Jesus Weeps

~~~ Revelation 5:1-10 ~~~ Psalm 149 ~~~  Luke 19:41-44 ~~~

As Jesus drew near Jerusalem,
he saw the city and wept over it, saying,
“If this day you only knew what makes for peace–

Jesus is weeping because Jerusalem remained blind
 to the truth that he was the source of their peace.
He longed for Jerusalem to see him as their Messiah
but it did not happen.
...he saw the city and wept over it...

The title for this part of Luke's chapter 19 is
The Lament for Jerusalem...
Lament...a passionate expression of grief or sorrow.
Lament is to mourn a person's loss.
Jesus was mourning the loss of Jerusalem.

Jesus regrets that Jerusalem turned a deaf ear to his teachings.
It was a calamity for Jesus to contemplate the sins of Jerusalem.

While we are still in the throne room
 John weeps as he fears all will be lost.
The One on the Throne holds the sacred scroll.
This scroll is sealed in seven different places.
Then in the middle of this magnificent holy space
another animal comes forward.

One of the elders said to me, “Do not weep.
The lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, has triumphed,
enabling him to open the scroll with its seven seals.”

But what appears is not a lion, but the slain lamb.
This is the one who has come to remove the seven seals.
This Lamb restores all of us back into our intended
 place with God in heaven.

There is no need for tears because the scroll has been opened.
We have been restored to God's grace.
We have indeed been redeemed by this Lamb, Jesus.

As the incense filled this holy space with the sweetest fragrance
all who were present fell to honor this Lamb of God.

All began to sing a new hymn...
Worthy are you to receive the scroll
and break open its seals,
for you were slain and with your Blood 
you purchased for God...

The scroll has been opened to all peoples in every nation.
The scroll was opened by the crucifixion and death
of God's only begotten Son, Jesus.

We have no idea what our existence would have been
had the scroll remained sealed.
We have no reason to fear what was written upon the sealed scroll. 

One thing we can be certain of is that we would probably
not be finding our joy in the love of God.

Do not weep...
for we are Blessed...tucked under the protective
wings of God's compassion.

Jesus can open whatever is sealed away
within your heart.

Let his Peace sustain your soul.