And Who Would Jesus Blame?

By Michael Griego on August 29, 2025 • ( 0 )

All are horrified by the killings of innocents. Why such hate? Why such evil inflicted on others? What do we do? How do we pray? Who would Jesus blame? ◊

Another tragic school shooting. This time at a Catholic school in Minnesota targeted by a transgender youth possessed with hatred toward children and other identified groups.

Again, we’re left deeply saddened, troubled and shocked at the capacity of man’s inhumanity to man, in this case, executing an act of pure demonic evil.

And it raises the questions often asked after events such as this:

Who’s to blame?
Why did God allow it?
How should we respond?

From a stark human perspective, there is plenty of blame to go around in the development of an evil human spirit. We are all susceptible to demonic influences. How we respond is the differentiator. A Biblical worldview confronts evil as Christ did, head on, knowing that the power in the name of “Jesus” overwhelms the demonic in the spiritual realm.

There is no doubt that parental upbringing has an impact. And that upbringing can be heavily influenced by societal culture (media, education, religious, social, civic, and political views) of both the parents and the child.

To shed further light on who we should blame, God’s role, and how we ought to respond, I will pose a new question you may not have raised:

Who would Jesus blame?

The Jesus Response
Actually, Jesus wouldn’t blame anyone in the way that some would like. Jesus has already given us a very pointed answer in terms of justice, repentance, and truth.

Consider the case Jesus makes in 3 passages and lesson applications here which should give us pause before we execute any of our responses and consideration of casting blame:

1. Justice – Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43 – Jesus tells a parable about a man planting good seed which grew in a field, but in stealth one night an enemy sowed weeds among the wheat. When the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also. When asked by the field workers whether they should pull the weeds, the man said to leave them growing lest the good wheat get pulled with the weeds. He told them that everything will get sorted out in the harvest when the good wheat will be separated from the weeds which will be destroyed.

Jesus delivers a clear explanation to His disciples: The Son of Man (Jesus) is the man/farmer, the good seed/wheat are the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one (Devil).

Lesson Application: Wheat and Weeds Grow Together. Good and evil are allowed to grow together. Demonic spirits are as vital today as they have been through human history. Justice will be served eventually, and completely, by God. Not necessarily by human systems. There is clear evil and wrongdoing allowed to proceed and even prosper in the midst of what is good, healthy and beautiful. God sees it. He loves what he plants and knows good fruit and what’s occurring. Demonic evil feels free to survive and thrive but is destined for destruction. Good seed perseveres and is tested and discerned by the fruit it produces. God has the last word.

“Whoever has ears should listen.” (Matthew 13:43)

2. Repentance – Luke 13:1-5 – A particular sequence of tragedies occurs in Jesus’ day and He is asked to comment on them and answer the question of God’s offense and punishment. A group of people in Galilee were brutally killed by Pilates’ soldiers, and then a tower on the other end of Jerusalem accidentally collapsed and killed 18 people.

Jesus is asked: Who sinned as the worse offenders in God’s eyes? He answers that neither were more guilty, and then adds: “But unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”

Lesson Application: Brutality, Calamity, and Repentance. This is a direct question about evil and tragedy and blame and guilt. In assigning no guilt, Jesus sidesteps the implied question of why do bad things happen to good people, or even the common presumption that sin and calamity have a connection; that tragedy is deserved and somehow tied to guilt. Instead, Jesus shifts the focus and goes right to the point of all of our need for repentance or else all of us too will die.

How strange – yet so really Christ-like to get right to the truth and heart of things. The blame is on our inborn sin-nature from original sin. It’s our choice – we’re all going to die anyway. Jesus, God-Man, knew this and died as an atonement for a fallen world – all humanity:

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. – Romans 5:8

3. Truth – Matthew 16:1-20 – Jesus was asked by authorities and leaders for a “sign of the times.” He scolds them with the admonition that “an evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign shall be given to it except the sign of Jonah.” He later warned His disciples, “Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” He had to clarify that he was not talking about physical leaven of bread, but of the teaching of deceiving teachers and leaders.

Then later, Jesus, point blank asks His men, “Who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replies, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus answers back, “Blessed are you, Simon Peter! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.”

Lesson Application: Foolish Inputs vs. Discerning Truth. We are all susceptible to the wayward, foolish, and even deceptive teaching of people in authority. We should beware of foolish inputs or information sources of so-called truth, signs, analyses, and interpretations. Particularly when the Source of real Truth is available to all of us.

Discerning truth was spiritually given to Simon Peter through the Holy Spirit. Human thinking and teaching are okay and can even be good; Holy Spirit-led thinking and teaching is on a whole other dimension.

Yes, a Practical Prayer
As Christians are called to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17), I am praying as follows:

Lord Jesus, I ask for contrite hearts that seek your forgiveness for sins of disobedience against you in thought and action, and for any doubt and lack of trust in your hand over the affairs of our daily life. You are Lord of all and in control of all, beyond what we can begin to understand. Though they permeate this dark and present world, the unseen and demonic recoil at the sound of your name and in the presence of your Holy Spirit in any and all who call you Lord of their life. Comfort the hurting and bring peace to those in pain caused by the enemy who seeks to distort and destroy. In your strength and Spirit, may we be wise and discerning in your ways of ultimate justice, truth, our ongoing need for repentance, and for your protection from physical, psychological, and spiritual harm and attack. May your Kingdom here on earth move forward for good, love, resolve, and impact for your sake. In Christ’s name, Amen.

Do you think like Man or Jesus?
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“Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division….You hypocrites!…why do you not know how to interpret the present time? And why do you not judge for yourselves what is right?…” – Luke 12:49-59