The Time Jesus Cried Over the People Who Would Reject Him
Jesus wept over Jerusalem.
The people were shouting Jesus’ praises as He rode into Jerusalem.
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 19:37–38)
Most people would celebrate this kind of attention placed on them and their mission.
But not Jesus.
If we looked a little closer at the Lord’s face, we would notice something seemingly out of place amid all the praise and celebration.
Jesus Cries
We would see the heartbroken tears in His eyes.
Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it (Luke 19:41)
Why would Jesus be weeping or crying? After all, it appeared that finally, people recognized Him for who He truly was — right?
Jesus knew that in just a few days, some of these same people who were shouting His praises would be shouting, “Crucify Him!” (Luke 23:20). He knew they would reject Him — because He would not be the kind of king they wanted.
Jesus knew what would come upon the people of Jerusalem because of their rejecting Him.
“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)
Jesus is referring to the destruction of Jerusalem — which occurred around 30 years after He said these words. The Roman destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70 was one of the most brutal, bloody moments in the history of the world. Josephus (a Jewish historian sympathetic to the Romans) claimed that over 1 million Jews perished.
Jesus knew what awaited those who rejected Him — and it caused Him to weep or sob aloud.
He Wants Everyone to Repent
Even today, God is longsuffering or patient with us all because He does not want anyone to perish (be lost). He wants everyone to repent and turn to Him (2 Peter 3:9).
He desires that we be forgiven of our sins.
Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:38)
