As Jesus approached Jerusalem and saw the city, He wept over itWhen he came near, he saw the city and wept over it,And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it,And when he drew nigh, he saw the city and wept over it,
6 sermons cite this verse
Let's all use our imaginations for a second. For some of us, we haven't really done that in a long, long time. But let's put ourselves in the shoes, in the hooves maybe, of a donkey. In the brain of this animal. I'm just a donkey just standing by my mom tied up it's a beautiful sunrise today mom look it's gorgeous the donkey's mom probably said yes honey it is and this young donkey had a good life he had donkey friends and he did donkey things. No one had ever ridden him before. So he was like chill. So I'm just standing there looking around. Hee-haw. suddenly a couple of guys come up to me. I've never seen them before. Huh, they look a little bit different. They're dressed differently. And wait a minute, they're untying me? They say, Jesus needs me? Who's Jesus? Who is the Lord? So I just followed them. and I saw this man look at me I have never seen anyone look at me the way he did he looked into my heart and soul his voice was strong yet gentle He patted me behind the ears And it really felt good He talked to me in a loving way And then they put cloaks on my back And I'd never really had anything on my back before It kind of felt a little weird Yet Jesus calmed me And then he sat on me I'd never felt the weight of a person before And his weight was wonderful …
… See Him in Luke 19. It says in verse 41, when He approached Jerusalem, He saw the city and wept over it, saying, If you had known in this day, even you, the things that make for peace, but now they are hidden from your eyes, you didn't recognize the time of your visitation. This was the end of the three years of visitation from heaven. And Jesus sobbed over Jerusalem. In Luke 13, 34, O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, how often I wanted to gather your children together just as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would have none of it, so your house is left unto you desolate. There was Jewish deconstruction in the day of Jeremiah and Isaiah. There was deconstruction of Old Testament Judaism in the day of our Lord Jesus, so that apostasy had taken over the whole nation, with the exception of a very few. And it's the same today. Look, I've been at grace long enough to have seen the fruitless soils that looked good for a while. …
The ministers of Christ should be persons of the same spirit that their Lord was of: the same spirit of humility and lowliness of heart; for the servant is not greater than his Lord. They should be of the same spirit of heavenly-mindedness, and contempt of the glory, wealth, and pleasures of this world: they should be of the same spirit of devotion and fervent love to God: they should follow the example of his prayerfulness; of whom we read from time to time of his retiring from the world, away from the noise and applauses of the multitudes, into mountains and solitary places, for secret prayer, and holy converse with his Father; and once of his rising up in the morning a great while before day, and going and departing into a solitary place to pray, Mark i. 35. and another time, of his going out into a mountain to pray, and continuing all night in prayer to God, Luke vi. 12. Ministers should follow Christ’s example, in his strict, constant, and inflexible observance of the commands which God had given him, touching what he should do and what he should say; he spake nothing of himself, but those things which the Father had commanded him, those he spake, and always did those things that pleased him, and continued in thorough obedience in the greatest trials, and through the greatest opposition that ever there was any instance of. Ministers should be persons of the same quiet, lamb-like spirit that Christ was of, the same spirit of submission to God’s will, and patience under afflictions, and meekness towards men; of the same calmness and composure of spirit under reproaches and sufferings from the malignity of evil men; of the same spirit of forgiveness of injuries; of the same spirit of charity, of fervent love and extensive benevolence; the same disposition to pity the miserable, to weep with those that weep, to help men under their calamities of both soul and body, to hear and grant the requests of the needy, and relieve the afflicted; the same spirit of condescension to the poor and mean, tenderness and gentleness towards the weak, and great and effectual love to enemies. They should also be of the same spirit of zeal, diligence, and self-denial for the glory of God, and advancement of his kingdom, and for the good of mankind; for which things’ sake Christ went through the greatest labours, and endured the most extreme sufferings. …
… of Olives wept. Do you know why Jesus wept? Listen to it again, Luke 19, beginning in verse 41. And when he was come near, that is when he was come near to the city, he beheld the city and wept over it saying, If thou hast known, even thou at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace. But now they hid from thine eyes. No wonder Jesus wept. The precise day was given by Daniel the prophet. And he said, If you'd only known the things that belong to you on this your day. And so there was the commencement of the count. We see where the commencement of the count began with the building of Jerusalem. There's the continuation of the count from the rebuilding of Jerusalem unto Messiah the Prince. Now there is the secession of the count. The count is stopped. God puts a hold in the count. Look now in verse 26. And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off. …
… Listen to it again, Luke 19, beginning in verse 41. And when he was come near, that is, when he was come near to the city, he beheld the city and wept over it, saying, If thou hadst known, even thou at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace, but now they hid from thine eyes. No wonder Jesus wept. The precise day was given by Daniel the prophet. And he said, If you'd only known the things that belong to you on this, you would have known.
(3.) Christ himself is now seeking your salvation. He seeks it by the fore-mentioned means, by appointing men to make it their business to seek it; he seeks it by them; they are his instruments, and they beseech you in Christ’s stead, to be reconciled to God. He seeks it, in commanding your neighbours to seek it. Christ is represented in Scripture, as wooing the souls of sinners. He uses means to persuade them to choose and accept of their own salvation. He often invites them to come to him that they may have life, that they may find rest to their souls; to come and take of the water of life freely. He stands at the door and knocks; and ceases not, though sinners for a long time refuse him. He bears repeated repulses from them, and yet mercifully continues knocking, saying. “Open to me, that I may come in and sup with you, and you with me.” At the doors of many sinners he stands thus knocking for many years together. Christ is become a most importunate suitor to sinners, that he may become their sovereign. He is often setting before them the need they have of him, the miserable condition in which they are, and the great provision that is made for the good of their souls; and he invites them to accept of this provision, and promises it shall be theirs upon their mere acceptance. Thus how earnestly did Christ seek the salvation of Jerusalem, and he wept over it when they refused; Luke xix. 41, 42. ?And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it, 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.” And Matt. xxiii. 37. “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!” Thus Christ is now seeking your salvation; such an opportunity have you now in your hands. Consider therefore how many means Christ is using with you, to bring you to salvation. …