In my reading of the Word today I came across a scripture I'm sure I've read many times, but today it wrecked me. It literally broke my heart to tears. Let me set the stage a little bit and see if I can explain why. I was reading in Luke 18 and 19. In Luke 18, Jesus tells the story of the widow who was relentless in asking for justice and reminds us to pray without ceasing and not to give up. He ends that story with a question and says, "But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?" He then goes on to talk to an official who asked what he must do to have eternal life. I almost hear the official coming at the question full of pride, almost wanting Jesus to praise him? That's my thought here when he approaches him as "Good teacher" sounds like he's brown nosing to me. Jesus even asks, "why do you call me good? No one is good except God." He reminds him you know the commandments. The official arrogantly tells Jesus he's obeyed them since he was a boy. Then Jesus, knowing his heart says okay buddy then sell everything you have, distribute it among the poor and you will have treasure in heaven. Then follow me! The official became very sad because he couldn't part with his money. Then Jesus and the twelve are on their way to Jerusalem. Intentionally He takes them through Jericho. He comes across a blind man sitting and begging. The blind man heard the crowd going by and struggled to see what was happening. When he found out Jesus was passing by, he shouted "Yeshua, son of David have mercy on me!" Can you imagine his desperation? His longing for Jesus is beautiful. He can't see, he has to hope Jesus will hear him and have mercy on him. The people at the front of the crowd tell him to be quiet? What? I don't get these people back then. Why were they so irritated by him? Why wouldn't they think to tell someone this man was desperate and crying out for help? Jesus stops and makes time for this man just like He had for countless others. Lovingly He asks, "what do you want me to do for you?" Can you just put yourself in the blind man's position for a moment. You are blind. You have nothing. You rely on other people every day by begging. Now hope has come! Jesus is passing by! Jesus makes time for him, this man that the others told to be quiet and asks what would you like me to do for you? Have you ever been so desperate? Have you begged and relied on others? Are you at a place where you are shouting to Jesus, "Have mercy on me!" This wrecked me but we're not even to the part yet that really messed me up. So, Jesus restores his sight and tells him your faith has made you well. Interestingly, the next person Jesus encounters is Zacchaeus. He was the director of the tax collectors and very wealthy. The Word says He tried to see who Jesus was, but he was small and couldn't see. What I find interesting here is the blind man knew who Jesus was and sought Him out. Zacchaeus didn't know who Jesus was and Jesus sought him out. Zacchaeus had climbed a fig tree to see Jesus. When He was passing by, Jesus looks up at the tree and tells him to come down and that he would stay at his house that day! You can just imagine what unfolds at dinner. Zacchaeus is so moved by Jesus that he says he'll give half his property to the poor and pay four times as much as he owes people he has cheated. Zacchaeus and his family were saved that day. Beautiful illustration again of Jesus love for his people for those that seek and those lost. Later in Chapter 19, as Jesus rides into Jerusalem on a donkey, and the disciples are praising God for all the miracles they had seen, the Pharisees are telling Jesus to tell the disciples to be quiet, and then there is the moment. Yeshua replied to them, "I can guarantee that if they are quiet, the stones will cry out." When He came closer and saw the city, he began to cry. He said, "If you had only known today what would bring you peace! But now it is hidden, so you cannot see it. The time will come when enemy armies will build a wall to surround you and close you in on every side. They will level you to the ground and kill your people. One stone will not be left on top of another, because you didn't recognize the time when God came to help you." That's the burden. That's the scripture that caused me to weep. Jesus was prophesying the holocaust of Israel in 70AD and the destruction of the temple, but for me he was forecasting so many of our personal journeys. I thought of my own family that is riddled with destruction from choices we've made. Agreements and friendships we've made with fear, anxiety, unforgiveness. In my humble opinion, these are the things that can surround us and close in on every side. They can level our families to the ground. We are Jerusalem. If we had only recognized today what would bring us peace. Will we recognize the day when God comes to help us? Will we be able to see it?
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