The King Who Weeps

Luke 19:41–44 NASB95

When He approached Jerusalem, He saw the city and wept over it, saying, “If you had known in this day, even you, the things which make for peace! But now they have been hidden from your eyes. “For the days will come upon you when your enemies will throw up a barricade against you, and surround you and hem you in on every side, and they will level you to the ground and your children within you, and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not recognize the time of your visitation.”

INTRO: Today, as you probably know, is Palm Sunday. (Everyone show me your palms) It’s the beginning of what is commonly known as “Holy Week”- the last week of Jesus’ earthly ministry leading up to His death, burial, and resurrection. Now, we’ve been studying the lives of Elijah and Elisha in the OT, but I think it’s appropriate to pause our study there and focus in as we celebrate and commemorate such a pivotal time in history.

Indeed, even as Jesus instituted what is known as the Lord’s Supper, He commanded that we remember and proclaim His death until He returns. IOW- the Good News of Jesus Christ that we are commanded to remember is that He came to save sinners and through His death, He satisfied the justice of God for all who would follow Him.

Are you familiar with Palm Sunday? It’s called Palm Sunday because it refers to Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Recorded in all 4 Gospels, we see the crowds outside the city worshipping God as Jesus came through. They laid their coats down on the road as they celebrated God’s anointed King, waving palm branches as a sign of victory…

Outside the city, there were shouts of praise (v. 37-38)

Luke 19:37–38 NASB95

As soon as He was approaching, near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the miracles which they had seen, shouting: “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord; Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”

In fact, even as we read these words, we are reminded of the proclamation of the angels at Jesus’ birth

Luke 2:14 NASB95

“Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.”

Jesus was born for this -The King is coming! He is here Hallelujah!

But the joy of this parade gave way to tears for the city, for the people of Jerusalem knew no such peace. It’s this portion of Palm Sunday that I want to focus in on today.

Now, when you think about weeping, there are all sorts of reasons we weep. Some tears are joyful; we weep because we are overwhelmed by joy, gratitude, etc. Some tears are sad- we weep because we of our own personal losses. Some are angry- we got any angry criers here today?

And then there is a different kind of weeping; when we weep for the sake of others. These are selfless tears, compassionate tears, and at times bitter tears. These are the tears that rolled down the face of Jesus on Palm Sunday 2000 years ago.

So, if you picked up a bulletin, I want to invite you to make use of the enclosed sermon guide as we learn together. The message is entitled, “The King Who Weeps”. In our time, I hope to encourage you and challenge you as we look to the compassionate heart of King Jesus for the world He came to save.

Let’s jump in. The first thing I want to show you is that

Jesus Weeps Empathetically (43-44a)

I imagine that it would be difficult to know something tragic was going to happen, and at the same time know that you are doing all you can to warn people of this tragedy.

ILL: I remember several times my kids would be playing and I’d warn them - “You’re going to fall!” or “You are going to get hurt!” It usually didn’t seem to impact them that I was shouting a warning, for most of the time, they kept right on until they fell or got hurt.

But what Jesus foreknew was far more tragic than a scraped knee. In fact, what Jesus saw was the absolute destruction of Jerusalem. Let’s read v. 43-44a again. (READ)

Jesus describes the city of Jerusalem coming under siege and eventually falling in such a way that there would there would not remain a single standing structure. Historically, this took place in AD 70, approximately 40 years after Jesus predicted it would happen.

You can google it later, but essentially, the Roman captain and later emperor Titus laid siege to the city for 6 months, cutting off their food supplies and causing something like a half million people to starve to death. It’s believed that some were so desperate they ate their own children. Then, the Romans came in and desolated the city, killing men, women, and children. The historian Josephus estimated 1.1 million Jews died in this ordeal. Tragic.

And it is here that we get to see the compassion of Jesus for His creation- in particular those who bear the image of God. You see, every person is made with intrinsic value. It’s not because of one’s intelligence, athletic ability, celebrity status, or even moral obedience. Every one of you are valuable… and no matter what we do, we will never be any more or less valuable. Our personhood, our image-of-Godness states our value and it is guaranteed by God Himself. No one can take that away.

So when tragedy befalls- whether it’s the destruction of a city like Jerusalem or the destruction of something a bit closer to home, the empathetic heart of Jesus weeps alongside His creation.

ILL: I read this week of the shooting that took the lives of 6 people at a Christian school in Nashville. In Henderson County, suicide claimed the life of a 14 year old boy. And when we are eye-ball deep in grief, the King of Creation weeps with us.

Now you might say, He’s God, why doesn’t He just stop all of this tragedy?That’s a big question, but the Good news is: that day is coming.

Scripture tells us that all of creation groans and longs for that day. But until then, we can be comforted by Jesus’ compassion knowing that in suffering, God invites us to draw near to Him.

If you are heartbroken this morning; perhaps there is tragedy in your life right now and you can do little more than weep… Friend, Jesus weeps with you.

The tragedy that Jerusalem faced was actually a picture of the ultimate judgment that comes to those who are not in Christ. This is evident when you understand the context of Jesus’ words. As we wrap our minds around this fact, I want to show you that

Jesus Weeps Sympathetically (41-42)

Let’s read 41-42 again (READ)

Jesus entered Jerusalem on a donkey and was hailed as King, yet just a few short days later, He would be rejected and crucified. This was not a victory for the city however.

What Jesus would endure was just plain awful- we recount the farcical court where Jesus was tried, the brutal beatings that he endured, making him unrecognizable as a human; How could we forget the crown of thorns which pierced His brow, and that cruel Roman cross where He was nailed?

Yet Jesus didn’t weep because of what He would face. Rather He wept because the people didn’t know the terms of peace with God! (42a)

This city would face destruction, but more than that, many would die unreconciled to God.

And so Jesus didn’t approach Jerusalem with a smirk on his face, saying “You’ll get what you deserve!” but rather with tears in His eyes, heartbroken over the those who were enemies of God because they did not know. He wept over the very ones who would conspire against Him. He wept over the ones who would jeer as He carried the cross up to Calvary and celebrate as the spear was thrust in His side. He wept because these unbelieving ones face a far worse fate than death.

Unfortunately many Christians’ eyes are not filled with tears over the lost- those who don’t know. If we are honest, we are more likely to roll our eyes at the lost because we have categorized these folks as our own political enemies. We look at unbelievers with contempt instead of compassion.

It’s to our shame that we allow ourselves to get so wrapped up in the things of this world that we are no longer convicted regarding the mission of God - that is to be ambassadors of reconciliation. Our mission is an extension of God’s mercy- His sympathy towards us.

Jesus invited the prostitute and the tax collector to receive the terms of peace. Come to Me, Jesus said! And when they did, they were some of His most loyal supporters!

You know, there are lots of folks are looking and longing for peace! - inner peace, outer peace, peace with family, world peace. They look in book stores and in bars; they look in bank accounts and in social acceptance. But they do not know the Prince of Peace.

And Jesus weeps over them. “If you only knew!”

Christian brothers and sisters, I dare say that if you could see the horror of hell that awaits those who are lost, you’d weep too.

Oh, that we would look at our community the way Jesus does - with tears of sympathy and compassion! That, while there is still time, we would proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ! May it never be that on the day of judgment your son or daughter or neighbors looks back at you and asks, “Why didn’t you tell me?!”

Jesus weeps over empathetically and sympathetically. There is one more area of Jesus’ compassion demonstrated here. And that is

Jesus Weeps Longingly (44b)

Let’s read 44b (READ)

Jesus wept over Jerusalem… it wasn’t Rome or Athens, but Jerusalem.

Jerusalem was the epicenter of Judaism. This is where people came to study God’s Word and worship. All the festivals and holy days were observed here. It was in this very place, where these people would have been looking for the Messiah, that they didn’t recognize Him when He came.

Jesus says, “Even you...” (42)

The Jewish leaders especially had gotten so consumed with the religious acts, that they missed God. They were involved in serving, but their actions had become empty deeds. They were “whitewashed tombs”.

This is the indictment of more than one of the 7 churches addressed in the book of Revelation. Ephesus left her first love, exercising religion without surrender to the Lordship of Jesus. Laodicea was neither hot nor cold- apathetic/ passive… they could not see that they had become self-centered.

Folks, look up and hear me: if you grew up in church especially -

Have you you’ve lost your awe of God?…

Are you are present in body, but have no real or personal relationship with Jesus?

Are you are neutral about the Great Commission, or have decided to maybe be more devoted when you have more free time… if so Jesus weeps over you.

He weeps because you do not recognize your King. He weeps because the holiness and power of God does not drive you to genuine worship or devotion. He weeps because you have rejected His Lordship. He weeps because you have valued this world over eternity And HE LONGS FOR YOU… all of you.

Jesus said that if you are going to follow Him, you must count the cost! The cost is not a slot in your calendar, but the throne of your heart!

“Even you...” though you are a regular attender in church. “Even you...”, who tithe and have the appearance of righteousness. Unless you give your life to Christ, even you will hear the dreaded judgment, through tears “Depart from me, for I never knew you.”

Perhaps today is the day that Jesus is knocking at your heart’s door. This is your invitation to respond to Him; to recognize His voice. Tomorrow might be too late.

TODAY, if you would hear His voice, Do not harden your heart!

Describe how Jesus’ compassion amidst tragedy brings comfort.

Discuss: How can you develop a heart for those that do not know Jesus?

Reflect: Are you indifferent or neutral about God’s Kingdom and mission?