Let God See The Plumbing

When I had plumbing problems at home I had to cut away the wallboard to get at the pipes underneath. Outside, for the most part, everything looked great, except when the toilet wouldn’t turn off, then you’d see the telltale signs of trouble spreading across the garage floor. Just ‘cause the surface of your life looks great doesn’t mean that you are free of leaks underneath.

The point is: let God have access to your plumbing.

Next Jesus turns his attack on what the Pharisees were planning to do to Him – because, as I mentioned, it is only by being redeemed by the blood of the Lamb that we can be clean – it is how we treat Jesus that matters eternally. And these guys are Jesus’ enemies.

29 "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous. 30 And you say, ’If we had lived in the days of our forefathers, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ 31 So you testify against yourselves that you are the descendants of those who murdered the prophets. 32 Fill up, then, the measure of the sin of your forefathers!

33 "You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell? 34 Therefore I am sending you prophets and wise men and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify; others you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town. 35 And so upon you will come all the righteous blood that has been shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berekiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. 36 I tell you the truth, all this will come upon this generation.

Without going into great detail – Abel was the first martyr, a God-lover killed – and Zechariah was the last one mentioned in the Hebrew Bible, which ended with 2 Chronicles. I think perhaps the point here is that all of those on God’s side that were murdered has been building up to this point – when you kill God’s Messiah.

And Jesus words did come true as early church leaders were flogged and chased out of cities by the Jews. Then in 70AD destruction came upon Jerusalem because of their actions. But it is to a specific group that Jesus aims His judgment. As always, Jesus loves His people and wants anyone who will to come to Him.

37 "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing. 38 Look, your house is left to you desolate. 39 For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ’Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’"

Jesus came to save – that is always His heart – but to those who are unwilling to let Him save, only destruction awaits. One day the Jews will see that Jesus is the Messiah – they will repeat the words of Psalm 118 that we read about a few weeks ago at Jesus triumphal entry – "blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord." But then they will truly realize what they did in turning their backs on the Savior.