Skip to main content

222. Jesus’ Lament

Psalm 122, Luke 19:41-44
Key Verse: "If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace but now it is hidden from your eyes."
Luke 19:42


Jesus was entering Jerusalem along with the throngs of people who were coming into the city to celebrate the Passover. As they walked, many of them may have been singing, or remembering the Psalms of ascent, of which Psalm 122 is one. The Psalms of ascent were psalms intended to be used by the travelers as they came along on their way to the temple. They were called psalms of ascent because the temple was up on the mount, so they sang these psalms as they ascended.

These psalms helped the people remember how their ancestors had suffered, but also how God had been faithful to them. They may have had many sorrows, but God had restored them and would do so again. "I rejoiced with those who said to me, "Let us go to the house of the Lord." Our feet are standing in your gates, O Jerusalem. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: "May those who love you be secure. May there be peace within your walls and security within your citadels." (Psalm 122:1-&-6-7)

Luke, however, pulls back the veil for us and shows us that all is not right. While the people are celebrating, singing their Psalms, shouting "Hosanna to their King," Jesus, who sees the hearts of all men, is not rejoicing. He is lamenting because He knows that He isn't what they want, but what they need if they are to ever experience true peace.

If they would only remember the significance of this day; of the manner in which He is entering the city. If they would only remember the prophesies and understand just how blessed the day truly is. John, however, points out that even the disciples get caught up in the moment and it is only after Christ's Ascension that they understand what truly happened on that day. "At first His disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about Him and so they had done these things to Him." (John 12:16)

He was grieving because they still didn't understand. In fact, this day marked the beginning of an entire week that they wouldn't understand. The prophesies had been given, the clues were there, but no one would understand that, in love, God was fulfilling His promise to His people to conquer satan forever.

Sometimes, in love, we must do things and make decisions that those we love do not understand. Jesus understands that frustration all too well. What we need to remember is, that he did what needed to be done anyway and trusted, that in the future, the truth, and understanding would be revealed. When we do what is right anyway, we are acting like Christ and the mind and peace of Christ are there to guide us. Sometimes we are asked to walk a very hard path, but none worse than the path that Jesus walked while on this earth. He is holding your right hand through it all. (Isaiah 41:13)

Hymn: "Jerusalem Lift Up Thy Voice" 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

October 27 Save the Glaze for the Bunny

Like a coating of glaze over earthenware are fervent lips of an evil heart. A malicious man disguises himself with his lips. But in his heart, he harbors deceit. Though his speech is charming, do not believe him, for seven abominations fill his heart. His malice may be concealed by deception, but his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly. If a man digs a pit, he will fall into it. If a man rolls a stone, it will roll back on him. ~Proverbs 26:23-28 For there are many rebellious people, mere talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision group. They must be silenced, because they are ruining whole households by teaching things they ought not teach—and that for the sake of dishonest gain. Even one of their own prophets has said, “Cretans are always liars, evil brutes, lazy gluttons.” This testimony is true. Therefore, rebuke them sharply, so that they will be sound in the faith and will pay no attention to Jewish myths or to the commands of those who reject the truth. T...
Post a Comment
Read more

July 16 Thick Skinned Love

Whoever covers over an offence promotes love, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends. ~Proverbs 17:9 If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. ~Matthew 18:15  The end of all things is near. Therefore, be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. ~1 Peter 4:7-8  Being offended seems to be the battle cry of the day. Instead of freedom of speech, everyone has the right not to be offended. If one is offended, then one has the right to exact vengeance on the offender because, of course, the offender KNEW that he or she was being offensive and just didn’t care. Is that how you see much of society behaving today?  There seems to be all of this offending and finger pointing that just keeps growing and growing. Nothing is being resolved, just more blame that grows louder a...
Post a Comment
Read more

211. The Sons of Thunder's Request

Matthew 20:20-28 , Mark 10:35-45 , Key verse: "Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all." Mark 10:43B-44 In our readings for yesterday, in which Jesus outlined what was about to happen to Him, for His disciples, the passage in Luke ends: "The disciples did not understand any of this. It's meaning was hidden from them, and they did not know what He was talking about." ( Luke 18:34 ) Now, we see just how truly clueless they were. Jesus had laid out a plan before them of pain and suffering and death and now James and John are focused on a promotion. The disconnect is so obvious. It's really not important to know whether James and john came up with this request on their own or if their mother put them up to it. The request was made and James and John thought that they could handle the responsibility that would come with it. What is that saying, "Fools rush in where angels fe...
Post a Comment
Read more