Repentance is Urgent, Not Comparative. Scripture makes this unmistakably clear: it’s God’s will that all repent and turn from sin. There is a peculiar phenomenon in ‘rubbernecking’, drivers on a perfectly clear side of the interstate will slow to a crawl, captivated by the wreckage on the opposite side. We live in a society that spends a lot of time wondering about others. We ask what they did to deserve that, quietly relieved it wasn’t us. We sometimes use others’ failures as a shield to hide our own unrepentant hearts.
“Do you suppose that these Galileans were greater sinners than all other Galileans because they suffered this fate? I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will likewise perish.”
~Luke 13:1-3
~Mercy delays judgment, but it does not cancel it.
At this opportune time, people were coming to Jesus with news of a massacre. When the crowd brings news of Pilate’s brutal massacre, Jesus immediately identifies their rubbernecking theology. They assume tragedy is a measure of guilt. Thinking, “Those who died must have been especially evil to be caught up in a tragic situation like that?” He deconstructs their sense of moral superiority by citing the Tower of Siloam incident and issuing a universal ultimatum: “Repent or Perish.” Jesus does not link tragedy to greater guilt; He uses the same logic to focus on the crowd. Considering not why the others died, but why they still live?
The truth is, we’ve all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God; we’re all in the same boat there. There’s no hierarchy of sin that exempts us from the necessity of grace. When we judge others, we often condemn ourselves. When we see others suffering, we shouldn’t be analyzing their guilt; we should, however, be analyzing our readiness. I’d like to take a moment to explore the power of repentance and all it entails, as well as the consequences of not doing so, but I must save that for the next article in this series. Jesus dismantles a sense of false security; a long life is not a certificate of righteousness, it’s an extension of mercy. Repentance is the only escape from the likewise perishing that awaits all who remain outside of Christ.
Let’s be clear, we’re living in perilous times. In an era of cancel culture, we weaponize the failures of others to insulate ourselves from our own need for repentance. We love pointing out others’ sins publicly so we can make ourselves feel morally superior. We’ve traded the beautiful reverence for God for the comfort of thinking, “I’m better than them” compared to others. However, when we see a disaster, a loss, or a tragedy, it is not a call to render a verdict, but rather a warning shot; we must examine ourselves and realize this is a spared moment that carries great responsibility. Mercy is speaking, but it will not speak forever.
This passage forces me to examine myself. I must stop using headlines as a way to feel safe. It’s time to look in the mirror and realize that without the mercy of God, I am just as condemned as the one in the wreckage. Another person’s misfortune doesn’t excuse my delayed response. My heartbeat is not an endorsement of my lifestyle; it is an invitation to alignment. Repentance is not about fear; it’s about alignment. Jesus is calling me to respond while life still allows me to choose, remembering that today is a gift, not a guarantee.
Time of Reflection:
** God’s silence in your life is not to be interpreted as His endorsement of your foolishness.
** The question shouldn’t be why did they die? It should be: “Why am I still alive?”
Heart-Probe Moment:
** If my private thoughts were headlines in the morning, would I still feel better than the person I’m judging?
References:
Luke 13:1-5
Rom 3:23
Rom 2:1-3
This is question #58 in the Thomas Nelson Chronological Study bible 2008 Epoch 8
Closing Prayer:
Lord, thank you for mercy that still invites repentance, help me to respond while it’s still called today. I do not want to be found still in a state of indecision when You return for me. Help me to observe the things transpiring around me, being most sensitive to Your voice that’s speaking through it.
