Sermon Central
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Mingled With Their Sacrifices
Contributed by Christopher Crane on Jun 16, 2004 (message contributor)
Summary: Many find themselve engrossed in the work of the Lord, but miss the more pressing need of true scriptural repentance.
Mingled With Their Sacrifices
INTRODUCTION
Today, we’re going to look at an unusual story from the scripture, and try to glean from it what God would have us take away. In it, we find an account of HISTORY; Christ’s applied OBJECT LESSON; the underlying TRAGEDY of the situation; and finally the MESSAGE we are to walk away with.
13:1 There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.
2 And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things?
3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
4 Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?
5 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
We’re going to focus on the first of the accounts; the account of the Galileans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. Let’s pray, and ask the Lord to speak to our hearts today, as we explore this idea "MINGLED WITH THEIR SACRIFICES"
I. THE HISTORY OF THIS ACCOUNT
Okay, first… let’s look at the HISTORY of the story. We step into an account where some who were with Jesus at this time began to recount a story to Him.
13:1 There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.
The wording makes me wonder about this. The way it’s stated, “There were present at that season some...” Right then, they were with Jesus. At that particular moment, they were with Him. The underlying implication was that they might not always be with Jesus. They might be here today but gone tomorrow.
A season is short-lived; seasons fade and seasons change. These were with Jesus at this present season, but might not be if the wind changes
How many are like that today? They are with Jesus at the moment, but gone, later on. Their faith changes with the wind. Ephesians 4 says they are like “…children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive.” They might be with God today; they might be with the devil tomorrow.
These particular people were SEASONAL ATTENDEES. They were there for the moment, but not for the long haul. It was from instability that the news came. These men were trumpets producing an uncertain sound, and they were hoping perhaps to make Jesus take up the battle and the offense. And from his reply, He had no intention of doing so. They had brought Jesus word of a recent happening.
13:1 There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.
It might have been something Jesus hadn’t heard about; or didn’t let on that He knew. They told Him. It was a matter of current importance, probably one of those stories that had been told around town. The way the story went, there had been some Galileans who were offering sacrifice in the temple. Pilate was a man who feared neither God, nor man, and his royal guard didn’t consider the temple a holy place.
The temple used to be a refuge where one could run, and find protection from those that sought to harm him. Not any more. The guards took this as an opportunity to lie in wait and bring punishment on these Galileans who offered sacrifice there. While they made their offering, Pilate’s troops killed those making offering. The blood of those who offered the sacrifices were mingled with the blood of the sacrifices themselves.
Why did they tell Jesus about this? Maybe it was just to fill the Lord in on current events. They probably assumed He hadn’t heard it. He was One to travel about a lot. Perhaps he hadn’t heard. Maybe it was a story they were lamenting over; maybe they were weeping, because these were their countrymen. It’s a healthy thing to talk about the things that sadden us, to mention the tragedies, and remember those lost. It was important to talk about 911. It is important to talk about the war in Iraq. Talking is part of healing process. And maybe that’s what they were doing.
Perhaps their bringing this to Christ was all about what He had just said in the last chapter. He had just been talking about how important it was to make your peace with God before it’s to late to make eternal arrangements. Making our peace before we’re delivered to the officer; or in other words, before we die. Maybe they were just trying to tell Him a story of just such an instance, where those who were not expecting it were delivered to the officer of death.
