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#9: JESUS INTERACTS WITH THOSE DISCUSSING THE NATIONAL NEWS
(Luke 13:1-5)


Spring - Summer, A. D. 29,  Judea, not far from Jerusalem:

As Jesus and his disciples arrive into Judea, not far from the capital city, they come upon a group of people discussing the national news. Governor Pontius Pilate had done a horrible thing. He murdered some Jews from Galilee who came to make animal sacrifices and he mixed their blood with the sacrifices! We don’t know the specific background for this event, but history tells us that unless Pilate was provoked, he would usually leave the Jews alone. But if the Jews formed an angry mob to protest one of his actions, such as imposing a new temple tax, Pilate’s response would be quick, decisive, and cruel.
 
After Jesus hears the discussion, he asks this group if they thought that those victims were worse sinners than other Galileans, or than people living in Jerusalem. His audience doesn’t know how to answer him. Jesus replies that those Jews were not greater sinners than other people living in Jerusalem and he warns, “Unless you repent, you too will all perish” (Luke 13:3, NIV).
 
Then Jesus mentioned something else that was in the news of the day: “Or those eighteen on whom the tower of 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 also likewise perish” (Luke 13:4-5, NKJV).
 
Comments: Then as now, “the news” of the day is often about the misfortunes and disasters that happen to others. If hearing such things moves us to compassion and action to pray and help, that can be good. But we have grown accustomed to the way the majority of stories covered on the national and local news are about crime, misfortune, and disaster. Added to that are the many fictional stories we can go see at the movies about crime, misfortunes, and disasters. Some (but certainly not all) of these movies have good themes, such as the importance of courage, compassion, patience, perseverance, faithfulness to friends and family and country, and standing up for the truth, even when there is a high cost. We must be careful about what we go see.
 
I watch some news so that I will know who and what needs prayer and more about how to pray for them. But Jesus pointed out that the people with whom He was talking were so focused on news about the misfortune of others, that they were not seeing how they needed to change. I pray that God will help us not to make the same mistake. This would be a good time to pray, “Heavenly Father, I choose not to let what is on the news distract me from hearing from You or seeing what changes I need to make. Mold me and make me and fill me and use me. Thank You for Your constant and unfailing love, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

 

Note: much of this devotional is from The Life of Jesus Foretold, page 163.
© COPYRIGHT 2020 by Stephen Long. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
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  • Books
    • Polycarp and the Second Century Church
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      • #1 Life of Jesus devotional
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  • Proverbs of Faith, Hope and Love
    • #1: The Love of God, from I John
    • #2: God's Love - Isaiah 58
    • #3: The Greatness of Jesus
    • #4: Our Sufficiency is in Christ
    • #5: The Importance of Our Words
    • #6: The Greatness of Jesus #2
    • #7 The Wisdom of God
    • #8 Faith and Prayer (from the teaching of Jesus)
    • #9 Faith and Prayer (from Romans)
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    • # 11: God Gives us Hope
    • # 12: Mercy and Compassion
    • #13: The Lord is our Refuge
    • #14 Jesus is our Righteousness
    • #15 The Peace of God
    • #16 The Joy of the Lord
  • More Proverbs of Faith, Hope and Love
    • #17 Victory Over All the Power of the Evil One
    • #18: The Wisdom of God (from the teaching of Jesus)
    • #19 The Spirit of Truth
    • #20 The Love of God (from I Corinthians 13)
    • #21: The Love of God (from I Corinthians 13, part two)
    • #22: The Spirit of Truth, part two
    • #23: Victory Over All the Power of the Evil One, part 2
    • #24: The Whole Armor of God, part 1
    • #25: The Whole Armor of God, part 2
    • #26: Victory over all the power of the evil one, part 3
    • #27: Faith and Prayer, part 4
    • #28: Our God Gives us Hope, part two
    • #29: Victory over Fear
    • # 30 Freedom through Jesus Christ
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    • #3 Poem, the trials of Job
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  • Miscellaneous Articles
    • # 1: "And the plague was stopped"
    • #2 "Let the Sun of Righteousness Arise!"
    • #3: The Pulling Down of Dagon
    • #4 The Pulling Down of Dagon, Part Two
    • #5: When a King and a Prophet Agreed in Prayer, part one
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