“And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over it” (Luke 19:41 ESV).
As Jesus approached the city of Jerusalem, it wasn’t the palm branch waving crowd, nor the beauty of Mt. Zion that drew His attention. For He saw it not only with physical eyes but with prophetic vision. He knew the time had come for Daniel’s prophecy to be fulfilled.
For the prophet Daniel wrote, “Messiah shall be cut off, the city and the Sanctuary destroyed, and desolations decreed” (Dan. 9:26).
Jesus didn’t weep for Himself, knowing that He would be crucified by week’s end. He wept over Jerusalem’s coming destruction and that His people didn’t recognize the time of His visitation. His tears were for those who rejected Him.
PRAYER: Dear Father, we often weep for ourselves, but rarely for someone else. Forgive us our selfishness. Give us Your compassion for others. Help us to see our city through the eyes of Your Son that we might be moved by His heart. In Jesus’ name, amen.