Sunday, March 16th, 2008
Dear folks,
This Sunday we watch Jesus triumphantly coming into Jerusalem as the Messiah celebrated only to be the Messiah crucified a few days later. Foreseeing this Jesus foretold the city’s destruction because: …”you did not know the time of your visitation.” How strange, the very event the people rejoiced in was actually the opposite of the case. They honored the Lord with their lips but their heart was far from Him. The most religious city was the most deadly to true men of God:“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it!
A people who believe the opposite of what they sing, a city proper in religion but a killer of true religion. How much we need to heed the warnings here. Is it any wonder Jesus wept over such a stiff necked and disobedient people, the recipient of so many great blessings and opportunities.
We worship the weeping God who is deeply moved by the hard hearted unbelief of His people. How often He would have gathered them like a mother hen, but they would not! This Sunday we will examine Jesus weeping over the city. In addition to Luke 19:28-44 be sure to read Matthew 23: 37-39. For Old Testament background check out Isaiah 66:12-24, Jeremiah 6: 6-21, and Psalm 118:14-29. These passages speak of great and fiery judgment, but also God’s mercy and restoration. We should fear His judgments as well as hope in His mercy.
Lee