As he [Jesus] 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.” Luke 19:41-42 (NIV)
Lord Jesus, before the Day you will wipe away our tears, you wept many of your own. You grieve the way we look for peace in all the wrong places. Lasting, deep peace can only be found in you.
The tears you shed just days before you were crucified, declare the wonder of these words from the Apostle Paul:
“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly… God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:6-8). Thank you, Jesus.
The only reason we have peace with God—and peace in this pandemic-invaded season of our lives, is because of what you did for us on the cross. It wasn’t about us “turning over a new leaf.” We needed to become a whole new tree. We didn’t need a new start; we needed a new heart. We were dead when you gave us life; hapless when you made us yours; hopeless when you gave us grace.
We’d still be looking for peace everywhere else—in people, money and control—if you hadn’t opened our eyes to see the depth of our need, and the riches of your grace. Easter is a celebration of you doing for us what we could never do for ourselves.
We long for the Day when we’ll never again be tempted to look for peace, life, and joy anywhere else but in you, Jesus. Until that Day, we trust you to be our contentment and satisfaction, our righteousness and our inheritance. So very Amen we pray with gratitude and adoration, in your wonderful and merciful name.
