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

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

These Boots are Made for Walking

Scripture: Ephesians 6:10-15 These Boots are Made for Walking. Of course, I picked that title because it has a reference to popular culture, and it connects with our text today about “feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.” I was tempted to play the video of that song, but it’s really not amenable to worship. If you remember that old song, it was quite confrontational. The singer had a righteous complaint against a boyfriend or spouse who was cheating on her. She’s not going to put up with that, and the song goes on to say, “One of these days these boots are gonna walk all over you!” And that “take a stand” bravado made her a hero! It was a #1 hit in 1966. I mention it because it has one interesting parallel and one major contrast with the message of grace and forgiveness. That parallel is this. God has a righteous complaint against the entire human race for cheating Him out of the loving relationship He desires with us. As the God who created us, he h...
Post a Comment
Read more

186. Ten Healed, Or One?

Luke 17:11-19 Key Verse: Then He said to him, "Rise and go; your faith has made you well." Luke 17:19 At last, Jesus has left the crowd behind and again is continuing His journey toward Jerusalem. His path takes Him and His disciples along the border of Judea and Samaria, between the pure Jews, and the hated half breeds of the day. On His way, Jesus encounters an interesting group of people. We only learn the nationality of one of them and, though we don't know the nationality of the others, because Jesus sends them to the priests in Jerusalem we can probably assume that at least some of them are Jews. Isn't it interesting that through leprosy, a disease that causes much suffering, the dividing wall of hatred has come down for the sake of companionship? We encountered one leper earlier on our Journey. Lepers were the dreaded untouchables of the day. Their disease cut them off from all they loved. It was a very lonely life. No wonder these people had ...
Post a Comment
Read more