In our recent studies of Daniel we found that Daniel was weeping because the plan of God, from Daniel’s perspective, was put on hold. The rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem had come to a halt. Possibly Daniel was discouraged because it seemed the people, after all they had been through in Babylon, were still not wholly seeking their God. The salvation of Israel is a critical piece of the mystery of God, the exaltation of Christ on David’s throne.
John was weeping because there was no one to
open the scroll, the scroll that would show the conclusion of history, the
exaltation of Christ. If there is no one
to open the book John and we are doomed to life in a dark world. There is no hope.
I would say that
Mary Magdalene was weeping for the same reason.
In the words of Cleopas on the road to Emmaus:
"The
things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a Prophet mighty in deed and word
before God and all the people, and how the chief priests and our rulers
delivered Him to be condemned to death, and crucified Him. But we were hoping that it was He who was
going to redeem Israel." (Lk. 24:19-21)
I do not consider any of this weeping to be
self-pity, even though there is truth that all three (Daniel, John, Mary) were
personally desperate for an answer. Daniel
weeps for the people as well. And it is apparent,
John also has the whole of creation in mind.
Mary, out of whom Jesus had cast seven demons, has no desire to return
to that hellish experience. She knows
her life is different with Jesus around.
That is what she longs for! She
longs for her Savior. They all longed
for:
·
The Lion of the Tribe of Judah, Gen.
29:9-12. Jacob, in blessing his sons,
was moved by the Holy Spirit to prophecy through Judah of the coming King (the
scepter shall not depart from Judah) to Whom shall be the of the
people. He has opened the book; He
will be exalted by His Father who said, Yet I have set My King on My holy
hill of Zion (Ps. 2:6). Without
that, we are left in a world full of vanity and arrogance and rebellion (Ps.
2:1-3).
·
The Root of David, Isa. 11:1-10. What an amazing, precise prophecy. Jesus, the Messiah, is a Rod from the stem
of Jesse … the Branch that shall grow out of his roots (11:1). Jesus, the Son of David, to whom God promised
a King on the throne forever. AND Jesus,
the Messiah, is the Root of Jesse, who shall stand as a banner to the people;
for the gentiles shall seek Him, and His resting place shall be glorious
(v10). Only Jesus could fulfill this prophecy, being
David’s Son and David’s Lord. Only Jesus
could open the book.
·
The Lamb as though it had been slain, Rev.
5:6. Jesus, our Passover Lamb, whose
blood applied to the doorpost of our lives, brings freedom from
condemnation. Jesus, the two Lambs of
Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement): the Lamb whose blood was for atonement, and
the Lamb set free in the desert so that our sins can be forever forgiven.
What makes you weep? Really.
What troubles you deep within, troubles you so much that the tears
roll? Is it a longing to see the Lion,
the Root, the Lamb exalted? Is it the
sin around you? Is it the sin within
you? Is it the desire to see Christ
exalted in the lives of loved ones? of those around us?
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