March 16, 2025 Recap

Yesterday we opened Luke 13 and continued to read of Jesus teaching the crowds who were following Him. In verses 1-13, specifically, He teaches us the reasons for sufferings.  We know that suffering is a part of living in a sinful world.  However, looking at these examples we see that it can be a result of  four different circumsatances.*  

#1 - Martyr

Luke 13:1 - Now on the same occasion there were some present who reported to Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices.

A martyr is someone who is killed for their beliefs.  In this situation Pilate was taking the killing Jews and mingling their blood with pagan sacrifices.  The Roman rule of Israel had not only economic and political ramifications, it could be deadly as well.  Rome was known for its blood sport and barbaric games.  They used the killing of Jews as entertainment.  And here we learn that Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea, used it for religious practices as well.

Being a martyr for our faith is a suffering that we know nothing of.  We have not been imprisoned or beaten for following Jesus.  But, this form of  persecution is very familiar to those around the world.

#2 - Accident as a result of the curse

Luke 13:4 - Or do you think that those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them were worse offenders than all the other people who live in Jerusalem?

Because of the sin of Adam, the world we live in is under a curse and is moving toward death and entropy.  Although the LORD is sovereign over all, He allows events to play out.  The weather, gravity, physics.  The result can be accidents that are no one's fault or no one causes.  Trees fall, lightening strikes, brakes fail.  There are diseases, maladies, and deformities that are a result of the fall and that people suffer because of.  No one sinned and no one is to blame.  Jesus, when asked in John 9:1 who sinned that the man was born blind, His answer was, "No one, it was that the works of God might be displayed in him."

Facing life's challanges often leads to a very hard question, "Why do bad things happen to good people?"  Bad things happen because we live in a fallen world.

# 3 - Bad decision

Luke 13:7 - ‘Look, for three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree and find none. Cut it down; why does it use up the ground?’

There is suffering in the world because it is fallen and people are sinful and make bad decisions.  This one is difficult to face.  But like Paige says, "some people are the author of their own misery."  When people are unproductive, unconcerned, undiscipline, and unaware, we see suffering.  If you don't study for a test, you fail.  If you're not a good steward of your resources, you're broke. If you over eat, you will be over weight.  Lots of times we look around and we see suffering as a result of  bad deicisons.  

When we see some one hurting because of their own choices, that is not the time to be self-righteous.  It can be a time for grace and truth.  

#4 - Demon Possession

Luke 13:11 - And there was a woman who for eighteen years had had a sickness caused by a spirit; and she was bent over double, and could not straighten up at all.

As I said earlier, we live in a fallen world.  The curse is a consequence of demonic activity. The enemy  wants to oppress and intimidate and cause us to doubt and fear.  His activity is to harm and threaten those that follow Jesus.  This woman's physical condition was caused by a demon.  Many suffer because of the lies of the enemy and his plans and traps.  Suffering becuase demons are moving throughout the earth is a real and present danger.

BUT, I am full of the Spirit and He who lives in me is greater that He who is in the world.  I can put on the full armor of God and stand against the schemes of the devil.  Because Jesus is alive, death and the grave have been defeated.  I can pray, "lead me not into temptation and deliver me from evil."  Jesus is seated on the throne and He is above all rule and authority and power and dominion.  Nothing is able to seperate me form the love of Christ.

This world is full of pain and suffering and hurting people who need the LOVE OF JESUS.

*I took these points from a teaching I heard many years ago.  However, I exponded on them in my own words.