Led To Golgotha Series

(Luke 23:27) And there followed him a great [9]company of people, and of women, which also [10]bewailed and [11]lamented him.

The spectacle of Jesus, in His damaged and weakened condition carrying a Cross, drew a great crowd, which was to be expected at executions, especially of those that have been well-known persons of distinction. The preceding verses and especially verse 23, may have left the impression that just about everyone in Jerusalem was opposed to Jesus, but here we discover that was not the case at all; and that A great company of people (mostly women, followed him, some out of pity, others out of curiosity, but they (as well as those that were his friends and acquaintance) also bewailed and lamented him. There were many that harassed and despised him, yet there were some that loved Him, and pitied Him, and were sorry for Him. The suffering and dying of the Lord Jesus may have stirred the natural affections in many that bewailed Christ that do not believe in him and lamented Him that does not love him.

(Luke 23:28) But Jesus turning unto them said, [12]Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children.

A crowd of sympathetic followers, mostly women, wept for Jesus as He was led away. There is nothing to suggest that these women were disciples; they may have been professional mourners who were prominent at most Jewish funerals or perhaps they loved and respected Him and were truly sorrowing over His plight. Addressing the women in the crowd as Daughters of Jerusalem, He told them that they should not pity Him but should pity themselves. You would think He would be too concerned for His own situation to show concern for their tears. He turned to them, although they were strangers to him, and directed them not to weep for him, but for themselves. This does not mean that He faulted them for weeping, but that it was unnecessary; they should weep for themselves and for their children, because of the destruction that was coming upon Jerusalem, which some of them might live to see, or, at least, their children would.

Note, when we consider Christ crucified we ought to weep, not for him, but for ourselves. We must not be affected by the death of Christ as we would be with the death of a common person or of a friend. The death of Christ was unique; it was His victory and triumph over His enemies; it was our deliverance and the purchase of eternal life for us. And therefore, we should not weep for him, but for our own sins, and the sins of our children. It was our sins that were the cause of His death. Our tears should be for the miseries we will bring upon ourselves, if we refuse His love, and reject his grace. When our Christian loved ones and friends die, we have no reason to weep for them for they have entered into perfect rest and joy; but cry for ourselves and our children, who are left behind in a world of sins, and sorrows, and worries.

(Luke 23:29) For, [13]behold, the [14]days are coming, in the which they shall say, [15]Blessed are the [16]barren, and the wombs that never [17]bare, and the [18]paps which never gave [19]suck.