Stones (A Holy Week SOAP Journal from Luke 19)

In addition to regular articles, I will be posting some simple SOAP journals that were produced during a regular gathering of pastors to journal, pray, and encourage one another. These are not exhaustively studied as they are generally the work of 20 minutes of reading, 20 minutes of writing, and 20 minutes of sharing with each other what we have written. Hopefully, these brief devotional posts will be encouraging to the readers of this blog. If you are not familiar with the term, we used the SOAP acronym as a devotional guide... which stands for:

• Scripture—what verse or short section caught my attention today? 
• Observation—what can I briefly notice that the passage specifically says?
• Application—what will I do differently as a result of having read this today?
• Prayer—what will I ask the Triune God to do for, in, and through me today?

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S = Luke 19:40-42, 44b 

Temple stones toppled by the Romans in 70 A.D.

“He answered, ’I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.’ And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over it, saying,

‘Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes... And they will not leave one stone upon another in you, because you did not know the time of your visitation.’”

Chapel of the Tears. Photo: Greg Dueker

O = If they, the human witnesses to the life and ministry of Jesus the Messiah, did not burst into praise, testifying to what they had seen and heard, the very stones would do so. However, while the crowds of disciples rejoiced, the people of Jerusalem didn’t know, didn’t understand, didn't recognize, and ultimately didn't accept what had to happen for them to have peace. On his way into the city, Jesus stopped and wept over their stubborn refusal to be saved. Jesus would do it all for them on the cross, but the inhabitants of Jerusalem could have turned to him long before that as he preached, healed, and even turned over the tables of the oppressive moneychangers. Even after the cross, though many followed Jesus, the city and nation that rejected the chief cornerstone that day continued in their hardness of heart. They didn’t recognize God when he came to them in a visitation of grace. As a result of their rejection of the offer of reconciliation, there was no one to rescue them from themselves on the day, in AD 70, that their empty stone facade would be torn down to speak no longer.

A = It is easy for me to judge their shortsightedness and unbelief...especially since I have read the rest of the story! However, I may not be so different. I have to ask whether I recognize when God graciously comes to me today in his Word (the Bible), in the witness of other Christians, and in “the least of these” I may encounter along the way? How should I respond to these "kingdom of God" visitations? Have I stopped to consider the high cost of my salvation…recently? Will my life praise God and bless others this week? How?

Nazareth Village. Photo: Joshua Mitchell

P = O Lord, help me to get a clue! Open my eyes to see you as you really are! Open my heart to believe you and bless you enthusiastically! You are the Cornerstone of my life…may I build my house on that solid foundation, on the Rock, as a result of hearing and obeying your Word today (Matt. 7:24-27), rather than trusting in my own sandy efforts and the sticky clay-like accomplishments of man. Amen.