When the Lord Wept - Luke 19:41

"And as He drew near and saw the city, He wept over it" - Lukas 29:41

Jesus shed tears. This was not the first time (Yoh 11:35) and He was not the only one written as weeping (Lukas 7:13, 8:42, Roma 9:2-3) But why now? Why in this verse? Was He being weak? Could He not control His emotions? Were His tears caused by regret, fear, or dread? The word 'wept' here carries the same meaning as 'lamented.' Jesus was pouring out tears. Something serious and deeply significant was happening. What was it? Let us look at these three things:

1. Jesus saw things as they really were

In the previous verse it says that the people with Him were rejoicing and praising God (Lukas 19:37), yet Jesus wept. It was not that they were not allowed to rejoice, only that they could not see the bigger picture. How we all struggle with this. Are we willing to accept the reality of where we are in our faith, our relationships, our parenting, our marriage? Or are we so blind that we do not see and acknowledge where we are in the wrong, where we are weak, and where we need help? Are we also ready to receive and save those who are lost? We do not need to despair, but we can lament well.

2. Jesus wept over a missed opportunity

He did all He could to speak about the truth and act in love so that He could persuade people that the kingdom was coming / had come. Yet most of the people who heard Him, saw His miracles, and felt His love did not respond. Jerusalem (the city of peace) would become a war zone within a few years. How ironic, yet how very sad, that the city of peace did not know how to enjoy peace. Has God given you opportunity before you respond to His love? Take it while you can. You do not know how long you will have it.

3. Jesus wept for others, not for Himself

What Jesus felt here is truly inspiring and in fact shows His divinity. He did not weep because He would have to suffer and die in the city spread out before Him. That might have happened, but His focus was not, and never was, on Himself. He knew God had a plan and, though it would be hard, this was a good plan - for the people in that city. How tragic, then, that the very people He wanted to help and could help were the people who rejected such help. No wonder He wept!

but His focus was not, and never was, on Himself.

Why did Jesus weep? Because He saw things as they really were, because He longed to gather people into a place of peace with God, and because He knew how much He could help them.

He did not weep every day, and that should not be our goal, but a little weeping can help us gain a heart like the heart of the Messiah.

God bless