Before Jesus reached Jerusalem, He began weeping for the wandering. As He rode the colt to Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, Jesus could see the people’s hearts. He knew their choices concerning Him. Most people had rejected Him as the Son of God. Jesus came to save lost people, but we have free will to turn away from Him.
You can hear the sorrow and compassion in Jesus’ voice. Luke 19:42 “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.[1] Only when the Lord changes our hearts do we begin to see lost people the way He does.
Time of Urgency
Although the early church would be birthed on Pentecost fifty days after Jesus’ resurrection, that would not stop the destruction of Jerusalem. Luke 19:44 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.” [2]
Jerusalem was the city of peace yet was blind to the Prince of Peace. The Jewish leadership had rejected their Messiah, who visited them in person to save them. In our time, we, too, can stay on the fence regarding placing our faith in Jesus. We may think it is unimportant or that we have more time. As we reflect on the words of Jesus, we are inspired to share the Gospel with others and pray for lost people. Think about how many people are in your circle of friends and how you may be the lifeline the Lord wants to use to share the good news.
Faith Makes a Difference
As Jesus looked around at the people on Palm Sunday, some were believers or would later come to faith. Even though it would take forty years, Rome would destroy Jerusalem. Think about how one person of faith could have made a difference in the lives of others during that time.
Think about how you can make a difference to those around you. Matthew 16:24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me.[3] As we take up the cross, Jesus gives us compassion for those He has placed in our path to put our faith into action. James 2:17 So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless. [4] Will you take the hand of the Lord and let Him use you to be a difference maker that will make an eternal difference in others?
To learn why Jesus was weeping for the wandering, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/forward-with-full-knowledge
[1-4] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Tyndale House Publishers.