Jesus and Human Affliction

Luke 13:1-5, 10-17

GOLDEN TEXT: “We have not a high priest that cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities.”—Hebrews 4:15

TODAY’S lesson deals with the divine viewpoint of sin and its results, pointing out God’s method of dealing with it and restoring fallen man to fellowship and harmony with Him. It shows on the one hand that God cannot look upon sin with any degree of allowance, yet, on the other hand, shows that upon the basis of repentance, mercy and forgiveness are obtainable. The lesson indicates that irrespective of the degree of sin on the part of individuals or groups, whole-hearted repentance is a necessary requisite in order to obtain the divine favor.

Jesus’ reference to certain Galileans whom Pilate had punished is interesting. The incident He mentions, according to certain historians, happened sometime before Jesus began His ministry, probably in the early days of Pilate’s administration. The Galileans mentioned in the reference were the followers of Judas of Galilee, an insurgent leader who tried to free his country from the Romans. After his death some of his followers came to Jerusalem to the feast, thinking the whole incident would be forgotten by the Roman officials. Pilate seems to have been informed of their presence in. the city, and so he had them captured and executed. The expression “He mingled their blood with their sacrifices,” means that they were slain on the same day as the animals which they brought for the feast.

It is said that in Eastern countries a feast furnishes the government a good opportunity to capture bandits and insurgents. The officials know that they will try to attend the feast, hence soldiers and secret service men are stationed. This special guard is also often necessary to keep the peace, because enemies attend the feasts and old feuds are avenged with bloodshed. See Acts 21:27.

The lesson Jesus draws from the incident of the Galileans slain by Pilate is that they were no more guilty before God, than the remainder of the Jewish nation. He took occasion to emphasize the fact that only upon the basis of repentance could any of them hope to escape the penalty of everlasting destruction. The lesson, however, is not intended so much to emphasize God’s vengeance upon sinners, as it is the fact that He is ready to extend forgiveness to those who repent and accept the provision which Ile has made for them.

Divine sympathy for the suffering, and the intent to restore all mankind to health and happiness is revealed in the incident of Jesus’ healing the woman who had suffered for eighteen years. Jesus was severely criticized for performing this miracle on the Sabbath Day. He said that the ruler of the synagogue who thus criticized Him was a hypocrite, because he would be willing to save a dumb animal from suffering on the Sabbath Day, but would not extend similar kindness to a human being.

There is a larger Sabbath Day in the divine plan for relieving human suffering. It is the thousand-year period during which Christ and the Church will reign for the purpose of destroying all disease and finally death itself. This will be the seventh Millennium in the plan of God; therefore the seventh one-thousand-year day. This entire thousand-year day of Christ’s Kingdom is described by the apostle as the “times of restitution of all things.” (Acts 3:19-21) During that time all the blind eyes will be opened and all the deaf ears unstopped. All the lame men will he enabled to leap as an hart. Of that time it is said “There shall be no more death, neither sorrow nor sighing, neither shall there be any more pain, for the former things are passed away.”—Rev. 21:4; Isa. 35

The Golden Text expresses Jesus’ sympathetic relationship to His followers, who walk in His footsteps of sacrifice even unto death. These, His church, His body, will, together with Him, constitute the world’s High Priest during the thousand-year period of blessing. As Jesus is able to sympathize with His followers, so Jesus and His church together will constitute a sympathetic High Priest for the whole world of mankind.

Thus is revealed the wondrous wisdom of God in arranging for those who by contact and experience understand human frailty, to be the ones who will deal with the fallen race during the times of restitution. In this wondrous arrangement is also revealed further God’s love, a love that in the first instance sent His only begotten Son to die for mankind, and who has made the provision that “whosoever believeth on Him might not perish, but have everlasting life.”—John 3:16

QUESTIONS:

What is necessary on the part of all sinners in order to obtain God’s forgiveness?

How does the lesson show divine sympathy toward human suffering?

Who will be the world’s High Priest in the Millennial age?

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