"Recognize the time of your visitation”
Luke 19:28-44 from the daily reading in the One Year Bible
After He had said these things, He was going on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.
29 When He approached Bethphage and Bethany, near the mount that is called Olivet, He sent two of the disciples, 30 saying, “Go into the village ahead of you; there, as you enter, you will find a colt tied on which no one yet has ever sat; untie it and bring it here. 31 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ you shall say, ‘The Lord has need of it.’” 32 So those who were sent went away and found it just as He had told them. 33 As they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, “Why are you untying the colt?” 34 They said, “The Lord has need of it.” 35 They brought it to Jesus, and they threw their coats on the colt and put Jesus on it. 36 As He was going, they were spreading their coats on the road. 37 As soon as He was approaching, near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the miracles which they had seen, 38 shouting:
“Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord;
Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”
39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples.” 40 But Jesus answered, “I tell you, if these become silent, the stones will cry out!”
41 When He approached Jerusalem, He saw the city and wept over it, 42 saying, “If you had known in this day, even you, the things which make for peace! But now they have been hidden from your eyes. 43 For the days will come upon you when your enemies will throw up a barricade against you, and surround you and hem you in on every side, 44 and they will level you to the ground and your children within you, and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not recognize the time of your visitation.”
Every time I read and reflect on the account of the triumphal entry I can’t help but to wonder at the unseen activity, in the spiritual realm, that must have been going on that day. The text says: the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the miracles which they had seen, 38 shouting: “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord; Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” At that moment there truly was a fulfillment of the prayer Jesus taught the disciples: “Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven…” The multitude of disciples was praising and glorifying God here on earth just as the multitudes of the heavenly host are always praising and glorifying God. That is the praise and adoration the devil sought, that’s the reason he was cast out of heaven. Isaiah 14:12-14 says: “How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations! 13 For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation On the farthest sides of the north; 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.’… In Matthew 4:8-10 we see the account of the devil when he tempted Jesus: Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory; and he said to Him, "All these things I will give You, if You fall down and worship me." Then Jesus said to him, "Go, Satan! For it is written, 'YOU SHALL WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD, AND SERVE HIM ONLY.'"… On that day the devil saw Jesus receiving the glory and praise here on earth as the Father receives in heaven.
Verse 39-40 of today’s text says: Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples.” 40 But Jesus answered, “I tell you, if these become silent, the stones will cry out!” While the devil’s desire is to be worshipped, he will settle to at least stop and silence the worship of God. The devil knows the truth of scripture as Jesus says in Matthew 12:30: “He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad.” If the praise and worship of God is silenced the devil assumes victory. Jesus says: “I tell you, if these become silent, the stones will cry out!” All of creation worships and is obedient to God. The sun the moon, the winds and the rain, the birds that sing, even as Jesus says, the rocks will cry out. Isaiah 55:12 says: “For you shall go out with joy, And be led out with peace; The mountains and the hills Shall break forth into singing before you, And all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. All of creation testifies of God’s glory, gives honor and praise, is obedient to His will.
We on the other hand were created with a free will. We have the ability to choose whether or not we will worship God. In Philippians 2:5-11 we see Jesus came both to show us a perfect example of obedience to the Father and His exaltation to the place of equality with God. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. 9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. We have been given a free will, the ability and a right to choose who we will worship and serve. One day every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, that is to the glory of God and the final blow to the devil.
Now in this time each day is much like that day Jesus entered into Jerusalem. All heaven, and all the powers of darkness are astir. God has a plan, His will for the life of each one on earth, the devil desires to silence the worship and stop the obedience to God. We have a choice. We are not like the rest of creation we must choose to worship and follow God. Today’s text says: When He approached Jerusalem, He saw the city and wept over it, 42 saying, “If you had known in this day, even you, the things which make for peace! But now they have been hidden from your eyes. 43 For the days will come upon you when your enemies will throw up a barricade against you, and surround you and hem you in on every side, 44 and they will level you to the ground and your children within you, and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not recognize the time of your visitation.” Each day we live with an opportunity to recognize the visitation of the Lord in our lives. We must not let it be hidden from our eyes. There is peace that comes with the visitation of the Lord. Jesus came and lived as an example of obedience to God. Obedience as it says in Philippians 2:8: He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Jesus lived His life as an example of how we should live. His death on the cross made it possible. The devil thought the cross was his greatest victory. He thought he had silenced the worship of God. In truth the cross and the resurrection is the greatest victory for all mankind. On the cross Jesus said: “It is finished” The work is complete. We are redeemed from sin. We are reconciled to God. We are restored to God’s plan and His will. The finished work of the cross makes possible that all of the realities of heaven can be here on earth.
Still, although it is free, although it is finished, we must choose.
Heavenly Father, Lord Jesus Christ; precious Holy Spirit, today and each day help me to recognize Your visitation. Thank You for the finished work of the cross and victory over sin and death. I choose to worship and glorify You. I will not be silent. “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord; Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” Amen.
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