When He approached Jerusalem, He saw the city and wept over it, saying, “If you had known in this day, even you, the things which make for peace! But now they have been hidden from your eyes . . .” Luke 19:41-42 (read vv. 28-48)
INTRO: We have been in the gospel of Luke for almost a year and for a majority of the time we’ve been on a road-trip with Jesus
Various sources of tension have expanded the plot as we’ve traveled along:
- people trying to figure out who Jesus is – and a few of them coming to faith in him
- Jesus’ mission to people on the margin of society
- his conflict with the religious classes
- Jesus’ own dark predictions about what will happen to him in Jerusalem
But now Jesus has reached his destination
– this is the point in the story where everything should resolve
Luke has developed the plot to create the impression now that Jesus has reached Jerusalem, something big is about to happen to him
– but something even bigger is about to happen to Jerusalem
Verses 28-36, We’re so used to hearing this story, we miss one important fact
It is unlike anything else in the story of Jesus – he never went for this kind of attention
– the pace of the story changes when he reaches the villages on outskirts of Jerusalem
– more details are given, and the preparations made for his entrance build suspense
– we are taken back to the importance of fulfilled prophecy as in the beginning of Luke’s gospel
Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!
Shout in triumph, O daughter of Jerusalem!
Behold, your king is coming to you;
He is just and endowed with salvation,
Humble and mounted on a donkey,
Even on a cold, the foal of a Donkey. (Zech. 9:9)
In fact, Luke began his narrative in the temple and that is where it will eventually end
– it was necessary for Jesus to return here – and Luke makes his return BIG
Verses 37-40, For one brief moment, Jesus is the center of attention in Jerusalem
The slogan shouted by the crowd was specific and can be found in Psalm 118
– in times of celebration, pilgrims to Jerusalem would be greeted in this way
– according to the Midrash – people who lived in Jerusalem would welcome the visitors:
Jerusalem: “Save us, O Lord! (Hosanna!)”
Pilgrims: “So be it, Lord!”
Jerusalem: “Blessed is he who comes in his name!”
Pilgrims: “We bless you from the house of the Lord!”
The crowd changed the greeting by directing it to Jesus
– they also added something, which is a variation on the angel’s song in ch. 2
The Pharisees appear in the story one last time – and true to form they tell Jesus to rebuke his disciples
– some believers are always eager to hand out rebukes
– to squelch innovation or anything that doesn’t fit their system
– they are like the people described in Jeremiah who “handle the law” but do not know God (Jer. 2:8)
As we’ve seen before, people who try to tell Jesus what to do, never succeed
– “the stones” – I’m tempted to relate this to John’s statement in 3:8
– the point here: this event is of such cosmic significance that it can’t be silenced
– the people were responding to a divine impulse that ran through the created world
Verses 41-44, Here we come to the heart of this whole episode
I’m going to return here in a moment
– for now we just want to notice what happens when Jesus sees the city
– it is blind – has no idea of the seriousness of its present condition
– no idea of the meaning of this historic moment
– and no idea that the course it is on will lead to its total destruction
Verses 45-48, Jesus makes himself at home in temple, the heart of Jerusalem
Money-changing and selling ritual animals were legitimate services
– but like other legitimate services, they easily could be abused – especially when
- culprits are able to monopolize the services
- it has the advantage of providing a convenience or resolving desperation
- it caters especially to foreigners
Had the temple become too much associated with money and finances?
– during Roman assault on Jerusalem, rebels entered temple and burned the debt records archived there
What Jesus points out in the verses he quotes is related to his reason for weeping over the city
– the temple was a contradiction: what it was designed to be and what it had become
– “you have made it” – they were responsible for the change — they had made it a robbers’ den
This section ends with Jesus teaching in the temple under shadow of his enemies
CONC: Let’s return to the passage for an ariel view
Luke has structured the first part of the story around Jesus’ “approach” to Jerusalem
– he uses the word three times and in each stage it draws a verbal reaction:
- 29, Bethany, “Why are you untying the colt”
- 37, the descent of the Mt of Olives – a dual reaction
1.) The crowd, “began to praise God joyfully”
2.) The Pharisees, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples” - 41, the city, he wept over it
– and as I’ve said, this is the heart of this episode
Imagine standing nearby when Jesus caught sight of Jerusalem — we’re watching him cry
– what is tearing him up inside?
– the contradiction between what God meant for the holy city to be and what it was
Jerusalem had another name, “Zion”
– Zion was a dream, an ideal – a society of humans where heaven coexisted with earth
– in the same way paradise could be a garden, Zion could be a city
– this was the creative vision God had given to the psalmists and the prophets
But the leaders of Israel had lost the vision, the dream of Zion, and so it became something else
Now imagine Jesus weeping over a human life
– God had a design for this man, but he took a different road – made himself something else
We come to intersections where we can take one road or the other
– from the road we take, we can’t see the other – we do not know what might have been
– “If you had known . . . hidden from your eyes . . . you did not recognize”
– its tragic when we have only one view of our life and it’s a false one
Jesus weeps over the person who ruins a life that could have been meaningful
I have not done everything I’m capable of accomplishing
– the question is, Am I moving in the right direction? Or am I moving further from God’s dream?
What are verses 45-48? They are hope!
- Jesus moves into the heart of what is wrong and shakes it up (greed, etc.)
– this is not a permanent change – it’s up to them to carry on what he started - Jesus gives them the instruction they need to no longer be unaware
– awareness is vital to the process of change
– we must bring awareness to our situation in life
What was Jesus teaching them? He was teaching them to dream
“Creative passion in life depends on the ability to dream, no matter whether the dream be of a society or a great man. A teacher who does not know how to teach us to dream, to conjure up ideal visions, is not worth of the name.” Helmut Thielicke
The NASB did not translate verse 48 literally – the people were not “hanging on to every word he said”
– they were hanging on to him – attentive to his teaching, yes
– but Jesus is salvation and it is by hanging on to him that we move into a position where it is possible to fulfill our destiny
Draw near to God and He will draw near to youJesus could promise James and John they would drink from his cup of suffering and sorrow, but he could not promise them seats of honor in his kingdom–other than what he had already guaranteed (Mt. 19:28). While he was on the road of the condemned, they were trying to travel the road to greatness (see vv. 117-19).
There was trouble in Jesus’ small community–ten disciples against two. How did they express their indignation? Were voices raised? Were insults thrown back and forth? A rift occurred that broke up the tight team and got each one thinking only of himself. If we assumed that having the perfect leader eliminates internal conflict, we need to think again.
What did Jesus do about this infighting? He redefined what it meant to be great or first in any sort of social group. Until this conversation, the only model of roles and ranking in families, communities, or organizations the disciples knew were those they observed in their world. Without exception, the person with the most power also wielded the most influence and was accorded the greatest honor and the best service.
The structure of worldly systems would prove useless to the disciples. The greatest in Jesus’ kingdom do not ambitiously climb over others, but become servants to everyone else.
O Jesus, our Lord and Savior, thank You for redefining the social constructs that have shaped our thinking. Your model restores unity among us. If acceptance in Your kingdom meant we had to claw our way to the top, few people would make it. But anyone can become a servant. You have redefined our reality. The goals of our brothers and sisters are our concern as well. Now . . . how can we help?
And there was a man called by the name of Zaccheus; he was a chief tax collector and he was rich. Zaccheus was trying to see who Jesus was, ad was unable because of the crowd, for he was small in stature. Luke 19:2-3 (read verses 1-27)
INTRO: These stories of personal encounters with Jesus build our faith in a way that is unique to anything else in the New Testament
Jesus in front of the crowds is the Founder of our religion
– but Jesus one-to-one with people is the foundation of our hope
It isn’t simply that Jesus had time for individuals
– but these encounters reveal the essence our life with God
– it consists of ongoing interaction with Jesus Christ
The heart of Christian spirituality is knowing Jesus
– but there is more to it than knowing him – there is living the life of Christ read more…
Draw near to God and He will draw near to youThe reason I chose to spend three hundred and sixty-five days with Jesus in the Gospels was to get to know him through those who lived and traveled with him and whose lives were transformed by his teaching, touch, and person. To know Jesus Christ is the ongoing goal of Christian spirituality (Php. 3:7-10).
In the passage above, Jesus was walking with his disciples into his destiny. There were others on the road with them, but for this particular message he took the twelve aside so that he could speak to them privately. What he had to say was not for the crowd, but only those closest to him.
Why did Jesus tell the disciples what was waiting for him in Jerusalem? I doubt that it was to prepare them for it, because they never understood these brief announcements (Lk. 18:34). True, he wanted to give them notification that these things would happen so they would not stumble, but remember when they happened that he had known they were coming (Jn. 16:1, 4). There was another, more important, reason Jesus unburdened his heart to them.
The stress of what Jesus was carrying proved to be too much for his mortal heart and mind–it was enough to kill him (Mt. 26:38). He wanted to share the burden of his suffering and sorrow with others who loved him. The wonder of it, is that he opened his heart to humans rather than to angels. He showed them his future, but he also let them look into his soul.
Lord Jesus, it is in giving Yourself to us completely that we come to know You. We see in Your pain and grief, experiences that are not unlike our own. Oh Lord, You too know what this feels like. Only in Your case, it is for us that You suffered. Thank You for drawing close to us so that we can draw close to You.
Draw near to God and He will draw near to youWith the exception of Jesus’ prediction of his death and resurrection, the structure of this chapter is built around wishes. Twice the landowner in the parable did what he wished (vv. 14-15). When the mother of James and John came with a special request, Jesus asked her what was her wish (v. 21). Jesus explained to the disciples that the person who wished to become great had to make himself a servant (v. 26), and when Jesus stopped to answer the cry of a blind beggar, the Lord asked him, “What do you wish Me to do for you?” read more…
And they were bringing even their babies to Him so that He would touch them, but when the disciples saw it, they began rebuking them. Luke 18:15 (read vv. 15-43)
INTRO: This passage is about gatekeepers, followers, and being “saved”
Verses 15-17, Children are frequently blocked at the gate
Parents were bringing their children to be touched by Jesus
– his healing ministry began with touch (Lk. 4:40; 5:13) and power was released through him by touch (8:46)
– these parents wanted a blessing for their children – in some cases, a healing
I suffered many childhood illnesses, and each time, my grandmother came to pray for me
– I can still feel the gentle pressure of her hand on my forehead
– imagine the fingertips of Jesus on your forehead, or his palm on the top of your head read more…
Draw near to God and He will draw near to youThe young man was asking for it! He could have taken Jesus first answer to his question and cheerfully gone his way. When he asked, “Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may obtain eternal life?” Jesus told him to “keep the commandments” (vv. 16-17). But he was not satisfied with that answer and kept probing.
He came to Jesus wanting to know what good thing he could do to qualify for eternal life. The Lord responded with the surprising answer, “Why are you asking Me about what is good? There is only One who is good . . .” Did he want to do good for humankind? Something that was pure good? Some ultimate good? If he wanted to see pure and ultimate good, he would have to look to God. If he wanted to enter life, he did not have to be God-like, he only had to keep the commandments.
So why did he keep pushing? Why did he feel the need to do something more worthy, noble, excellent, something beyond keeping the commandments? Perhaps in his heart he feared (or knew) that something was missing, that God was still distant and eternal life was out of reach. read more…
Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart Luke 18:1 (read vv. 1-14)
INTRO: When I was first starting out in the ministry and trying to teach others how to pray,
I would make statements, like, “Prayer does not need to be fancy,” and “You don’t have to say anything holy, just talk to God”
– that statement is deceptively simple
– how do we know if we are talking to God or to the air? or to ourselves? read more…
The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed; nor will they say, “Look, here it is! or, “There it is!” For behold, the kingdom of God is in your midst. Luke 17:20-1 (read verses 20-37)
INTRO: I have frequently been asked why I think my dad’s church grew so rapidly
Among the other lame answers I give, I explain that most of the rapid growth occurred during what was an apocalyptic era
– the revolutionary 1960’s that ended in many shattered dreams
– the youth were looking for an authority who understood the times, who seemed to have a handle on what was next
– in the late 60’s, Dad began emphasizing biblical prophecy — current events had a purpose, an apocalyptic meaning
– like others, he was inspired by Israel’s 1967 war and once again having Jerusalem under their control read more…
He said to His disciples, “It is inevitable that stumbling blocks come, but woe to him through whom they come!” Luke 17:1 (read vv. 1-19)
INTRO: A friend of mine mentioned a book to me about jerks in the workplace
In it, the author says, “More and more evidence keeps emerging that power causes people to be more focused on their own needs, less focused on others’ needs, and to ack like ‘rules don’t apply to me’ . . . .” Experiments “also show when people get a little power, they feel less compassion when hearing others talk about painful experiences, such as the death of a friend.” (Robert Sutton)
Moving up the ladder in status, position, or income changes a person
– not in the ways we tend to assume – that is, they do not become more generous, but less read more…
Daily Meditations From the Scriptures