Today’s Gospel:  Luke 19:41-44

REFLECTION
Across the valley of the Cedron lay the city of Jerusalem with its temple roof glistening in the light of the setting sun. The streets were moderately quiet for the hush of evening was settling upon the homesteads. Yet on the overlooking hill things were different. A crowd followed Jesus, but the cries of enthusiasm, which ten minutes earlier had echoed into the valley, were now hushed. The people were watching Him, and even the disciples were a little bewildered. They had commenced this journey to the city with eager expectation of great things to come, but now, they were apprehensive. Something had gone wrong with their plans; the Master was not cooperating, and the people were becoming suspicious. Men who would have gladly fought in His army were now somber and silent; some were beginning to leave. Then suddenly the Lord commenced to weep. The Greek word used in the description of the event is strong, signifying bitter anguish as though one bewailed the dead. This was not silent grief welling up in a few tears; this was audible sobbing; the evidence of great sorrow. The disciples were bewildered. “Behold, God in tears!”

Continually throughout His ministry the Lord Jesus had tried to reach the hearts of the Jewish people, but each time His efforts were rejected. The rulers did not like His interference; they did not believe His message; they resented what they considered to be the interference of an upstart. The Lord had healed their sick; cleansed their lepers, fed their hungry but alas, for the most part, had failed to win an abiding place in their affection. Now the time was getting short, and His ministry would soon terminate. They were in terrible danger, but what more could He do? They had spurned His warnings, and refused His help. As a hen gathered her chicks under her wings, so He had desired to gather these people under the shadow of the Almighty but His efforts had ended in failure. Now it was too late. He was helpless and completely frustrated, and as He considered these tragic facts, the tears ran down His face. Yes, there were things which even God could not do. He was able to place planets into orbit; He was able to make the light shine out of darkness, but when God faced the closed door of a human heart, He could only knock, and hope to gain admittance. Sometimes this was denied.

With the eye of a Seer, the Lord unerringly saw and described the horrors soon to fall upon the city He loved. “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, And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.” All this, and very much more came to pass when the Romans overwhelmed the city of Jerusalem in A.D 70. The historian Josephus described the terrible sufferings of those days and indicated that as far as the eye could see in every direction, there was no sight other than crucified Jews. Rivers of blood flowed through the gates of the city, when a generation perished. Great trenches were dug; mounds of earth were raised to isolate the city. Unable to leave, thousands of people perished. Women were molested, children were slaughtered and finally the stones of the temple were taken down one by one. Unwilling that their sanctuary should fall into the hands of the enemy, a band of fanatical Jews fought to the end, and finally burned the temple to the ground. Days later, when the fierce heat had somewhat subsided, the soldiers in their frenzied search for molten gold, carefully demolished the walls, looking in every crack in the hope of finding treasures. The Savior’s prediction was literally fulfilled. When the Jews cried, “His blood be on us, and on our children,” they signed their own death warrant. Christ saw this and broke His heart. He was hurt long before they were touched.

He loved them. This fact is inscrutable; it is bewildering; it is amazing, but when all the definitions have been exhausted, we can only repeat, Christ loved them. Had it been possible, He would have given all He possessed to ward off the coming disaster, but He was helpless. He wanted to save them but this was beyond His capability. And here is food for thought. The Bible teaches that another day of judgment is to come. “And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, From whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God, and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life, and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works... And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:11–15).

Christ still loves the world; the Lord still yearns to save sinners, but unfortunately in spite of His great compassion, souls are to be found wanting in the day of judgment. There is nothing He can do to prevent it. And thus the Lord Jesus looked at the city, and wept tears of pity. The disciples may be excused for their lack of understanding, but we should know better. Then slowly a tremendous resolve arose within His soul. If He could not save that generation, He might be able to do something for those who would come later. At least, He could open a door into everlasting happiness and thereby make it possible for others to succeed where these had failed. He would take our sins, and in His own body, nail them to the tree.

Today’s Reading:  Rev 5:1-10

PRAYER
Lord, we don’t want to see you cry.  May we cherish your gift of salvation and walk in your way toward the afterlife where we will share your joyous company in eternity.  In Jesus’ Name we pray.  Amen.