I have debated on whether to right this or not as I know that some will take it and twist what I am about to say into something that it is not. However, right now I need some quiet from all of the noise and to do this often times I find the best outlet is writing. For me often it is preparing a Sermon.
Over the course of these last few days I have found myself asking How would Jesus respond to this? Honestly, in the aftermath of the tornado when I stepped into a neighborhood that looked like a bomb had went off I was not thinking how would Jesus respond. When I helped pull a lady and her husband from their basement as there had a wall laying on them I did not think how would Jesus respond. As I knelt down and held a woman covered in blood whose face was all cut up and as I asked her if I could pray with her I did not ask my self how would Jesus respond. As I went to one of my church embers hospital room and looked at her head cut open and her clavicle broken and as she wept because she has lost her husband and now her home, and as she said I have nothing left, forgive me for being weak pastor, I did not ask myself how would Jesus respond? I held her and cried with her. Because in those moment I believe that is how Jesus would respond.
However, I sit here with quiet for the first time in days thinking of a daughter who nearly died on Saturday, and a tornado that ripped through my town taking four of my church embers homes on Sunday and I ask myself that question, how would Jesus respond. I ask myself that question because I am the leader of my church, I ask self that question because I believe it is vital to how we respond.
We may be surprised to know that natural Jesus was actually faced with natural disaster in his time. In liked 13:1-5 we read
There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And he answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. 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? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” (Luke 13:1-5, ESV)
So when we ask ourselves how would Jesus respond we have his response above. This is how he responded to the disaster of his time.
First notice that Jesus clearly lets them know that tragedy, suffering, and sin are not necessarily linked together. This is not the first time that Jesus had to make a similar connection either see John 9:2. These people really believed the reason that Galileans were murdered by Herod was because they were great sinners. In other words it was because of their sin that brought on their suffering. Notice they did not say this but they were thinking it which is why Jesus addressed the question. From here Jesus makes the reference to another news story of the day where a tower fell on 18 people killing them. He does this to illustrate his point even further that suffering is not necessarily due to sin. If this were the case then no one would be breathing, and we would all be dead. We know this because we are all sinful, and we all would be worthy of the most horrible of sufferings, death. So for us to somehow equate any natural disaster including the tornado in Washington, Il with the sin of the people is folly.
However this does bring me to my next point which may be sometimes difficult to hear. However, notice that even though Jesus clearly seemed to let the people know that suffering, and sin are not necessarily tied to one another he was also quick to point out that sin does have its penalty. Often our question tends to be focus on why would God allow such a thing to happen to certain people when perhaps the question should be “why not me?” It is very easy during these times to somehow question God as if he really owes us an explanation however our question should really by why am I allowed to take my next breath? The answer to that question is because God is full of Mercy. Is this not what Jesus is saying when he tells them “unless you repent you will all likewise parish.” When something like a tornado passes through our town it should indeed remind us that we are all sinners, and every one of us deserves the penally that sin brings which is death.
Which brings me to the next point. We should be reminded that we all need repentance. Look at the words of Jesus. He did not try to explain why it happened, or how it happened, or who to blame he simply reminded the people of their need for repentance. The most important question that anyone could ask deals with the eternal destiny of their soul. Twice Jesus reiterates the necessity of repentance. God is desires to show us mercy and is full of grace, he forgives, and can restore us but repentance is necessary. When a tornado rips through you town and when Jesus is confronted with a natural disaster we should be reminded of our need for repentance.
Finally and I do not want anyone to miss this because often this is what we do not realize. A tornado or natural disaster like this should make us realize the necessity of spreading the gospel. Honestly this is what started me on the quest of finding out how Jesus would respond. As I look around and see people that are hurting I see a far greater need that is spiritual and my heart breaks. Right before the Tornado hit my community I shared in Sunday school that humanitarian effort without the gospel is simply humanitarian effort and does not make an eternal difference. Little did I know that within a few minutes of making that statement a tornado would rip through my town taking out 4 of my embers homes. This tornado should make us come to the realization that people are hurting, but they are hurting spiritually far greater than they are hurting any other way. We must look around at the pain and suffering that people are going through and know that there is a far greater spiritual suffering that darkens the soul of people. This should drive us to share the gospel of Jesus Christ knowing that the alternative is perishing for eternity. How dare us sit by and do nothing when people are perishing, we must proclaim the gospel with urgency. So when a tornado is Washington Illinois occurs it should drive us to realize the necessity of sharing the gospel.
May we realize that indeed if we fail to share the gospel of Jesus Christ during this time perhaps we are missing the point and missing a great opportunity that has been laid before us. May we not just talk about the gospel but may we be gospel driven to the point that it permeates everything we do. I pray that the Lord use me to lead others to the recognition that when a Tornado hits that we should recognize the need to share the Gospel.