If You Had Only Known

Last week to celebrate Palm Sunday, I read through each of the Gospel accounts of the Triumphal Entry. The day Jesus entered Jerusalem on a humble donkey. People laid out their coats for Him and waved palm branches chanting phrases we are familiar with but rarely utter aloud. “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord” and “Hosanna in the highest”!

While each gospel is similar, some details are different. The one that jumped off the page and grabbed my attention was in the book of Luke. Jesus was coming through town as I described above which made some religious leaders very nervous and uneasy. Check out Luke 19:38-42.

“Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, ‘Teacher, rebuke your disciples!’ ‘I tell you,’ He replied, ‘if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.’ As He approached Jerusalem and saw the city, He wept over it and said, ‘If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace – but now it is hidden from your eyes.’”

First, the fact that the people were making a lot of noise praising God for Jesus and His coming kingdom is exciting. Their day had arrived. The one they’d been waiting for. The Savior, right in their midst. Some knew it and did what comes naturally when the supernatural coincides with the natural – break out into praise.

One would think the religious leaders would be out in front of the parade. After all, they were the studied, the experts of the law of God, weren’t they? Why weren’t they participating at the very least? Instead, they were telling Jesus to keep the people quiet. I just love His response. My paraphrase – “better let them go – nothing can stop ‘em! If they don’t do it – you’ll have more happening than you’ll know what to do with.”

Secondly, Jesus’ response when overlooking the city of people He came to save, who rejected His message and His love. Jesus was so overcome with emotion that He wept. And those next words are powerful. What did He mean by “if you had only known on this day what would bring you peace.”? He meant that this moment was prophecy fulfilled! Daniel and Zechariah predicted this day. It’s so sad they didn’t see it – and weren’t looking for it. And because they didn’t, the dark consequence is that ‘now it is hidden from your eyes’.

What I see here are some practical applications for us. I’ll put it simply.

1. Know Scripture so that you know what’s happening in your world. When things come to pass as the Scriptures predict (and there’s still so much more to come, friends), let’s be expecting it – not caught unaware and then skeptical.
2. See with new eyes and fresh understanding that Jesus came to give us peace. You know that is what we are all looking for. No worries, no wondering, instead, a firm faith in God who is trustworthy.
3. The dangerous consequences that illumination is a window of opportunity which won’t always be open. If we choose not to see, we’ll lose the ability. He weeps when we choose not to notice Him or believe His Word.

Easter is a triumphant day. New life. Spring. Eggs hatching. Bulbs blooming. It’s all related. And it’s all because of Jesus. We celebrate Christ’s victory over the grave. We recognize His resurrection power that raised Jesus from the dead. We, too, can live in victory over sin and death. That’s the whole point.

Romans 8:11 says, “And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who lives in you.”

I pray that you will let loose this weekend and cry out “Hosanna” to your King. Call Him “blessed”! Recognize that He came for you. He came to give you peace. His gift is resurrection power living inside you to give you life – abundant life!

And He came to bring your friends and neighbor’s peace. They are looking for it. I hope they see it demonstrated in the life of every believer. Do they see the peace of God in your life? Peace that says we are loved and our futures are secure in Christ. Not dependent on works or prayers or effort.

So take a moment to offer Jesus’ gift to someone you know who is not at peace. Not with life. Not with man. Not with God. Someone who is a worrier. Someone who is trying to control every aspect of his/her life. Someone who lives in fear of the future or maybe even fear of the present or past. Bet you know someone, just like I do. We’ve got a glorious message to tell.

We’d better get moving – just like the ladies and the disciples at the tomb did when they realized that all He said was true! Remember what the angel said – “I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; He has risen, just as He said.” Matt. 28:5-6