Luke 13:2-4
And he answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? 3 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. 4 Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem?
The British comedian Stephen Fry is famous for his intellect and talent but also for a quote in which he angrily berates God, who he disbelieves in, for allowing children to suffer. He even called God stupid. John Lennox countered that he missed the basic concept of all the good that comes from God. Man has wrestled with the problem of evil for millennia, but many have ended up with a far greater evil, disbelief in God. As the psalmist said, The fool has said in his heart, there is no God…then they yell at God.
The crowd asked Jesus why good people suffer. His answer was simple. As he said elsewhere, no one is good but God alone. Jesus is God. Jesus is good. We are not; not even children. We are born in sin. We all need to repent, to think again and turn from the way that leads to ultimate suffering and toward the Way of life. R. C. Sproul had another great answer. “Why do bad things happen to good people? That only happened once and he volunteered.” Of course he was speaking of our Savior. That is why it is called Good News!
O Heavenly Father, you have given us more than we deserve. Help us to surrender that which we cling to and please the Good Shepherd who loves us. In Jesus’ name. Amen.