By Rev. Eric Brown
“Would that you, even you, had known the things that make for peace” – Luke 19:42
So there is Jesus, riding on a donkey on Palm Sunday with crowds praising Him and shouting Hosanna. Yet, when He comes up to Jerusalem, He weeps. Jesus knows what’s going to happen and is driven to tears. Jerusalem will end up being destroyed. 70 AD by the Romans. It would be and was brutal. Horrific. And so Jesus has sorrow.
But this sorrow isn’t something Jesus has because the people have earned it. It isn’t just because some of those in that crowd shouting Hosanna would probably be killed in that revolt. No, it’s why there’d be a revolt in the first place. By week’s end Jesus would be crucified and Jerusalem would go back to looking for a new and better Messiah, one that would lead the glorious revolution and kick out Rome. Jerusalem didn’t want a Son of David that was a Prince of Peace, they wanted a man of war.
Jesus comes to make peace. That’s His goal. Jesus isn’t out to smack people around. His goal isn’t creating the perfect earthly kingdom or society. He wasn’t marching into Jerusalem to go to war with Rome; He was marching to go to the Cross, because there upon the Cross He made and established true and everlasting peace with His death and resurrection.
The world doesn’t want peace. It thrives on violence and anger, threats and intimidation. We’re supposed to be outraged all the time over everything and hating all the bad people out there. Christ Jesus came to put an end to this, to bring the peace that only love and forgiveness and mercy can bring – and He continually gives you this peace whenever He Himself comes to you in His Word and in His Supper.
Now, may the peace that surpasses all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus!
Rev. Eric Brown is pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Herscher, Illinois and the co-host of the HT Gospeled Boldly Podcast.
