He has spent the last three years feeding the hungry, healing the sick, calling people to repentance and inviting them to follow Him.
"You did not know the time of your VISITATION!"
Come with me as we follow Him from Galilee to Jerusalem, a three day journey by foot. This time of year the daytime temperature is around 80 F (26 C). The Roman roads are well traveled and dusty. Jesus enters a village and is immediately greeted by the desperate cry of ten lepers:
"Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!"
They are outcasts, untouchable, so they keep their distance. They know their need for Jesus' touch. He answers:
"Go, and show yourselves to the priest."
Will they go? If they are not healed they will face the humiliation of hearing the priest crying out in Hebrew, "tawmay!" (meaning 'contaminated' or 'foul'). Hope overshadows their uncertainty, so they go.
And as they go they are healed!
The lepers knew the time of their visitation.
Jesus will welcome little children and challenge each of us to come to Him as they do, humble and helpless.
A wealthy young man will approach him, hoping to discover a simple formula for earning his way to heaven. Jesus' challenge to part with his wealth is unimaginable for him. He will sadly turn away to enjoy a short life of privilege then regret his choice for all of eternity. Jesus laments, how difficult it is for the wealthy to enter the kingdom!
The Rich Young Ruler did not know the time of his visitation.
"Zacchaeus, hurry and come down! I must stay at your house today."
Zacchaeus is undone by Jesus' unconditional love and acceptance. He confesses his sin and promises to repay those he has cheated. His encounter with Jesus has transformed him
Zacchaeus knew the time of his visitation.
Israel experienced a "visitation" from God in the judgment following Korah's rebellion.
The prophet Jeremiah uses the term eight times, describing the coming judgment of Egypt, Moab (Jordan) and Babylon. Those living in modern Babylon the Great, take heed.
Jeremiah warns in chapter 48 that there will be no means of escape at the time of our "visitation"...
"He that flees from fear shall fall into the pit;
and he that gets up out of the pit shall be taken in the snare:
for I will bring...the year of their visitation, saith the Lord."
(Jeremiah 48:44)
"Am I ready for final inspection by El Roi, The God Who Sees?"