The time of your visitation

The last months have highlighted some stirrings of God if you’ve been looking for them. The Asbury awakening and spread, the Jesus Revolution movie release, even the impact of The Chosen video series. They are but a few of the visible hints that God is on the move. Of course, God is always moving, but some seasons are more transitional than others. I wonder what time it is on God’s clock?

With these thoughts in mind, I had the privilege to literally walk the land where God’s ancient intentions first took root. The dream of God was to live among and love His people in a land flowing with milk and honey. And while I’ve visited Israel before, and stood atop the Mount of Olives, a fresh take from a learned teacher framed new a familiar story. In this Easter season, where we celebrate the greatest of transitions, I’ll try to describe.

That Passover, the greatest feast day of the year, Jesus, his disciples, and thousands of Jewish pilgrims were preparing to ascend from desert near Jericho up to Jerusalem 18 miles away. Expectations were already high, celebration was in the air, but added to that, many believed that Jesus was the long awaited “anointed one," the Messiah, the son of David. All his teachings, what John the Baptist said, the signs and miracles, all pointed to it and Jesus didn’t disappoint, even on this journey. Can you imagine the effect when blind Bartimaeus, just outside Jericho cried out “Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me,” and he did, healing him on the spot? In heightened celebration the throngs sang the traditional songs of ascent (Psalms 120-134) as they climbed the mountain way. Could this be the year?

View of Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives

Rus and his family group on the Mount of Olives, looking over the Temple Mount

Just outside the Mount of Olives, that ancient site where Jewish royalty where traditionally anointed, the crowds were buzzing in anticipation. Everything was lining up. Would this be the time? Would this be the breaking in of God with nationalistic power? It was at Passover that they retold and remembered all the ways God had moved on their behalf.

Imagine the excitement pulsing in the disciples’ hearts when Jesus says, “…go get me a colt.” (Lk 19:30-34) They had just walked all the way from Galilee, and now Jesus is asking for a donkey to carry him the last few yards, and not just a donkey, but a colt? The news spread like wildfire. Everyone knew the prophecy that Israel’s king would come into Jerusalem riding on the foal of a donkey. (Zech 9:9)

Perhaps the most emphatic statement Jesus makes about himself isn’t anything he says, but a picture of himself riding down “Messiah’s hill” on a colt. It’s a statement that says to all, “I am the coming King!”

I don’t know how I missed it all these years. I had somehow come to believe that most people in Israel were indifferent to His coming, they were just minding their own business, going about their routines and therefore, missed the day of their visitation, but not true. The whole city was near a frenzied state at the coming of Jesus. (Matt. 21:10-11)

They lined the road with their coats, a statement of their allegiance and followership. They waved palm branches, a symbol of nationalistic pride. They shouted “hosanna” meaning “save us”. And with testimonies of his miracles, they began to shout the Messiah’s chant “…blessed is He who comes…” These developments both scared and annoyed some of the religious leaders following along. They knew that the Roman legions were on heighten alert looking for agitation during this huge pilgrimage festival. “Teacher, tell these people to shut up.” they say. Their religious spirits irked, but also fearful of a brutal Roman response.

Jesus silenced nothing, locks eyes with these Pharisees saying, “if they keep quiet, the very stones themselves will cry out.”

This passage is so dense with nuance, but I’ll leave it there. It’s the next few lines that gripped me.

As the euphoric procession crested the mount of olives, and Jesus saw a full view of the city of God, the emotion of the moment decidedly shifted. The adulation of the crowds didn’t change, but the emotional response of Jesus did. I wonder if anyone noticed?

The Bible says Jesus wept (deeply, openly) over the city, saying “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I longed to gather your children together, but you were not willing… because you did not know the time of your visitation. (Matt. 23:37; Lk. 19:44)

Such contrast. The whole city is stirred in the hope of the Messiah revealed, yet in their own image. Though they were seeing the “man of God”, they did not recognize how the “God man” was coming, and that made all the difference.

It’s not a new idea, but it thumped me new.

Today I’m looking at things and asking myself, what time is it in heaven? Am I seeing indications of His coming? Am I living like it matters?

May our hearts be stirred anew, longing for his appearing in this resurrection season.

Maranatha,
Rusty