Passage Read: Luke 23-24
Meditation Verse: 23:28
Thought
Did these women weep for Jesus or for all three who were about to be crucified? Did they know Jesus or just mourn over the death of their own people at the hands of the Romans? Jesus indicates that they have no idea what's coming, and will be caught up in the disaster. It does not sound like they are faithful followers. Maybe they weren't part of the crowd that just called for His crucifixion! But here is Jesus. He has already suffered and is about to be crucified, yet He spares a thought for those who reside in the city, knowing they will suffer even greater things. His torment will be over in a few hours, but theirs will last days, perhaps even months. All because they did not recognize the day of Christ's visitation. They feel bad for Jesus, or they're just doing what they do, mourning the coming death of strangers. They should be mourning for themselves, because they didn't recognize and believe in Jesus. What good is it to feel bad for innocent people if we do not recognize our own coming judgment? Jesus will suffer, then be comforted and exalted for eternity. In the midst of His own torment, He issues a warning to those who watch. These people will go on with their lives, ignorant of the judgment that is coming, then will suffer not just during the siege of Jerusalem, but any who did not believe in Jesus will also suffer an eternity of torment for their rejection of God and His Messiah. If they had believed Him, they could flee from Jerusalem and keep far from it until its destruction was complete. But if they didn't believe in Jesus and all He taught, they would probably just join some other group of rebels and be killed elsewhere.
Application
This is Jesus being rejected by the town of Jerusalem. He's not just leaving, but being thrown out by the residents. This is Jesus kicking the dust of their town off His feet as a testimony against them. This is Jesus testifying against them, of their coming doom because they did not receive His message. This is His last act of compassion for rebellious people: You mourn for Me as if what I'm about to suffer is so bad, but because you have rejected Me, you will suffer even worse. One last attempt to pierce their consciences, that they might wake up, repent and turn to Him for salvation. In a few weeks, Jesus' apostles would be preaching about Him, testifying that He is the Christ, that they crucified Him and He rose from the dead, and thousands would turn in repentance and believe. How many had been thinking on these last words of Jesus to them, and finally were cut to the quick, repented and believed? Those who refuse the message need to be warned of the consequences of their rejection--in hope that the warning might stick in their hearts and work repentance if another chance to hear the truth of Christ comes their way. Testifying against those who reject the Gospel is not merely commanded, it is compassion. I need the boldness not just to speak the Gospel when I open my mouth, but courage to warn those who refuse it--out of love for them because they're rejecting their only hope, not in anger as if they're insulting and rejecting me. Not in rejection of them, but in compassion for them.