Mourners, Scoffers and Gift Receivers

“A large number of people followed Him, including women who mourned and wailed for Him. Jesus turned and said to them, ‘Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children. For if people do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?’” [1]

Many mourned and wailed on the day Jesus Christ was crucified. He had healed them. He had fed them. He taught them the unfettered truth concerning the destiny of sinners and the destiny of saints.

Now, He was going to a cross as a lamb to a slaughter. Barabbas, an insurrectionist, was freed at the request of the people’s religious leaders. Jesus told the ones who mourned and wailed for Him to weep for themselves and for their children. Worse days were ahead for them than for Him. He would resurrect after three days. He would ascend to heaven forty days after that. He will return to earth as the King of kings and Lord of lords. His rejectors will be cast into the lake of fire where there is forever torment and pain.

“Scoffers set a city aflame, but wise men turn away wrath.” [2]

Scoffers shall inherit flames. Those who have wisely embraced Christ as their Savior from sin shall be saved from the flames.

“Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; but happy is he who keeps the law.” [3]

The holiness and righteousness of God is the revelation that yields restraint. Thus, the proverb encourages us to keep God’s law to be happy.

“The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe.” [4]

A snare is a trap. Trappers set traps to catch prey. Life does not end well once the trap is sprung. To entrust your life into the hands of flawed people is to walk into a trap thinking it won’t hurt you. Even a person with good intentions cannot keep you safe from harm like the Lord does. The intention of our Lord Jesus Christ is to bring you into the Kingdom of God where there is love, joy, and peace forevermore.

“Many seek the ruler’s favor, but justice for man comes from the Lord.” [5]

I like God’s justice. He took our sins and laid them on His Son so that we who believe in Him would not have to bear the consequences of our sin for all eternity. He gives us eternal life as a gift, not as wages. Jesus paid for our gift in full.

[1] Luke 23:27-28, 31
[2] Proverbs 29:8
[3] Proverbs 29:18
[4] Proverbs 29:25
[5] Proverbs 29:26