“Be Still and Know That I Am God”
Romans 8:18-39

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Pastor Kevin Vogts
Trinity Lutheran Church
Paola, Kansas
Third Sunday of Easter—May 5, 2019

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  Amen.

When tragedy strikes, like last Monday morning just after 4:00am, when the Schmitts, and Brandts, and our church and cemetery were literally struck by a tornado, the question that leaps into our minds is: Why?  Why this?  Why now?  Why us?  Why ME?   Today’s Bible readings don’t tell us specifically the reason why, but they DO tell us, very clearly, what is NOT the reason why.

In today’s Gospel Reading, the people want to know what Jesus thinks about two terrible tragedies in their day: “Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices.”

Neither the Bible nor secular history gives us any more details about these incidents.  The Romans were big builders, famous for their aqueducts and water systems.  We know from ancient accounts that at this time the Roman governor Pontius Pilate was doing a major upgrade of the water system at Jerusalem.  So, the tower of Siloam that fell was probably some of this construction, near the Pool of Siloam, part of Jerusalem’s ancient water system that still exists, and in which I have waded. 

We also know that Pilate’s construction project was very controversial, met with protests and riots.  So, the whole story behind these incidents referred to in today’s Gospel Reading is probably that a riot broke out when during construction for part of the new water system a tower of Siloam fell and killed 18 people, whose deaths were blamed on Pontius Pilate and his hated water project.  Then, in brutal retaliation for these riots, Pilate, in a heinous act ominously foreshadowing his execution of Jesus, apparently had some Galilean worshippers slaughtered.

Well, whatever the specific circumstances of these two terrible tragedies, when the people ask Jesus what he thinks about them, he uses these incidents to illustrate an important point:  “Do you think they were worse sinners or more guilty because they suffered this way?”

Because we instinctively know that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, that we are ALL sinners deserving God’s wrath, our first inclination whenever any suffering or tragedy strikes is to assume it must be some kind of divine punishment, for something we or others have done, or failed to do. 

The people bringing up these two terrible tragedies expect Jesus to respond the way most other rabbis would have.  To connect some SIN to the people who suffered this way, some sin that would explain why THIS happened to THEM.  But, instead Jesus asks the question: “Do you think they were worse sinners or more guilty because they suffered this way?”  And then he answers: “I tell you, NO!”  You see, God doesn’t work that way.

Now, being a Christian doesn’t earn you a “Get Out of Trouble Free” card.  It doesn’t mean all your problems just go away.  Jesus actually warned his followers at the Last Supper, “In this world you will have trouble.”

But, even though as Christians we still experience trouble and suffering and tragedy in this world, we have the comforting assurance that for us it is NEVER a punishment from God.  Today’s Gradual from Psalm 103 puts it this way: “He does NOT treat us as our sins deserve, or repay us according to our iniquities. . .  as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.”

Paul expresses a radical thought in today’s Epistle Reading from Romans, a comforting thought, especially in times of tragedy, that you won’t find in any other religion: “If God is for us, who can be against us?” 

All other religions teach that their false gods are AGAINST them, that they must be appeased by some sacrifice.  Only Christianity teaches that God not against us but FOR us.  In all your struggles he is on your side, and at your side.  Because, all his wrath has ALREADY been fully and completely appeased, by the sacrifice of his own Son: “If God is for us, who can be against us?  He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?  Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen?  It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns?  No one!  For, Christ Jesus died for us, more than that was raised to life, and is at the right hand of God, interceding for us.”

Whenever any suffering or tragedy strikes, the question that leaps into our minds is: Why?  Why this?  Why now?  Why us?  Why ME?    Our first inclination is to assume it must be some kind of divine punishment.  But, today’s Bible readings tell us very clearly that is NOT the reason why.   “I tell you, NO!”  Jesus says.  God doesn’t work that way.  For, God is not against us, but as Paul declares, “God is FOR us.”

Yet, the question remains: Why?  Why do we still suffer tragedies in this world, like the tornado that struck last week?

 After humanity’s fall into sin, the Lord proclaimed to Adam, “the earth is cursed because of you. . .  it will produce thorns and thistles.”  Why this suffering?  Why this tragedy?  Simply because we don’t live in paradise anymore.  Sufferings and tragedies are part of the fallen world in which we live, like the thorns and thistles the earth now produces. 

The sufferings Christian experience in this world are NEVER a specific punishment for sin, but only a general consequence of paradise being corrupted, by all humanity’s fall into sin.  Paul puts it this way in today’s Epistle Reading: “We know that the whole creation has been groaning . . . for the creation was subjected to . . . bondage to decay.”

In today’s Introit from Psalm 46 the Lord says, “Be still, and know that I am God.”  THAT’S the answer when you are confronted by the question: Why?  Why this?  Why now?  Why us?  Why ME?  “Be still, and know that I am God.”

TRUST the precious promise: “He does NOT treat us as our sins deserve, or repay us according to our iniquities. . .  as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.”

BELIEVE the Good News: “God is FOR us . . .  for Christ Jesus died for us, more than that was raised to life, and is at the right hand of God, interceding for us.”

Take COMFORT in the beautiful assurance: “And we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him.”

And look forward in HOPE, to the end of all suffering and tragedy, to the coming, heavenly joys of paradise restored: “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed to us. . .  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? . . .  No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”