Devotional: Jesus Laments over Jerusalem Matthew 23:37-39

“Woe to you Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles had occurred in Tyre and Sidon which occurred in you, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes” (Matt. 11:21, NASB).

When I was a boy, I often heard my mother talking about the wrongs that people do. She often said that people need to repent; “go down in sackcloth and ashes” I remember hearing her say. Of course I did not know anything about sackcloth and ashes, but I knew that it had to do with some sort of ritual that people in the bible did when they repented of their sins. Somehow, I knew that she meant that although we sin every day, there are times that we need to acknowledge our sins, and we should make some sort of special gesture to God that we have done a great sin against the Lord.

Now, I know that sackcloth refers to a garment worn that symbolizes lament over ones sin. Ashes, refers to the fact that people return to dust and ashes are the remains of a sacrifice; the animal sacrifice having been burned. Thus to adorn oneself in sackcloth and ashes indicates that one is especially sorry for their sins, and they are aware of their need to sacrifice to the Lord.

In the scripture passage above, Jesus is lamenting because of the sins in the cities. The miracles that they have seen should cause them to be aware of their sins, and this should lead to their acknowledgment of their sin. They should repent in sackcloth and ashes. However, in spite of the miracles they refuse to repent.

Jesus laments over Jerusalem, the center for Jewish worship; the location of the temple. The religious leaders and especially the Pharisees are very legal minded, but their rules are for their own benefit. They are not concerned with the sins against God. They certainly do not see themselves as sinners. Jesus has tried to get Jerusalem to acknowledge their sins and repent. They refuse.

During this COVID-19 pandemic there is very little acknowledgement in America of our sins. This pandemic is revealing to us the sins of this nation. Yet, as a nation we are too busy doing politics and blaming others. We are not acknowledging the sins of our nation. Thus, we are much like Jerusalem. Jesus wants to gather the citizens of this nation together, but we refuse. We continue to want to do things our own ways. We are not allowing Jesus to work miracles in our lives.

Prayer: Lord we confess our sins; the sins of our country and our personal sins. We repent and beg your mercies. Amen.