This Sunday, February 21, we will begin a two-part sermon series entitled, “Does God Love Haiti?” We will deal with difficult questions we ask about God, the world, and humanity in the wake of tragedies such as the earthquake in Haiti last month. Our central text this Sunday will be Luke 13:1-5.
Come with your questions. Everyone is welcome!
February 20, 2010 at 1:21 am
The Luke scripture that is the focus this week is good. Does it mean that all of life is just an allegory?
Why does Jesus say “you too will perish”? At least in the NIV version. But in the NASB it says “you will all likewise perish”.
Is likewise more accurate? “Likewise” is slightly different than “too”.
We pretty much can conclude that even though people have not repented, they have not perished, not yet. Although we all “perish” eventually, I’m sure that is not the full intent.
We humans value life on earth very much. Does God value our life on earth as much as we do. I’m guessing no, it must be no. Human life on earth is not the end all. How could we not value it? How can God expect us not too hold on to it with everything we have?
Perish from everlasting life? Yes, I know that’s the meaning but the awful pain of seeing loved ones perish from this life is a permanent scar and a frightful thing indeed. I don’t want an untimely earthly death. Neither did Jesus I suppose…
Hard stuff…hard like diamonds.
February 24, 2010 at 11:39 am
Sorry for the delay, Brian. I’m just now in a place to consult some resources in my office. It means likewise–“in the same way.” This is the sense of the NRSV: “you will perish as they did” and “perish just as they did.” Clearly, as I said on Sunday, this doesn’t mean having towers fall on you or dying in an act of political violence. I think it is dying in an eternal way. Apart from God, outside of God’s kingdom, we are living in a way that leads to death. These terrible tragic events serve as a wake-up call to us, in Jesus’ day just as in ours.
Keep in mind, too, that our ultimate hope is for life “on earth,” at least on a new earth in the resurrection (as in Revelation 21).