The day of your visitation

Luke 19:28-48 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.”

⁴⁵ Jesus entered the temple and began to drive out those who were selling, ⁴⁶ saying to them, “It is written, ‘And My house shall be a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a robbers’ den.”

⁴⁷ And He was teaching daily in the temple; but the chief priests and the scribes and the leading men among the people were trying to destroy Him, ⁴⁸ and they could not find anything that they might do, for all the people were hanging on to every word He said.

Today’s text, the triumphal entry is an account we normally read and hear on Palm Sunday, so it may seem as though this text is a little out of time, having just celebrated Easter, Resurrection Sunday. Matthew’s account, in Matthew 21:4-11, is a little more descriptive than Luke’s. It says:  This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet:  “Say to the daughter of Zion,
‘Behold your King is coming to you, Gentle, and mounted on a donkey, Even on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’” The disciples went and did just as Jesus had instructed them, and brought the donkey and the colt, and laid their coats on them; and He sat on the coats. Most of the crowd spread their coats in the road, and others were cutting branches from the trees and spreading them in the road. The crowds going ahead of Him, and those who followed, were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David; Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord;
Hosanna in the highest!” When He had entered Jerusalem, all the city was stirred, saying, “Who is this?” And the crowds were saying, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth in Galilee.”

“All the city was stirred.” There was an air of excitement and anticipation. Some in the crowd believed that Jesus was going to establish His kingdom. Others had heard of or witnessed the miracles Jesus had done. They greeted Jesus shouting and praising Him. Not everyone was filled with joy and excitement though. In today’s text it says:  Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples.”  These were not pleased at Jesus arrival.  But Jesus answered, “I tell you, if these become silent, the stones will cry out!”    So it was not just the people of the city who were stirred. All of creation was anxiously waiting as these events unfolded. Surely all of heaven watched and joined the praises and all of the demons of hell were also stirred. Although this account is of a day we remember and celebrate once a year, in truth it is what every day in the life of a believer looks like. Each morning as we wake, all of creation, heaven and hell are astir. Even if we don’t, creation will cry out with its praise to the Lord. The birds sing, flowers open to the warmth of the sun. We too should begin each day with excitement and anticipation of the Lord’s presence. In Psalm 118:24, the psalmist says:  This is the day which the LORD has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it.  We should leave behind the worries and sorrows of yesterday. Lamentations 3:22-24 says:  The Lord’s lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, For His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I have hope in Him.”     All of heaven and hell are stirred around us each day. We should begin by joyfully greeting and praising the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.  

The text says:  When He approached Jerusalem, He saw the city and wept over it, 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. 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, 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.”   In the same way, Jesus weeps for those today who will miss His visitation in their lives. In Revelation 3:20 the Lord says:  “Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.”   As believers we received Christ when we were saved. Yet each day we must open to Him again. We must invite Him into our homes and our lives. In Matthew 11:28-30 Jesus says:   “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”  Each day we must take the yoke of Christ anew so that we will have His peace and rest, so that we can walk and work with Him.

The text says:  Jesus entered the temple and began to drive out those who were selling, saying to them, “It is written, ‘And My house shall be a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a robbers’ den.”    We too are the temple of the Lord. We are His house. Each day we should allow Him to drive out anything that does not belong. The psalmist says:  Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; And see if there be any hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way. (Psalm 139:23-24) That too should be our prayer and invitation to the Lord. The text ends saying:  He was teaching daily in the temple; but the chief priests and the scribes and the leading men among the people were trying to destroy Him, and they could not find anything that they might do, for all the people were hanging on to every word He said.   Jesus teaches us every day. Our lives depend on every word He said and says. Many will try to destroy Jesus, who He is, what He has done and what He says, but like the chief priests, the scribes and the leading men, there is nothing they can do. He is the Lord and King.

Today and every day:  “Hosanna to the Son of David; Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord”  Praise You Jesus my Lord and King!      Amen.