Why Jesus wept

Sunday service, Albu van Eeden, 21 Aug 2016

Luke 19:41-42
“41 As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it 42 and said, ‘If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes'”

The Lord Jesus beheld the city and He wept.

Tears touch us. But when a grown up person cries it touches us more. In fact the stronger the person that cries the more touching it is. Here we find the Lord Jesus Himself weeping.
It makes us think of another time when the Lord Jesus wept. When the sisters Martha and Mary sent for Jesus because their brother was sick, He only arrived after Lazarus had already died. And then we read the shortest verse in the Bible, ‘Jesus wept’ (John 11:35).
But in the Greek the word used to describe Jesus weeping differ. In the second case it’s a silent weeping. But when Jesus wept over Jerusalem it’s a loud outburst of weeping, when you’re seized with overwhelming emotions. Remember this was Jesus’ last visit to Jerusalem. Six days later He was to be crucified.

We read in verses 43-44
“43 The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. 44 They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God’s coming to you.”

He knew what was going to happen in Jerusalem. He was riding on a colt and the people were worshipping Him, but they were blissfully unaware that the King of kings, their King, was coming to visit them. They didn’t recognise Him. As we read, He came unto His own yet His own did not recognise Him (John 1:11). The Lord Jesus knew that 40 years later Jerusalem would be destroyed by the Romans.

Some say the destruction of Jerusalem at that time was the most severe event ever in history.
One can read about it from the history book of Josephus in, ‘the wars of the Jews’.

Our Lord wept when He realised and saw what was going to happen.

Why did such tragedy come upon them? Because the Jews didn’t want Him and rejected Him. They were self righteous and religious men and women.
This is just a short explanation about the tears of Jesus.

What does the Lord Jesus want to teach us by His tears? It shows us that He knows our future. Even if you don’t know what lies ahead in your life, yet He knows.
But it also shows us His great love for sinners. It shows us firstly Who Jesus is.

They didn’t realise this was their day, and the things that belong to their peace.

He had lived among them for 30 years and their time was over. God had run out of patience with them. It’s terrible when God runs out of patience with a person. He didn’t feel nothing for them, but burst out weeping for them because they rejected Him not knowing that He was their peace.
It’s said that rivers flowed in the streets as the Romans slaughtered them. Why? Because they didn’t want the Savior of the world. They rejected Him and crucified Him and cried out, ‘let His blood come upon us and our children’ (Matt 27:25).

His tears tell us that He was both God and man. As God He knew their future, and as man He wept for their future.
You and I don’t know the future. God knows the future. As God He knew what was coming 40 years in the future. But He was so overcome with emotion for what was lying ahead that He cried as we’ve read.

Do you believe that Jesus is God? Perhaps you just believe He was a great teacher and prophet, a very wise man etc. You need to look at Him again, and see Him in His fullness.

His tears also tell us that He loves sinners. He wasn’t weeping for Himself. Self pity is not from God. The crucifixion was just ahead, yet He didn’t feel sorry for Himself but for them. He knew the scourging that was coming, all the mocking and the hate. But He never wept for Himself. In fact even as He was walking with the cross to Golgotha and certain women were weeping for Him, He said to them not to weep for Him but for themselves and their children (Luke 23:28). He didn’t come to this world to feel sorry for Himself.

Matthew 23:37-38
37 Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing. 38 Look, your house is left to you desolate.

If you don’t know this Savior you’re missing the most important thing in life. But if you know Him you can have assurance that all is well with your soul.

Just imagine what was available for them even at that late stage. If they had come to Him He would have forgiven them, and destruction would have been averted.

What lies ahead for every unrepentant sinner? The tears of Christ shows us that He knows what lies ahead for every unrepentant sinner.
Let’s look at the sermon on the Mount. There will be some who seem to have lived a good life. And they will tell Him how they’ve worked for Him, but they make the same mistake Jerusalem made. They trust in their own righteousness, their self righteousness. They build their house on the sand. And such a house will fall when the storms come. But if your house is built on the Rock, Christ, it will stand in the midst of the storm (Matt 7:24-27).

A great revival preacher once asked the following question, which he said no one can answer, not the angels or even God Himself, ‘how will we escape the wrath of God if we neglect so great a salvation’ (Heb 2:3).

Sermon audio in other languages:
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Music:
KwaSizabantu choir: How excellent is Thy lovingkindness!


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KwaSizabantu choir: Mzalwane khethizulu


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KwaSizabantu choir: Are you ready?


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CYPSA choir


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CYPSA choir


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