Daily Devotions
Luke
Luke 19 : 28-48 "OLD MEMORIES OF JERUSALEM"
Day 240 – Luke 19
Text: Luke 19 : 28-48
OLD MEMORIES OF JERUSALEM
It was at Jerusalem that Jesus was presented to God (Luke 2:22). Jesus was the firstborn male, and according to the Mosaic Law, He had to be presented to God. The Law commanded all to make a presentation and redemption of all firstborn males, to remember the night when God passed over Egypt and struck the firstborn (Exodus 13:15).
“You shall set apart to the Lord all that open the womb,
that is, every firstborn”
“And all the firstborn of man among your sons
You shall redeem”
Exodus 13:12-13
It was at Jerusalem that old Simeon carried Baby Jesus in his arms and praised God for allowing him to see Jesus.
“My eyes have seen Your salvation
which You have prepared
before the face of all peoples,
A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles,
And the glory of Your people Israel.”
Luke 2:30-32
It was here at Jerusalem, that Anna, a prophetess eighty-four years old addressed the people who came to the Temple,
“And coming in that instant
she gave thanks to the Lord,
and spoke of Him to all those who looked
for redemption in Jerusalem.”
Luke 2:38
Joseph and Mary were pious Jews and thus they made their way to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover every year (Luke 2:41). One occasion, when Jesus was Twelve years of age, He lingered behind in Jerusalem (Luke 2:43).
After the celebration of the Passover, Joseph and Mary could not locate Jesus. Only after a three-day search did they find Him…
“…in the Temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers,
both listening to them and asking them questions.
And all who heard Him were astonished
At His understanding and answers.”
Luke 2:46-47
Over thirty years had passed… what was Jerusalem like now?
“NOW AS HE DREW NEAR, HE SAW THE CITY, AND WEPT OVER IT” Luke 19:41
Tears came as He drew near the city of Jerusalem. So many made this journey year after year, to offer worship! What He saw prophetically of Jerusalem caused Him to weep.
“If you had known, even you,
especially in this your day,
the things that make for your peace!
But now they are hidden from your eyes.”
Luke 19:42
As we read of how Jesus wept over Jerusalem, we are reminded of Jeremiah who also wept often over the holy city.
“For the hurt of the daughter of my people
I am hurt. I am mourning;
Astonishment has taken hold of me.”
Jeremiah 8:21
“Oh, that my head were waters,
and my eyes a fountain of tears,
that I might weep day and night
for the slain of the daughter of my people!”
Jeremiah 9:1
Whereas, the general populace rejoiced as they made their way to Jerusalem, because they did not have prophetic vision, Jesus wept over the city because He saw its destruction. The words of sorrow that He wept out loud formed the reasons why He wept over the city.
“IF YOU HAD KNOWN…” Luke 19:42
Jerusalem had lived in blissful ignorance of the destruction that would come upon it one day. Once again, we are reminded of the words of the prophet Jeremiah who dealt with a similar problem, in a similar situation.
The Jews had a mistaken belief that as long as the Temple stood, nothing evil would befall Jerusalem. Thus the people took pride in this proverbial saying,
“The temple of the Lord,
The temple of the Lord,
The temple of the Lord
Are these.”
Jeremiah 7:4
Things were not very different in the days of Jesus. The Jews still took pride in their Temple. They still believed that they were “all right” in God’s sight. Their ignorance was not bliss at all! Their sins would be remembered by God and the city judged – and the city did not even know that its days were numbered!