Matthew 23:37-39
Let’s continue to pray for Jim and Marty.
“Notice what you notice.” Jesus’ lament over Jerusalem. Three items for today…
First, Jerusalem was a special place for Jesus – likely, for all Jews! Presumably He had been coming here every year for three decades, since He was a young child. And it would have always been a special place for Him and His young friends, to make the trip together and to spend time roaming the city. The temple must have been a magnificent structure to behold, in His youth and as an adult. Plus, after He had begun His ministry He had been back a time or two, including a major encounter with the Jewish leaders over His healing of a man born blind. So yeah, Jerusalem was a special place.
Second, …your house is left to you desolate. (v. 38) Given Jesus’ love for Jerusalem, it must have been extremely troubling for Him to look into the future and see the coming destruction some 3+ decades later. And although He would have “gathered your children together” (v. 37), it was left for His disciples to do just that after His Resurrection and Ascension. Jerusalem stood at the center of His followers’ early Christian ministry until Jewish (and Roman) persecution drove them far afield. His wish will be fully fulfilled when He gathers us all together when He comes again!!
Third, For I tell you, you will not see me again, until you say, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.” (v. 39) So I wonder if this lament is chronologically misplaced. It was Palm Sunday a few days earlier when the crowds were chanting/singing this very Psalm (118:36), yet Jesus is speaking these words in a future tense. So it could have been (must have been?) on an earlier trip to Jerusalem that He spoke this lament. Confusing, but interesting…
Only three verses, but a lot of content! GLORY!
Slava Bohu!
Hi Fred, I am thinking that Jesus was talking about His second coming. The Jews will not see him again until they are ready, to the point of recognizing him as Lord.