Luke
19:41-44
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 accept your opportunity for salvation.”
Food for thought!
Jesus' lament!
As Jesus came to a turn in the road and got sight of Jerusalem with the whole city fully displayed ahead of him, he suddenly stopped and started to weep over Jerusalem. He knew what was going to happen to the city. The Jews had embarked upon a path, which would end in the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70. The tragedy was that if only they had abandoned their ways and taken the way of Christ it need never have happened.
Weeping demonstrates that Christ was indeed a true man, with real bodily functions (such as tears, sweat, blood, eating and drinking. His emotions and reactions were real; Christ was not an illusion or spirit. Christ was and is real.
The gospels tell us that on two occasions, Jesus did weep. The first time was in Bethany, immediately before he raised Lazarus from death, and the second was his weeping over Jerusalem. What was it about these times that made them different from the others? The gospel tells us that as Jesus approached Jerusalem, he wept over it. Why? God Himself had come to His people in a "visitation".
Jesus was sent by the Father to seek and save the lost sheep of Israel, to open their eyes to the fullness of God's love and mercy. But they didn't understand. This is what brought Jesus to cry. I wonder what Jesus would do as he looked at our cities, our homes, our hearts! Would he smile or weep?
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 accept your opportunity for salvation.”
Food for thought!
Jesus' lament!
As Jesus came to a turn in the road and got sight of Jerusalem with the whole city fully displayed ahead of him, he suddenly stopped and started to weep over Jerusalem. He knew what was going to happen to the city. The Jews had embarked upon a path, which would end in the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70. The tragedy was that if only they had abandoned their ways and taken the way of Christ it need never have happened.
Weeping demonstrates that Christ was indeed a true man, with real bodily functions (such as tears, sweat, blood, eating and drinking. His emotions and reactions were real; Christ was not an illusion or spirit. Christ was and is real.
The gospels tell us that on two occasions, Jesus did weep. The first time was in Bethany, immediately before he raised Lazarus from death, and the second was his weeping over Jerusalem. What was it about these times that made them different from the others? The gospel tells us that as Jesus approached Jerusalem, he wept over it. Why? God Himself had come to His people in a "visitation".
Jesus was sent by the Father to seek and save the lost sheep of Israel, to open their eyes to the fullness of God's love and mercy. But they didn't understand. This is what brought Jesus to cry. I wonder what Jesus would do as he looked at our cities, our homes, our hearts! Would he smile or weep?
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