I Was Nearing Jerusalem

Meditations based on readings from

The Story of My Life As Told by Jesus Christ

January 13, 2020

I Was Nearing Jerusalem

Page 208-209

Luke 19:11-28

This is a troubling parable because it graphically portrays judgment, and none of us wants to be judged. Jesus was not speaking about the future judgment of God at the end of this present age, at his coming again. He was speaking to the people about their here and now, what was about to happen in Jerusalem when the Messiah of God comes to claim his throne.

The Jews had three expectations of their Messiah: he would end the oppression of the Romans; he would re-establish God’s presence in the Temple; he would rule the world as the true King. Those listening to Jesus on the dusty road from Jericho to Jerusalem would have understood the parable to affirm that God’s Kingdom was in fact coming then, and it was coming with judgment and mercy against Israel. Given the increasing hostility directed at Jesus by the establishment, I think those listening to Jesus also began to understand that Jesus would be rejected in Jerusalem. What they clearly did not understand is that Jesus was not just telling them about God and the coming Kingdom of God; Jesus was the incarnation of God. It was Israel’s God who would soon make a triumphant entry into Jerusalem.

My Takeaway: The Bible and the creeds we affirm in church affirm that Jesus is the sovereign God of the universe. (see Colossians 1:15-20 and the Nicene Creed) How different might our life be if we let this truth permeate deep within our soul and guide our every thought and action?

Sē’lah

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(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com. The BLOG is also available on Amazon Kindle, by subscription.

Copyright © 2020 by Alex M. Knight

Publications by Alex M. Knight:

• Seeking the Life in Christ, Meditations on the New Testament and Psalms has been published and is now available at Amazon.com in paperback and Kindle.

• The second edition of  First Think – Then Pray is available on Amazon Kindle.

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.