The End is Near Part 1 (Luke 13:1-5)
Gary McManus, 07/19/2020Part of the The End is Near series, preached at a Sunday Morning service
July 19, 2020 Luke 13:1-5
Sermon titles? Now Pastor has to do them.
Today: “The End is Near”, Part 1
--but NOT what you might be thinking.
The phrase IS in the Bible, but only once:
1 Peter 4. . . .we will get to it later.
Today’s Bible verses show Jesus being told
about bad things happening (to good people?).
It is not obvious what they are talking about.
Some say that folks were on their way to Temple
with their sacrifices. (sin offerings?)
There is an unspoken question in their sharing:
Did bad things happen to good people or did bad things happen to sinners?
Notice that their questions or question is about those who suffered. And Jesus responds. . .
Jesus asks his hearers to RETHINK their suppositions. . .
(Isaiah 1:18)
Jesus asks—is this about those who suffered?
Is this event about sinners or worse sinners?
Jesus then brings up another situation of suffering.
This one was a complete fluke: a falling tower—casualties.
Is this about those who suffered?
Jesus asks about each situation and gives the very SAME answer:
“Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” “ I tell you, no! But unless you repent,
you too will all perish.”
We can all claim in Sunday School that we don’t
believe that bad people or sinners suffer punishment
IN THIS LIFE from God. But even the faithful ask: “what did I do in my life that God should give me this illness?” (pain/situation, etc.)
We all want God to reward the innocent or good people and punish the sinners—IN THIS LIFE.
Jesus' point is not that the Galileans in question were innocent; they were simply not more guilty than the others. All are guilty.
Suffering is NOT about our relationship to God.
We tend to always forget the Sermon on the Mount,
Matthew 5:45. Rain (and drought) are for the sinner
AND the saint!
But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”
The word perish sound familiar? See John 3:16.
People perished. SO, the end is near right? Well, maybe.
Sudden deaths recently here and around the nation.
Jesus says don’t look at the sinner, look at yourself.
Don’t perish. Whatever happens to you, have a relationship with the Lord.
The end IS near, 1 Peter 4:7.
The end is near, THEREFORE. . .
What does the Apostle advise
since the end is near. . .PRAYER and
. . .LOVE.
The REAL question is Jesus’ question.
. .what are YOU going to do?
The Apostle says that we are going to pray and love.
Amen.
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