Palm Sunday’s Tears

Luke 19:41–44 NKJV

41 Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, 42 saying, “If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. 43 For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, 44 and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation.”

Palm Sunday

A. Palm Sunday

So called because of the palm branches used

The triumphal entry, Daniel’s amazing prophecy, 483 years ()

Recorded by all the Gospel writers

The Setting and the Scene

About five days before Passover, Jesus and disciples come from Bethany

Most important of the feasts is to begin, 300,000 visitors to the city

Past the Triumphal Entry to Palm Sunday’s Tears

Jesus weeping over Jerusalem

The lessons about our Lord

He Sees beyond the Pleasantries (v. 41)

“He beheld the city”

So much in the world is superficial -

Beautiful Jerusalem, the breathtaking view

Temple was one of the most magnificent places in the Roman Empire

The pomp and ceremony of the occasion (300,000 Jews, making a holy journey)

But Jesus sees beyond this outward beauty

What He sees makes Him weep

Even in the midst of the occasion, the location, and their celebration of His entry

He wept over them

Is He grieved at what He sees in your life?

So many Christians think that whatever they like is what Jesus likes

If not careful, we can define our Christianity by our goals and dreams

But, is Jesus pleased with the city we are building? Or does He weep at our shallow lives of selfish shortsightedness?

He sees beyond the outward in a church, “I know thy works” ()

Revelation 2:1–2 NKJV

1 “To the angel of the church of Ephesus write, ‘These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands: 2 “I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars;

Revelation 2:2 NKJV

2 “I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars;

Revelation 2:1–3 NKJV

1 “To the angel of the church of Ephesus write, ‘These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands: 2 “I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; 3 and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary.

He sees beyond the outward in our lives

The facade that hides inward sin

The smile that hides inward tears

He Cares about our Pain (v. 41)

“… and wept over it”

Was not His primary concern over their sin?

Yes … but sin brings pain

From the first sin in the Garden of Eden

Every act of disobedience brings pain

All sin has negative consequences

and usually these consequences are contagious, they grow, and reproduce.

Do you think you are getting away with sin?

You cannot sin and win

The books you are reading, movies, music, the lust you tolerate

The words you say, the stories you tell, the lies

All these bring pain

He Knows our Full Potential (v. 42)

“If thou hadst known …”

What Jerusalem might have been: Imagine for a moment:

The City of Blessing

Instead it has become a city of war and grief

thousands of years of history and pain

Jesus knows your full potential

The saddest words of tongue or pen: “For all sad words of tongue and pen, the saddest are these, It might have been”

He knows what you can achieve. Don’t underestimate Him

If only we could see ourselves as Jesus does

He has created every one of us with purpose and potential.

You are a chosen generation

Do you feel like you have blown it? A great future beats a great past every time

He Longs to Give us Peace (v. 42)

“The things which belong to thy peace”

Peace! What a good word it is! REPEAT IT!!!

Jerusalem means city of peace

But war was waiting in the wings (vv. 43, 44) … Titus and fulfillment of this prophecy

Conclusion

Preach the Gospel

Peace for Individuals … Come Now!

Your Tears can Change to Joy