“Evil”
The Savior for Suffering Sinners
Midweek Lent 2 / Luke 13:1-5 / March 11, 2020
Pontius Pilate killed some Jews from Galilee in the temple while they were offering their sacrifices. A tower in Siloam fell on a crowd and eighteen people were killed. A gunman walks into a church and starts shooting. A woman is abused by her husband. A college co-ed is raped at a party.
Whenever we are confronted with evil or suffer evil we ask “Why?” We ask that question of God, “Why did You let this happen to me?” We ask that question of humanity, “Why did this happen?” We want to know because we want to make sense of evil. We believe that if we know “why?” we can prevent that evil from happening again.
Jesus answers paradoxically. His answer to those who asked about Pilate’s evil or the tragedy at Siloam is both bad and good. His answer hurts and heals. His first answer to His questioners in Luke 13 is that sin is the reason for all evil. “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.” When people suffer they make some common assumptions. God is behind my suffering. I must have done something to deserve this and God is trying to teach me something. Jesus doesn’t agree with any of that in the text. He says when you see or suffer evil, “Repent!” Evil has its home base in the human heart. You have done evil because you are a sinner. When you suffer evil it is because some other sinner chose to harm you. Jesus calls us to repent because our sin does evil things. The cause of evil is the twisted human heart. Repent!
Therein lies the problem with the problem of evil. There is no human law that can stop it. There is no human power that can crush it. The strictest laws and most ruthless enforcement have not stopped evil. Towers are going to fall. Tyrants are going to murder. Sexual abuse will happen. This truth is backed up by your own experience even as a baptized child of God. You know you should not lend your ears or tongue to gossip, but you do. Your eyes should not wander after what God has not given you, but they do. The Holy Spirit gave the truth straight up to Saint Paul who wrote, “I do what I do not want.”
You cannot stop evil, but Jesus does and in so doing He brings healing to those who have suffered. The One who tells the truth about evil (Jesus) is the One who puts an end to evil.
The father of all evil is the Devil who led Adam and Eve to sin. Once the first couple sinned evil was born in them and grew up to fill their hearts. Adam did evil to Eve. Eve did evil to Adam. You are their children. You are born sinful and therefore you sin.
Jesus of Nazareth was born without sin and did not sin. When the Son of God walked the earth He faced the Evil One. He was tempted by Satan in the wilderness after His baptism. Satan worked evil behind the scenes in Jesus family, among His followers, in Judas’ heart, and in the religious leaders. Jesus died at the hands of evil men, in an unjust trial. God’s people killed God. How evil is that!
Can evil defeat the true God? No! God used man’s evil for man’s good at the cross. Could you have seen it that day? No! Can you see it when evil happens in your life? Rarely, but probably not. However, you have God’s Word and God’s Son. You have Jesus’ death and resurrection. You have God’s love and your faith proclaiming these truths to you: 1) Evil is finished because Christ rose from the grave; 2) You are not evil because you are forgiven your sins; 3) If you have suffered evil the shame or pain is not your real identity. God has clothed you in Christ, wrapped you in compassion, made you His child – that’s your real identity. 4) A day of victory for good and the final burial of evil is coming when Christ returns.
On the last day we might have an answer for our whys. We might see the good that God worked out of the evil, or we might just see Christ, the greatest good God worked for us out of the greatest evil.
In the meantime we have Christ for us. His saving work means that evil cannot beat you or destroy you or define you. The Devil’s time is running short and the door of hell is soon to slam shut locking him and his evil minions away forever. Jesus’ sanctifying work means that the evil’s bruises to your soul can be healed. Like a little child who suffers evil, but then finds great comfort in the arms of her strong father, so also those who suffer evil are comforted in the strong arm of the heavenly Father who stretched out the arms of His Son on the cross to destroy evil’s grip on all of us.
There is only one answer to evil and His name is Jesus. We look rightly to politicians and the police to use law and force and punishment to keep evil mostly at bay, but they cannot stop evil. Our only hope is Jesus and He is a certain hope. He met sin, death, and the devil head on, and not only is He standing, but He’s risen and ruling at God’s right hand. He did this for you. So hear His Word, cherish your baptism, eat His body and blood, and be sanctified from evil in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Prayer
Almighty God, heavenly Father, when we face evil it makes no sense to us. If you are indeed the Almighty God, why, why must we suffer evil? Why does evil visit those who don’t seem to deserve it? With Your Word you silence our questions and accusations and call us to repent. Evil resides in my heart. Help me to heed your Word and turn from the evil I think and speak and do. When I suffer evil sanctify me with saving flood of my baptism marking me as your own dear child. With Your Word You deliver to us the answer to evil. Jesus Christ, Your only-begotten Son defeated the Devil. By faith in Jesus create in me a clean heart that repents of my sin, clings to your forgiveness, and is clothed in Christ’s righteousness that I may be good and do good, always trusting that You, O heavenly Father, will work all things for my good. In the name of Jesus. Amen.