Exaudi Wednesday - Devotion in Exile

Lection for Wednesday of Exaudi 
Numbers 16:23-42      Luke 19:29-48

Jesus comes to Jerusalem, and looking over the city, he weeps saying, “If you had known in this day, even you, the things which make for peace! But now they have been hidden from your eyes. For the days will come upon you when your enemies will throw up a barricade against you, and surround you and hem you in on every side, and they will level you to the ground and your children within you, and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not recognize the time of your visitation.” (vv.42-44)

Jesus is speaking on two sorts of levels at the same time.  First, He is prophesying the total destruction of Jerusalem – this was a physical reality that took place in 70 AD.  It took place because the Jews rejected Jesus, and by so doing, rejected the very God of their forefathers. They rejected the One whom God had promised to send in the Garden of Eden, the One in whom Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob had placed their faith and hope, the One of whom Moses had prophesied, indeed Jesus was the One of whom all the Psalms and the prophets spoke. The Jews rejected Jesus, very God of very God, the One who had come to save them from their sins and bring them peace.

In rejecting Jesus, they reject also the God they profess to believe in. Jesus said, “whoever rejects Me, rejects Him who sent Me.” They missed the time of their visitation.  Because of that, they lost Jerusalem. And because they still miss the time of their visitation in Christ, they are still continuing to be lost.

You may be thinking, but I don’t reject Jesus, what has this to do with me? 

Tons! Do you know the time of your visitation?

The Jews of Jesus’ day thought is was their place to do what God required and so earn their place in the kingdom. Even though all the Scriptures, the Law and the Prophets, all pointed to Jesus, they missed the time of their visitation – they did not know the things that make for their peace.

Do you remember How Jesus explained it?  “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me.” (John 5:39) They thought that by their works they could gain eternal life, that if they searched the Scriptures and did all that was required, they’d gain heaven – by their works.

Jesus says quite plainly that this is not so. All the Scripture gives witness to Jesus Christ.  It is Christ alone who brings peace, that is, Christ alone quiets the wrath of God against sin. Christ alone is where God’s righteous demands are met. Christ alone carries the destruction that God promises to mete upon all those who are not perfectly obedient to His righteous demands.

Jesus shows signs and wonders to the people, He does miracle after miracle, and they still disbelieve. Oh sure, they want Jesus to do more miracles. They want Him to take care of all their physical needs. They want Jesus to end their occupation by the Roman Empire and again make them a great nation. But even after Jesus rises from the dead, the majority do not believe that He is the long-awaited Messiah.

Jesus weeps over them, for they miss the time of their visitation. Christ visits them to so much more than provide for their earthly needs, although He does this as well.  His miracles point to His power over that which brings pain, suffering, need, and death in this physical life – that is – sin. Every healing is a conquering of sin.  Every miracle shows Jesus’ power over that the ravages of sin. Jesus comes to bring peace, a complete and total conquering of sin and death, so that they no longer have any power.

So, what about you? Do you miss the time of your visitation?

How many of you here would like to have the confidence that eternal life is yours, and that you will rise on the last day to enjoy a place in His eternal kingdom? How many of you are concerned about what Jesus can give you for your life here and now? How many of you, looking for the wrong answer to both these questions, miss the time of your visitation.

When I look in the mirror – the physical one and the mirror of God’s Law – I see the ravages of sin and the harbinger of death. I’m getting old and grey, my eyes aren’t what they used to be, my body often struggles to do what came so easily only a couple years ago when I was in my teens, and I see the shadows of death hanging round me. Yes, my mortal end may be many years in the future, but only someone in denial – or in mid-life crisis – fails to see these truths of sinfulness in their own flesh.

Sin brings us all to this pass. We inherited it from Adam, through our parents, and we’ve passed it along to our children.

Jesus wept when He looked over Jerusalem. He knew what He was coming to accomplish for them with His innocent suffering and death. He knew what He was going to endure under the torturers hand and upon the cross. He knew that His Father must abandon Him to suffer the torments of hell. He knew this, and out of love, desired to endure it for all mankind that they might be saved from their sins.  He wept over Jerusalem because He knew how many would reject the sacrifice of love He would make in order to give them eternal peace.

They were confident of eternity in their own works, but they harbored doubt. They wanted a bread king to make this life happy and pleasant. Jesus came to offer so much more. He came to remove doubt and grant peace. He came to give hope in our earthly pilgrimage, that in spite of all around us, there is so much more.

Do you know the time of your visitation, when Christ comes to give you peace and strength?

Looking at “religious” things through worldly eyes of flesh, we miss so very much.  Too often, we gather in God’s house because we are hoping to get ourselves right with God, or maybe we believe it is our religious duty. Some gather hoping pastor will give good biblical advice that will make life easier.

If those are the reasons that you gather on the Lord’s day, know that I weep in my heart even as Jesus did, for you are missing the time of your visitation.

Christ is present when we gather, to give you the very blessings that He took on human flesh to purchase – forgiveness of sins, eternal life, and salvation. These gifts from Christ are your confidence when you look in the mirror and see the ravages of sin and the haunting face of death. These blessings give you strength to face each new day knowing that it is a gift of God given to you.

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit is the time of your visitation, for as Christ visits you and calls you His own in the waters of  baptism., His name gathers you together in His sanctuary. Christ summons you together as those who bear His name, for He is present in the midst of you to bless you and grant you peace.

A word of forgiveness spoken by your pastor is the time of your visitation, for while it is only a sinner’s voice you hear, it is in the stead and by the command of Christ that word is spoken. In that word Christ Himself visits you and cleanses you of all sin.

Take eat, this is my body… Take drink, this is my blood of the new covenant… is the time of your visitation. Christ feeds you Himself that you might be strengthened in body and soul to life everlasting.

In God’s house, listen to the words of our liturgy, how many times is peace spoken to you? Each is the time of your visitation, for in that word of peace spoken, Christ visits you and gives you peace.

Do you know the time of your visitation? Do you know the mighty, powerful, and  wonderful things that Christ brings and delivers to you in His sanctuary, as you gather with other sinners like yourself?

Each is the time of your visitation!

Christ Himself is present!

Christ Himself blesses you and grants you peace.

Let us pray:    Lord God heavenly Father, you have given to us the riches of Your grace in Your only begotten Son Jesus Christ. Open our eyes to see His gracious visitation to us in Word and Sacrament, where He Himself is present to grant us that which He purchased for us – forgiveness, eternal life, salvation. Amen.