This was Psalm Sunday, Jesus’ “Triumphal Entry” into Jerusalem where a great multitude of people were honoring Jesus, holding psalm branches and crying out, “Blessings on the King who comes in the name of the LORD! PEACE in heaven, and GLORY in highest heaven!” (Luke 19:38)
Look what happened, on one of the most amazing days of Christ’s ministry, “When Jesus approached Jerusalem, He saw the city and WEPT OVER IT, saying, “If you had known in this day, even you, the things which make for peace! But now THEY HAVE BEEN HIDDEN FROM YOUR EYES.” Today your praising me, in just a few days you will all cry out “crucify Him”. As a result of this REJECTION of God’s redemption. “…the days will come upon you when your enemies will throw up a barricade against you, and surround you and hem you in on every side, and they will LEVEL YOU TO THE GROUND and your children within you, and they will not leave in you ONE STONE UPON ANOTHER, because you did not recognize the time of your visitation.” (Luke 19:41-44)
Gessius Florus loved money and hated Jews. He ruled Judea, caring little for their religious feelings. When tax revenues were low, he seized silver from the temple. As the uproar against him grew, in A.D. 66, he sent troops into Jerusalem who massacred 3,600 Jews. Florus’s action touched off an explosive rebellion—the First Jewish Revolt—that had been sizzling for some time. Cestius Callus, the Roman governor of the region, marched from Syria with twenty thousand soldiers. He besieged Jerusalem for six months, yet failed. He left six thousand dead Roman soldiers, not to mention weaponry that the Jewish defenders picked up and used. “The Lord is NOT SLOW in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. Instead He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9)
Emperor Nero sent his son Titus to conduct the Jewish War. The Romans broke through the outer wall, then the second wall, and finally the third wall. Still the Jews fought, scurrying to the temple as their last line of defense. That was the end for the valiant Jewish defenders and for the temple. Historian Josephus claimed that Titus wanted to preserve the temple, but his soldiers were so angry at their resilient opponents that they threw EVERY STONE down. The remaining Jews were slaughtered or sold as slaves all over the world. Joel prophesied, “For behold, in those days and at that time, When I bring back the captives of Judah and Jerusalem, (May 14th 1948 Israel became a nation for the 2nd time) I will also GATHER ALL NATIONS (mentioned in Ezekiel 38th &39th Chapters) bring them down to the VALLEY OF JEHOSHAPHAT; And I will enter into judgment with them there On account of My people, My heritage Israel, Whom they have scattered among the nations; THEY HAVE ALSO DIVIDED UP MY LAND.” (Israel belongs to God…) (Joel 3:1-2)
Your Personal Pastor -Bill Stockham