If Jesus is referring to...
Illustration
If Jesus is referring to two recent disasters, no one else seems to know about them; at least, no historians comment about them. But they were groups of Galileans, perhaps innocently killed. The Jesus Movement is one that will reverse any aggression of zealots by thinking of their own sins. The warning is clear — the nation must repent. These two examples of violent and dramatic deaths which caused human suffering were not an indication that those killed were particularly sinful. The religion of the day connected sin and suffering. Jesus would have none of that belief for individuals, but for the nation in rebellion against God, disaster was forthcoming.
Perhaps another theme would be, "Why do the innocent suffer?" The orthodox Old Testament answer that all suffering, including death, is the result of sin, is not acceptable in the New Testament. Job also protested this obviously unjust doctrine. Here we have a liberating word from Jesus. All men are sinners and, for the most part, suffering is caused by society as a whole ... pollution and malnutrition for example. Often there is no answer and Jesus tells us how to bear it, as he bore his injustice.
Perhaps another theme would be, "Why do the innocent suffer?" The orthodox Old Testament answer that all suffering, including death, is the result of sin, is not acceptable in the New Testament. Job also protested this obviously unjust doctrine. Here we have a liberating word from Jesus. All men are sinners and, for the most part, suffering is caused by society as a whole ... pollution and malnutrition for example. Often there is no answer and Jesus tells us how to bear it, as he bore his injustice.
