Title: Lessons from Disaster! (Luke 13:1-5)
The whole nation is devastated by the Daegu subway arson incident. There are several things that can be learned from these accidents. First, people cannot avoid accidents while living in the world. Second, as science and civilization advance, the probability of human suffering from disasters increases.
Why do these disasters happen?
Now, in the words we read, two events that occurred in the time of Jesus are introduced.
First, the slaughter of Pilate. At that time, Israel was under Roman rule, so it waged a movement against the Romans. At that time, the Roman governor-general had a strong military suppression, so there were frequent accidents that resulted in a lot of blood.
Second, the tower of Siloam collapsed, killing 18 people. At that time, waterworks were being carried out to bring Siloam Spring water to Jerusalem, but the pedestal installed for the construction collapsed, and 18 workers fell under it and died. Through these two events, Jesus taught a deep lesson.
It is God's punishment for sin.
The contents of the previous two cases are different. One is a man-made event, and the other is an accidental event. However, Jesus gives the same interpretation in verses 3 and 5 with different events. “Unless you repent, you will all likewise perish” is the truth of God's punishment for human sin. The same is true of the Daegu subway arson incident. Although many people died unfairly, I pray that you will become saints who humbly view God's providence, knowing that all human beings are sinners and that God's judgment on sinners is so severe.
If you repent, you forgive.
In the text, the subjunctive is an expression where the indicative is omitted. Therefore, we need to understand that this is the core of the gospel, saying that if we repent we will forgive, but if we do not repent we will not be forgiven. Because the God we believe in is a God of love and grace, He gives us the opportunity to repent before the judgment of our sins. We must repent and return to God while seeing the terrible calamities and God's stern judgment, and we must become a person who can humbly open the collar of our hearts when we see the death of others.
So why is there no immediate punishment for sin?
It is because of God's thoughtful love waiting for us to realize, repent, and return. “Beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in his promise, as some consider slowness, but is patient with you, not wishing for any to perish, but for all to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:8,9) Therefore, you should not be relieved that disasters have escaped you. Also, we should not be reassured by living in peace like this. I need to be nervous, sober, and pray with the mind of not knowing when such a disaster will come upon me. We must listen to the voice of God's warning given to us through disasters.