R.C. Sproul

And the error of his friends was the assumption that because Job's suffering was so severe and so great that Job must have been the worst sinner in the whole world.

Well, both John chapter 9 and the book of Job should put that idea to rest once and for all.

But it should not lead us to a false conclusion, namely that there is no relationship between suffering and sin.

Now, when these people come to Jesus here in Luke, and they ask him about this incident in Galilee where Pilate mingles the blood of the worshipers with the sacrifices, Jesus says to them, do you think?

that these Galileans who suffered were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered such things?

And obviously, Jesus is answering his own question, isn't he?

He's saying, no, they're not worse sinners.

So now you would expect Jesus to say, hey, accidents happen.

This had nothing to do with their sin.

Or you might expect Jesus to say, these people who were killed were total innocent people, and it's just a dreadful calamity that took place, one of those fortuitous circumstances that happened by chance.

That's not the conclusion either.

Jesus said, don't think that because they suffered, you are better than they are, or they were worse than you are.

And then he turns to them and said, unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.

Beloved, people do dreadful things to people who are innocent of any crime against those who injure them.

The terrorist works indiscriminately.

He doesn't aim at military installments.

He aims at the general public.

He aims at children in order to terrorize as many people as he possibly can.

And with respect to the relationship between the victim and the perpetrator, the victim is innocent.

And that's true, and we need to remember that.