Text: Luke 23:27-31, Psalm 56:8, Hosea 10:1-8
I’d like to nominate elevators as one of the most awkward spaces on the planet. You can go through most days refusing to acknowledge other people exist if you want to, but step onto an occupied elevator and you’re stuck. You know the other person is there. They know you know they’re there. You know they know you know they’re there. So you have 3 choices: stare straight ahead (awkward), stare at your phone (still pretty awkward), or look at the person (super awkward).
Most of us choose Option A.
Jesus could have easily gotten away with ignoring the women crying out to Him as He walked along the dusty road, beaten and nearly naked, making the painful journey to an awful death. Yet even more remarkable than the fact that He brought His eyes up met theirs, or that He spoke to them in the midst of His suffering, is what He chose to say:
Turning to them, Jesus said, ‘Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me, but weep for yourselves and your children.” (Luke 23:28, HCSB)
Jesus shifts the object of the their sympathy and mourning from Him back to themselves.
Why does He do this? Who are these women to whom the suffering Christ delivers a gentle but stern warning in the most striking of circumstances?
The women are noted to be citizens of Jerusalem, a center of religion that fervently rejected Jesus of Nazareth. We aren’t told exactly why they are following Jesus in a situation when many of His own have turned away. Perhaps they recognized glimpses of the divine in His words and actions and were following as unofficial disciples. Or maybe, and probably most likely, they were simply “good” religious folks who pitied Jesus and lamented the extreme cruelty being shown an innocent man.
More important than the motive behind their mourning are these three simple-yet-profound facts about their brief encounter with Christ:
He sees their tears. Jesus looks up from His own pain to acknowledge theirs. Yes, He was the divine Son of God suffering for the sin of humankind, and yes, they were members of that sinful race. Nevertheless, Jesus sees their tears, just like He sees mine and yours (Psalm 56:8).
He acknowledges their sorrow but redirects it to the proper place. Jesus quotes the words of the prophet Hosea when He describes the enormity of the sorrow to come for those who reject Him. In Hosea chapter 10, the people of God respond to fruitfulness and blessing not by turning toward God but turning toward themselves and their false gods. The consequences of this separation from God are severe—so severe that the people cry out for death to swallow them in their misery.
Jesus’ warning to the women on the Via Dolorosa that day was not an empty threat; it was the compassionate prophesy of a loving Savior who knows the natural way of a soul separated from the Father. I like commentator Matthew Henry’s explanation of Christ’s response when he says, “Let us weep, not for him (Jesus), but for our own sins, and the sins of our children, that were the cause of his death; and weep for fear (such were the tears here prescribed) of the miseries we shall bring upon ourselves, if we slight his love, and reject his grace.”
But Jesus does not leave the daughters of Jerusalem with a look and a warning that day. Which brings us to glorious #3—
He answers their grief with the ultimate display of love. The God who sees our every tear, who knows every hope and pain from whence they come, is the God who walked bruised and bleeding up the hill of obedience, called Calvary, and gave His very life to purchase our pardon. As NT Wright puts it, “The cross is the place where, and the means by which, God loved us to the uttermost.”
The God who views our tears as so precious that He keeps record of them in His book is the same God who says, “Don’t weep for me. Weep for yourselves.” For we are the sinful ones, Sisters, and He is all-holy. But through Christ’s work on the Cross, we are hidden in Him and brought eternally and indelibly near to God (Colossians 3:3). Thanks be to God!
Jesus knows our pain. He knows more than we will ever know. This is a great example of what we should be doing daily. Showing love and compassion to others even in the midst of our own pain.
I just don’t even know, I know God is just but I’m confused why He doesn’t heal despite desperate cries. He hears me, so what is He doing with my prayers? My heart is broken for what breaks Christ but what’s He doing with my prayers, I just don’t know, I’m confused to see His purpose in immense pain and struggle when I desperately love Him and want Him.
Dear Jenna,
It’s going to all be alright. Sometimes that’s what you need to hear. That everything is going to be okay. Because it will be. For the present suffering is temporary. And though it is not easy now there is always a purpose even though it is hard to see it. I have my doubts and struggles and pains daily. But the way I see it is: there is not enough room for doubt and faith. Therefore I am choosing faith in an almighty infinite father who loves me and you SO MUCH. The present suffering is to make you stronger. And it will all be okay. :)
Thanks so much for your wisdom and love, you are a blessing
Jenna, He is hearing your prayers and He is so pleased that you are crying out to Him. Sometimes our suffering is due to something we’ve done, a consequence for a choice we’ve made. Sometimes we suffer, unfortunately, because of something someone else has done and we get caught in the cross hairs. And sometimes there just doesn’t seem to be a specific reason. Suffering just befalls us because we live in a fallen world. Regardless of the cause, suffering for a believer can draw us closer to Him as we seek to glorify Him in the difficulties, just as we seek to glorify Him when things are good. Suffering certainly tests our faith and makes us aware of how deep our roots are. It’s good to reach out to other believers for encouragement and prayer support. From the suffering comes a testimony. From the mess will come a message. The devil will try to use time to discourage you and make you think God has abandoned or forgotten you. Not true! God walks through the valley with you. Take His hand. Joseph landed in a foreign land, in a prison unjustly accused of rape. But God turned it out for good. Hang in there. Many from SRT are praying for you. Persevere.
Thanks so much! I appreciate your words and love!
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33 NIV)
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. (James 1:2-3 NIV)
He hears you, and He loves you. He loves you too much to totally shelter your existence. He is refining you. Those who never experience hardships don’t ever learn or grow. Take heart! One day you will get to be with Him in Heaven, but in this world you will have trouble.
Jenna, we do not know God’s plans, but His promise is that He makes ALL things work together for our good. We have to trust Him and believe that He has a plan even though we don’t see a way. I pray that whatever is weighing heavy on your heart is given to God. Surrender to Him. He is our Healer and Comforter. He is a loving God and He has you in His hands. Everything will be okay. I know how it feels to wonder if my prayer is being heard. Ask Him to show you that He hears you. Ask for a sign and He’ll show you. I pray that the spirit of fear, the spirit of worry, the spirit of doubt be released from you in the name of Jesus! May the Holy Spirit reveal to you a promise from God.
That was a wonderful response. It really rang true to me. You inspired me to ask the Lord for a sign for prayers that I continue to ask and don’t feel settled in knowing His answer. May God bless you as your words have blessed me this evening.
Thank you, Julie! God bless you!
Thank you for your encouraging and kind words
I love you Neighbor! I’m praying for you <3 <3 <3
Thank you for this reminder that even while he was beaten and bloodied ,being led to the his death, he was Still thinking of others. Wow,,,what an awesome Lord we have! God bless ladies.xoxo
How can we not trust or have faith in a love such as this…
Beth, praying today is a good day for you…Love you Sis…xx
Thank you, Jesus!!! “Your love never fails, it never gives up. It never runs out on me!!” – Jesus Culture
Amen!!! X
As the Father prayed, “I believe, help me with my unbelief!” We all doubt and have places of disbelief about certain things.. We just have to draw near to God.. It is in neatness we find our faith strengthened.. In drawing near to Him we must choose to withdraw from whatever competes or hinders our faith.. Like from our phones, our TV shows, radio.. Those thing that pull us away from God and fill us with things other than God.. Seemingly innocent they are instruments that rip us off from experiencing God and cultivating our living relationships with Him.. I pray that all of our faiths would be strengthened, our doubts would be weakened, and our testimonies vibrant! Draw near to Him ladies! It’s what we all need in a day where every other thing takes us away from Him!
I think where I struggle most is in believing that Jesus died for ME personally and know ME personally. So many people have gone before me and so many people are here on this earth right now. And He loves them all. He knows them all. He died for them all. I struggle with feeling like “just one of the many”. In my head, I know that I am not. Does anyone else ever feel this way?
Me! Yes. I am not sure why I so often feel this way, but I so often realize that I understand that Jesus loves other people intimately, and died for them, but can't see how he loves me or died for me. I've started simply praying that I would understand and see God's love for me, personally.
Hi Bridget, not sure if you're a mom or not – but as a mom, I've asked my friends this question – how many kids would you have to have before you stopped loving the last one? The answer – you would never NOT love the last kid like the first.
Thank you for that PH413mama… I am a mom and I can so relate to that!!!
Yes.
Amen