Jesus wept over the city of Jerusalem standing on the mount of olives
Luke 19:41-44 “As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it 42 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. 43 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. 44 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 recognize the time of God’s coming to you.”

if you’d only known what would bring you peace …

What would bring peace is a faith in a who not a what?

The coming of the Messiah was referred to as a “Mystery” that is something that is hidden. But Jesus came as the revelation of God.  Jesus was the unveiling of the love and provision of God. In a world without peace, the arms of God or open wide there’s why does the arms of Christ on the cross as wide open as the empty tomb. John 14.27 Jesus says “peace I leave with you my peace I give you I did not give to you as the world gives do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid”

What is the peace that he leaves? Chapter 14 verse 1-3 says “do not let your hearts be troubled and trust in God trust also in me in my fathers house are many rooms if it were not so I would’ve told you I’m going to prepare a place for you …I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am”

What is the peace three things: 1) there is a place there is room for you inGod’s plan in God’s house 2) Jesus has made provision for you 3) Jesus is coming.   if you only knew … the peace people need to hear from us is that there is room for them. There is room for them in our lives, room for them in the church, more importantly there is room for them in God’s kingdom through the provision of the work of Christ! The piece that the world needs is that he knows, he cares, and He is coming!  The fact that we will be attacked is a reality. The reality is we will experience hardship. Jesus said “I n this world you will have trouble but take heart I have overcome the world.” It is not going to be easy for us.  When we become Christians we do not become invincible superheroes we are just fragile vessels with the hope of glory in us. In our brokenness, God’s glory shines through us.

So, 2 Corinthians 4:6 says that the same God who said “let light shine out of darkness” May the light shine in our hearts to give light of the knowledge of God in the face of Christ Jesus. And sometimes the only way we see his face is when we are not down and have to look up. Then verse seven says we have this treasure -that is the light of God’s glory – in jars of Clay to show that the surpassing power is from God and not us.  Then 2 Corinthians 4 goes on to say “we are hard pressed on every side but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed we always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may be revealed”

If only they knew… We need to weep for those around that do not know. But do not weep without telling them. If we tell them and they will not receive them and weep for them because it is only hidden by their unbelief, by their circumstances that wall them in. Pray for the breaking that will let the light shine.  Be willing to be personally broken and vulnerable to allow the light, to shine into their lives. Pray for illumination and revelation to come forth for their transformation.