Jesus is riding the colt. The crowds crying forth “Save Us” are surrounding Him-it would appear that the multitudes believed in Him as the long-awaited Messiah He was. Yet, as the city comes into view, Jesus weeps over Jerusalem.
41 Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, 42 saying, “If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. 43 For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, 44 and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation” (Luke 19 NKJV).
Did He weep knowing it would this same crowd who cried out for His crucifixion in only a few days? For they did not want salvation from their own sin. Instead they wanted only to be saved from the Roman oppression. They wanted health, wealth and prosperity. Not to bow down to worship God. No, not really to make Him Lord of their life. Rather than to love the giver of the gifts, their eyes were on the gifts only.
Furthermore, He saw the great devastation that lay ahead of them. There would be the decimation of the temple in 70 AD by the Roman emperors trying to squelch a Jewish revolt. Some estimate that more than a million Jews died during that time period. Additionally, they essentially lost all hold of their land from 120 AD until 1948.
Jesus Weeps
Scripture presents an earlier scene where Jesus weeps. As He approached the crowd gathered and weeping at the tomb of Lazarus, we are told “Jesus wept”. So, often people present this as an exemple of Jesus compassionate empathy for those weeping. Yet, as He approached Bethany that day, He knew He came with the greatest gift of all. He knew that He was going to raise Lazarus from the dead, so He did not weep for the death of Lazarus. Instead, He wept because the crowd and His dear friends did not really understand fully His deity. If they had, they would not have been mourning. They did not understand He held the keys to the Kingdom of God and the power over death. Theirs had been a mournful cry. Now this cried who joyfully cried out “Hosanna, Lord, Son of David” did not really know who He is either.
Now once more Jesus came with the greatest gift of all-life. He came to bring spiritual life, but the crowd did not understand. Much as was foretold by Jeremiah.
1Oh, that my head were waters,
And my eyes a fountain of tears,
That I might weep day and night
For the slain of the daughter of my people!
2 Oh, that I had in the wilderness
A lodging place for travelers;
That I might leave my people,
And go from them!
For they are all adulterers,
An assembly of treacherous men.
3 “And like their bow they have bent their tongues for lies.
They are not valiant for the truth on the earth.
For they proceed from evil to evil,
And they do not know Me,” says the Lord. (Jeremiah 9)
Still, Jesus Weeps Today
I am certain that Jesus weeps today as He looks down upon our nation and the world. He came that He might bring life. Dying on the cross, He paid the penalty of our sin. Then, He arose from the grave and sits upon His throne in heaven. One day, He will return to gather His church—all who have accepted Him as Savior and Lord to be with Him in heaven. He will return to establish His Kingdom on earth during His millennial reign. Then, He will bring final judgement upon all sin. Satan will be cast into hell for eternity along with all who refused to accept the gift that Jesus freely offers. I am certain Jesus weeps, as He watches our nation foolishly chases after false ideologies of Him and do not really know Him. So many proclaim the name of Christ; yet, do not know Him.
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). Do you know Him as Savior and Lord of your life?
DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD?
If you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you to go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. There is nothing more important than this; because, He is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore, I urge you to seek Him today.
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Series: Finding Faith on the Road to Emmaus
Did Jesus Come to Offer Salvation to All?
How to Certainly Know Jesus As the Lion of Judah
God Works All Things According to His Will
How Can I Be Certain Jesus is the Christ?
Was Jesus the Savior they Waited For?
How was Christ’s Suffering a Part of His Glory?
Why is it so Important to Know All the Truth?
How Faith is Found on the Road to Emmaus
Poetry:
Thy Greatest Glory Be Thy Love Poured Out On Calvary
Disclosures
©Effie Darlene Barba, 2018
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.