O That We Might Know Peace! {Luke 19}
12:00 AM
By Sue Desmarais
Have you ever seen the different videos of
the soldiers coming home from a tour overseas to surprise their parents,
spouse, or children? I can’t resist them! I’m such a sap when it comes to a hero’s
welcome and consequentially have always loved the story of Palm Sunday, but I
recently discovered the story tellers usually only share half of the story; stopping
at verse 40! Notice what also happened in that moment:
“As he
approached Jerusalem
Luke had an advantage at
the time he wrote this book, for what Jesus is speaking about here had already
taken place when Luke penned this. Jerusalem
What I hadn’t seen until now, and what I
truly don’t understand is, this was to be a joyous occasion! It was a large, (some say 200,000) enthusiastic crowd joyfully proclaiming
victory over their enemies and the triumphal arrival of the Kingdom of God
The Greek word used here for “wept” is the strongest word used in the
Greek language for weep. It would be equivalent to our words "sobbing, heaving, wretched agonizing."
As Jesus sees Jerusalem He's racked with agony and He begins to heave and
sob. Definitely NOT the reaction anyone would expect at that moment! Right?
Jesus knew this would be His final entry into
the city of Jerusalem
Jesus begins by
saying, “If you, even
you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace.” Wait!
Why “on this day”? I discovered the reference to "this day" reveals that there is something about this
particular day that makes Jesus weep, for “this day" had the potential to
bring "things which make for peace." I also learned that when Jesus
uses “you” in this verse He is referring to all of Israel
Some scholars
believe that "this day" is the fulfillment of the prophecy in Daniel
9:25, the Messiah would come to Israel
at the end of the sixty-ninth week of Daniel which would have been this day of
Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem
So, what exactly
would bring Israel Israel
I know at the
moment all seemed so grand, but Jesus could see through their hypocrisy to
their rejection which would be coming in just a few days. He also wept because
He knew of their destruction that was coming. Many that were there that day
would probably not survive when Rome came to
destroy Jerusalem
“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the
prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your
children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were
not willing. Look, your house is left to you desolate. For I tell
you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the
name of the Lord.’” –Matthew
23:37-39
As I’ve researched this passage this week
two questions seemed to keep surfacing.
- The first, do you know what brings peace to every heart? Have
you believed and accepted the message Jesus came here to share? That
salvation is found in Christ Jesus alone? Do you know, that you know, that
you know you have that “peace”? We’ve seen today just how important it is
to Jesus, is it just as important to you?
- Then secondly, do you agonize over the lost like Jesus? Over your
friends and loved ones who still to this day do not know the peace He came
to offer them?
You and I NEED to be about our Father’s
business, for we have “this day” and may never have another!
O Father, Thank You, thank You for Your Word. My heart is
full and so thankful that I have been given the assurance of Your peace.
May it be so in each and every heart reading this post, I pray. May each of us
turn, receive and embrace the gift of being reconciled to You; making peace
possible because of all Jesus has done for us. May there be no one
reading this post that ever has to face such catastrophic and eternal
judgment.
And, Father, please do a work in each of us. Come in, fill
us and use us, Lord, to carry this amazing message to those who so desperately
need it in our world; those you agonized over that day! We thank You Lord! We
give You all the glory and praise in Jesus’ name. Amen.
0 comments