Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way?

September 13, 2009
Series: Questions from Jesus
Sermon: “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way?”
Scripture: Luke 13:2

Where were you on September 11, 2001?. Last Friday we paused to remember the anniversary of 9/11 – eight years ago that day. And most of us have vivid images in our minds – sights, sounds, smells - of that day.

Often in the wake of tragedy, our fears blind us. We grope through darkness, grasping at answers, looking for understanding. In our desperation, we too quickly and uncritically latch on to answers without adequate reflection as to their veracity. Sadly, all too often, like this man and others like him did, point the finger in the wrong direction.

Jesus was confronted with just such a situation. People, groping about in the darkness of tragedy trying to understand “why,” pointing fingers, looking for answers, and desperately latching on to wrong ideas.

And so today, we hear Jesus confronting them – and confronting us - in all of our wrong ideas and wild accusations, asking pointedly: "Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way?" and again: "those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them — do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem?"