Islamic terrorists groups are by far the most powerful system of deadly destruction in the world. Islam is main persecutor of Christians all over the world, making it the most powerful source of destruction of biblical truth and Christianity.
However, it may completely take you by surprise that there is another war being waged, one that goes well beyond the visible conflicts and struggles that saturate our news headlines—a far more insidious battle that unfolds, invisible to the naked eye yet wields the cataclysmic power to eternally damn unsuspecting souls and shatter eternal destinies. This spiritual conflict represents what I contend to be the most ruthless and devastating assault ever unleashed upon Christianity. Unlike the physical wars with clear battle lines and flesh-and-blood enemies with which we are all familiar, this battle operates very subtly, through slight changes in rephrasing, hints of self-centered worship whispered in the music, all seeking to undermine the church from within rather than from without, eroding the foundational Christian doctrine that has sustained believers for centuries. What I believe makes it particularly deadly and dangerous, as it often goes unrecognized by Christian people who remain blissfully ignorant, completely oblivious to its everlasting ramifications, being focused solely on cultural and societal concerns, leaving the faithful utterly vulnerable to its eternal consequences. Satan has infiltrated the church with the same deadly and destructive objective: to completely to obliterate the Church, by destroying the Gospel message in order to establish Islamic ideologies. I find it particularly interesting that the data from coming the Global Terrorism Database and analyses by institutions like the Center for Strategic and International Studies do not seem to believe that the majority of terrorist attacks in recent decades are religiously motivated, but political in nature; that destruction and violence are inherently contradictory to the religion of Islam, which they believe calls Muslims to live peaceful lives, they dismiss the chaos as the work
of a "few radical Islamic extremists" that have literally hijacked the entire religion. What seems to escape their notice is that peace for Islam according to their own sacred doctrine, the Quran, means conversion by any means necessary, even by force, until religious dominance is achieved, citing that "religion is for Allah alone" (Surah 2:193) but only after submitting to Islam is offered as a choice: conversion to Islam or the sword. Though we do have a variety of options available to us in our modern society to try to protect ourselves and minimize the danger we face, we are forced to acknowledge that the world we live in today, inherent to the particular era in which we find ourselves, is undeniably a very dangerous place. Despite the numerous technological advances, security measures, and safety protocols that have been developed and implemented over the last several decades, the constant threats and potential risks continue to persist throughout our communities and across the globe. We are therefore, challenged on a daily basis, to remain in a state of constant vigilance and preparedness, while we attempt to live "normal lives" with our loved ones as we navigate with awareness and extreme caution.
The events we will explore in our message today unfolded over two thousand years ago, long before the modern era of global terrorism. These ancient occurrences, though distant in time, carry profound significance in human history. Is God trying to tell us something? And if so, what exactly is He saying? Even those who believed they were blessed by God can fall victim to sudden, inexplicable catastrophic disasters—reminding us that true saving faith must be grounded in humility, not presumption. Humility fosters a profound posture of surrender, one that acknowledges our human limitations and a willingness to admit mistakes, as well as the need for God's grace, both in personal growth and in our relationship with God and others, characterized by an openness to learn and a deep respect for the wisdom and experiences of others. In contrast, presumption is a dangerous mindset, rooted in self-righteousness and the arrogance of self-assurance in one's own moral superiority—which often can lead to spiritual complacency and elevates one's own moral judgment above that of others, often accompanied by an unwavering confidence in one's own righteousness. This self-assuredness can lead to spiritual complacency, as well as a distorted view of grace diminishes the transformative power of forgiveness and compassion, replacing it with a sense of entitlement and moral superiority.
Ultimately, presumption not only hinders personal growth but also undermines the very foundation of grace, which is meant to be freely given and received, not earned or assumed., in contrast, presumption is rooted in self-righteousness and the arrogance of self-assurance in one's own moral superiority—which often can lead to spiritual complacency and a horribly distorted view of grace. If it's really all about Christ, all the time, may we overcome the world by living consistently with what God has called us to do. May we suffer well, without retaliation, in the days to come—whether facing relentless assaults on our character, unjust treatment, or persecution for His name's sake—without losing our testimony, empowered by the Holy Spirit.
I recognize that the concept of suffering is an uncomfortable position within contemporary Christian today, particularly when contrasted with the prevalent theology, which has gained significant traction in many, if not most churches today, tends to focus heavily on the promises of divine favor, material prosperity, physical health, and overall happiness as central components of the Christian experience rather than trials, hardships and suffering, which seems incompatible with God's promises. However, Scripture clearly affirms suffering as an integral part of discipleship, not as a sign of God’s absence or disfavor but as a means of spiritual identification with Christ, a union that is not intended to be merely symbolic as part of a past, completed event but a divine reality of the present, deeply rooted in grace and lived out through faith in Christ, as we witness to the watching world.
Let's pray
Heavenly Father,
Father, we thank You for Your Word, for its veracity, its truthfulness, and its power. Thank you for this profound reminder that suffering is part of the Christian experience, since Christ is our standard by which we accept unjust suffering and endure persecution with patience, grace, and steadfast faith as we are conformed more closely to the image of Christ Himself, while we await our future glorification. We confess we are humbled by Your Word, let it drive us to repentance. Lord, for those grieving losses this year, whether from natural disasters, violence, or personal pain, we fervently ask that You answer their cries and meet their every need with Your boundless grace and mercy. Comfort them and grant them Your provision in their darkest hour. Work mightily in every heart here today, that we might have life and have it more abundantly. We ask and pray these things for Christ's sake and for Your glory.
Amen.
Today's Message: Why Do Good People Suffer?
Suffering is at the heart of the Christian doctrine. On the night the Jesus was being betrayed, at the Lord's Table He took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, "This is My body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of Me." In the same way He took the cup also after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me." The very essence of the Christian Gospel is that Christ substitutionally went to the cross, on our behalf, paying the penalty for your sins and mine. Most specifically to the point, is that Christ died, suffering for us, so that God might be reconcile with a sinful humanity. The message of the Gospel has never been about
self-improvement, or restoring broken marriages. It is not about achieving personal success—becoming healthy, wealthy, and happy. It is that through a radical act of divine love, God intervened in human history, sending His only begotten innocent Son to pay in full the infinite penalty for the debt we owed, but were unable to pay, secured by His blood, Christ's sacrifice forever bridges the chasm between a holy and righteous God and sinful humanity. That is the Good News. Or as Paul wrote in 1 Timothy 1:15,, "It is a trustworthy saying and deserving full acceptance: that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost." That said, while we as believers are called to aim for perfection, salvation is not about achieving a level of perfection we can never obtain, it's about transformation, growing and evolving every day into the maturity of Christlikeness, through a process called sanctification.
"Now at that same time there were some present who were reporting to Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. And Jesus answered and said to them, "Do you think that these Galileans were greater sinners than all other Galileans because they suffered these things? I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. Or do you think that those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them were worse offenders than all the men who live in Jerusalem? I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish."
Let's begin by looking at verse 1, "Now at that same time there were some present who were reporting to Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices." Luke, our careful historian, begins without fanfare, "Now at that same time," he's talking about the same time as the long discourse had been taking place that started back in chapter 12, at the same that He had been extending the invitation for those who were still in the process of making up their minds about Him and come to Him in faith, the same time that He had just issued the a blistering indictment and a strong warning directly aimed at those for their unbelief. It was at that same time that He was interrupted for a third time. The first interruption happened in verse 13 of chapter 12, when someone from the crowd said to Him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me." And He told the parable of the Rich Fool. In verse 41 of chapter 12, He was interrupted by Peter who posed the question, "Lord, are You addressing this parable to us, or to everyone else as well?" And now, He is being interrupted for the third time by who Luke identifies only as "some present."
We talked about the invitation, we talked about the warning, where He warned those who were guilty to settle their case with God before they ever get to the judgment because once a person arrives before God at the judgment, it's too late,
back in chapter 12, now here in these first five verses, we're going to talk about the subject nobody like to talk about, judgment, which is the question in the minds of those interrupting Him, even though that's not what they actually said. We're all familiar with Pilate, Pontius Pilate, the fifth Roman governor who had the well deserved reputation of being self-willed and wicked. It was his treatment of the Jews that caused them to rebel, which ultimately led to the Roman invasion and the destruction of Jerusalem and of the temple in 70 A.D. So, apparently this just happened and some people were interrupting Jesus to tell Him about the Galilean Jews whose blood Pontius Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices while they were offering worship at the Temple in Jerusalem. We could assume that this happened very likely at a Passover. Since the Temple in Jerusalem was the only authorized place for sacrifices in ancient Israel, this violent act of turning the sacred temple grounds into a slaughterhouse, would have been considered a profound desecration.
With no mention of this tragic event used by Jesus to emphasize the need for repentance in the records of Josephus' work, who wrote extensively about the period of Roman rule in Judea, including the procuratorship of Pontius Pilate, therefore, the historical authenticity of this specific event often debated by those who like to challenge the accuracy of Scripture and the extent of Josephus’s historical coverage. That said, we don't know any other details except what is given here in Luke, in which Jesus emphasizes that such sudden deaths should not be interpreted as divine punishment for greater sin. However, there are others who argue that Josephus’s silence about this specific even does not necessarily disprove that it occurred, as he may have omitted it for variety of reasons, such as it didn't fit into the narrative of his writings. By the way, Josephus does state that the Galileans were the most seditious people in the land, belonging to Herod’s jurisdiction, who was an enemy of Pilate, which may have been a reason for the attack. Or it's also possible Pilate sent his soldiers to demand money that had been dedicated to God from the temple treasury, and the men resisted so they slaughtered them. Again, we can only speculate based off of Pontius Pilate's previous actions. Before Jesus' ministry when Pilate wanted to build an aqueduct from the Pools of Solomon to the city of Jerusalem, he sent his soldiers to demand money from the temple treasury to pay for it. Or perhaps these Galilean Jews had known Pilate's men were after them for another reason, and they ran into the temple seeking safety at the altar, grabbing an animal to sacrifice along the way. Nevertheless, Pilate's soldiers didn't spare them, they slaughtered them there in the temple at the alter and their blood mixed with their sacrifices. We could speculate all day long, but the reality is, we just don't know. But if God's Word says it, it happened, that settles it.
Verse 2, "And Jesus answered and said to them, "Do you think that these Galileans were greater sinners than all other Galileans because they suffered these things?" Jesus doesn't dodge their implied assumption, that greater suffering equals greater sin, He confronts it head on, exposing their hearts. Sin isn't judged on a spectrum where some get a pass, Paul reminds us in Romans 3:23, "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." It's the sinner who cries out, "God, be merciful to me, a sinner!"—that's justified, not the self-righteous. It's a common misconception that bad things only exclusively happen to bad people, leading some people to believe they are less at risk of negative events than others. Remember, Job's friends assumed that suffering was always a direct consequence of personal sin, accusing him of hidden wickedness when his faith was being tested by trials, and their accusations against him were without justification, their unjust judgment was later condemned by God. The story of Job still stands as a powerful warning against speaking falsely about God and unjustly accusing the innocent, especially during times of suffering. I've often been asked "Why bad things happen to good people?" That's really not the question, I believe the greater question is why do good things happen to bad people, because aren't any people who are inherently good.
Most people think themselves to be pretty good. You're not. No one is truly good. Scripture affirms in Luke 18:19 that "no one is good—except God alone." The soul who sins dies, that's why in Ezekiel 18:30-32, God pleads through the prophet Ezekiel: "Therefore repent and turn away from all your transgressions... For why should you die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies... Therefore, repent and live." If you are alive today, it's because God has been merciful to you and is giving you an opportunity to repent. Genuine repentance is not merely feeling sorrow for the consequences of sin, it means changing your mind about your sinfulness, agreeing with what God says about your sin, signifying a transformation of the heart. This doesn't just speak to the lost, though it certainly does speak them, it also speaks to those of you who have walked with Christ for decades, sat through countless sermons, sung untold numbers of hymns, and served in ministry, yet your heart has grown calloused over the years until the fire of repentance feels more like the embers under a pile of ash. The Greek verb used for think or "suppose" in many translations is "dokeō," is an assumption—it's a mental shortcut we all tend to take, as we magnify the sins of others while simultaneously minimizing our own sin. It's as I've stated many times, we are the best prosecutors of others sin, and the best defense attorneys of our own.
Verse 3, " I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish." Here, Jesus takes our magnifying glass turns it into a mirror, saying "I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish." His scathing warning carries both a literal and spiritual significance, underscoring the urgency of repentance, indicating that all of us are equally in need of spiritual transformation.
In spite of how it is often portrayed, I personally do not like confrontation, in fact, I hate it. But, as followers of Christ, we are called to proclaim the truth, even when it offends those whom we dearly love. The Good News isn't really good news unless people truly understand just how bad the bad news is. That's why Jesus never affirmed sinners, He loved them enough to tell them the Truth, forcing them to acknowledge their sin then lovingly offering them the only alternative. Repentance and turning away from sin.
Romans 1:18-32, is a very sobering passage, listing an abundance of sins that provoke God’s anger. Concluding with "Although they know the righteous requirement of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them." this verse highlights the ultimate moral rebellion, where individuals not only sin themselves but also endorse the sin in others, reflecting an even deeper corruption of the heart and conscience.
Repentance is more than just outwardly turning away from, it's acknowledging Jesus as Lord of your life, in every aspect, by placing Him in charge over all you think, say and do. Unless Jesus is Lord of your life, He cannot be your Savior. Romans 10:9 clearly states, "that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved."
Verse 4, "Or do you think that those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them were worse offenders than all the men who live in Jerusalem?" Here, Jesus poses a rhetorical question emphasizing that the victims in catastrophic circumstances are no more or less deserving than other sinners. God hates all sin, and is the Debtor of all who violate His divine law, and that unless we individually repent, we too will face a similar horrific fate. The consequence of unrepented sin is death, a encompassing physical, spiritual, and eternal separation from God. He's not just talking about physical death here, but spiritual death. When we are in Christ, we are rescued from ultimate spiritual death and brought into ultimate spiritual life. When believers live as the unrighteous rather than as the righteous, though our rebellious does not sever our relationship with the Father, our sin does put a barrier between us. Similarly, when a child disobeys a parent, the relationship is strained, but the child still belongs to the parent, the parent still loves the child and has the child’s best interest at heart, even though the child may experience the consequences their actions, punishment, mistrust et cetera until the relationship is fully restored. There is a repentance that doesn't lead to life, remorse, just being sorry for your sin. The repentance that leads to life is that repentance which embraces Christ. Once you have received eternal life, you can never lose it. I don't know about you, but I'm looking forward to not having to deal with sin anywhere ever forever, mine or anybody else's.
That brings us to verse 5, " I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish." The point here is that none of us know what the future holds. Nor do we know what calamity awaits us, every day people who were going about their day, "business as usual," die unexpectedly. You must learn to see today as what it really is, a gift, another opportunity to repent, to get right with God. Guess that's why Paul reminds us in 2 Corinthians 6:2, "At the acceptable time I listened to you, And on the day of salvation I helped you." Behold, now is "the acceptable time," behold, now is "the day of salvation." Jesus is saying "If you think that it's only the bad people that die in calamities, you're wrong! It could be anybody, the next time, it could be you. If you should die unexpectedly today, are you certain that you're right with God?
I pray that it would be so..
And now may the Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.
Now and forever, in Jesus' name
Amen
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