When He had said this, He went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. And it came to pass, when He drew near to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mountain called Olivet, that He sent two of His disciples, saying, “Go into the village opposite you, where as you enter you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Loose it and bring it here. And if anyone asks you, ‘Why are you loosing it?’ thus you shall say to him, ‘Because the Lord has need of it. So those who were sent went their way and found it just as He had said to them. But as they were loosing the colt, the owners of it said to them, “Why are you loosing the colt?” And they said, “The Lord has need of him.” Then they brought him to Jesus. And they threw their own clothes on the colt, and they set Jesus on him. And as He went, many spread their clothes on the road. Then, as He was now drawing near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had seen, saying: Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the LORD! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest! Luke 19:28-38.
The first day of the week Jesus gave specific instructions to his disciples. They were amazed to see that everything the Lord told them came true. They found the colt in the place where He had indicated and they responded in the manner in which they had been directed.
The disciples’ belief was that Jesus had come to free them and set up His kingdom. Therefore, they were more than happy to put their cloaks over the colt and sit Jesus on it for His triumphal entry into Jerusalem.
As they descended the Mount of Olives they all witnessed the magnificent city and the bright sun reflecting on the majestic temple. The nation was proud of the temple which had been dedicated to God but unfortunately had become more important than God himself.
The crowd began to grow and they all shouted excitedly that their king had come. They threw palms on the ground while the donkey moved slowly towards the city.
Suddenly they saw a strange imaged that left everyone perplexed.
Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it. Luke 19:41.
Seeing Jesus mourn, sadness inexplicably ran through everyone. It was unlike the tear Jesus had shed Lazarus’ grave. They were groans, they were great cries of agony.
... The world's Redeemer was overwhelmed by sudden and mysterious sorrow. He, the Son of God, the Promised One of Israel who had overcome death by taking away its captives, wept not common prey of despondency, but dominated by intense and irrepressible agony. *1
Even heaven remained silent while witnessing this image.
The Majesty of heaven in tears! the Son of the infinite God troubled in spirit, bowed down with anguish! The scene filled all heaven with wonder. That scene reveals to us the exceeding sinfulness of sin; it shows how hard a task it is, even for Infinite Power, to save the guilty from the consequences of transgressing the law of God. Jesus, looking down to the last generation, saw the world involved in a deception similar to that which caused the destruction of Jerusalem. The great sin of the Jews was their rejection of Christ; the great sin of the Christian world would be their rejection of the law of God, the foundation of His government in heaven and earth. The precepts of Jehovah would be despised and set at nought. Millions in bondage to sin, slaves of Satan, doomed to suffer the second death, would refuse to listen to the words of truth in their day of visitation. Terrible blindness! strange infatuation! *2
I've already depicted the images Jesus saw, the images that led Him to weep. (The Last Night: Jerusalem). But what I will briefly emphasize what led Jesus to cry in such a way.
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. For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, 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 19:42-44.
His tears were not for Himself, though He well knew whither His feet were tending. Before Him lay Gethsemane, the scene of His approaching agony…Not far distant was Calvary, the place of crucifixion. Upon the path which Christ was soon to tread must fall the horror of great darkness as He should make His soul an offering for sin. Yet it was not the contemplation of these scenes that cast the shadow upon Him in this hour of gladness. No foreboding of His own superhuman anguish clouded that unselfish spirit. He wept for the doomed thousands of Jerusalem--because of the blindness and impenitence of those whom He came to bless and to save. *2
The Lord suffered knowing that they had rejected His grace and would be destroyed forever. He wept knowing that its inhabitants would have no hope of eternal life. Condemnation was upon them.
“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! Matthew 23:37.
These words touch my heart as they lead me to consider the love Jesus has for us. He gave his life for us yet we continue to reject Him. He did not simply shed tears for the Jewish nation. He shed tears over all of us.
The Jewish nation was a symbol of the people of all ages who scorn the pleadings of Infinite Love. The tears of Christ when He wept over Jerusalem were for the sins of all time. In the judgments pronounced upon Israel, those who reject the reproofs and warnings of God's Holy Spirit, may read their own condemnation. *1
Christ saw in Jerusalem a symbol of the world hardened in unbelief and rebellion, and hastening on to meet the retributive judgments of God. The woes of a fallen race, pressing upon His soul, forced from His lips that exceeding bitter cry. He saw the record of sin traced in human misery, tears, and blood; His heart was moved with infinite pity for the afflicted and suffering ones of earth; He yearned to relieve them all. But even His hand might not turn back the tide of human woe; few would seek their only Source of help. He was willing to pour out His soul unto death, to bring salvation within their reach; but few would come to Him that they might have life. *2
Hopefully, during this short time we have left, we all accept Jesus in our lives. It brings sadness to the hearts of those who have fought to bring the Gospel to people who in turn have rejected it. Even more, it brings great sadness to Jesus knowing that He died for us and we neglect His opportunity for salvation.
We must allow Him to enter into our lives. We must let Him transform our hearts and we shall soon rejoice when he returns in the clouds of heaven.
1* The Desire Of The Ages, "A Doomed People", Ellen G. White
2* The Great Controversy, "1. The Destruction of Jerusalem ", Ellen G. White
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