JESUS MEETS THE WOMEN OF JERUSALEM – Jesus Walking in the Way of the Cross (VIDEO)

JESUS MEETS THE WOMEN OF JERUSALEM – Jesus Walking in the Way of the Cross (VIDEO)

 

LYRICS TO MUSIC:

Daughters of Jerusalem Do not weep for me

Cry for yourselves and your children Follow on Hosea’s lead

 

Blessed are those who barren sit

Who’ve never known their children’s screams They’ll ask the mountains please fall on us Follow on Hosea’s lead

For terror comes with Roman siege

 

MESSAGE SUMMARY: 

Throughout the Bible there are dozens of women who are plagued with infertility, whether it be for a short time or a lifetime. Beyond the well known stories like that of Abraham and Sarah, Jacob and Rachel, and Zechariah and Elizabeth, there are countless others among the scriptures who cannot bear children. Some are healed, some are not. Some women are even restored in large numbers. All of Abimelek’s wives, though exactly how many there were is unknown, are given fruitful wombs after Sarah is returned to Abraham (Genesis 20:17-18).

 

The prominence of these stories exemplifies a common theme throughout Jewish and non-Jewish history alike. A woman’s ability to have children was vitally important. It was praiseworthy and fulfilling. Jewish custom praised motherhood and stigmatized the barren.

It is surprising then to hear Jesus’ words as he speaks to the women of Jerusalem. It was not uncommon for women in the city to attend the executions of criminals by the Roman leadership. They would often mix a palliative of wine and spices to offer those being tortured. They would eventually offer the same to Jesus, though he would refuse it. But it is to these women that we hear Jesus’ last words of true discourse. As these women ‘mourn and lament’ for the tragedy that unfolds before their eyes, Jesus speaks at length concerning the coming catastrophe they do not yet see. And in doing so, he directly opposes a truth they had likely never before heard challenged.

 

‘Blessed are those who are barren.’ Jesus’ statement is shocking. But to those familiar with the prophets, it was a statement that was not new. Jesus uses the exact words of the prophet Hosea. As Hosea prophesied that Israel would be destroyed and punished for its unfaithfulness to Yahweh, so too does Jesus use his words to predict the same. Some forty years after Jesus’ death, Roman soldiers would enter Jerusalem and utterly destroy it. Those who took up arms and those who did not were murdered indiscriminately. Each stone of the temple would be annihilated at Roman order. Every tree was cut down, and the city was made into ruin.

 

This is certainly one of the acts of which Jesus spoke. A Roman siege that would leave behind a mountain of anguish and sorrow to be carried upon the backs of the women who now wept for him. As Jesus himself continues, the coming violence will make them “say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us,’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’” Jesus describes a fate worse than death.

 

Though the sight before the women’s eyes seemed the greatest of horrors, Jesus knew the horror to come would be far worse. More importantly however, he again exemplifies his humility. He desires no pity or concern for himself, but rather cares for those standing before him. He mourns over the injustice to come, disregarding the pressing pain of his own circumstances.

Written by Jesse Braswell Roberts / Poor Bishop Hooper golgothamusic.com // poorbishophooper.com // Second edition ©2022 Jesse Braswell Roberts / Poor Bishop Hooper

 

TODAY’S PRAYER: How often do we worry more about ourselves than the tragedies around us? What injustices would God have us mourn over? Pray for those situations.

TODAY’S AFFIRMATION: I affirm that because of what God has done for me in His Son, Jesus, A CHILD OF GOD. Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His Name, He gave the right to become children of God-- children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. John 1:12f

SCRIPTURE REFERENCE (ESV): Luke 23:27-31: “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 the time will come when you will say, ‘Blessed are the childless women, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’ Then they will say to the mountains, Fall on us!’ and to the hills, Cover us!’ For if people do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?””. Further Reading: Hosea 10:8; Hosea 9:14; Revelation 6:16-17.

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