Word of Salvation – Vol. 35 No. 12 – March 1990

 

Why Do The “Innocent” Suffer?

 

Sermon by Rev. M. C. De Graaf on Luke 13:1-9

Reading: Job 36:1-26, Luke 13:1-17

Singing: 190, 65, 223, 1, 299

 

Brothers and Sisters,

One of the things that is essential to our make-up as human-beings is the ability to ask the question: “Why?”

There is no question that God, when He formed us out of the dust, gave to man an enquiring mind!!  Without it there would be no scientists, or explorers, or even artists or theologians.  Philosophy is completely dependent on it.  Man looks at his world and his life and he has to ask.  It is his nature to ask: “Why is this so?”!

Certain times in our lives, of course, are more inclined to questioning than others…!  Toddlers, right down there at the beginning are of course, notorious questioners.  Their “why?” can have a way of driving parents crazy after a while!  There are other times, of course.  I guess the hardest times are those when suffering and another person’s death touches our life.

At those times the “Whys?” can (for some people at least) nearly overwhelm us!  The answer can seem impossible to find … at least in the short-term.

There is no question that the faith of many people has been severely shaken by the “Whys” of suffering.  In our text today we also see this question surfacing.  And even though this passage does not include a full answer to these very human questions, it does provide us with some very important guide-lines and challenges in our thinking!

For the non-suffering Jew, the answer to the question: “Why is (someone else) suffering?” was really quite simple and straight-forward.  Job’s (so-called) friend Eliphaz had put it clearly many centuries earlier, “Who that was innocent” he asked, “has ever perished?”  His other friend, Elihu, said the same thing in chapter 36.  “If men are bound in chains and are held fast in the chords of affliction, then God will tell them what they have done – He will tell them that they have sinned arrogantly against Him.”

After all, he went on to say: “Don’t those who serve and obey Him spend their days in prosperity and contentment?”  You must have done something wrong.  Why else would this happen to you?  In other words, as he said a little later in the chapter, God is trying to teach you a lesson.

This kind of reasoning can also be seen in New Testament times.  Just think of John 9 where the disciples ask Jesus about the blind man: “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”

In our text we don’t see an explicit question being asked.  Luke doesn’t tell us why these people came and told Jesus about what Pilate did.  There may have been some kind of political motive behind it.  Maybe they wanted Jesus to condemn what had happened.  But we’re not sure.  We also don’t know anything about the exact circumstances surrounding this massacre.  The Jewish historian Josephus mentions a few incidents like this: Pilate had a lot of trouble with the Galileans and he tended to respond in the way the Romans knew best!  What we know from the text is that these people had been killed within the Temple walls and the event (obviously) had shocked the Jews.  And some must have been asking, “How could God allow this to happen?”  “Why were these men singled out?”  The only conclusion for them could be that somehow God was punishing them.  Their deaths must be simply what they deserved!

Jesus responds to that kind of thinking, and he does two things…

Firstly like Job before Him, He simply denies it.  “I tell you, no!” he says.  He also mentions those who were killed by the collapse of a tower in Siloam.  There’s a good chance that this is a reference to eighteen workers who died when a part of an aqueduct they were building fell on them.  This aqueduct was being paid for by money which Pilate had misappropriated from temple taxes.  Because of that, many contemporary Jews thought that it was quite logical that these men would die.

But again – Jesus says “No!”  And very importantly He goes on to say: they are no more guilty than any others who are living in Jerusalem!  And in saying that Jesus goes right to the heart of why these people were thinking and talking like that.  Instead of pointing at the victim’s unrighteousness, Jesus attacks the speaker’s self-righteousness!!

And He does something quite radical from a Jewish perspective.  In effect He says: “In the light of their deaths, I challenge you to repent!!”

You see that’s the problem with this kind of thinking, isn’t it!?  It tends to put you on a pedestal as if the reason it hasn’t happened to you is because you somehow, in yourself, are so righteous that you are above punishment!!

Once again as is so often true during his ministry, Jesus needs to attack that kind of thinking.  Once again He needs to peel away the thin veneer of self-righteousness and show these people where they really are before God!!

In our text there are two words being used for “sin”.  In verse two the Greek word speaks of those who have not carried out their obligations before God.  It’s the same word we now translate as “debtors” in the Lord’s Prayer and that’s a great translation.  My debt to God is not paid.

In verse four the word speaks of actions which are overtly unrighteous; a more traditional understanding of “sin”.

In these words Jesus gives a hint of the fullness of God’s Law and the perfection of action and thought that it requires; and the way none of us can ever claim to keep it fully in or by ourselves!!

You see to a certain extent, of course, there are times in Scripture and in life where you can see a clear relationship between sin and suffering!!

The nation of Israel suffered terribly at the hands of the Babylonians because (the prophets tell us) they rejected their God.  Ananias and Saffira died instantly because (Peter says) they sinned against the Holy Spirit.  King Saul is in the same boat.  I guess, to an extent some people could argue that when a drunk driver dies in a car accident, again, that is a consequence of his rebellious life.  And I am sure people in this day and age could add many more things to the list.  Perhaps AIDS comes to mind or all those who die from drug overdoses!!

And yet Jesus’ warning is still very true for us, and for the same reasons.  Paul had a thorn in the flesh and could speak of being hungry and cold and naked.  The righteous man Job had those sores and lost all he had.  Stephen died when he was still young.  And yet these men were carrying out the will of God just as clearly as the others were sinning!!  And think of what Peter says in his first Epistle – he even says you can expect to suffer as a follower of God!!

And yet, on the other hand, there are those who are doing evil who live long and full lives!!

As you and I can’t look into the hearts of people it’s extremely dangerous to play the game of “judging by consequence”.  Since the time of the Flood God doesn’t necessarily work that way!!

There will be a time of judgement of course but it has not yet come!!  And of course, we also need to admit, that Jesus’ second warning about self-righteousness is also relevant!!  Because we too, can too readily use the consequences of sin in others as an excuse to pat ourselves on the back.  I sometimes think divorce is a bit like that.  It’s easy to sit back in judgement.  Of course there is sin there – but is there any less in your life??  At least, is there so little in your life that you can act as judge??

The only reason my marriage isn’t on the rocks is the grace God.  Do I see that??

Jesus says: “Repent”.  Look at that person and then repent of the sin in your own life”.  Look into your own heart for a change!!  And get on your knees before your God.

Jesus had every right to spend his time on earth judging others.  One day, Scripture tells us, He will be the judge!!  And yet He walked around in compassion, in love, in mercy, offering forgiveness and a way of freedom instead of criticism.  He healed that blind man that they asked about in John 9.

There is no question, He most certainly did not close his eyes to sin or call black – white!  To the woman taken in adultery He said: “Go, and sin no more.”

The only answer to suffering and death is to see Jesus Christ for who He is.  In Him I can see God’s answer to a world lost in its sin.  He wept at Lazarus’ grave and died so that another way could be opened!!  In Him I can see my own sinfulness.  In Him I am made clean, so I don’t need to fear judgement anymore – either here or in the time to come.  Those Christians who say “You’re suffering because of …” have missed that important point!!

In Him I can see the total inappropriateness of my judging others.  How can I judge when such a Man had to die for me on the cross!!

In Him I can see the way I should respond to those hurting and suffering either physically or spiritually.

I should seek them out – as He did.

Challenge their sin – as He did (in love).

And offer comfort and love – as He did .. whatever the cost is for me!!

AMEN