41 As Jesus approached Jerusalem and saw the city, He wept over it 42 and said, “If only you had known on this day what would bring you peace! But now it is hidden from your eyes. 43 For the days will come upon you when your enemies will barricade you and surround you and hem you in on every side. 44 They will level you to the ground—you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of your visitation from God. ”

REFLECTIONS

Written by Elise Le

We read just yesterday that Jesus entered Jerusalem on a colt, and we saw people spreading their cloaks on the road, praising Jesus as the King. But the Pharisees detested the crowds’ exaltations and did not recognise that the very man in front of them was the one of whom the prophets had spoken (Zech. 9:9).

In today’s verses, Jesus weeps because the people in Jerusalem don’t truly recognise what he has come to do. They praise him as King, but they fail to see Jesus as the Son of God, the Lord of the universe, and they do not understand that he must first suffer many things, be rejected, and die for their sins. Jesus describes the judgment that they will face in the future, pointing towards a day when their city will be besieged. This foreshadows the divine punishment that will come upon those who do not know Jesus as their King on the day of his return.

When I travel home from work at 3pm, there is always the pain of having to drive through school zones. There have been many times when the person in front of me has continued to drive at 60km/h, maybe not realising the speed limit sign, and flash... they get caught by the speed camera. The people in Jerusalem failed to see the signs of Jesus being the Messianic King and would face the consequences, just like failing to see the speed sign as you drive through a school zone and receiving the penalty of a speeding ticket.

When I first read Luke 19, I was quick to judge those in Jerusalem. But on reflection, I know I don’t perfectly live every day with Jesus as my King. I need to ask myself: Do I remember that Jesus will come back as judge, and do I live each day in light of his return? Pray that we will live such holy lives that are shaped by knowing Jesus as our Lord and Saviour.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Elise is a member of our Fairfield Evening congregation.