Jesus wept over Jerusalem even as the people praised Him. Luke 19: 41 But as he came closer to Jerusalem and saw the city ahead, he began to weep. 42 “How I wish today that you of all people would understand the way to peace. But now it is too late, and peace is hidden from your eyes. 43 Before long your enemies will build ramparts against your walls and encircle you and close in on you from every side. 44 They will crush you into the ground, and your children with you. Your enemies will not leave a single stone in place, because you did not recognize it when God visited you.” [1]
Blind to the Prince of Peace
When Jesus was born, the angels sang of peace. Luke 2: 14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”[2] For in Jesus, God, Himself, had visited earth to bring peace. Jesus would be the perfect sacrifice to pay the price for our sin and restore our relationship with God. Even though God had sent prophets with messages to prepare the way, the people rejected Jesus.
There was spiritual ignorance and blindness in their hearts. The religious activity accomplished little. Even in the Passover celebration, the people were burdened with sin. If the people could have understood what was really happening and recognized Jesus for who He was, they could have found peace. The Jewish leadership had rejected Jesus and, thus, God’s offer of salvation. Jerusalem, the city of peace, was blind to the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6).
“As Jesus looked ahead, He wept as He saw the terrible judgment that was coming to the nation, the city, and the Temple. In 70 AD, the Romans would come and, after a siege of 143 days, kill 600,000 Jews, take thousands more captive, and then destroy the Temple and the city. Why did all of this happen? Because the people did not know that God had visited them!”[3]
Don’t Give Jesus a Reason to Weep
Jesus wept because the people praising Him didn’t realize why He was entering Jerusalem. He wasn’t to be their political king; He was coming to be their spiritual king. His suffering, death, and resurrection would overcome the kingdom of darkness. As we follow Jesus and trust Him for our salvation, we have our sins forgiven and the hope of eternity with Him. If you delay your commitment to Jesus, you make the same mistake as those in Jerusalem in our story.
Jesus desires that all be saved. 1 Timothy 2:3b God our Savior, 4 who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth. 5 For, There is one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus. 6 He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone.[4] Jesus still weeps over those who reject Him. Follow Him today to find the way to peace that passes all understanding.
Jesus wept over Jerusalem. To learn more, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/weeping-amid-rejoicing
[1-4] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Tyndale House Publishers.
[2] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Lk 2:14). (2016). Crossway Bibles.
[3] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 255). Victor Books.