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Building One Another


E. Stanley Ott

GOD'S VISITATION Vol 9 No 11

March 30, 2010

Dear Friend,

Have you ever thought about the range of Jesus’ feelings on Palm Sunday?

 

Luke tells us about the adoration that Jesus, riding on a colt, enjoyed on Palm Sunday while the crowd joyfully praised God and spread their cloaks on the road as a means of honor.

 

As the procession drew near the city of Jerusalem, we can imagine that Jesus would have been thrilled to see the Holy City as all of the people around him were shouting, “Hosanna!”

 

That is why it is such a surprise to read what happens next.  Luke tells us when Jesus saw the city, he wept over it. 

 

He wept?  One can only ask why?  It turns out that it was not because Jesus was thinking about the challenges coming his way in the next few days.  Jesus simply expresses his deepest regret that the people of the city did not recognize the time of God’s visitation.  He knows times of deep desperation will come to them as a result.  So he cries.

 

We realize Jesus sees us very clearly today and he knows if we embrace him by faith and love and follow him or if we hold him at arm’s length.  He knows if we do or don’t acknowledge that he knocks on the door of our heart making his visitation to our own lives perfectly clear to us.

 

In the events of Holy Week that are about to unfold Jesus will be lifted up so that you and I and a great many others may bear witness to the visitation of God to us.

 

Let this be one of the Easters of your life.  Open your eyes to the person of Jesus, embrace him by faith in him, love him and deeply offer yourself to follow him – and know his joy is in you!

 

“So must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.” John 3:14b-15*

 

With joy - E. Stanley Ott

Copyright 2010 E. Stanley Ott

*Scripture from the NRSV