More than 300 people were killed in the recent bomb blasts which targeted mostly Christians. There is no doubt God will bring justice quickly to those who do injustice against His people (Luke 18:7-8a) and He grieved, just like us when Lazarus died (John 11:35). We can also see His encouragement to the church of Smyrna to be faithful even unto the point of death during their suffering and persecution (Rev 2:10). However, when Jesus was mentioned about the killing of the Galileans and mixing their blood with the sacrifices, He responded in a completely unexpected way. In this post, we will explore the response of Jesus and how we can be spared from such attacks.

Unless you repent

While Jesus guaranteed justice for His people and wept for the loss of His friend, He did not respond the same way when told about an incident similar to the SriLankan bomb-blast.

There were present at that season some who told Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answered and said to them, “Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all [other] Galileans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, no; 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 sinners than all [other] men who dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.”

Luke 13:1-5

While the people told Jesus about how Pilate mingled the blood of Galileans with their sacrifices,

• He did not show anger towards Pilate.
• He did not feel sorry for the victims or their families.

Instead, Jesus used it as an example to show that we too will end up perishing that way if we don’t repent. He also added another incident (where 18 people died) which was an accident for the same conclusion. Jesus wants us to think that those who were murdered by an evil person or killed in an accident were not worse sinners than those who were living or being spared. If we want to escape such things, He warns us to repent, turn from our sinful ways and be sinless.

What is Jesus really saying?

Jesus went on to say a parable to explain why we too will perish that way if we don’t repent.

Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it but did not find any. So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’ “ ‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it.If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’ ”

Luke 13:6-9

Jesus is warning us today, if we live in sin and if our lives spared, it is because of the expiring grace period that He had pleaded with the Father. We too will end up perishing that way if we don’t repent and turn back to Him.

God can bring disaster in any form upon any country for its disobedience. Are you prepared to escape these things? Do you want God to spare your life when He brings disaster?

How to get spared?

Being Sinless and Righteous

As we saw in the first part of Luke 13, Jesus warns us to repent of our sins to get spared from such disasters.

Even [if] these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they would deliver [only] themselves by their righteousness,” says the Lord GOD. … even [though] Noah, Daniel, and Job [were] in it, [as] I live,” says the Lord GOD, “they would deliver neither son nor daughter; they would deliver [only] themselves by their righteousness.”

Ezek 14:14-20

It is fearful to hear God’s words to Ezekiel that we can only save ourselves by our own righteousness. We cannot even save our children. Are you deceived by Paul’s lies that God will put on His righteousness on you if you just believe on Him? Jesus never taught such things.

Then Phinehas stood up and intervened, And the plague was stopped. And that was accounted to him for righteousness To all generations forevermore.

Ps 106:30-31

If you believe that faith is imputed for righteousness as Paul lied (Rom 4:9-12), then, even killing the wicked is also accounted for righteousness according to scriptures (Ps 106:30-31). Does that mean we can start killing? As I explained earlier, you can use the Bible to prove anything from polygamy to abstinence, crusades, burning on stake and many others. Which is why, we must listen to Jesus who is the Truth and the Word of God, not the Bible.

For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds [the] [righteousness] of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.

Matt 5:20

Jesus always taught that it is our righteousness that will help us to enter His kingdom. Jesus never said that He will give His righteousness to anyone. Hence, as the Father spoke, we will be spared only by our own righteousness.

Cry out against abominations

the LORD said to him, “Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and cry over all the abominations that are done within it. To the others He said in my hearing, “Go after him through the city and kill; do not let your eye spare, nor have any pity. Utterly slay old [and] young men, maidens and little children and women; but do not come near anyone on whom [is] the mark; and begin at My sanctuary.” So they began with the elders who [were] before the temple.

Ezek 9:4-6

We must also sigh and cry out against abominations that are happening around us. It is fearful to hear God’s words to Ezekiel that even little children were not spared. Noah was spared from the flood because,

• He was righteous before God (Gen 7:1)
• Cried out against abominations because he was a preacher of righteousness (2 Pet 2:5)

If you want to get spared, you must also cry out against abominations. Are you ready to cry out against abominations like homosexuality, adultery and all wickedness and sins happening around us? If you can’t, then you wouldn’t be marked on the day He judges the place were we are.

Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass. ..

Luke 21:36

Will you be counted worthy to escape all these things?