But as he came closer to Jerusalem and saw the city ahead, he began to weep. Luke 19:41 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones God’s messengers! How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn’t let me. Matthew 23:37
Today most Bible Scholars say it was a silent day for Jesus and His disciples, but remember, Luke tells us that Jesus taught in the Temple every day (21:37-38). I believe then, that’s what He was doing on Wednesday. Once again, teaching people that He is the Way, the Truth and the Life to a relationship to know God as their Father. Why do I believe that? Look at today’s Scripture and see Jesus’ heart.
Jesus wept over Jerusalem because He could see her destruction and her lost people. To get a better understanding of the depth of His sorrow, it helps to know there are two different words for weep in the Greek language. One means to shed tears. However, the one used here means to sob, wail, audible grief, to cry out from the depth of the heart. Jesus’ heart was breaking, He longed to protect and comfort her people, specifically the Jews. But they just wouldn’t let Him because many rejected Him. His heart is still the same today, His heart is still breaking because people are not recognizing Him.
Here’s where we come into the picture today, we who have accepted and received His Salvation, need to help others see Him as He truly is. Now, it is so important for us to be in a close intimate relationship with Jesus, so we can grow in Him and become more like Him. The reality is it’s just as difficult for people today to truly see Him when we say one thing and do another. When we say all the “right” things and make it “look” good, but in actuality we aren’t living too much different than the world. We are being just like the religious leaders in the Bible who were constantly leading people away from God instead of leading them to Him. The only way we can show others the true heart of God and His love is to show them Jesus. And we can’t do that if we simply “know about” Him, we need to know Him and walk with Him in all His ways and be led by His Holy Spirit. Then when they see and hear us, they will see how much Jesus loves them and His life transforming grace, mercy and forgiveness and they too will want a relationship with Him too.
Let us have the heart of Jesus and begin to see our cities, communities and their people as lost and hurting in need of His love. Let us see them through His eyes compassion and know they are searching for a peace and hope only He alone can give. Let’s not only tell them about Him, but show them how a relationship with Him will transform their lives into ones of joy and peace and hope, rather than worry, stress and fear. How will they know unless they hear, and how will they hear unless we tell them, and many times they hear us best when we don’t use words, but instead show Him to them with our actions.
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