Blessed is He Who Comes in the Name of the Lord

 DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW

               BLESSED IS HE

Matt 23:37-39

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.'" 

NIV

These are prophetic words of Jesus that will come to pass at some point in time. Paul makes it clear in his letter to the Romans, that all of Israel will be saved. Some day the Jews will say, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord”. Of course, Jesus is also quoting psalm 118, so he combines words that have happened or were prophesied in the past with his prophecy of what will happen in the future. It seems hard to believe that all of Israel will be saved, but then again, nothing is impossible with God. They are his chosen people; however, we Gentiles are also chosen to have heard the gospel, and all who confess with their mouths and believe in their hearts that Jesus was raised from the dead, will be saved. It is also interesting that Paul makes the point the circumcision of the flesh does not make a person a Jew, but it is those who have circumcised their heart that makes a person a Jew. In the days of Israel being the chosen of God, the sign of being Israel, was circumcision, as Gentiles were not circumcised. Although in those days it was a spiritual ritual done on the eighth day of an infant boy's life, today it seems more of a general practice done within the first several hours of a boy's life, and it seems this is done more as a health issue, than any other. Of course, for whatever reason, there are still those who are not circumcised. Nevertheless, none of that determines who is Israel. Again, Paul makes it clear that those who circumcise their hearts are true Israel. Without becoming too graphic, circumcision exposes the most sensitive part of the male body, and this same truth is aimed at our hearts. We expose the most sensitive member of our body, our heart, and allow Jesus to cut away whatever hides or hinders our heart from the truth, from him. So then, is it possible that when that whoever says, “Blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord” is the one who also says that they confess with their mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in their heart that He was raised from the dead, are those who are true Israel, and they are the only ones who will be saved. Therefore, all of Israel will be saved, for all who are saved, all who have circumcised their heart, are Israel. Yes, old Jerusalem killed the prophets and did indeed kill Jesus. Although it is true that soon after Jesus was crucified, buried and raised from the dead and later ascended back into heaven, that the temple was destroyed, as he will say next, a day is also coming when there will be a new Jerusalem that will come down out of heaven on a new earth and we who have circumcised our hearts will live forever with our Lord there, always praising him and enjoying the blessings of God. No one else will be saved but only those who accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior. If Israel is meant by the nation of Israel, then they will have to change their ways, and have their hearts circumcised before God. In the meantime, we, Gentiles have become Israel.