A Spectacle Of Glory #158

Read: Luke 19:37-41

When Jesus entered Jerusalem four days before His crucifixion and saw the joyous crowds worshiping Him, He knew very well what they were thinking. They expected an earthly king who would overthrow Rome and bring in the good life. In response, Jesus began to weep. Why did He weep? Pastor Ed Underwood notes that the Lord could see through their shallow praise.^a He knew their hearts and their real and desperate need. In that moment they didn’t need a Conqueror; they needed a Savior. They needed liberation from the penalty and power of sin. By dying on the cross for them, He would give them what they needed, not what they wanted. In a similar way, we might ask God to change our circumstances. That’s what we want. But God knows what we need, and He may use those same circumstances to change our hearts, leading us into a deeper dependence on Him.

Lord, I know I’m sometimes like those fickle crowds in Jerusalem that broke Your heart. I want my life to be less troublesome, less challenging, happier, smoother, and easier to manage. That’s what I want. But that may not be what I need. What I need most, Lord Jesus, is more of You in my life.