ONE YEAR LATER
1. During the Lord’s earthly life there were some major news stories.
2. Some major events occurred while Jesus was on the earth.
3. Two of these events are found in Lk. 13:1-5, the verses just read.
4. Based upon what Luke said, Pilate had executed some Jews.
5.
It seems that while people were worshipping in the
6. We could compare this to a major news story on CNN.
7. This was an event that had the people’s attention, and people are discussing it.
8. This was an event that people were discussing.
9. In addition to this event, there was another major story that was being discussed.
10. A tower had collapsed; the fall of this structure resulted in the deaths of 18 people.
AS WE LIVE OUR LIVES WE FIND THAT PEOPLE TALK ABOUT EVENTS THAT ARE NEWSWORTHY. TRAGEDIES ARE AMONG THE THINGS THAT PEOPLE REMEMBER AND DISCUSS.
1.
During the last few weeks there has been a lot of
attention given to
2. A year later this event is still in the news.
3. Some are sick of hearing about it; others are still trying to put their lives back together.
4. With the anniversary coming up this Wednesday, some are concerned about other acts of terror.
5. Over the last few weeks some have engaged in or are preparing for special memorials.
6. Today some religious groups are honoring firefighters, the police, and other rescue workers.
7. In recent weeks a lot of attention has been given to the Beamer family.
8. Lisa Beamer lost her husband Todd on flight 93.
9. The face of Lisa Beamer is on the cover of a new book entitled “Let’s Roll.”
10. This book was released at the end of August and it is available in places like Wal-mart.
11. The attention on events from a year ago should remind us of Lk. 13.
12. Jesus lived in a time when people faced tragedies. Some died tragic deaths.
13. In Lk. 13 the Lord commented on two well known disasters where people lost their lives.
14. What He said provides us with some lessons.
15. WHEN WE LOOK AT THIS CHAPTER WE LEARN THAT WE ARE TO EXPECT TRAGEDIES. LIFE IS NOT FAIR. THERE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN PEOPLE LIKE PILATE WHO HURT AND KILL THOSE WHO SHOULD NOT BE INJURED.
A. Imagine the shock that the people felt when they learned about the event described in Lk. 13:1.
B. There were some people who went to worship God.
C. These people had brought sacrifices.
D. These people were churchgoers; they were not insurrectionists or troublemakers.
E. These people wanted to do what was right.
F. A similar point may be made about the people who were at the Pentagon and WTC.
G. While people were trying to worship God they were killed. Put to death. Executed.
H. These people died and they died in a way that was very unfair.
I. This must have shocked the Jewish nation.
J. What would the surviving family members have felt like when they were told about Pilate’s actions?
1) This was a horrible event that made the news.
K. When this subject was brought to the Lord’s attention He asked a question.
L. He asked whether or not the worshippers were “sinners above the rest?”
16. That is, did these people die because they were evil?
17. Did they deserve to be punished by death?
18. Was it God’s will that they be executed?
19. Jesus did not wait for someone to answer His question.
20. He kept talking. He said that those who died were not wicked people.
21. These worshippers were ordinary
people, just like those who died on
22. People often ask the “why” question when tragedy strikes.
A. Why did someone die? What does one get sick but another stays well?
B. Why do some get deadly diseases but others do not?
C. Why are good people killed but many evil people seem to prosper?
D. Why are young, innocent lives ended while the aged sometimes escape?
23. According to Lk. 13 this is the way that life is.
24. We can call it luck, chance, fortune, coincidence, a quirk, fluke, or something else.
25. At least to some degree there are things that just happen because we live in an imperfect world.
26. Sin has damaged man’s environment and we must face and live with the consequences of this damage.
27. Some are not going to be very satisfied with this answer.
28. Jesus said that this is the truth.
29. If we put lk. 13 into modern language, we Could say that these
people were in the
A. As we look at Lk. 13 we find Jesus did not dwell on what had happened to these people.
B. He acknowledged the deaths and then tuned His attention to those who were still living.
C. The people listening to Him needed to be warned about another tragedy.
D. It is not wrong to remember those who die.
E. Jesus, however, put His emphasis upon those who were still alive.
F. Nothing could be done for the deceased but many things could be done for the people who were alive.
G. This is an important lesson for us a year after 9/11.
H. Almost a year ago a lot of people died.
I. After the passage of a year a lot more people are still alive.
30. We are still here but our days are numbered.
31. A time will come when we too will die.
32. It may not be in a building that is hit with an airplane.
33. We may not be on a plane that crashes.
34. Our death may not come from an elevator that suddenly drops several stories.
35. Our death may be peaceful, easy and quick.
36. We will die.
37. Jesus first spoke about the people who were executed and then He said this – verse 3 – READ.
38. This must have shocked the people who heard it.
39. Jesus said that “all” others would “perish.”
40. He said that “all” others would perish if they did not repent.
41. Jesus then spoke about the other big news story – the tower.
42. After He alluded to the story He repeated His message about repentance – verse 5 – READ.
A. As we look at these verses there is an odd word.
B. Jesus said these people would “likewise” perish.
C. The word “likewise” is most often used in Matthew, Luke, and Revelation.
D. The term is found several times in Mt. 13.
E. Jesus said that the kingdom of heaven is “like” (same word) a mustard seed (Mt. 13:31).
F. The kingdom is “like” (same word) leaven (Mt. 13:33).
G. The kingdom is “like” (same word) a treasure hidden in a field (Mt. 13:44).
43. This is a significant word when we think about what is being said.
44. People came to Jesus and asked Him about two terrible tragedies.
45. Worshippers had been killed in such a way that their blood was “mingled with the sacrifices.”
46. This was apparently done to defile the temple.
47. Worshippers were killed and their blood was mixed in with the sacrificial victims.
48. Others had a building fall on them.
49. No one wants to die under these circumstances.
A. What if these people had known in advance that these things were going to happen?
B. The obvious answer is that they would have avoided these places.
C. No one would have been in or around the tower if they knew it was going to fall.
D. Worshippers would have made alternative arrangements if they had known about Pilate.
50. Jesus said that another tragedy is on the horizon – “likewise.”
51. People are going to “perish.”
52. Souls are going to be lost.
53. Jesus said that people will “likewise” perish.
54. In a similar way there is a horrible end for people and many are going to suffer this fate.
55. What Jesus was warning about was eternal death; a lost soul; hell.
56. If we would make plans to avoid a tragedy on earth, how much more should we value our soul?
57. To avoid eternal doom we must accept and obey the Lord’s warning.
58. Jesus said that we must “repent” (change our lives so we live as God wants).
A. This is so important He said it twice.
B. Here is the second lesson from last year’s terrorist attacks.
C. If we do not turn to the Lord and live as a faithful Christian, we will perish.
D. This is absolutely true.
E. We may escape a falling building.
F. We may never be directly targeted in a terrorist attack.
G. There is a fate far worse than both of these things combined.
H. If we do not repent we will perish.
59. A
THIRD LESSON TO BE LEARNED FROM LK. 13 IS THE HORRIBLENESS OF TRAGEDIES.
A. On September 11th of last year we saw scenes that seemed almost unreal.
B. The fires, explosions, crumbling buildings, people falling to their deaths.
C. Some saw sights that made them sick.
D. A time is coming when these images will seem as nothing.
E. The kind of “perishing” that is described in Lk. 13 will not be like what happened on 9/11.
60. This is a death that is painful. Unlike death on 9/11, this one will be unending.
61. Jesus described in hell in terms that are somewhat similar to people’s description of 9/11.
62. Hell is a place of darkness.
63. People faced this on 9/11.
64. In darkness there is fear and worry. People want help but none is available.
65. Some were burned to death on 9/11.
66. Many who died a year ago realized that they had no hope.
67. There was no hope of rescue; their situation could not be altered.
68. The same will be true for those who are eternally separated from God.
69. Someone has described hell in this way:
A. No light, no liquid, no laughter, no liberty, and all who are there will be lost.
B. A year ago people got a small glimpse of aaall these things.
70. A time is coming when the events of 9/11 will seem as nothing.
71. Jesus said that unless we “repent” we will suffer a fate that we cannot begin to image.
72. Are we ready to meet the Lord? Are we one of His disciples who is faithfully serving Him?