Introduction: The Christmas carol ask the question, Do you see what I see?, Said the shepherd boy to the mighty king, Do you know what I know?, In your palace wall mighty king, Do you know what I know?, A child, a child Shivers in the cold, Let us bring him silver and gold, Let us bring him silver and gold.”
What a tragedy it is when God visits His people and many of them miss His visitation! In the company whom Jesus addressed in the above passage were Pharisees, scribes, chief priests and a massive crowd. This significant body of people were filled with excitement, loaded with religious convictions and public concerns. Many people honestly thought they were right with God and ready for anything God sent, but how heart-rending that they did not recognize their day of visitation and they missed the move of God! Would it not be foolish to suppose that we are unlike that crowd, and maybe in no danger of missing our time of visitation? And how tragic it would be if you should receive the visitation but others we love and are responsible for would miss the Lord’s coming.
His earthly ministry of Jesus was soaring, along with his popularity. Even his own disciples were planning, looking for new positions of exaltation. The crowds were massive, and the sway of popular opinion seemed to suggest that the sky was the limit. One can only imagine what Jesus was feeling, knowing the future, and knowing he would never return home again. This was a journey of no return.
In preparation to leave his home for the last time, Jesus probably gave assignments to his young brothers and placed the carpenter shop into their hands. He probably packed a few things and was ready to leave the city. Nazareth like most Jewish towns was filled with travelers on the way to Passover. Jesus and his disciples endured several delays as they left Nazareth. It teaches us that no matter how busy we are, we should take time for people. Although Jesus was in a hurry, he is stopped by some parents with their children. They desired him to lay hands of them and bless them.
The passage has sometimes been referred to as the Triumph Entry. As Jesus enters Jerusalem, the Holy City amid all the shouts of joy and celebration, Jesus begins weeping and wailing. The passage of Scripture is really a sobering passage because there is such a contrast. The crowd is experiencing a jubilant celebration as Jesus approaches the city from the Mount of Olives. He is riding on a borrowed colt, a symbol for a king coming in peace. Luke alone tells this story of Jesus weeping uncontrollably. Some translations have omitted this text because they could not imagine the Son of God in such a broken state.
I know that other scriptures have pictured Jesus as weeping as he did at Lazarus’s grave but not as he cries here. The Greek word here describes a person crying out of control, beating his breast and very much aloud. What a different picture of the Son of God. This scene occurs near the end of His earthly ministry after Jerusalem had experience many miracles, signs, and wonders. He approaches the city on the caravan road between Bethany and Jerusalem. From this hillside, Jesus could see the entire city in all of its glory. See the picture, the crowd is full of praise and adoration, but Jesus is weeping and wailing for them and city. I wonder how often we give reasons for Jesus to weep today? Why was Jesus weeping so uncontrollably? First, Jesus wept because of their spiritual ignorance and lack of perception. Notice verse 42;
1. Jesus Wept Because of Their Spiritual Ignorance and Lack of Perception. - Luke 19:42-AV Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong] unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes.
Jesus wept because the Jews did not realize the golden opportunity that was slipping through their hands. Jesus said this was your Season to be blessed beyond measure. God through Jesus Christ have come to offer all that they needed for peace and tranquility, but They failed to take advantage of it. He speaks of this as being a time of visitation. A time when the Lord visit to inspect to promote or to bring judgment. This was a day of great opportunity and special privilege. They failed to recognize the importance of the day and failed to take advantage of the opportunity. If they would have embraced the testimony of Jesus and received him as Lord, their decisions would have led you to peace and prosperity. God had ordained it to be a time for your refreshment, rest, wholeness and comfort. But Israel failed to understand. Jesus wept because of their spiritual ignorance and lack of spiritual perception. I believe there are many things that should get our attention also, the pandemic, the crisis, the violence, we grieve, yet many times miss the lesson. Today is a good day for us to examine ourselves, our lives, and our actions, and ask, “Am I pleasing God?” The Jews saw His miracles, were blessed by his ministry, but they missed their moment. Secondly, Jesus wept because of their missed opportunity.
2. Jesus Wept Because of Jerusalem failed to Value Their Opportunity- Not only did Jerusalem fail to recognize her day of visitation, She did not recognize its importance as it pertain to her spiritual, physical and eternal welfare. Jerusalem was blind about her opportunities. There are some opportunities that appear repeatedly. There are some opportunities that are once in a lifetime. The Jews were selected as God’s chosen people. They were given the Laws, Feasts, and the Sacrifices. Jesus was born a Jews who was sent to them and worked among them. They witnessed his mighty power and saw all his miracles and yet they refused to believe. Ecclesiastes 3:1-AV To every [thing there is) a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
Matthew 23:37, 38 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, [thou] that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under [her] wings, and ye would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.” How sad that The Jews of that day allowed their personal preferences, their envy and jealous to blind their mind and lead them into deception. How sad it would be if we missed what God is saying through what we have experienced these last 13 months. Are we drawing closer to God? Are we pursuing God vision for our lives? Are missing this moment?
3. Jesus Wept Because He Knew the End Results of Their Decision- Lu 19:43 For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side,”
Israel had no appreciation for the day of visitation, although it could have been a time of great blessing. The conditions are right for growth and development. Jesus himself had walked among them, they saw his power, experienced his favor, it was a time when right decisions would have produced the greatest results. A time that could have produced rest and comfort for that day and their future.
Israel had received and enjoyed the means of grace in great plenty. The word of God was fresh and powerful. The Spirit of God was active among them and the miracles of Jesus was a demonstration of the presence and power of God. Their conscience had been made aware of awesomeness of God, yet they rejected how God came, who God sent and who God choose to use. When privileges are misused, the long-term effects are hidden from us. Jerusalem had a great opportunity, but they rejected Christ, close their eyes, and stopped their ears. The result was total desolation. Their freedom was lost, their privileges were revoked, their temple was completed destroyed and today a Muslin Mosque is built in its place. Jesus Weeps Because of Their Spiritual Ignorance and Lack of Perception. Jesus Wept Because of Jerusalem failed to Value Their Opportunity. Jesus Wept Because He Knew the End Results of Their Decision. I wonder, does Jesus weep today? There is so much to weep over. I don’t know many things have changed since that triumph entry. I know the crowd has not changed much.
4. Does Jesus Still Weep? I wonder does Jesus still weep when we fail to recognize the hour, the day, and time in which we live. Does Jesus weep when we fail to value the presence and power of God working among us? Does Jesus weep when we fail to appreciate the anointed praise and worship? Does Jesus weep when we fail to celebrate God for a word that is relevant and true? We show our appreciation for the blessing of God by receiving His instructions and appling the word faithfully to our lives. God is still visiting his people, his eyes are searching for those ready to be blessed, used, and promoted.
2Ch 16:9 For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him….
I believe Jesus still weeps as he reaches out through His preached word with compassion to save the lost, to heal the broken and to rescue the perishing. In that day Jerusalem rejected his compassion and ignored his call. Jesus is still faithfully calling today. In a day great need, many ignore His call.
Mt 11:28-30 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Jeremiah 8:20 The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.
Israel had experienced a time of great favor, but in Jeremiah it did not profit them. He said, “The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.”
The Palmist agrees in Psalms 95:7-11 “For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. Today if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness: When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my work. Forty years long was I grieved with this generation, and said, It is a people that do err in their heart, and they have not known my ways: Unto whom I sware in my wrath that they should not enter into my rest.”
I believe it still grieves the heart of God when people ignore his calling and run headlong into destruction. We are cautioned to not grieve the Holy Spirit. 2Pe 3:9 “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”
The goodness of God and the mercies we receive should lead us to repentance. It blesses the heart of a father to see his children prosperity and walk in the blessing of life. It blesses the heart of the father to see his children safe and sound. Yet the love of an earthly father cannot be compared to the love God has for us and His desire to bless us.
Luke 15:7 “I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.”
This first picture describes the joy of the Son of God in man's salvation. He is the Good Shepherd, and cares for each one of his sheep. To rescue the lost, he left the saints and angels in heaven, and traversed this wilderness world. He seeks and finds those who are not seeking him, and, with hands of love and shoulders of power, brings them home, making himself and all of heaven glad at the finding of the lost. If our salvation bring heaven and the Savior so much joy, we must be about our Father’s business. There is hope for the very worst sinner. Today is the day of salvation. Now is the time. This is the moment. How you respond makes all the difference in the world.
