Dear Christian friends:

In our text today we see a very strange thing happen, Jesus crying. When someone cries we know that something is very wrong, and that the person is sad. Why did Jesus cry? Why was He sad?

That is a good question for us to consider. If we think about that question and answer that question, we may find help for ourselves today. Today Jesus still cries and is sad. Maybe He is sad about you, too.

We read in our text that when Jesus came near the city, Jerusalem, and saw it He wept loud over it. He said, "If today you only knew, yes, you, the way to peace? But now it's hidden so that you can't see it." Jesus cried because the people in that city blindly and stubbornly refused to listen to God's Word.

They refused to believe that God sent Him from heaven to be their Savior. This happened on Palm Sunday, a few days before Jesus died on the cross. Jesus knew that on Thursday night they would arrest Him and on Friday ask Pontius Pilate to crucify Him.

Although they hated Him and didn't want Him, He still loved them and felt sad because they didn't want God's love, God's peace and precious blessings. He cried because they blindly and stubbornly chose the way of destruction.

This shows the great and wonderful love of God for sinners. He loves us more than a mother loves her son. You know that sometimes a son grows up and becomes a criminal, robber, murderer. Does his mother give up on him and stop loving him? No! She still accepts him as her son. She visits him in prison and writes letters to him. She prays for him that he will be sorry and change his ways. She cries often and is very sad to see her son travel the wrong way and destroy his life and his family.

The Bible says that God loves us more than a mother her son. He says sometimes a mother gives up on her son and forsakes him when he is bad. But God says, "I will never leave thee or forsake thee." (Hebrews 13:5)

So Jesus cries because He wants us to understand and believe in His great love for us sinners. Jesus also cries when people are bad because He wants them to know there is still time to be sorry and change. As long as they are still living it is not too late.

Although by their sins and wickedness they have ruined their life here on earth and caused much trouble for other people, mother and father, brothers or sisters maybe husband or wife or children. Yet, it is not too late to save their souls for heaven. Perhaps a son is a wild and careless driver. His father and mother and others warn him to be careful and not drive so fast and careless. He is big headed and stubborn and continues to drive too fast and break the laws. Then he has a terrible accident. Perhaps three people in the other car are killed and he himself is hurt badly and loses one leg. It is too late to help those three people who got killed. He can't take away the grief and sadness in their family, and he can't get a new leg.

He has ruined the happy life for himself and many others because of his sin. But it is not too late to change. If he is sorry and accepts Jesus for his Savior his soul will be saved. Perhaps with the remaining time he has left to live his life he can do much good to serve God and bring peace and happiness to others.

So Jesus' cry is to let us know it is not too late. Although you have made much destruction and grief for yourself and grief for yourself and others there is still time to be sorry and change. God will forgive and forget and bless, although the hour is late.

But if we do not today listen to Jesus' crying. If we still blindly and stubbornly continue on the wrong way, then it will be too late one day as it was for the people of Jerusalem. Jesus saw into the future (prophesied) and knew that most of these people would never be sorry or change their ways and believe in Him. So He says they will be fully destroyed. (Read verses 43-44) Their city and their lives and their children will all be destroyed in a terrible war and worse they would (will) be lost in hell.

Jesus cries because these many people by their sin and stubbornness destroy themselves now on earth and forever in hell. Jesus is sad because there is no hope left for them. His love, His cross, His blood baptism and Lord's Supper are wasted on them. Jesus says, "I would, but you would not." ("I want, but you don't want.")

So, too, you and I today; If we are lost and destroy our life on earth and lose our soul in hell, we can't blame God. We must blame ourselves. Jesus cries to impress that upon us.

May Jesus crying over Jerusalem help us all to wake up and believe in Him.

O'er Jerusalem Thou Weepest - Hymn
By the love Thy tears are telling,
O Thou Lamb for sinners slain,
Make my heart Thy temple dwelling,
Purged from every guilty stain.
O forgive, forgive my sin!
Cleanse me, cleanse me, Lord, within!
I am Thine since Thou hast sought me,
Since Thy precious blood hath bought me.

Amen.