I love the exercise of doing something again. I like to read the same great books, over and over. I like to watch the same TV shows, or watch the same movies, and mine them for new gems. I’ve been re-reading all of Jane Austen’s novels over the past few years, and every book has been a delight. If books are prisms, then each new season of life has me looking through a different side, seeing how old and new insights bounce off of each other like light, making the experience richer and brighter each time I read.
Sometimes, reading Scripture is like that, especially reading beloved passages like the one today from Luke 19. Perhaps this is your first time ever reading the story of Jesus’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem, kicking off the final series of events before His death. Perhaps you’ve read it dozens of times, and as you read it this morning your eyes skimmed over it, connecting only with the keywords you know to expect.
Because Scripture is a means of grace, it reads us as much as we read it. Like a prism, it catches light no matter when we look at it, and illuminates something deeper and richer. Scripture is living and active, which means that if we approach it with prayer, the Holy Spirit will guide us, and it will always reveal something to us.
I can imagine the cries of the crowd who cheered for Jesus were staccato: sharp, loud, joyful, full of passion, short. “Blessed is the King!” they yelled, throwing their garments on the ground for His donkey to walk over. Not long after, the crowds would cry something different: “Crucify Him!”
But it seems that Jesus gave a legato response to the crowd: long notes, connected to a deeper understanding of His purpose. His statements reference the Old Testament: “the stones will cry out” from Habakkuk 2; and “For the days will come on you when your enemies will build a barricade around you, surround you, and hem you in on every side” (Luke 19:43), from Isaiah 29, Jeremiah 6, and Ezekiel 4.
Jesus’s statement, “If you knew this day what would bring peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes” resounds with wisdom and sadness (Luke 19:42). He was speaking to Jerusalem, the city He loved. He was speaking to the crowds who cheered Him and the Pharisees who challenged Him. He spoke with authority, which would quickly be followed up with anger when He cleansed the temple.
Lent, Holy Week, and Easter are a symphony, full of staccato celebration and legato mourning. We cheer, we cry. We celebrate, we abstain. We experience the fullness of life, death, and hope everlasting. We are Easter people, but we have the whole of the story in our bones. And every time we read it, we feel it more and deeper: the pain, the joy, and the glorious hope.
Easter is coming!! Whether we are in church buildings or at home, the tomb will forever be empty!
Just as in Jesus’s day, so many are looking to worldly means to provide security and hope. Oh Lord, please open the eyes of the blind and draw hearts to Yourself this Easter week! Lord, awaken the church and bring a mighty movement of Your Spirit across this nation and the world!
Amen!
My husband is a youth pastor and every summer we take our senior high students to WorkCamp. It’s a week of coming together with about 400 other students from all over the country to work on homes. We are out in crews of 6 people that we do not know and sent into the community. It is a great week
As a part of the week there is a worship service every night. As part of the worship service we are given the opportunity to share “God Sightings” – was that we have seen God during our day. Some of them are incredibly profound and mind blowing, but most of them are simple and ordinary: someone in the crew with the exact tool needed to do a job, someone from the community showing up with popsicles, a hug, pat in the back, “I’m so glad you’re here.”
When I read the verse in Luke, “…you did not recognize the time when God visited you.” I thought of God Sightings. My prayer is that this week I will be on the lookout for God Sightings and then share them with those around me.
I love that we have the whole story in our bones. This is also one of the few times a year that we know everyone is hearing the same message and focusing on the same scripture. Even now in our homes the Church as a whole is celebrating Palm Sunday together. Hosanna, Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
So beautifully put — and I had a similar conviction as I read this morning. Our pastor did a Facebook live last night and said, “if we don’t come out of this time closer to God, then shame on us.” I think you summed that up so well. This is a time to dig into His word, to let the Holy Spirit convict, and as you said, “to recognize Him and show Him hospitality.” Thank you for sharing these thoughts. What a wonderful message to take into Holy Week.
Beautiful
What peace would be afforded us if we would stay focused on Him.?
They didn’t know their visitation, or we any better off?
What faith we would have in Him if ministers of the Gospel would continuously preach Him and Him crucified?
Grace and peace is multiplied to us through the knowledge of Him.
Yes, many now are focused on the virus and the statistics of the many cases and the many deaths from it. But know this, death comes to all. It came to Him a week after Palm Sunday but He stayed focused on what He came to do. If death comes through this, let us be mindful that there is a resurrection for us. Jesus says to His, fear not .
As we enter Easter week, knowing His glorious story of persecution, death & RESURRECTION, so we wait with eager anticipation for Christ to come again! Oh, the hope of glory, of eternal life…
After the long gray of Jeremiah, the pop of color that comes with Palm Sunday (I see it in the artwork today in the study guide) is much appreciated. As I read the Scriptures I note all the various emotions. Determination. Anticipation. Joy. Consternation (that would be the Pharisees). Sadness. Yes, so many emotions. What stopped me in my tracks and in my feelings were these words of Jesus: “… you did not recognize the time when God visited you.” Jesus had walked along them for 33 years, yet many had not grasped Who He was and why He was there. He was the fulfillment of all they had hoped for. And they did not recognize Him.
How often have I failed to recognize Him? Have I been so busy I’ve overlooked His presence? How often have I said perfunctory prayers rather than abiding with Him? In this season of confinement, are my eyes on my circumstances more than on His face? Am I focused on pandemic statistics for my city more than I’m reading and trusting His Word? I cannot blame busyness. Sigh. Let me use this time wisely. Let me pay attention. Let me give Him my attention. Surely He is right here, visiting me, visiting you. Let us recognize Him and show Him hospitality. We have the time.
You said it aptly. We have no excuse. What will we do with our time? The people shouted for joy not knowing what was to come and what it would mean. They did not connect the messiah riding on a donkey to the scripture they knew. Let’s not miss this!!! God is on the move. He is present. He is real. He is calling. He is good! He is God! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!!
Thank you Churchmouse! Your words reflect exactly what I have been thinking, but couldn’t say as eloquently.
Wow. What a word!
Agreed—Let this time be an opportunity to cherish God’s presence in our lives. Let us witness his love in the actions of our neighbors; they may be strangers, but we are all part of the body of Christ.
Thank you for those reflections Churchmouse. They speak to my heart too.
Amen!