You are Invited

Resurrection of Lazarus by Bonnat

Readings: Matthew 22:1-14, John 11

Sometime just before the Triumphant Entry into Jerusalem, Jesus' friend Lazarus was sick and then died. Jesus came to Bethany 4 days later to a family and a town mourning in grief for the loss of their brother and friend. It was here that Jesus did His greatest miracle and the one that showed people that He had power over death.  After being in the tomb for four days, Jesus shouted, "Lazarus, come out!" John 11:43 NLT And the dead man came out, bound in his grave clothes! Wow! When the people saw this, many of them believed in Jesus. Some of them went and told the Pharisees what Jesus had done. Feeling threatened by Jesus' miracles and popularity with the people;  the leaders called a high council meeting, asking one another "What are we going to do?... If we allow him to go on like this, soon everyone will believe in him. Then the Roman army will come and destroy our temple and our nation... So from that time on, the Jewish leaders began to plot Jesus' death. " John 11: 47-53 NLT

Hind sight is always 20/20. For us to look back, we can see that what they did in that week did not prevent the Romans from destroying their temple and their nation. Rather their actions resulted in God judging their nation and allowing the Romans to destroy the temple and lovely Jerusalem, as well as scatter the Jews all over the world. Look at this quote in yesterdays post as Jesus looked over the city and wept:
"...He went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem... ' Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, saying, 'If only you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation.' " Luke 19:28-44 NKJ

This week was not only the week of Jesus' Passion. It was the week of decision among these leaders. The decision they unwittingly made brought judgment on their people and their nation. As Jesus said, these leaders were blind to what they were about to do, it was hidden from their eyes, because they did not know the time of their visitation. They did not know that Jesus was in fact their Messiah and was walking among them! As they prepared for Passover, THE PASSOVER was here and after thousands of Passover Celebrations they missed it, because they missed HIM. Sometime after Jesus raised Lazarus, He rode into Jerusalem in the midst of the praises of the people, He cleansed the temple of the money changers. He healed and did miracles; really ruffling the feathers of these leaders. They began demanding of Jesus "By what authority are you doing all of these things? Who gave you the right?" Matthew 21; 23 NLT It was in this context that Jesus told the Parable of the Great Feast.

Tintoretto

"A king... prepared a banquet for his son. When the banquet was ready, he sent his servants to notify those who were invited. But they all refused to come!... they ignore them and went their own way, one to his farm, another to his business. Others seized his messengers and killed them. The king was furious, and he sent out his army to destroy the murderers and burn their town. And he said to his servants, 'The Wedding Feast is ready, and the guests invited aren't worthy of the honor. Now go out to the street corners and invite everyone you see. So the servants brought in everyone they could find, good and bad alike, and the banquet hall was filled with guests." Matthew 22:1-14 NLT

This parable and the previous two were about these leaders and they knew it. They were really angry and wanted to arrest Him, but they were afraid of the people, who considered Jesus to be a prophet. Even today, most of the Jews have not recognized Jesus as their Messiah, though many are coming to Him in these later times. We need to pray for them, that God will give them revelation to see that Jesus is their Messiah.

But because they refused the invitation; we were invited to the Great Feast to be held in eternity. Do you see us there in the story? The people on the street corners, the good and the bad. Yes we are invited!!! You... me, invited to the Kings Great Feast held in honor of His Son Jesus! Are you willing to come? Or are you just too busy to come?

Praying for each of us as individuals that we will hear the call and come. Praying for a nation, lost in worldliness and sin to repent and come. Praying our leaders will not continue to reject the calls for repentance. Praying for revival of a people and of a nation, both Israel, America and the rest of the world.

You are invited!!! You are invited to Resurrection Life Forever! Will You Come?