Bloodshed in the Temple

February 2, 2011

Read Luke 13:1-9

Luke 13:2-5
Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”

If it is difficult to imagine shootings in school, what more when it happens in a temple or a church? Where the sacred is, such things should not happen and be allowed to happen.

Yet such was the time of Jesus. Pilate had ordered the killings of the Galileans probably because he suspected there were rebels among them. These Galileans were slaughtered mercilessly in the most sacred place, the temple. This was a sacrilegious act that would cause more outrage and anger among the Jews. To a faith that stresses on purity (remember disputes over ceremony of washing of hands, etc), such a brutal act, and mixing their blood with the sacrifices would definitely fan more Jewish rebellions.

Siloam is a small area of Jerusalem, south of the temple. Jesus quoted the incident as a warning to those who refused to heed his kingdom call. If they followed the Galileans by taking up arms against the Romans, they would die by the sword. And if they escaped the sword, they would die by having the temple buildings fall on them.

To the Jews, the kingdom of the Messiah meant the definite overthrowing of the Romans and if it would be through violence, they would do it.

Why was Jesus notified of this event? I think it is first to dissuade him from
going to Jerusalem. The people wanted to remind Jesus of the dangerous route that he was taking; perhaps to tell him to turn back from Jerusalem. But Jesus ‘needed’ to head toward Jerusalem, into the eye of the storm in order to fulfil his destiny.

As Christians, we must not be disturbed and distracted from following the way of sacrifice. Distractions and fears are the strategies to make us bow to the pressure of the majority. Just as Jesus' disciples meant well, so do many of our friends who suggest 'easier' ways of serving God. But good suggestions seldom gets the approval seal of God. Good intentions may mean a detour of God's agenda. Stick to God's plan and stay focus.

Secondly, the disciples were all curious about the things to come. Jesus had been talking about the urgency of the kingdom of God. He had been telling them to be prepared to be dragged into courts and to suffer for their belief in him. Now that this had happened in the temple, is this the beginning of what Jesus had been telling them? Were the Galileans being punished for rejecting Jesus? They wanted to know.

Jesus warned them that they would suffer the same fate as the Galileans and the 18 if they do not repent. To believe in Him is to believe in His way as well.

Today, Jesus is still calling us to do the same – to have a radical change in our mindset, to abandon the route we are pursuing that contradicts His way and to put to death our old nature.

Jesus calls all to U-turn from any lifestyle that does not resemble the nature of Christ (sacrifice and service) and warns that the road of destruction is definite for all who does not heed his warning.