CHRISTIAN ETHOS IN ACTION – “If you had known” – Luke 19:42

CHRISTIAN ETHOS IN ACTION – “If you had known, namely you, in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes.” (Luke 19:42)

 The phrase “if you”, as it applies to you (and me) as a disciple of Jesus, appears one hundred twenty-four times in the English Standard Version (ESV) of the New Testament.

First, we will be confronted with various situations and circumstances from the Bible and, we will discover how we are to respond in these examples. Secondly, I have personalized (rephrased) our study verses for you to memorize. By this, we can bring the Gospel to life as we go and defeat sin along our way.

Today we, as Christians, are confronted with questions about how we should deal with matters such as praising God versus religious customs, shortsightedness, the consequences of living blindly and in ignorance of God and the Bible,and knowing and experiencing God.

IN CONTEXT

”As Jesus was drawing near—already on the way down the Mount of Olives—the whole multitude of his disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen, saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” And some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.” He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.”

“And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over it, saying, “If you, (namely) you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. For the days will come upon you, when your enemies will set up a barricade around you and surround you and hem you in on every side and tear you down to the ground, you and your children within you. And they will not leave one stone upon another in you, because you did not know the time of your visitation.” (Luke 19:37-42)

REPHRASED and personalized to memorize:

“If I, yes, especially me, will know the things that make for peace! But if I am not paying attention, those things will be hidden from my eyes, and then the days will come upon me when my enemies could set up a barricade around me and surround me and hem me in on every side and tear me down to the ground, me and my children with me. They would not leave one stone upon another in my life if I do not know the time of my visitation – that is, the time of God coming to me.” (Luke 19:37-42)

God is telling us that knowing, following, obeying and experiencing Jesus, is what makes peace.

Jesus tells us, “(It is) Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” (John 14:27)

It is in trusting that your religious traditions and rituals will bring you peace and safety, that you will find your dilemma. It is at that time you will come out from under the safety, provision and protection of God – and that is the day when your enemies will set up a barricade around you and surround you and hem you in on every side and tear you down to the ground – you and your children with you. They will not leave one stone upon another in your life

Instead, rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all His mighty works – including those that you have seen. Rejoice and praise, saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” (For if you are silent, the very stones will cry out).

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

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