Unless you Repent

Luke 13:1-5

Jesus is asked about the news of the day, which is about some Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.  Jesus answers, but not in the manner they would have expected.  “And he answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” (Luke 13:2-5 ESV)

That was the news of the day, the headlines, but it was not what was important, what was important was the need for a sinful people to repent or perish.  The current view at that time was that the Galileans must have done something to bring about God’s judgment, and the same holds true with the eighteen killed when the tower in Siloam fell on them.

Jesus told us we would do things greater than He had done, and our ability to have instant news is sure greater than waiting for a person to walk from one area to another bringing the news of past days or maybe even weeks.  So I took a sampling of the news of this day.

·      An American soldier died Wednesday after an Afghan soldier opened fire at a compound, a U.S. official at the Pentagon told Fox News.

·      The White House argued Tuesday that climate change is hazardous to the public's health, prompting critics of new EPA emission rules to call the argument "scare tactics" that ignore the economic impact of new regulations.

·      Houthi rebels vs. Saudi coalition -- who's winning? For nearly two weeks, Saudi planes have pounded Houthi rebel positions around Yemen, but so far the offensive has forced them neither to retreat nor sue for peace -- and civilians are suffering.

·      Fifteen police officers were killed and five were injured when they were ambushed by suspected gang members in Mexico's Jalisco state, the state attorney general's office said Tuesday.

·      Russian hackers behind the damaging cyber intrusion of the State Department in recent months used that perch to penetrate sensitive parts of the White House computer system, according to U.S. officials briefed on the investigation.

What do you think the message is to all of us, and it matters not where you live.  It is today’s message from Jesus and it has not changed?  “No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice