Do not ignore his Peace

This Sunday we will take a closer look at a passage in the Scriptures that gives me pause every time I read it.

“And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over it, saying, “Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes.” Luke 19: 41-42

Jesus wept. This is not the first time he cried. In John, we learn that he also cried over Lazarus. Since he brought Lazarus back to life, and some people’s faith increased because of his miracle, I believe his cry over Israel was different, maybe deeper.

Have you ever been deeply moved by someone’s choice to ignore Christ? Jesus wept over the suffering and pain Israel would go through until the day they fully receive Him.

He was walking among them, and they didn’t know Him.

This is a sobering thought even for us today. As Jesus walks among us in the Holy Spirit, available to all of us, how many people go through life without a real encounter with Him, our Triune God?

Yes, we may not see Him in the flesh like the Israelites could, and think: How could they see miracles and not believe Him? In John’s narrative, we see that’s exactly what happened, right after He brought Lazarus back to life.

“Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what he did, believed in him, but some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done.” John 11:45-46

I wonder, if those who didn’t believe Him then, could see us now, would they ask: How could this ‘modern people’ know of his death, resurrection, and ascension, and not believe him? How could they know that Christ is alive and well, presenting our humanity before the Father, and yet not love Him fully? How could they have the Holy Spirit and all his gifts available to them, and yet ignore Him?

It’s easy for us to think that seeing Jesus in the flesh would have moved our hearts towards Him. But, in reality, we are the ones on the side of History when we get to BE His Body. We get to be one with Him. No other time, before Pentecost, is like the time we live in now. Unfortunately, wars, corruption, violence, and blatant unbelief are still all around us. Sometimes, even in our own hearts.

In John 14:27, right before his death, Jesus tells his disciples:

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”

And, in John 20:21, after his resurrection:

“Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.”

Then, in Acts 1:8, as Jesus is about to ascend and Pentecost is about to happen, he says:

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Some people may look for things that are temporal, not eternal, as their source of peace. But, we as the people of God, as His Body, may not put our faith in anything or anyone other than HIM. We abide in Him and He in us. Regardless of the direction the world takes, of the trials and tribulations we may face, and the different views we may have about things of this life; let us continue to draw near, love Him fully, and be open to the Holy Spirit to empower us to be his witnesses.

“Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes.”

Lets us desire to know the things He wants to reveal to us, so “they are not hidden from our eyes”. Let us choose His Peace, His Presence, so we can say to others what Paul says to us, in Phil 4:7:

“And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Blessings and Peace,

Dr. Christiane and Rev. Todd Meyer