Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!” “I tell you,” He replied, “If they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.” As He approached Jerusalem and saw the city, He wept over it. –Luke 19:39-41
The Palm Sunday crowd was jubilant as Jesus rode a colt to Jerusalem; they were screaming, “Hosanna! Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!” Although, some of the Pharisees in the crowd, in stark contrast, were not too pleased with this, and they yelled out to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!” But Jesus’ response made it clear that He did not need man’s praise; the stones would cry out in praise if men and women did not. As Jesus approached Jerusalem, He saw the people and through His spiritual eyes saw the fate that awaited them, and He wept over the city, saying, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace –but now it is hidden from your eyes.”
Why did Jesus weep over Jerusalem? God had not only sent them prophets, but also His only begotten Son, but because of their pride and unbelief they did not accept the Good News that could save them. Their lack of faith would bring about their destruction (which eventually occurred in 70AD), and knowing this, Jesus wept. I believe that Jesus wept because their destruction could have been avoided if only they believed, but they did not.
Does Jesus weep over you? Have you by grace repented, and believe in Jesus? The verse that jumped out to me the most was Luke 19:42 where Jesus said, “If you had only known…but now it is hidden from your eyes.” How many opportunities that were presented to us have we allowed to pass us by because we thought we would have the opportunity to respond another time? What if we didn’t?
Do you weep over people in your circle of influence that do not know the Lord? Do you weep over injustice? Do you look through spiritual eyes and see the fate that awaits them? Most of us probably see people who are going down a path of destruction and get angry or judgmental, but Christ, in this example, shows us that our anger over their choices should be tempered by our sorrow over the fate of those that God has called us to love as we love ourselves. This should move us to respond with a loving and righteous ire that says, “Lord, how can I help this person?”
Dear Lord, please help us to respond to sin and injustice as you did; not with a lackadaisical approach, but with loving indignation and a compassionate heart that breaks for lives squandered on what is not peace!
Grace and peace be with you.
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WEEPING OVER JERUSALEM