Sept 3. Luke 19. Barbara Suruga
Jesus Wept
How blessed and privileged we are! We get to read the greatest book ever written. Divinely inspired, it is rich in history, poetry, science, law, data, wisdom, instruction, guidance, prophecy, fulfilled prophecy, drama, adventure, keen insight into human nature, hope, love, divine love, and so much more. Do we fully appreciate and make use of this gift? Do we allow the Word and the Holy Spirit to mold us and our relationships?
Luke 19 opens (Luke 19:1-9) in what is still one of the oldest inhabited cities on earth, Jericho, where the Israelites entered the promised land and walls fell down. Rebuilt at the cost of two sons’ lives, it's a wealthy oasis, the City of Palms, site of Herod’s winter palace. I love Zacchaeus, and not just because he has a song that’s fun to sing with kids. He’s a symbol of hope to every outcast, sinner or materialistic person. Jesus said you can’t serve both God and money. Paul called the love of money a root of all kinds of evil. Jesus never asked Zacchaeus to give his possessions to the poor, Zacchaeus just volunteered. Jesus doesn’t accuse him of cheating people and we don’t know that he did intentionally. Zacchaeus said “if”. “… if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will payback four times the amount.” (recompense well above the amount required by the law). Why did Jesus feel it was necessary for Him to go to Zacchaues’ house? Perhaps He saw a pure, childlike love for God (hence the children’s song?). Jesus obviously saw good in Zacchaeus even though nobody else would. “…this man, too, is a son of Abraham.” Jesus includes you and me in His circle in spite of our sin. Do we earnestly look for the good in each other and the people around us or do we judge others, even loved ones, as sinners, blinded by our own planks?
Verses 28-44 recount the triumphal entry. (Side note, I love that Jesus tells them what’s going to happen with the donkey and bam, it happens.) Imagine riding into town knowing you’re the King of kings, being welcomed by the multitudes. They’re throwing their cloaks on the ground for your donkey to walk on (these people didn’t have closets full of clothes), rushing to cut palm fronds to wave, and hailing your arrival. Psalm 118:25-26 “Blessed is the king who comes… Hosanna – save us”. These people risked being crucified by the Romans for these insurrectionist statements. The religious leaders who longed for the Messiah were appalled. Most Jewish leaders had made clear to the people that anyone who said the Nazarene was the Messiah would be kicked out of the Temple. Yet this fearless crowd cheered His arrival. If I’d been on that donkey, I’d have smile broadly, waved back, given a fist bump or two, and pumped my arms in the air. How about you? Do you want to take a bow? Not Jesus: our Savior wept. At no time during His life on earth was it about Him. He continually put self aside; He emptied Himself for the glory of the Father and for our salvation. His love for us poured out in tears on His “day of triumph”. He wept for the multitudes who would never know His salvation. He is called a “man of sorrows” - sorrow for His lost people. When was the last time we wept for the lost? Put aside our ___ (fill in the blank) for the glory of God and/or the good of others?