How do you show someone you love them? 

Luke 19:41 – 44

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. 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 recognise the time of God’s coming to you.’

There’re only a few passages that I can think of that Jesus weeps or cries in.  I find this astounding to remember that Jesus had strong emotions just like me.  We read about Jesus approaching Jerusalem (where he will be put to death) and be overcome with sadness and grief.  Jesus’ heart is empathetic, he feels for the people in Jerusalem, he loves them.  There’s a complete rawness of Jesus’ emotion that gets me.  You see Jesus’ heart so clearly.  He cares so deeply for these people and wants them to recognise that there is another way, a way that would bring peace. 

Jesus knows what is ahead for Jerusalem, the pain and destruction that will happen.  Why will this happen?  Because the Jews have rejected Jesus as their King.  God’s promised people have heard about a King and Saviour that would redeem them all through-out history (all of the Old Testament points to Jesus coming).  Jesus is and was the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies.  Jesus was God with us.  However, the people in Jerusalem were blind to see this as they continued to try and uphold the law, living their own self-righteous lives.  They “did not recognise the time of God’s coming” and so because of this, God’s judgment will fall on them.   

We truly see the heart of God in this small passage – that he loves his people and wants them to know him.  God loved us so much that he made a way for us to do that through Jesus – through his man who wept. This is the truth and joy that we hold as believers of Jesus – but we live in a world surrounded by people who are still so blind to the eternal reality that is at hand; just like the people in Jerusalem.  Do we truly love and care for these people?  Well, Jesus does, and we should too.  We should be proclaiming the good news of his salvation in all that we do so they may recognise Jesus as Lord and live in the peace and joy of the Gospel. 

Head: What does it mean to you that Jesus’ wept in this passage?

Heart: How do you love the people around you?  Do you see them with the empathy and compassion that Jesus sees them? 

Hands: What can you start to do today to show people Jesus’ love and care? 

Prayer: 

Gracious God,  

We do not deserve your grace and love.  We are in awe of how deep, wide, long and high your love is for us.  Lord, we see you heart for people.  We see how much you love and care.  You made a way for us to be in relationship with you through Jesus.  All praise to you. 

May you shape our hearts to be filled with the same compassion and care for the people around us.  Help us to love and see people as you see them – each a child you came to save.  Help us Lord by your spirit. 

Amen. 

A song to listen to: How Deep The Fathers Love for Us 

Ellen Wilcox 

Living Church – Creek Road