July 9 If They Had Known

Luke 19:41-44 As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it 42 and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace – but now it is hidden from your eyes. 43 The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. 44 They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God’s coming to you.”
 
THE glorious parade is completed. Jesus has affirmed he is the long-prophesied Messiah. Even the stones will cry out this truth if the Jews do not.
    Then we come to this agonizing moment. “Jesus showed compassion on Jerusalem, but He also foretold that days would come when it would lie in ruins. Jesus rejected Jerusalem because Jerusalem rejected Him. He wept over the city because its people did not understand the significance of what was going on that day - that national acceptance of Him on that day would bring them peace. Because the people did not recognize the time of God’s coming to them, the city would be totally destroyed. Roman soldiers did this starting in  A.D. 70.” (Bible Knowledge Commentary/New Testament Copyright © 2000)
    Oh my! Is this not a lesson for all our nations, our churches and our households? In this age of great conflict throughout each aspect of our cultural structures, we long for peace. Who will bring us peace? He is the Lord of Heaven and earth come down to compassionately call mankind to himself. He is the God of Creation who made all things good. He is the King, who being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death – even death on a cross! Therefore, God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth. (Philippians 2:8-10)
    Oh, what peace we would have in our families, churches and nations if we would but worship the King, who so loved the world.
 
Prayer: From Psalms 80:18b-19 “Revive us, and we will call on your name. 19 Restore us, O Lord God Almighty; make your face shine upon us, that we may be saved.” In Jesus’ name and the Spirit’s power we pray. Amen