Jesus wept over Jerusalem. Luke 19:41-44 Those who saw tears streaming down the face of the Lord Jesus Christ would have wondered about His emotion and what caused it. Anyone close enough to hear His words would probably have questioned the predictions, which included not only the destruction of the temple He had previously mentioned but also the entire city. Perhaps they believed that, since Jerusalem was known as the city of peace, this would not happen again, especially because the Messiah, the Prince of Peace, had come.
Much of what happens in our lives is far beyond what we could have imagined when we look ahead. Looking back, we are amazed at how we were guided, contrary to our expectations. Some things in life bring us great joy, while others bring unexpected sorrow. It is essential that we accept by faith that both come from the hands of our Gracious God. He knows the “whats, whys, and wherefores” of our lives, and that is all that matters.
The three events in this part of chapter nineteen—the donkey and the entry into Jerusalem, the weeping over the city, and the cleansing of the temple—are all part of the larger prophecy coming true as our Lord Jesus entered Jerusalem for the last time. Everything He did was part of a carefully planned series of events that reached a climax in our Lord’s first coming to “seek and to save that which was lost.” He knew the time, place, methods, and outcomes of each incident.
Our lives are more than just a series of meaningless experiences. The Lord can use a donkey whenever He chooses. How much more can He use a person who loves Him and desires to serve Him in ways that please Him? Our voices can be used to praise Him, thank Him, testify for Him, share the Gospel of His grace with those who need to be saved from their sins, and encourage and teach fellow believers in God’s Word. We are meant to be active participants, not mere spectators, in advancing God's kingdom.
Leaders of the Jews had rejected God’s offer of salvation when “He came to His own and His own received Him not.” Those people had gone as far as wanting to murder the Lord Jesus. They had gone too far, and the nation would face the consequences of their leaders' decisions. Forty years later, Titus would crush the Jewish rebellion. He would lay siege to the city, tear down the walls, burn the city, and demolish the temple. In doing so, he would kill approximately 600,000 Jews. No wonder Jesus wept over the city!