Jerusalem

Midweek Holy Communion at St Giles 22 November 2012

First Reading Revelation 5.1-10

I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals. And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” But no-one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. I wept and wept because no-one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”

Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the centre of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. He came and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne. And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song:

“You are worthy to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
because you were slain,
and with your blood you purchased men for God
from every tribe and language and people and nation.
You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.”

Gospel Luke 19

Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to N.
All Glory to you, O Lord.

As 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. The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognise the time of God’s coming to you.”

This is the Gospel of the Lord.
All Praise to you, O Christ.

Sermon

Gospel reading from Luke 19 starts at v41. It’s about Jerusalem and the Temple. Jesus had been teaching through parables. Now went on to Bethany and Mount of Olives. Here Jesus sent 2 disciples to prepare for Passover meal:

³⁰ “Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. ³¹ If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it.’”

Whilst preparations being made, triumphal entry. NIV Jesus arrives as King. Disciples cry “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” Pharisees call on Jesus to rebuke them, but he would not.

Then Jesus laments over fate of Jerusalem, prior to entering Temple courts and overturning tables of traders and moneychangers.

Earlier in ministry, Messianic secret. Now in fulfilment of prophecy, Jesus openly declares himself Messiah. But in Luke’s account, only disciples welcome him, not crowds. Luke reports a lukewarm reception at best. Had the throng crowding Jerusalem for Passover acclaimed him, there would be less reason for Jesus to emphasize the fate of Jerusalem, which we know was overthrown and destroyed by Romans in 70AD.

But more than Messiah, more than Christ is Jesus’ divinity. Evident in Revelation. No one else was found worthy to take the scroll and break the seals. Only the Lamb who had been slain.

You are worthy to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
because you were slain,
and with your blood you purchased men for God
from every tribe and language and people and nation.

So now, with Jerusalem in ruins, salvation is for every nation and language, purchased by the blood of Christ through his death, which he knew to be his fate when he arrived in Jerusalem. Amen