Reflecting on Luke 23:26-31“Do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children.” (Luke 23:28)
What Jesus experienced was horrific and evil.
Weeping for this is not wrong, but there’s more reason to weep.
Yes, it was bad that this happened to someone so loving and God-like.
But God’s children experience horrific evil all the time.
Jesus entered human depravity and misery, and suffered with us.
Jesus urges us to grieve over the suffering in the world.
For our own suffering, and for our children, and for all humanity.
Still today horrible things like what happened to Jesus still happen.
This is what it means to live in and under the curse of sin.
Jesus joined us in the curse to stand with us and for us.
Weep for all those still suffering, and stand with them in their suffering.
My focus on Haiti helps me grieve this evil, and stand with those who suffer.
It helps me move beyond generic empathy to actually knowing the people who suffer.
I see in their suffering the suffering of Jesus, and my heart weeps for them.
Yet I also see in Jesus’s resurrection their resurrection, and my heart has hope.
PRAYER
Lord Jesus, help me not to look away from human misery, but to feel the depth of their suffering, and Yours, for these people are God's children. Help me to see You standing through the tears, and those who suffer standing with You!
The wrong at times seems so strong but my God is the Ruler yet. When I see the persecution around the world – yes Haiti, Cuba, Africa, the war torn countries, how mankind can treat other men, my heart breaks and continue to lift them up in my prayers that they may see the error of their ways and continue my support in my small way to their needs. My only comfort is You Lord!