By: Denny

It was a long trip from Galilee for those traveling to the temple in Jerusalem. They had come to offer sacrifices unto God. There are several speculations as to why and what happened that day, but the result was that Pontius Pilot sent soldiers into the temple to kill them as they were offering their sacrifices. One commentary said there were about 3,000 men killed. The Galileans were considered to be a lower class of seditious people by those in Jerusalem. They spoke the same language as the Jews in Jerusalem, but they had a definite accent that was easily recognizable. Such was the case of Peter, being himself a Galilean, when he denied He knew Jesus. Mark 14:70 But he denied it again. And a little later those who stood by said to Peter again, “Surely you are one of them for you are a Galilean, and your speech shows it.” Herod was the governor over Galilee in the North, while Pontius Pilot was the governor over Judea in the South. They were in opposition to each other and not on friendly terms. Perhaps Pilot killed the Galileans to send the message to Herod that Galileans weren’t welcomed in Jerusalem. At any rate, the news spread and was told to Jesus. Luke 13:1-2 There were present at that season some who told Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilot 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?

They had said goodbye to their families that morning as they headed off to their jobs working for Leibowitz & Cohen Construction. It was just another ordinary day at work, no different than those before. A few may have walked along together as they headed for the job site discussing and coordinating their particular plans, duties, and actions once they got there. It was a beautiful sunny day and if all went well, they might be able to complete the Siloam Tower today and enjoy the weekend before moving on to the next project on Monday. Nobody knows for sure; maybe it was poorly designed, the footings may not have been deep enough, or perhaps they were using substandard materials. It happened at noon when all the men were sitting eating their lunch in the shade of the tower. There was a cracking sound that got louder. Bricks began to crumble and suddenly without warning the whole tower came crashing down killing all 18 men. Hypothetically, it could have happened that way, but the Bible doesn’t say. It only records that Jesus asked the same rhetorical question that he had asked those same people who came to him with the news about the Galileans being killed. Luke 13:4-5 “Or those 18 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? There appears to be an almost veiled supposition by those present that the Galileans and the 18 men were worse sinners because of their horrible untimely deaths. In each case Jesus gave the same answer, “I tell you, no; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”

Throughout the centuries there have been tragedies that have snuffed out the lives of people just going about their daily activities, and we are no exception. Plane crashes, terrorist attacks, school shootings, bombings and shootings at events, building collapses, accidents, wars, diseases, and every kind of natural disaster you can name where people have died, are headlines we see in the news on a daily basis. Most recently we  witnessed the video of an out-of-control ship crashing into and bringing down the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, MD. Six workers who were making repairs to it at the time lost their lives. This was absolutely horrific and tragic. Not only for the six men and their families, but the untold hardships and far-reaching secondary impact on jobs and the overall economy. I find myself wondering if Jesus’ statement, “Unless you repent, you will all likewise perish” would be the same today as it was then. The answer without even asking is yes. Granted, that doesn’t fit the one-sided view of the gentle, loving, and kind Jesus that many picture Him to be. Just as many, if not more, become angry at God for not preventing such things, which usually ends up with them becoming bitter and rejecting Him.  Death rarely ever gives an advance warning. The mysteries of the who, what, when, where, and why’s of life and death are only known to God. How would you tell someone that God cares about, loves them, and wants to be involved in every aspect of their lives, when they are suffering and grieving over the sudden tragic loss of a loved one? You certainly wouldn’t say, “Unless you repent, you will likewise perish”. Yet, Jesus did, because His primary and ultimate concern is for every eternal soul. Does Jesus lack compassion for those who have died and those left to grieve? Not at all, but there was a far greater eternal truth he was revealing. The statement, “you will all likewise perish” is worthy of pause and consideration. Jesus wasn’t telling them that unless they repent, they would die in the same manner. In Luke 5:32 Jesus says, “I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” The first words Jesus spoke as He began His ministry as recorded in Mark 1:15 were, “The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.” Jesus wept at the tomb of Lazarus, but not because Lazarus died. He knew ahead of time that He was going to raise him back to life. He wept because of the unbelief of those gathered there. John 11:25 “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in me shall never (die). (likewise perish) – my emphasis) Do you believe this?”

There are many who would and do categorize sins. You have the little white lie sins, the middle of the road sins, and the really bad worse sins. In the eyes of God there are no worse sins or sinners. You either are one or you aren’t, and in case you don’t know, you are one. The playing field is level for everyone. Jesus is the only one who never sinned, which qualified Him alone to be the Savior of all mankind. What comes to mind when you hear the word repent? Perhaps it’s a scene from a movie depicting a preacher as a wild-eyed half-crazed man dressed in black pointing a long finger and shouting, “Repent sinner, or face the fires of Hell!” Leave it to the Hollywood elite to stereotype, misrepresent, demean, and portray Christians and the Gospel in a bad way. Repentance isn’t something you can force people to do out of fear to escape Hell. Think of repentance as if you are walking in one direction, then do a complete 180 turn and go the opposite direction. True repentance is birthed out of a heart realization that you are a lost soul in need of a savior. It is the Holy Spirit that convicts, opens your understanding, and draws you to Jesus the Savior who is calling you to come to Him. Believing is more than a general acknowledging that Jesus died for the sins of the world. It must become personal and that happens when you confess that you are a sinner, ask for forgiveness, and invite Jesus Christ to save you and be the Lord of your life. Jesus Himself said, “You must be born again”, and that’s what happens. The Holy spirit takes up residence in your heart and helps you to repent. Your old sinful nature was crucified with Christ, and you have a new nature according to His righteousness and now have everlasting life. John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” We don’t often hear or use the word perish. It means to die a violent sudden death. The “should not perish” that the above scripture references is immediately followed by, “but have everlasting life”. It’s like a two-sided coin: repent or perish. We all will die someday, but there is coming a time when everyone will stand before God and be asked what we did about Jesus. Those who have repented in this life and accepted His sacrifice as payment for their sins, already possess everlasting life here and now. For us, death is just a door we pass through to enter Heaven. However, those who have not repented and turned to Jesus in this life will not be given that opportunity after death. Heaven’s door will be closed to them. Sin demands payment, and they will pay for their own sins by being sentenced to an everlasting death away from the presence of God, perishing in Hell. That is what Jesus meant when He said, “Unless you repent, you will all likewise perish”. Those aren’t my words or opinion, and you can read it for yourself. (John 3:17-20)

Where do you stand with God right now? Have you truly repented, or are you still listed among the condemned and the “likewise perishing”? If your life was taken from you today, can you say with confidence that you have everlasting life and no fear of death? You may think you are a  worse sinner, but there is no sin that the blood of Jesus that He shed on the cross for you cannot cover. Don’t wait, make your choice today, so that whatever happens you can face each day with confidence and peace and say along with King David.

Psalm 31:14-15a But as for me, I trust in You, O Lord; I say, “You are my God.” My times are in Your hand.