Luke 23:26–31 (ESV)
And as they led him away, they seized one Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, and laid on him the cross, to carry it behind Jesus. And there followed him a great multitude of the people and of women who were mourning and lamenting for him. But turning to them Jesus said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For behold, the days are coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren and the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’ Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us,’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’ For if they do these things when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?”
You think this is bad? Wait until you see what’s next. “For behold, the days are coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren and the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’” Jesus is saying that something’s coming that’s worse than crucifixion. Yikes, is that even possible?
You bet. History records plenty of brutal sieges, but the siege of Jerusalem in 70 AD tops them all. In this passage, Jesus tones it down for general audiences. Josephus, the great Jewish historian, gives us the R-rated details.
http://www.rjgeib.com/thoughts/desolation/josephus.html
But what about, “For if they do these things when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?” This metaphor is strange to us, but the meaning can be deduced—and it’s even more chilling.
Green wood isn’t right for any use. It doesn’t burn well. Making something out of green wood leads to problems later when the wood dries and shrinks. The only thing you should do with green wood is dry it.
So, “they do these things when the wood is green” refers to an unsuitable application of something. What will happen when it is dry refers to appropriate applications.
They’re crucifying an innocent man; imagine what they’ll do with people who merit crucifixion. In Roman law, rebellion is the classic crucifixion-worthy crime.
And the Roman response to the Jewish rebellion of AD 66–70 is the classic brutal put-down.
The rebellion and the Roman response are a picture of pride on steroids. It’s Jewish pride vs. Roman pride.
http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Judaism/revolt.html
Think we’re better? Think again. Pride can be a tough nut to crack; you can even be proud of your humility.
Pride can only be cured supernaturally. Ask the Lord to cleanse us of this most hideous sin.
Ask Him to hold up a mirror to your soul and show you the horrors inside.
