Well. Things have changed recently. Up to chapter 11, Luke's gospel was just that - pretty good news all round. But then the storm broke, the arguments have raged, and everything has got a lot darker.
But it's a new chapter today! What will chapter 13 bring? More storms, or will there be a rainbow?
Aghh! Of course. I remember now how Luke 13 starts - more gruesome than ever. A topical story about an outrage of Pilate, the Roman governor, against some Galileans. We don't know what they did to offend Pilate, but he thought it would be a suitable cruel retribution to mock their earnest sacrifices. Oh the rivers of blood that were poured out on God's altar in Jerusalem! On one day they flowed with human blood too, scandalising and terrorising an occupied people.
What will Jesus say? Surely he can't help but use this as a rallying cry, or a deep lament? Actually neither. Jesus seems to sense in this a theological challenge. Instead of hearing an implied question like "What does this story make you think about Pilate?" Jesus hears "What does this story make you think about God?"
So he sounds like John the Baptist as he replies: the axe is laid to the root of the tree. Change your ways, or judgement is coming. God is not fooled, he can see that you are rotten, and he will chop down the dead wood. So - don't ask yourself were those unfortunate people somehow worse sinners than I am, that God allowed such misfortune to come upon them? Ask yourself this - why can't I see the warning signs? Why can't I wake up, and change my ways, before it's too late?
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