Good morning,
Why would Jesus cry?
When Jesus began his final trip to Jerusalem, His trip into town found him riding on a young colt, surrounded by confused disciples, and a growing group of people who were all excited about Jesus and saying, "Blessings on the King who comes in the name of the LORD! Peace in heaven, and glory in highest heaven!”(Luk.19:38) When he got close enough to see Jerusalem, Jesus started to cry. Was he afraid or angry or overwhelmed? No, he said, "How I wish today that you of all people would understand the way to peace. But now it is too late, and peace is hidden from your eyes.(v.42) He wasn’t crying for himself, but for those who hated him and were planning to kill him. Jesus really did love the people in his world, who hated him. Jesus knew what would happen to those who hated him and his love spilled out in tears for their eternal life of suffering.
It is now becoming increasingly clear that the world of that time is now beginning to show up in our time, so what should we do when we find ourselves surrounded this way? The Lord taught Saul, Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing.(2Cor.2:15) You see, now we are being surrounded by terrified and hateful people, and the Lord tells us, To those who are perishing, we are a dreadful smell of death and doom.(v.16) God built into those who hate Him and His Son the possibility of death and doom when their life is over. But then he tells us, But to those who are being saved, we are a life-giving perfume.(v.16) Remember what Jesus told his disciples, I tell you the truth, anyone who obeys my teaching will never die!”(Jon.8:51) That kind of faith and living is what makes us and our Savior so smelly because that’s not what they want out of life. They want control!
Jesus himself told us a story of what God has planned for those who will not trust and obey and love Him. A rich man living a wonderful life and a beggar living outsider his house sick and poor. The rich man wanted nothing to do with him. Then they both died. The poor man went to what we would call paradise.(Luk.16:22) The rich man went to what we would call hell and he was living in torment. To make his pain even more painful, he could see the beggar a long way off being taken care of by one of God’s favorite children.(v.23) The rich man shouted, 'Father Abraham, have some pity! Send Lazarus over here to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue. I am in anguish in these flames.’(v.24) Abraham said, 'Son, remember that during your lifetime you had everything you wanted, and Lazarus had nothing. So now he is here being comforted, and you are in anguish.(v.25) He then told the rich man that he could never get into God ’s family and no one in heaven could get him out of hell. At another time Jesus told his disciples that in hell they would always be living in fire and the maggots would never die.(Mar.9:43,48) Jesus wasn’t happy they were going there, He was profoundly sad. Also John tells us that at the end of time, I saw a great white throne and the one sitting on it. The earth and sky fled from his presence, but they found no place to hide. (Rev.20:11) He then tells us what the ungodly will face. I saw the dead, both great and small, standing before God's throne. And the books were opened, including the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to what they had done, as recorded in the books.(v.12) Finally, And anyone whose name was not found recorded in the Book of Life was thrown into the lake of fire.(v.15) Dear Lord, please help us to live and love with your love and not be controlled by our earthly enemies.
Luke 19:41 But as he came closer to Jerusalem and saw the city ahead, he began to weep.
Roy Wisner
