Trinity 10 August 9, 2020
Luke 19:41-48
v.42 [Jesus said], "Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes.
Dear friends in Christ, summer is a time in which we long for peace and quiet. We look forward all year to the opportunity to go to the lake, sit on the beach with a yummy beverage, and simply soak in the sun and the soft sound of the rolling waves coming upon the shore. Ahhh! Now that's some quality peace and quiet.
Unfortunately, this peace is still rather elusive--hard to find. You turn on the news, look at your Facebook feed, are connected in any way to the media--and what do you find? Chaos, horror, suffering, and death coming in the forms of pandemics, riots, as well as volatile speeches from politicians and media pundits blaming everyone and anyone for what has gone wrong. Certainly not the kind of peace that we desire.
So, what do we do? Well, there are a few options. 1 - We can simply ignore the problems around us--turn off the TV--turn off our phones (gasp!)--not listen and just pretend that all is well with the world. Of course, that doesn't usually last too long before reality splashes some cold, hard truth into our faces, disturbing our peace and quiet (mayhem in the world, our lives, our health).
2 - We can always lean back and trust in our government to take care of everything. After all, isn't that why we elected them in the first place--so that we wouldn't have to worry about all these threats and problems in the world? We want them to keep everything at a distance and provide for us in every way so that we can just relax. Of course, this option doesn’t work out too well either, does it? It turns out our politicians are not actually capable of taking care of everything and insulating us from the threats of this world--be they riots or pandemics and suffering. Yet this is so often where we find ourselves, isn't it, dear friends? "If only we elect the right person THEN everything will be BETTER. If only they do what they promised…If only…if only…if only." And we all know how well that turns out.
And so, inadvertently, we find ourselves in the same position as the ancient Israelites of Jeremiah's day who trusted in their king and princes to keep them safe from all outside threats. Or the Jews of Jesus' day who thought that by bowing to the Romans and trusting in them, all would be OK. Or those who looked to the location of the temple in Jerusalem as a sure sign that God would never overthrow the city because the temple of God's presence was there! Yet this was not so. The false prophets who proclaimed peace with God when the people had committed abominations and had turned away from faith in the one true God had done nothing more than lead them astray--and they suffered for it.
And now, in our text, Jesus, the very Son of God--the ultimate Prophet of the Lord--has come to Jerusalem and He knows exactly how He will be received. The Jewish religious authorities--believing that Jesus posed a clear and present threat to their peace and security with the Romans and to their high place among the people--sought to kill Jesus. Because they did not know the time of their visitation--the time when God Himself would come veiled in human flesh among them to proclaim truth and salvation and peace. And because they would reject and murder Him--they would reap the judgement of God. Jesus herein prophesies concerning the horrible destruction of Jerusalem that would take place in 70 AD at the hands of the Romans. "They 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." Ouch. Pretty harsh Jesus. This doesn't sound very peaceful at all.
Then Jesus begins the judgment process by going to the temple and cleansing it in a very un-Jesus-like manner. He angrily drives out those who lie, cheat, and steal from His people in the temple courtyard--so that He might take up His proper place and teach His people in Spirit and Truth. And still, "The chief priests and the scribes and the principal men of the people were seeking to destroy Him."
And beloved, this is why Jesus weeps as He approaches the city in the first place. He is overcome by the judgement He knows will come upon His people for their rejection of Him and His peace. This shows the great compassion and mercy of our God who will suffer so much at the hands of the very people He has come to save. He weeps for them. For He desires them to be saved--to repent and trust in Him alone for salvation and peace--not political leaders or good works.
Yet Jesus does something even more incredible here--for on Good Friday He took the sin of the whole world--the lies--the deceit--the false worship--the hatred and death--and He heaped it upon Himself. He carried your sin to the cross of Golgotha on His battered, torn shoulders--He suffered for your sin while nailed to the cross--He was pierced with thorn, nail, and spear--so that by His blood you may be saved. Indeed, as the prophet Isaiah (53:5) foretold, "He was pierced for our transgressions; He was crushed for our iniquities; upon Him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with His wounds we are healed."
Dear friends, Jesus suffered God's wrath and fury for sin--your sin and mine--your shallow faith, ingratitude, etc.--not just a simple foretaste, but the full cup--He drank every last drop and suffered for it so that you would not have to--so that you could have true peace--peace with God which surpasses all human understanding. For true peace, as the Bible teaches, does not come from savvy political leaders, superior firepower, or even a clean bill of health. We trust not in princes or doctors or ourselves or any man or god other than the Triune God into whose blessed name we have been baptized.
Rather, we hang on the words of Jesus--as the crowds in the temple did--as Jesus' disciples did--harkening to His call of mercy and grace. As He Himself promised on the night He was betrayed (John 14:27a), "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you." The very body and blood of Jesus given to you this day in bread and wine are a sign and seal of this peace. For Christ's sacrifice on the cross has earned your peace with God. In the Sacrament you have a foretaste of the eternal feast to come--a feast of peace in which you will rejoice in the mercy and forgiveness Christ gives to you in His body and blood.
So no matter what events happen in this sinful and broken world that disrupt our lives and shatter the peace and quiet we so desperately crave and enjoy. No matter how protests turn into violent riots—no matter how long this pandemic will last--no matter how many Christians are sued for sticking to God's Word--no matter how much conflict and strife there is this side of heaven--we KNOW the things that make for peace--Jesus' blood and His righteousness, which we receive by faith in Him alone. For by His bloody cross your sins have been forgiven and you have been granted a place in eternal glory. You have peace and quiet, joy and comfort--in the cross of Jesus--distributed to you through His blessed church in Word and Sacrament. You hang on to Christ and His gifts--as He hangs on to you--and you are given peace, which surpasses all understanding. Thanks be to God in Christ Jesus. Amen
Luke 19:41-48
v.42 [Jesus said], "Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes.
Dear friends in Christ, summer is a time in which we long for peace and quiet. We look forward all year to the opportunity to go to the lake, sit on the beach with a yummy beverage, and simply soak in the sun and the soft sound of the rolling waves coming upon the shore. Ahhh! Now that's some quality peace and quiet.
Unfortunately, this peace is still rather elusive--hard to find. You turn on the news, look at your Facebook feed, are connected in any way to the media--and what do you find? Chaos, horror, suffering, and death coming in the forms of pandemics, riots, as well as volatile speeches from politicians and media pundits blaming everyone and anyone for what has gone wrong. Certainly not the kind of peace that we desire.
So, what do we do? Well, there are a few options. 1 - We can simply ignore the problems around us--turn off the TV--turn off our phones (gasp!)--not listen and just pretend that all is well with the world. Of course, that doesn't usually last too long before reality splashes some cold, hard truth into our faces, disturbing our peace and quiet (mayhem in the world, our lives, our health).
2 - We can always lean back and trust in our government to take care of everything. After all, isn't that why we elected them in the first place--so that we wouldn't have to worry about all these threats and problems in the world? We want them to keep everything at a distance and provide for us in every way so that we can just relax. Of course, this option doesn’t work out too well either, does it? It turns out our politicians are not actually capable of taking care of everything and insulating us from the threats of this world--be they riots or pandemics and suffering. Yet this is so often where we find ourselves, isn't it, dear friends? "If only we elect the right person THEN everything will be BETTER. If only they do what they promised…If only…if only…if only." And we all know how well that turns out.
And so, inadvertently, we find ourselves in the same position as the ancient Israelites of Jeremiah's day who trusted in their king and princes to keep them safe from all outside threats. Or the Jews of Jesus' day who thought that by bowing to the Romans and trusting in them, all would be OK. Or those who looked to the location of the temple in Jerusalem as a sure sign that God would never overthrow the city because the temple of God's presence was there! Yet this was not so. The false prophets who proclaimed peace with God when the people had committed abominations and had turned away from faith in the one true God had done nothing more than lead them astray--and they suffered for it.
And now, in our text, Jesus, the very Son of God--the ultimate Prophet of the Lord--has come to Jerusalem and He knows exactly how He will be received. The Jewish religious authorities--believing that Jesus posed a clear and present threat to their peace and security with the Romans and to their high place among the people--sought to kill Jesus. Because they did not know the time of their visitation--the time when God Himself would come veiled in human flesh among them to proclaim truth and salvation and peace. And because they would reject and murder Him--they would reap the judgement of God. Jesus herein prophesies concerning the horrible destruction of Jerusalem that would take place in 70 AD at the hands of the Romans. "They 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." Ouch. Pretty harsh Jesus. This doesn't sound very peaceful at all.
Then Jesus begins the judgment process by going to the temple and cleansing it in a very un-Jesus-like manner. He angrily drives out those who lie, cheat, and steal from His people in the temple courtyard--so that He might take up His proper place and teach His people in Spirit and Truth. And still, "The chief priests and the scribes and the principal men of the people were seeking to destroy Him."
And beloved, this is why Jesus weeps as He approaches the city in the first place. He is overcome by the judgement He knows will come upon His people for their rejection of Him and His peace. This shows the great compassion and mercy of our God who will suffer so much at the hands of the very people He has come to save. He weeps for them. For He desires them to be saved--to repent and trust in Him alone for salvation and peace--not political leaders or good works.
Yet Jesus does something even more incredible here--for on Good Friday He took the sin of the whole world--the lies--the deceit--the false worship--the hatred and death--and He heaped it upon Himself. He carried your sin to the cross of Golgotha on His battered, torn shoulders--He suffered for your sin while nailed to the cross--He was pierced with thorn, nail, and spear--so that by His blood you may be saved. Indeed, as the prophet Isaiah (53:5) foretold, "He was pierced for our transgressions; He was crushed for our iniquities; upon Him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with His wounds we are healed."
Dear friends, Jesus suffered God's wrath and fury for sin--your sin and mine--your shallow faith, ingratitude, etc.--not just a simple foretaste, but the full cup--He drank every last drop and suffered for it so that you would not have to--so that you could have true peace--peace with God which surpasses all human understanding. For true peace, as the Bible teaches, does not come from savvy political leaders, superior firepower, or even a clean bill of health. We trust not in princes or doctors or ourselves or any man or god other than the Triune God into whose blessed name we have been baptized.
Rather, we hang on the words of Jesus--as the crowds in the temple did--as Jesus' disciples did--harkening to His call of mercy and grace. As He Himself promised on the night He was betrayed (John 14:27a), "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you." The very body and blood of Jesus given to you this day in bread and wine are a sign and seal of this peace. For Christ's sacrifice on the cross has earned your peace with God. In the Sacrament you have a foretaste of the eternal feast to come--a feast of peace in which you will rejoice in the mercy and forgiveness Christ gives to you in His body and blood.
So no matter what events happen in this sinful and broken world that disrupt our lives and shatter the peace and quiet we so desperately crave and enjoy. No matter how protests turn into violent riots—no matter how long this pandemic will last--no matter how many Christians are sued for sticking to God's Word--no matter how much conflict and strife there is this side of heaven--we KNOW the things that make for peace--Jesus' blood and His righteousness, which we receive by faith in Him alone. For by His bloody cross your sins have been forgiven and you have been granted a place in eternal glory. You have peace and quiet, joy and comfort--in the cross of Jesus--distributed to you through His blessed church in Word and Sacrament. You hang on to Christ and His gifts--as He hangs on to you--and you are given peace, which surpasses all understanding. Thanks be to God in Christ Jesus. Amen