_ And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch

Over their flocks by night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and

the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.

But the angel said to them,

‘Do not be afraid,

  I bring you good news of great joy

  that will be for all people.

Today in the town of David a Saviour

  Has been born to you;

  He is Christ the Lord’

This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel praising God and saying,

  ‘Glory to God in the highest,

  And on earth peace to those on whom his

  favour rests’.  (Luke 2:8-14)

In POD (The Encrypt 14-18s bible study) this week, we looked at the parable in Luke 15 of the lost son.  It’s an amazing story of the wonderful love of an incredibly generous and merciful father towards his two sons.  Tim Keller has written a very good book about this parable called ‘The Prodigal God,’ in which he shows the three ways to live that are illustrated in the story:

1) You can be a Lost Son.  The younger son says to his father, “I wish you were dead, then I could have all your money.  Give me what I get when you die now,” and then he goes off living a riotous life, doing whatever he wants.  He’s an example of a ‘bad person.’  He takes everything God has given him and says, “I don’t need you, God, I’m going to enjoy life and live for me.”

2) You can be an Older Son.   At the end of the parable, the older brother says to his father, “I’ve slaved for years for you, and now you’re wasting my inheritance throwing parties for my useless brother!”  Like the younger son, he wants his father’s stuff, but he doesn’t love his father.  He’s an example of a ‘good person,’ who is moral and upright.  He tries to earn his way to heaven, to enjoy all the good things that God gives, but he doesn’t actually love God himself.

3) You can be a Found Son.   The younger son realises what he has done, that he has rejected his father, and he repents.  He turns around and goes to the father, to ask him to forgive him and let him pay back for his wrongdoing.  As soon as he gets within sight of the house, however, the father rushes out and hugs him, welcoming him home as his own dear son.  And the third way to live is to realise you have rejected God, turn back to him and trust in Jesus.  Then you are welcomed as an utterly beloved child of God, and you love him back.

It’s not really a story about a lost son.  It’s about a heavenly Father who loves us so much that he would sacrifice everything to make us his children.
Jez Lowries

With the shouts and cheers of the crowd still ringing in the air, Jesus came over the top of the Mount of Olives.  As the city of Jerusalem burst into view before him, the Saviour of the world burst into tears.  Not quiet tears.  The Greek verb implies great sobs, loud wailing.  And through his loud sobs, Jesus uttered words of grief over the city and predicted its destruction, because it did not recognise the significance of the moment it was experiencing - that God was visiting his people. 

John Stott writes:
‘It is surely remarkable that, at the very moment when Jesus warned the city of judgment, he was weeping over it in love.
Divine judgment (which is the main theme throughout Holy Week) is a solemn, awesome reality.  But the God who judges is the God who weeps.  He is not willing that any should perish.  And when in the end his judgment falls on anybody (as Jesus said it will), God’s eyes will be full of tears.’
(Through the Bible through the Year, p.224)

Jesus’ tears reveal the heart of God towards a world in rebellion against him.  One commentator has said that the tears of Christ measure the value of your soul. 

As we respond to the events of Palm Sunday today, the question is, will the Lord weep over us?    PJ