Why do bad things happen? Wouldn’t you like to ask Jesus that? Two times in the Bible he was asked that.
“As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
“Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
After saying this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. “Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam” (this word means “Sent”). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.” John 9:1-7
A man was born with a handicap. In Eastern religions, it would be seen as working off his bad karma from a past life.
In the Old Testament, it was a generational curse. These days, a tragedy.
Jesus said it was so the works of God could be seen in him. In that man’s case, he was healed.
“Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.” Luke 13:1-5
These guys were murdered. Were they being punished?
What about the people who died when the tower fell on them?
In the passage’s context, people were trying to trap Jesus into incriminating himself.
Jesus asked the crowd if they thought the people deserved it. Then he said everyone is a sinner.
Don’t be surprised when bad things happen in this fallen world.
Jesus then bluntly told them, “You’re gonna die too, unless you turn away from your sins and turn to God.”
He even repeats it.
Bad things should be a reminder or a warning to run from our sins and towards God. Of course, we’ll all die, but we don’t have to stay dead.
A Ronin's Journey 