The Walk to Emmaus | A Sermon on Luke 24:12-34

Introduction
Last Sunday, we celebrated the wonderous resurrection of Jesus Christ at Easter.  The resurrection changed everything.  It was so unexpected, unprecedented, and momentous, it took time for the ramifications to sink in.  In fact, by Sunday evening of that first Easter, many of Jesus’ Disciples were still trying to figure out what had happened.  And for forty days, Jesus appeared numerous times to different groups on various occasions to confirm He really was alive and to teach what that means for the world.

Over the next 8-weeks, I’m going to share some of the stories of Jesus’ appearances and what they mean for us today.  The first is one of my favorites—the story of the Walk to Emmaus. …….

Luke 24:13-34
¹³ That same day two of Jesus’ followers were walking to the village of Emmaus, seven miles^[c] from Jerusalem. ¹⁴ As they walked along they were talking about everything that had happened. ¹⁵ As they talked and discussed these things, Jesus himself suddenly came and began walking with them. ¹⁶ But God kept them from recognizing him.

¹⁷ He asked them, “What are you discussing so intently as you walk along?”

They stopped short, sadness written across their faces. ¹⁸ Then one of them, Cleopas, replied, “You must be the only person in Jerusalem who hasn’t heard about all the things that have happened there the last few days.”

¹⁹ “What things?” Jesus asked.

“The things that happened to Jesus, the man from Nazareth,” they said. “He was a prophet who did powerful miracles, and he was a mighty teacher in the eyes of God and all the people. ²⁰ But our leading priests and other religious leaders handed him over to be condemned to death, and they crucified him. ²¹ We had hoped he was the Messiah who had come to rescue Israel. This all happened three days ago.

²² “Then some women from our group of his followers were at his tomb early this morning, and they came back with an amazing report. ²³ They said his body was missing, and they had seen angels who told them Jesus is alive! ²⁴ Some of our men ran out to see, and sure enough, his body was gone, just as the women had said.”

²⁵ Then Jesus said to them, “You foolish people! You find it so hard to believe all that the prophets wrote in the Scriptures. ²⁶ Wasn’t it clearly predicted that the Messiah would have to suffer all these things before entering his glory?” ²⁷ Then Jesus took them through the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining from all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.

²⁸ By this time they were nearing Emmaus and the end of their journey. Jesus acted as if he were going on, ²⁹ but they begged him, “Stay the night with us, since it is getting late.” So he went home with them. ³⁰ As they sat down to eat,^[d] he took the bread and blessed it. Then he broke it and gave it to them. ³¹ Suddenly, their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And at that moment he disappeared!

³² They said to each other, “Didn’t our hearts burn within us as he talked with us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us?” ³³ And within the hour they were on their way back to Jerusalem. There they found the eleven disciples and the others who had gathered with them, ³⁴ who said, “The Lord has really risen! He appeared to Peter.^[e]”

The Walk to Emmaus Spiritual Retreat
There is a great modern day 3-day spiritual retreat named after this story called "The Walk to Emmaus."  I’ll be working as a chaplain on a the North Georgia Walk to Emmaus April 30-May 2.
If you are interested, I would be glad to talk with you about how you could attend WTE.  It had a tremendous impact on my life when I attend in 1996.

4 Things This Story Teaches Us
Now, back to our Scripture lesson about the original Walk to Emmaus.  It’s an incredible story. 
And it teaches us at least 4 things about the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

It really happened.  
The 2 Disciples left Jerusalem to walk to Emmaus (about 7 miles—2-3 hours of walking).  Why did they leave Jerusalem?  Scripture doesn’t say directly, but we can read some things between the lines.  In verse 21, they said, “We had hoped he was the Messiah…”  That’s past tense—like they aren’t sure they believe it anymore.  They were probably confused and overwhelmed.  They’d heard the women’s stories, but it doesn’t seem like they believed Jesus was really alive.  

Verse 17 says they were sad; but they may have been afraid too.  That would be a understandable.  The authorities who killed Jesus were probably keen on stamping out his following too  Anyone known publicly to follow Jesus could be in danger of reprisals.  So, the thought was probably, “Let’s get away from Jerusalem to somewhere safer.”

But then, Jesus shows up.  He’s not dead.  He’s alive.  They don’t recognize Him at first, but He’s alive!  The first thing this story teaches us is Jesus really did rise from the dead.  That’s important for so many reasons, but let me share 4.

1. It proves Jesus is who He said He is.  The resurrection confirms Jesus is the Son of God—not just a teacher or prophet.  Jesus is immortal and has power over death.
2. Second, it guarantees our forgiveness. The cross paid for sin, and the resurrection shows that payment was accepted.
3. Third, it gives us hope of eternal life. Because He lives, we will live also—death is not the end.
4. Fourth, it empowers our present life. The risen Christ is alive and active, giving us strength, purpose, and victory now.

The Resurrection was foretold in Scripture.
Another lesson from the Walk to Emmaus teaches is:  This was God’s plan all along; it was foretold in Scripture.  The death and resurrection of the Messiah was a surprise to the Disciples (to everyone really), but it was not a surprise to God or His Son.  The resurrection wasn’t a tragedy that got a positive spin.  It was part of God’s plan all along.  Scripture said it would happen.  So, it validates that God’s Word is trustworthy and true.

It proves Jesus is the promised Messiah.  The fulfillment of prophecy connects Jesus directly to God’s promises to Israel—He is the One they were waiting for.  The fact Jesus’ death and resurrection were foretold in Scripture shows God keeps His promises.  We can trust Him to keep every promise He’s made to us too—including the promise of our resurrection.

When we don’t recognize Jesus, He helps us see.
A third thing the Walk to Emmaus Story teaches us is:  Jesus helps us see Him.  Jesus wants to be known.  He wants us to know He alive and He is with us.  We often have trouble seeing it.  We’re often too busy, overwhelmed, afraid, sad, angry, or lonely to see Jesus.  But Jesus has ways to open our eyes.

Before you were ever thinking about God, He was already thinking of you.  He puts people in your life and lead you into situations that help reveal Him to you and help you see Him.

We see also from this story that God uses Scripture to help us see Jesus.  Scripture—rightly understood—is a powerful way we can understand Him.

Finally, we see that Holy Communion is a powerful way Jesus can open our eyes so we can see Him.  In the story, it was when Jesus broke the bread of Holy Communion that they knew it was the risen Christ with them.  The holy sacrament can open our eyes too.

Knowing Christ is with us empowers us.
A fourth lesson from our Scripture today is: Knowing the risen Christ is with us empowers us.  I want you to notice something.  These 2 disciples walk 2-3 hours to get to Emmaus (possibly running away in fear and disillusionment).  They had planned to spend the night in Emmaus.  We know this because of what they said to Jesus before they recognized Him.  They said, “Stay the night with us, since it is getting late.” (verse 29).  But after recognizing the risen Christ, they were empowered and emboldened to go back to Jerusalem (even though it was already dark)!  No fear of bandits on the road or authority figures who might try to do them in.  They walked 2-3 hours back to Jerusalem in the dark!

One of the most powerful things Jesus did for me when I attended the spiritual retreat, The Walk to Emmaus, was open my eyes to Jesus presence every moment in my life.  Before The Walk, I already knew about Jesus, that He was alive, that He was my Lord.  But somehow, during my Walk, I realized and accepted deep down inside the true reality of His living presence with me.  I can't explain it, but now walking with Christ through life is a very real and powerful experience.  He really is alive and He is with me every day and it is empowering!

The same is true for you if you Jesus is your Lord.  And really knowing it will empower you to live like you have nothing to lose.

Closing Meditation
The two disciples in our Scripture didn’t recognize Jesus at first.  
Jesus walked with them a long time, but they didn’t know it was Him. 
But then something changed.  Scripture says, ‘their eyes were opened.’

I wonder how many of us are walking through life right now, and Jesus is with us, but we just don’t see Him clearly?

I want you to consider for just a minute.
Think about your life this past week.
Contemplate the moments you were too busy or felt overwhelmed.
Consider the times you were afraid or filled with worry.
Remember the moments you felt alone.
What if Jesus was right there with you then and you didn’t recognize Him?

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, just like those disciples on the road to Emmaus, we don’t always see You.
But You are with us.  Open our eyes to Your presence, to Your truth, to Your work in our lives.
Help our hearts to burn within us again as we recognize You.
In Your name, we pray.  Amen.

Looking for the Living Among the Dead | An Easter Sermon on Luke 24:1-12

Introduction
Easter is the most important holiday of the whole year for Christians.  Jesus–the Son of God–was arrested, tortured, falsely convicted, and executed on a cross.  His body was hastily placed in a borrowed tomb, but on the third day, Jesus rose to life.  This is the foundation of everything for Christians. 

I want you to know, I believe in the resurrection.  I know Jesus is not dead.  I believe He literally got up out of the grave--a bodily resurrection.  It's not just a great story or an ideal to live up to.  I believe it really happened and it's the Truth I base my life on. 

I hope you believe too.  But if we really believe Jesus rose from the grave, it will change the way we think and live.  That’s what I want to talk to you about today.

Luke 24:1-12
¹ But very early on Sunday morning^[a] the women went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. ² They found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. ³ So they went in, but they didn’t find the body of the Lord Jesus. ⁴ As they stood there puzzled, two men suddenly appeared to them, clothed in dazzling robes.

⁵ The women were terrified and bowed with their faces to the ground. Then the men asked, “Why are you looking among the dead for someone who is alive? ⁶ He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Remember what he told you back in Galilee, ⁷ that the Son of Man^[b] must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men and be crucified, and that he would rise again on the third day.”

⁸ Then they remembered that he had said this. ⁹ So they rushed back from the tomb to tell his eleven disciples—and everyone else—what had happened. ¹⁰ It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and several other women who told the apostles what had happened. ¹¹ But the story sounded like nonsense to the men, so they didn’t believe it. ¹² However, Peter jumped up and ran to the tomb to look. Stooping, he peered in and saw the empty linen wrappings; then he went home again, wondering what had happened.

Two Angels at the Tomb
The women found an empty tomb.  The stone was rolled away.  The body of Christ was gone.

Luke says, “Two men suddenly appeared to them, clothed in dazzling robes.”  These are clearly not men, but angels.  They resemble the angels Luke says appeared in heavenly glory at Jesus’ birth.  They also resemble Acts 1:10, where Luke also says “two men dressed in white” appeared when Jesus ascended to heaven

I also can’t help but think about the two cherubim God stationed at the entrance of the Garden of Eden.  Remember, when Adam and Eve disobeyed God and ate the forbidden fruit and where kicked out of the Garden of Eden, God stationed two angelic figures (Cherubim) to guard the entrance so no one could re-enter.  Those two cherubim were later represented by the golden cherubim atop the Ark of the Covenant in the Holy of Holies, which was considered by Jews to be the holiest place on earth and the very footstool of God.  But now 2 angels appear to the women at the empty tomb and say something incredible.

“Why are you looking for the living among the dead?”  In a literal sense, the women were looking for a dead Jesus.  They came to anoint His body with burial spices.  This had not been done at His initial, hasty burial.  Remember, Jesus was crucified and died on a Friday afternoon.  They had to get His body off the cross and into a borrowed tomb quickly, before sunset when the Sabbath started and no work could be done.  So Christ's body had not been properly anointed for burial according to their traditions.

So the women had to wait until Sunday morning to come finish the burial ceremony.  As they approached the tomb, their thinking was completely focused on a dead Jesus, which was totally understandable.  The reality of what they found was so implausible, they couldn’t immediately comprehend the truth.  Their earthly minds struggled to make sense of it with the most reasonable explanations:  Someone has moved or stolen the body.  The authorities must have moved the body.

God knew resurrection would be so far from their thinking they would need help to see the truth.  So, God sent His angels to explain:  “He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead!”  

Some people today still struggle to accept the resurrection.   A dead man coming back to life is incredible (in the literal sense of that word–not credible).  The entire history of human experience as well as modern science cries out as a witness that dead people do not come back to life–not in the way the Gospels describe Jesus’ resurrection.  And so many people cannot make the leap of faith to conclude Jesus rose from the grave as He said He would and as the earliest witnesses and the Bible say He did.

So, many people still look for Jesus among the dead.  What I mean is, they cannot accept that He really, literally rose from the grave and so they try to spiritualize the resurrection.  Maybe they see Christ rising from the grave as a symbol of hope, or a fresh start, or spiritual renewal—but not as a real resurrection that changes everything about how we live and think.  For them, the resurrection has “some” meaning, but they are still looking for the living among the dead—holding onto the idea of Jesus, while missing the reality that He is alive.

They want to find value in the Christian story—and in Jesus as an important religious figure—
without really believing the fundamental claim of Christ.  But if Jesus did not really rise, then the faith He gave us falls apart. It’s not just weakened—it’s false.

The Apostle Paul said it plainly in 1 Corinthians 15:14:   “If Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.”  And he goes even further in 1 Corinthians 15:17:  “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.”

On the other hand, there are many Christians who do believe Jesus truly rose from the grave, yet that reality has not fully transformed the way they think and live. They still turn to the dead things of this world, hoping to find the life and fulfillment that only the risen Christ can give.  

They believe in the resurrection, but still look for life in success, in comfort, in possessions—thinking if they just had a little more, they would finally feel full.

They believe in the resurrection, but still look for life in approval, in relationships, in what others think of them—hoping someone else can give them the worth Christ already secured.

They believe in the resurrection, but still look for life in routine religion—going through the motions without truly setting their hearts on Christ.

They believe in the resurrection, but still look for life in distractions—keeping busy, staying entertained, avoiding stillness—because they’re not drawing from the life that is already theirs in Christ.

They believe Jesus is alive, but still live as if this world is where life is found.

They believe in the resurrection, but they haven’t yet learned to think like people who have been raised with Christ and live like people who have nothing to lose because Christ already won the ultimate victory.

Jesus is Risen! He is Risen Indeed!
But that’s exactly what the resurrection offers us–a whole new way to think and a whole new way to live.  Paul said it like this in Colossians 3, “Since you have been raised to new life with Christ… set your sights on the realities of heaven.”

Not someday you will be raised, but you have been raised.  That means the life you’re looking for is not found in the dead things of this world.  It’s found in a living Savior.  

So stop looking for life where there is none.  Stop searching among the dead, and start following the One who walked out of the grave.  Lift up your eyes!   Set your heart on Him!  Because Jesus is not in the tomb!  He is alive!

And if He lives then real life is found in Him.  Not later.  Not someday.  But right now!  So, let’s stop looking for the living among the dead.  And let’s stand together and celebrate the victory we have in Jesus, because He lives.

Closing Invitation
I want to give you this invitation.  Maybe you need to make a decision today.  Maybe you want to start following this Jesus who walked out of the grave.  You don’t have to understand.  The resurrection isn’t logical.  It doesn’t make sense.  It doesn’t follow the laws of nature.   But if God is real and Jesus is His Son, is anything impossible with God?  Maybe today, you just need to choose to have faith in God and His Son.  For then you will find, not just belief,  but life.  Life that is real.  Life that is full.  Life that is eternal.

So, stop looking for the living among the dead. Come to the One who is alive.  Close your eyes.  Tell God you believe, and ask Him to save you and give you new life in Christ.

Jesus Arrives in Jerusalem | A Sermon on Luke 19:28-40

Introduction
Just before Jesus arrived in Jerusalem, He told a parable about a nobleman who was called away to a distant empire to be crowned king and then return. But his people hated him and said, ‘We do not want him to be our king.’  It seems, Jesus knew there were many people in Jerusalem who would not accept Him as the true Lord. They would cheer for Him, but they would misunderstand Him.  And when He didn’t live up to their expectations, they would crucify Him.

Luke 19:28-35
²⁸ After telling this story, Jesus went on toward Jerusalem, walking ahead of his disciples. ²⁹ As he came to the towns of Bethphage and Bethany on the Mount of Olives, he sent two disciples ahead. ³⁰ “Go into that village over there,” he told them. “As you enter it, you will see a young donkey tied there that no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. ³¹ If anyone asks, ‘Why are you untying that colt?’ just say, ‘The Lord needs it.’”

³² So they went and found the colt, just as Jesus had said. ³³ And sure enough, as they were untying it, the owners asked them, “Why are you untying that colt?”

³⁴ And the disciples simply replied, “The Lord needs it.” ³⁵ So they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their garments over it for him to ride on.

Jesus vs. Pilate
I want to pause here and point out a contrast we see.  There were two parades that happened that week.  The one not in Scripture, but known from history, is Pilates parade.  It was customary for the Romans to have a parade during religious festival times like the Passover.  This was a show of force that reminded the zealous Jewish crowds who was in charge.  It showcased Roman power with the obvious insinuation, "Don't forget, we are in control.  If you step out of line, we will put you back in your place by force."  Jesus rode on a donkey, but Pilate rode on a war horse, surrounded by armored soldiers and chariots.  Donkey's aren't rode into battle.  They're small and slow.  When a Jewish king came to a city in peace, he rode a donkey as a sign, because no one rides a donkey into battle.  They ride a war horse.  But Jesus came to Jerusalem in peace, on a donkey, to offer God's peace to Jerusalem.  That stands in stark contrast to the mighty and intimidating war horse of Pilate and the Romans.

Luke 19:36-40
³⁶ As he rode along, the crowds spread out their garments on the road ahead of him. ³⁷ When he reached the place where the road started down the Mount of Olives, all of his followers began to shout and sing as they walked along, praising God for all the wonderful miracles they had seen.

³⁸ “Blessings on the King who comes in the name of the Lord!
    Peace in heaven, and glory in highest heaven!”^[c]

³⁹ But some of the Pharisees among the crowd said, “Teacher, rebuke your followers for saying things like that!”

⁴⁰ He replied, “If they kept quiet, the stones along the road would burst into cheers!”

Palms and Cloaks
You may have missed it.  The Gospel of Luke doesn’t mention the use of palm branches on “Palm” Sunday for Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem.  The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and John all say the crowds had leafy branches or palm branches, but Luke focuses on how the crowd spread out their garments on the road ahead of Jesus.

Spreading your garments over the path of your king was an important symbolic act. 

In 2 Kings 9:13, people spread their cloaks in front of Jehu when was anointed the next king of Israel.  It was a common practice in many ancient Middle Eastern cultures.  It was a way to say,
“We will lay down our lives for you, our king.”  It’s a symbol of total submission; sort of like, “We submit to you completely.  You can walk all over us if you want.  You are our king.”

And so the people in Jerusalem say this of Jesus.  “We submit.  You are our king!”

But for many in Jerusalem, their submission was not unconditional.  It came with expectations.  They quote from Psalm 118:25 “Please, Lord, please save us!”  Which is the Hebrew expression “Hosanna!”  It literally means, “Save us now!”  

But, save us from what?

Try to imagine with me, who might be there in that crowd shouting hosanna.

The Overburdened Farmer
He has worked hard his whole life, but Roman taxes take most of what he earns. He can barely provide for his family, and every year feels harder than the last.  “Hosanna! Save us now!”  He wants a Messiah who will drive out Rome and make life easier, not one who calls him to surrender his heart.

The Zealous Nationalist
He dreams of Israel being strong again like in the days of David. He’s angry, tired of foreign rule, and ready for a revolution.  “Hosanna! Save us now!”  He wants a Messiah who will fight his enemies, not one who tells him to love them.

The Religious Insider
He faithfully works in the Temple and follows all the traditions. He takes pride in his knowledge and his place in the religious community.   “Hosanna! Save us now!”  He wants a Messiah who will affirm his system, not one who exposes his heart.

The Weary Father
He is trying to hold his family together in a world that feels unstable and unsafe. He wants security, peace, and a future for his children.   “Hosanna! Save us now!” He wants a Messiah who will fix his circumstances, not one who asks him to trust God no matter what.

The Successful Merchant
His business is doing well, and he enjoys a comfortable life. Still, he worries about instability and wants protection for what he’s built.  “Hosanna! Save us now!”   He wants a Messiah who will secure his success, not one who might ask him to loosen his grip on it.

The Quietly Numb Believer
He still shows up. He still goes through the motions. But somewhere along the way, his passion has faded and his faith has grown cold.   “Hosanna! Save us now!” He wants a Messiah who will comfort him where he is, not one who calls him back to wholehearted devotion.

They all shouted the same words, but they were not all asking for the same kind of salvation.

Jesus Riding Into Jerusalem
Perhaps you can imagine yourself in that crowd–waving palm branches, spreading your cloak on the ground in front of Jesus as a sign of submission and allegiance.  We all want solutions to our problems.  Stress and anxiety, financial pressure, health problems, broken relationships, loneliness, guilt and shame, addiction, uncertainty about the future, lack of purpose, loss and grief…  It would be great if Jesus would deliver us now and on our own terms.

Jesus brings the answers—but not according to our plans or expectations.  He brings them on His terms. He is Lord. And when we surrender, we experience His Kingdom.  We find peace, even when life in this world is still hard.  And we hope that we will be made right with God and, ultimately, every broken part of our world will be made right too.

But many in that crowd chanting hosanna were not ready to truly welcome the Messiah.
Within a week, many would chant “Crucify Him!” and “We have no king but Caesar!” 

Jesus Weeps over Jerusalem
And so, Jesus enters Jerusalem and weeps in Luke 19:42-44, “⁴² “How I wish today that you of all people would understand the way to peace. But now it is too late, and peace is hidden from your eyes. ⁴³ Before long your enemies will build ramparts against your walls and encircle you and close in on you from every side. ⁴⁴ They will crush you into the ground, and your children with you. Your enemies will not leave a single stone in place, because you did not recognize it when God visited you.^[d]”

Closing
The crowd laid down their cloaks and shouted, “Hosanna!” But many were not ready to let Jesus truly be their King.  The question for us today as we clos is not what the crowd did, but it’s "what we will do."  Will we welcome Jesus as He is?  Or only as we want Him to be?

How will you respond to Jesus today?

Jesus Greives Over Jerusalem | A Sermon on Luke 13:31-35

Introduction
Throughout this season of Lent, I’ve been sharing stories of Jesus’ final weeks leading up to His crucifixion in Jerusalem.  To get to Jerusalem, He probably traveled south from Capernaum in  Galilee down through Samaria.  Then he crossed over to the east side Jordan River—a region called Perea, where Herod Antipas ruled as a puppet of Rome.  He spent several days ministering in Perea.  Then, Jesus crossed back over the Jordan into Judea, visited Jericho (where He eats at the house of Zacchaeus, the wee little man), and finally He made His ascent up to Jerusalem for Palm Sunday and events of Holy week.

But today, we find Jesus in Perea and He is thinking of Jerusalem, lamenting over the Holy City lost in rebellion against God.

Luke 13:31-35
³¹ At that time some Pharisees said to him, “Get away from here if you want to live! Herod Antipas wants to kill you!”

³² Jesus replied, “Go tell that fox that I will keep on casting out demons and healing people today and tomorrow; and the third day I will accomplish my purpose. ³³ Yes, today, tomorrow, and the next day I must proceed on my way. For it wouldn’t do for a prophet of God to be killed except in Jerusalem!

³⁴ “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones God’s messengers! How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn’t let me. ³⁵ And now, look, your house is abandoned. And you will never see me again until you say, ‘Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord!’^[a]”

A Warning for Jerusalem
When Jesus speaks these words in Luke 13, He’s not talking about just any old city. 

He is talking about Jerusalem.  This is the Holy City of God.  It’s supposed to be the capital of God’s Kingdom on Earth—at least in the thinking of the Jews of Jesus’ day.

It was the center of worship.  The home of God’s Temple.  The place where people believed God’s presence dwelled.  Is there any church that is more holy, more important than the Temple of God in Jerusalem?  If any place on earth seemed secure… it was Jerusalem.

And yet Jesus says:  “Jerusalem, Jerusalem… you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you…”  Do you know what happened to Jerusalem? 

Not many years later, it was utterly destroyed by the Romans. The Temple was torn down.  Not one stone was left upon another.  Why?  Because Jerusalem would not turn back to God.

Jerusalem and the Holy Temple were supposed to point people to God.  But many people in Jerusalem became so enamored with their city and temple that they loved them more than God.  Their Temple.  Their traditions.  Their history.  Their identity.

They loved those things so much, they could not let them go—even when God Himself (Jesus) was standing right in front of them.  They chose their symbols over the Savior.

I once visited Jerusalem.  It was clear that every square inch of the city is considered sacred.  It is so sacred, it's hard to get anything done.  Our tour guide explained about someone who began to construct a building.  They got all the necessary permits.  However, when they dug down to lay the foundation, they ran into some artifacts.  (Artifacts are littered under almost all the city, because it has stood in the same spot for 5,000 years.)  Experts were called in and it was determined the artifacts were very important sacred relics.  Therefore, the owner was no longer allowed to build on the property.

They people of Jesus day wee no less protective of their city, their traditions, and their buildings.  And Jesus knew their hearts, even before He arrived in Jerusalem.  He knew they would not change, even when the Son of God came asking them to turn back to God and receive peace and forgiveness.  And Jesus grieved, “Oh Jerusalem, Jerusalem…”

How could they miss it?  How could they love a city and its buildings more than they love God?

What About Us?
We might shake our heads at Jerusalem’s folly, but we need to be careful.  What might Jesus be saying to us today?  Because we often do the same thing.

We love the things of this world—the things of our life—more than God.

I recently moved to a new town to serve a new church.  It was hard to leave my previous home.  We lived their for 15 years--longer than we lived anywhere else in my life.  I loved my church and my friends there and it was also the first home we'd ever owned for ourselves.  And I often heard Satan whispering in my ear, "Chris, you can't leave this place.  Look at al you've done here.  Look at what you've built.  This is your home. Are you really going to leave this behind just because God tells you to go somewhere else?"

And I would have to shew Satan away like a fly, because i knew it was God that brought me there.  And it was God who would lead me to my knew home.  And it is God who I serve and who is the first priority of my life.  I will love Him above everything else.  And I will serve Him.  And I will go where He leads me.  And I will die to whatever tries to take His place in my life. 

We are often tempted to be like the people of Jerusalem in Jesus’ day.  We make an idol of our church.  We become so attached to our church buildings, our traditions, our memories of “how things used to be”, our favorite ministries or mission projects, that we begin to love those things more than we love God Himself.  And when that happens, even good things become idols.

We can make an idol of anything—if we love it more than God.  We might make an idol of our children, our family, our romantic relationships.  Money, sex, or influence can become an idol.  We can even turn our patriotism into and idol when we become so enamored with our nation that we love America more than we love God and we trust in our military strength or our political leaders more than we trust Jesus. 

We have idols in our own personal lives too—things we hold so tightly that we resist God when He calls us to change. It might be:

• A habit we don’t want to give up
• A relationship we know isn’t right
• A lifestyle we’ve grown comfortable with
• A bitterness we’ve learned to live with
• A sense of control we refuse to surrender

We may try to excuse ourselves and say, “This is just who I am.” 
But what if God is saying, “No… I want more for you than that”?

And remember, God did not spare even Jerusalem, even His Temple, when it refused to turn back to Him.  And we should not assume that God will protect anything in our lives that takes His place.  Not our nation. Not our traditions. Not our comfort.  Not even our church.  Not if they ever become more important to us than Christ. 

The Heart of Christ
I know.  It sounds harsh.  But I don’t want you to miss this:  Look at Jesus’ heart.  He’s not speaking in anger.

Jesus is weeping.  “How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn’t let me.”

Jesus doesn’t want destruction.  Jesus doesn’t want to punish.  It hurts His heart all the more, because Jesus knows there’s a gentler way forward; they could repent and God would forgive.

Embedded in Jesus’ lament is the best option for all of us.  Turn back to God. 

Turn away from the path of destruction and find peace with God.
Let go of what you are clinging to and return to the One who truly gives life.

Invitation
Jesus grieved over Jerusalem.  But the real question for us today is not:  “What was wrong with Jerusalem?” 

The question is:  "Is there anything in my life that I am holding onto more tightly than I am holding onto Jesus?"

Because Jesus is still calling:  “Come to me.”
And the safest place to be is not in a building, not in a tradition,  not in a memory.
The safest place to be is in the arms of Christ.

Choose today who you will serve.  As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.