“And when He [Jesus] drew near and saw the city, He wept over it.” (Luke 19:41 ESV)
Now, no matter what we might think of Jesus, this poignant account of His weeping over the City of Jerusalem is surely a wake-up call for all of us today.
In response to this passage, when thinking about our own nation’s state of affairs, you and I might ask questions like, “How would Jesus respond to our society and the way it’s going? What would He say? Would He weep as He did over Jerusalem as our nation struggles with sin on all sides, exalting self, and shunning the things of God?”
Many conditions in our society are strained and dysfunctional even by secular standards. And in all probability, they’re inclined to get worse before they get better. But don’t lose heart. God is in charge (see Philippians 4:4-7). And someday soon, the same joy written by the apostle John in the book of Revelation will be a reality for all those who are in Christ through God’s gift of faith (see Ephesians 2:8-9). Listen to these words and begin now to see yourself, not as a part of the current crumbling culture, but in Christ and part of God’s new creation!
The apostle John writes, “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.’ And He who was seated on the throne said, ‘Behold, I am making all things new.’ Also He said, ‘Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true'” (Revelation 21:1-5 ESV).
Jesus wept when He rode into Jerusalem. He saw the coming judgment of the city and its sinful resistance to God’s love and compassion. May this not be the way He sees us! Instead, may Jesus be thrilled as He sees you and me today, not soon to be judged with hearts of unbelief, but with the joy of salvation, marked on our hearts by our gracious Heavenly Father who alone can make all things new.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, our sins are great and they weigh us down. Lift us to a forgiven and joy-filled life through the power of Your Holy Spirit. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen.
From “The Tears of Jesus,” a sermon excerpt from Rev. Dr. Wallace Schulz, former Speaker of The Lutheran Hour
Used by permission from International Lutheran Laymen’s League, all rights reserved
Reflection Questions:
1. What are some ways the world at large influences us and shapes our thinking?
2. It appears Jesus wept in part because of Jerusalem’s inattention to His arrival (see Luke 19:42-44). How can we always be ready for Jesus?
3. How do you hold steady in your faith in a quickly changing world?
