The Chaos of Evil [9-21-25]

September 21, 2025

Luke 11:27-36

“The Chaos of Evil”

We’re going to begin with a preamble. Verses twenty-seven and twenty-eight seem like an abrupt interlude. It’s like a misdirection popping up out of the crowd:

As he said these things, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts at which you nursed!” But he said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”

What do you hear a hint of here? Mary worship. Veneration of Jesus’ mother. People are weird that way. Also of note is the fact that Jesus’

response is forceful. Notice what he doesn’t say. Jesus doesn’t say, “Thanks for your blessing.” He doesn’t even say, “Sounds good, but let me add something else.” No…no…no. The first word in his response is best

translated as, “on the contrary.” In politely rejecting the blessing upon his

mother, Jesus points the woman elsewhere. The real blessing is in obedience. And by obedience, he means obedience to the Word of God, not the traditions of the world. Jesus draws a stark contrast between the world and the gospel.

Here's the point. Mary, like all who follow, is blessed because she listens to God’s Word. And listening to God’s Word, she believes. And believing, she acts on it. Jesus blesses all who hear and obey the Word of God.

That’s where we all want to be. So, continuing in our desire to hear and obey God’s Word, let’s look at Luke 11:29-36:

When the crowds were increasing, he began to say, “This generation is an evil generation. It seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah. For as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so will the Son of Man be to this generation. The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here. The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.

“No one after lighting a lamp puts it in a cellar or under a basket, but on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light. Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light, but when it is bad, your body is full of darkness. Therefore be careful lest the light in you be darkness. If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, it will be wholly bright, as when a lamp with its rays gives you light.”

Here's where we’re at. Remember, Jesus has set his face for Jerusalem. What awaits him? Right…first the adulation of the crowd, then his rejection, trial, suffering, and crucifixion. These remaining chapters of Luke are leading to the culmination of our salvation history…the resurrection.

What we’re seeing now is a change in tone from Jesus. He is becoming more forceful in his demeanor. He is speaking more words of judgment to

people…both regular people and religious leaders. We’re still going to hear

Jesus speaking words of grace and salvation into the lives of outcasts, tax collectors, prostitutes, criminals, and an assortment of other riff-raff. His primary focus is on teaching his followers. His primary focus is on instructing them. We’re mostly going to hear Jesus preparing his followers for what is ahead…his death and resurrection and then their ministry. That’s why these chapters are so important. Jesus is equipping his followers to deal with the chaos of evil.

“But wait, Pastor Richard,” some of you might be thinking. “You’re such a positive, happy guy. What’s this about the chaos of evil?”

Remember again the trajectory of our salvation history. Who doesn’t want us to be saved? Who wants to win the battle for lost people’s soul? Right… Satan. And Satan will use whoever, whenever, and however he can to keep people lost in their sins.

Notice how direct and to the point Jesus is. This generation is an evil generation. Can’t get more direct than that. Back in chapter 9:41, we read:

Jesus answered, “O faithless and twisted generation, how long am

I to be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here.”

As the crowds grow, so does the opposition. Here, in verse twenty-nine, Jesus casts a wide net. He’s talking about all kinds of people willfully and defiantly rejecting the truth.

Here’s the funny thing to remember – not funny “ha-ha” but funny strange. All kinds of people in all kinds of places from all walks of life have seen the miracles performed by Jesus. They’ve heard about miracles. They’ve been in the presence of Jesus’ insightful teachings and profound observations. And yet, here they are, asking for more proof. How strange that is.

How strange we are. Not those of us who love Jesus and worship him and love others because he first loved us. I’m talking about our country. I’m talking about our culture. We could easily say these are wicked times. Every place…everywhere…all the time. And yes, this statement of harsh reality is coming from the guy who firmly believes and affirms that God is good all the time. We can hold both things in the same hand at once – the goodness of God and the badness of people. Amen?

Side note…in preparation for the Sunday School class I’m teaching, I was searching for further information on the minor prophets. So I Google “Obadiah,” and the first thing that comes up are links to information about the prophet Obadiah. Same for “Hosea.” When I get to “Joel,” the first thing that comes up is a full page of links covering guess who? Joel Osteen. Smiling Joel. He’s that popular. Do I mention him because I’m envious? Who knows? Could it get any worse? Oh, yes it could. Do you know who Creflo Dollar is? Perfect name for a prosperity preacher. Here’s what he said recently:

“Jesus bled and died for us so that we can lay claim to the promise of financial prosperity.”

Where we’re at right now is Jesus putting the hammer down on an evil generation. So we’ve got to talk about it, too. Life isn’t all roses and daisies. We are living in wicked times.

Here’s the thing. Jesus isn’t talking here about people who are openly and obviously wicked. Granted, there was plenty of that then, just as there’s plenty of that now. But who is Jesus talking to here? He’s talking to people who consider themselves decent, upright, spiritual people. He’s talking to religious leaders. He’s talking to civic leaders. He’s talking to people who consider themselves on the outside clean. They are the movers…the shakers…the influencers.

But they are spiritually and internally wicked in the most dangerous way.

Oh, how things stay the same.

The worst place to be, spiritually, is among those who think they’re just fine. Those who think they don’t need help. I’m wondering if that’s why Jesus is warmer toward those who wear their lostness on their sleeves. When you hit bottom…when you crash your life…you know you need help. You know you can’t fight your way out. You know you need a hand up and out. Jesus is a friend to sinners because they are the ones who know they need a friend. Are you with me on that?

Woe to those who seek a sign. They are the wickedest ones because they don’t know how wicked they are.

Decades ago, a survey on the spiritual beliefs of Americans had some

interesting findings. My favorite had to do with heaven. A strong majority of people surveyed believed that they were going to heaven when they died. Of that same group, an equally strong majority didn’t think their neighbor was. Ouch. Funny thing was {and this is both strange and ha-ha funny} that question didn’t drill down to religious affiliation or belief. Simply put, however it happens, I’m going to heaven but you’re not. Again…ouch.

Jesus here is opposing the self-righteous and self-satisfied. That’s why we talk about the chaos of evil. We don’t want to become spiritually lazy. The essence of the gospel message is that you are a sinner and you are wretched and there is nothing in you that is good and your morality counts for nothing and you’re a doomed sinner and you are completely without any ability to alter that. That’s the truth Jesus speaks to the smug and self-satisfied. An evil generation hates the One who calls out their true condition.

Here's something you might want to write down:

YOU CANNOT RECEIVE THE CURE UNTIL YOU’RE HONEST ABOUT

THE DIAGNOSIS.

Which leads us to the final part of our passage. The cure. The cure.

A lot of people know the story of Jonah. Jonah the reluctant prophet. Jonah was the only prophet called by God to preach to a gentile nation. The lesson from Jonah that Jesus wants us to learn is that God is the God of all. God’s grace and mercy are accessible to all.

Jonah and the whale.

That’s the piece Jesus wants us to focus on. How long was Jonah in the belly of the whale? Three days. How long will Jesus be in the tomb? Three days. A message of deliverance for all. Jesus is the Messiah. His death on the cross accomplished our forgiveness. That is a truth wicked people will never be able to see.

Here's the last thing you might want to write down. Anyone who does not see Jesus as their One, True Savior does so:

NOT FOR A LACK OF EVIDENCE, BUT FOR A LACK OF

REPENTANCE…A LACK OF HUMILITY.

No more fumbling around in the dark. May we see what an evil generation is blind to. In Jesus Christ, God calls us to be His own. So much of people’s spiritual journey is seen as a quest in the dark. For too many people, the venture of faith is nothing more than fumbling around in the dark. Too many picture faith as God waiting to be discovered. But the heart of faith sees differently. As Jesus tells us in John 15:15-17:

“No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. These things I command you, so that you will love one another.”

That is how the chaos of evil is overcome. By surrendering all you are to

accept God’s claim upon your life. Let’s pray:

“HEAVENLY FATHER, THANK YOU FOR THE LIGHT THAT FLOODS OUR SOULS THROUGH GRACE. WE PRAY THAT YOU WOULD BRING MANY TO THE LIGHT, THAT YOU WOULD SHATTER THE DARKNESS AND OPEN BLIND EYES. WE REJOICE IN SEEING EVERYTHING CLEARLY. YOUR WORD SHEDS THE LIGHT OF TRUTH ON ALL THINGS. IN CHRIST, WE SEE EVERYTHING AS IT TRULY IS. WE CLEARLY SEE THE GLORY OF SALVATION. WE SEE OUR ETERNAL HOPE. WE ARE TRULY BLESSED. OPEN MORE EYES TODAY. WE PRAY IN CHRIST’S NAME. AMEN.