Luke 13:1-5
Find a place and time free of distractions for the next 7-10 minutes. Take a moment to settle into your surroundings and then begin to recognize your breath. As you breathe in, call on the name of Jesus and become aware of his presence with you. As you breathe out, open your mind and heart to receive whatever Jesus has for you today.
In Luke Chapter 12 we heard Jesus warning the crowds to open their eyes to the deeper realities of God’s Kingdom. Read Luke 13:1-5 with Jesus’ earlier warnings in mind.
First century Israelites accepted the notion that difficulties were the result of bad behavior. The complexity of the Jewish religious system naturally led people to believe that if they failed to check the boxes, and either knowingly or unknowingly committed sins, God would withhold blessing and mete out punishment (See John 9:1-2). This belief led the Jewish people to assume that anyone encountering a disaster must have done something to deserve it.
But Jesus is clear - the Jewish men on their way to fulfill their religious duties were not any better or worse than anyone else. They were simply broken people moving through a broken world in which bad things are unavoidable.
It’s true that certain behaviors tend to have negative consequences, but God is not waiting to whack us if we step out of line.
Take a moment to consider how you think about God. Do you envision a God who loves you and desires good for you, or do you have an image of an angry, punitive God? Share your thoughts openly with Jesus.
Read Luke 13:1-5 again.
The first example Jesus uses involves a ruthless person, but the second is simply a tragic happening for which no one is to blame. But the point is the same: the people who died in both situations were no better or worse than anyone else.
When bad things happen our first inclination is to ask “why?” We naturally want someone to blame – either ourselves, someone else, or perhaps even God. A more helpful response is to resist guilt or blame and instead run toward God to receive comfort. Only in God can we find meaning in suffering, because only God can redeem the broken things of this world.
The repentance Jesus refers to in this passage is both an initial recognition that one’s life is headed in the wrong direction (away from God) and a continuous recognition of one’s tendency drift away from God on a regular basis.
For the remainder of your time in meditation today, consider asking Jesus where you need to “turn around” and return to the love and care of God. Then get still and listen.
What might Jesus be calling you to do or do differently today?
Will you?
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