10th Sunday after Trinity- St. Luke 19.41–48 ResurrectionLutheran.us August 4th, 12:38 Grace to you and Peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus. And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over it, saying, “Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. For the days will come upon you, when your enemies will set up a barricade around you and surround you and hem you in on every side and tear you down to the ground, you and your children within you. And they will not leave one stone upon another in you, because you did not know the time of your visitation.” This is your word heavenly Father. Sanctify us by your truth. Your word is truth. Amen. Fellow redeemed: A few days before, Jesus had been taken to the grave where his friend Lazarus was buried. Jesus wept. The curse of sin is death, and for the Author and Giver of Life, who truly understands what has been lost to those he loves, it is truly an occasion for tears. But Jesus had called to Lazarus, and his friend rose from the grave. He lived again. Ever since then, all week, the crowd had been following Jesus. The people of Judea were thrilled by the One who called us out of our sin, even from death, the curse of sin, and is able to do all things. That morning they had prepared the foal of an ass for Jesus to ride. And the crowds lined the way, cushioning the way with their coats, and with palms. Jesus is coming to Jerusalem; this is Palm Sunday! They haled him the Lord who now saves us. Jesus is the Life-Bringer. Jesus comes to do for the City, for Judea, for all mankind, what he had just done for Lazarus, his friend. Jesus would make us all his friend. He loves Lazarus, and sisters Mary and Martha. Jesus loves you. And Jesus is coming to undo the power of sin. Jesus is coming to break the bonds of death. Jesus is coming to rescue sinners. But Jesus knows that in this City the people will not be rescued, for they will not believe that they are unable to break the curse of sin. They think that they can by their own labors undo the power of death and hell and sin and storm the gates of heaven and earn their way into eternal life and the favor of God. Jesus knows that these will not receive him. Jerusalem will reject Jesus. And Jesus knows what the result for them shall be. These people whom he would rescue from sin and death will insist on doing their own thing. And they will struggle on without improving their condition. In fact things are going to get worse. They are going to enter into a time of rebellion. And death will come calling. Armies will encamp around them, while the most radical will assert their authority inside the city walls. Sickness, want, starvation, and dreadful things will come to stay in every Jerusalem home. And finally death will come for all, as the City is fallen, never to rise again. And those who had not fallen to sickness, who hadn’t starved, who hadn’t been butchered for food by their desperate kin, who hadn’t been struck down by Roman sword, or fire, would not escape at last their own cross, among the thousands which would line the road back down to the Sea. And Jesus knew this was only the start of their woe. They would not have his rescue, his salvation, his substitution in their place, and so they would die and hell would greet all their labors and efforts and merits. The unending flames of hell and eternal death and dreadful separation from the Author and Giver of Life would be their doom. “when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over it, saying, ‘Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. For the days will come upon you, when your enemies will set up a barricade around you and surround you and hem you in on every side and tear you down to the ground, you and your children within you. And they will not leave one stone upon another in you, because you did not know the time of your visitation.”’ None of this was necessary. Jesus was able and willing to save. He had just saved his friend Lazarus from his grave. But they would not, and Jesus knew it. Jesus had wept when he saw where Lazarus was laid because of the utter sadness of death. Now Jesus weeps as he sees Jerusalem because he knows it is no less a tomb, for those within who would reject his Gift would not rise again anymore, till the resurrection on the Last Day of those dead in sin to eternal damnation. This day was their opportunity. But the time would pass soon. And they would not. Jesus wept. The time of visitation, the things which make for your peace, let me urge you to understand now that Jesus would that you know this is your time. And this is the opportunity for those who live around you. But this time is fleeting. This time will not last forever. There will be an end. The one thing Jesus doesn’t weep over as he dismounts his ride that Palm Sunday is his own suffering and death, only a few days ahead. Jesus comes fully knowing what he will suffer and do. This is why he had come. Jesus comes as a willing Lamb to his slaughter, to lay himself down in your place, a sufficient price to satisfy the demands of the Law, and to declare righteous a fallen and sinful mankind, including you. Jesus comes willingly to do this for you. His tears are for those who would not have it. Now is the time of your visitation. Jesus has done all things well, and in His suffering and death he has broken the power of death to hold you. The following Sunday he shows that this is so, rising himself from the tomb– the third day since his dying on the cross in your place. This is for you. And would you have it? The people of Jerusalem would rather go to hell than have Jesus’ salvation. So they have gone to hell. The City was torn down. The city that is there today is not that ancient town, but something built centuries after. What Jesus beheld and mourned indeed is lost. Now what about us? For a little while we have the fulness of Jesus’ Gifts. Right now, for a little while you may come and hear how Jesus has rescued you from sin and death. For a little while the doors of the Church stand open. For a little while the Holy Spirit works His gift of Faith to believe the Word of the Lord and bestows the righteousness of Jesus on you through this Word and the Means of Grace. For a little while the water of Holy Baptism yet may wash your sin away, drowning the old sinful nature that the new man in Christ should arise from that flood. For a little while those who are heavy-burdened in sin may hear the word of forgiveness as Christ himself is speaking it, and their burdens may be let down at last. For a little while the Feast of the Body and Blood of Jesus is given. For a little while. How long? I do not know. Every day it is, is an unmerited and most gracious Gift of Life and Salvation to you from Jesus. Now’s the time. This is your hour. Gather those you love. Implore your neighbor too. There may not be time tomorrow. Live in such a way that the light and hope and grace of Jesus shines through you in your conversation and your simple acts of kindness, that they may want what you have. Now’s time. This is your visitation of Grace. And consider those who would not. Should this not bring a tear and deep sadness to you? Consider these things, in the tears of your Savior, and repent taking the matter so lightly, so long. And turn again to your Savior. Jesus calls you now. Live in his grace and receive forevermore his forgiveness and Life eternal. Speak his peace and his grace to your loved ones. Gather in all who would yet be gathered. As he has passed along his way to the City the crowds have been haling Jesus ‘Hosanna, Son of David. Lord, save us!’ And so he has. And so he does. And so Jesus will. Your sin is forgiven. You are saved. Hurry, share this good news, and bring those in who would yet be brought in. The church doors are open today. This is the time. The peace of God which passes all understanding, guard over your heart and mind through Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.
Posted on: Mon, 05 Aug 2013 03:52:00 +0000