In This Thy Day

(This message can be heard in its entirety on my YouTube playlist HERE. I post new sermons every Wednesday.)

And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it, Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes.

Luke 19:41-42

Where does this knowing come from? It comes from applying ourselves to God’s Word. Jerusalem didn’t know because, like Belshazzar, instead of fasting and praying they had been feasting and playing. And so you, O Man, will you know? Do you know? Are you concerned about the condition of your heart?

Here the Savior is weeping because of what could have been if they had known. They could have recognized him as Messiah, Savior, Immanuel but they didn’t and they demonstrated that just a few days later.

What about your peace, O Man? Do you know the things that belong to your peace? Do you know there is an open invitation of God for you to call on Him? Are you ready to submit yourself to the Lordship of Jesus Christ? To humble yourself before him and call yourself poor and needy? Days are coming upon you too, O Man whosoever you might be.

Now Christ conquers, and achieves his own ends, but he does so to some extent invisibly. His enemies in us and outside us seem to prevail. But he will bring forth judgment unto victory, in full view of all. The wicked that now shut their eyes to this shall see it to their torment. It shall not be in the power of subtle men to see or not see what they wish. Christ will have power over their hearts; and as his wrath shall immediately seize upon their souls against their wills, so will he have power over the eyes of their souls, that they may see and know what will increase their misery. Grief shall be fastened to all their senses, and their senses to grief. Then all the false glosses which they put upon things shall be wiped off. Men are desirous to have the reputation of good, and yet the sweetness of ill; nothing is so cordially opposed by them as that truth which lays them open to themselves and to the eyes of others, their chief care being how to deceive the world and their own consciences. But the time will come when they shall be driven out of this fools’ paradise, and the more subtle their manipulation of things has been, the more shall be their shame.

Richard Sibbes, The Bruised Reed.

Here is our prayer today.

And he taught daily in the temple. But the chief priests and the scribes and the chief of the people sought to destroy him, And could not find what they might do: for all the people were very attentive to hear him.

Luke 19:47-48

Lord, teach us that we might know the day of our visitation. Lord, teach us that we might know the things that make for our peace. Lord, teach us that our eyes might be opened and that none of your goodness be hid from us. Lord, teach us to fear the day of judgment and while we yet have an hour, to prepare ourselves and warn others about that day. Lord, teach us that while the world would seek to destroy you we might rejoice in the beauty of the Lord our God. Lord, teach us and just as they could not find what they might do. Let sinners be attentive to your gospel that the church proclaims. Lord, teach us to keep our temple free of buying and selling and all the filth of a world drunk on fornication. Lord, teach us to welcome your glad voice as it echos in our hearts. Lord Jesus, in your name we pray. Teach us.