The Weeping King

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This is a sermon that was given on Palm Sunday 2014 and it is based on Luke 19:41-44, which presents the scene of Jesus weeping over the city of Jerusalem on the Triumphal Entry.

Written Excerpts:

Introduction:

There is a sad story in the OT regarding King David. It is a story of the King leaving the city of Jerusalem after learning that his son Absalom had declared himself king in opposition to his father. 2 Samuel 15:30 (NKJV) So David went up by the Ascent of the Mount of Olives, and wept as he went up; and he had his head covered and went barefoot. And all the people who were with him covered their heads and went up, weeping as they went up.

It’s hard to imagine the weight of sorrow that filled the heart of king David that day as he left the capital city in order to protect his own life as well as the lives of his family and servants.

In our Scripture for today, we heard the familiar story of Jesus riding into the city of Jerusalem on the donkey and the people shouting praises saying, “Hosanna, blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.” Luke is the only gospel writer who records the next part of the scene. In verse 41, he describes Jesus coming near to the city of Jerusalem and He weeps as he looks out over the city.

It is interesting to notice that He is ready to descend the Mount of Olives, while in the OT story about David, he is ready to ascend the Mount of Olives. Jesus is entering the city, David was leaving the city. What sad pictures – Weeping kings.

For a little while today, I want to explore the cause(s) of Jesus’ weeping and try to make an application to our lives in a way that will motivate us to be more diligent regarding our own spiritual well-being.

I. Setting the Scene

This has been a long trip. Jericho which was approximately 17 miles ENE of Jerusalem. Bethany / Bethphage was approx. 2 miles E of Jerusalem. So, approx. 15 miles walking; 2 miles riding.

Elevation rises approx. 3300 feet from Jericho to Jerusalem, or average of 200 ft. per mile, but realistically the rise would be even more severe because the first few miles would still be in the plain near Jericho.

(Vincent, Word Studies in the New Testament, quoting from another source) Two distinct sights of Jerusalem are caught on this route…. Verse 37 marks the first sight, verse 41 the second and nearer view. "… the first view is caught of the southeastern corner of the city. The temple and the more northern portions are hid by the slope of Olivet on the right: what is seen is only Mount Zion… [which was] then covered with houses to its base, and [prevailed over] by the castle of Herod, on the supposed site of the palace of David.…It was at this point that the shout of triumph burst forth from the multitude."

With the castle of Herod in full view, the people with Jesus began to praise the one they hoped would become the next king.

(Vincent, Word Studies in the New Testament, again quoting Stanley) "The road descends a slight [downward slope], and the glimpse of the city is again withdrawn behind the intervening ridge of Olivet. A few moments, and the path mounts again; it climbs a rugged ascent, it reaches a ledge of smooth rock, and in an instant the whole city bursts into view.…It is hardly possible to doubt that this rise and turn of the road was the exact point where the multitude paused again, and He, when he beheld the city, wept over it."

Now, with the whole city in view, and especially the Temple, Jesus pauses to express His lament over the city. The language used in this text implies a bursting forth into tears with audible weeping. Some use the word “wailed.” Jesus is overcome with emotion. And, this emotion of grief is not due to a personal loss or pain, but due to the impending loss of others.

II. The Causes of Grief

(My main points here are adapted from a few brief statements by a well-know English preacher in the 1800’s, Alexander Maclaren.)

A. Their failure to understand their privilege. (v. 42a, 44b)

“If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace!.... [but] you did not know the time of your visitation.”

“known/(knowledge)” – [In OT], the knowledge is not mere information or mystical contemplation, but also its exercise.” A lot of times the early Christian usage of this word included the OT influence by including obedient submission to what is known. (Theological Dictionary of the New Testament)

Genuine knowledge is not just the accumulation of factual information, but the submission of one’s life and will to the truth of what is known.

The phrase, “If you had known” is offset by the closing phrase in the paragraph, “because you did not know.” The first is a phrase of opportunity and possibility, and the second is a statement of fact and finality.

“this your day” – The opportunity afforded to you. They will not be accountable for the opportunities afforded to other people and other nations, they will be accountable for their own opportunities.

“things that make for your peace” – possibly an intentional reference to the name of the city, “Jerusalem” which means “he shall see peace.” (Clarke, et. al.) Their peace was to be found in their reception of Him as God’s anointed, but they rejected Him.

John 16:33 (NKJV) ³³  These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."

The Jews were looking for political peace and rest from the Romans, but they were missing the One who could give them spiritual and eternal peace.

It seems to me that the phrase “if you had known” (v. 42) is more clearly defined by the later phrase, “because you did not know” (v. 44).

I also believe the word “peace” in verse 42 is further defined by the word “visitation” in verse 44.

“time of visitation” – “time” is word that commonly carries the meaning of “the temporal sense of [a] “decisive point”, often with a stress on the fact that it is divinely ordained.” (Theological Dictionary of the New Testament)

The people of  Jerusalem and Judea did not grasp or submit to the “divinely ordained” time of visitation of God’s Prince of Peace that was provided for them, and I believe that this was the first major cause of the Lord’s grief on that ride to Jerusalem.

B. The passing of their opportunity. (v. 42b)

“But now they are hidden from your eyes.”

The grammatical structure of this phrase indicates that the thing that is hidden from their eyes is their peace. (Which is implied in a comment by Adam Clarke.) This is a passive verb meaning that they did not hide it from their own eyes, but it was hidden from them.

This actually emphasizes the same principle that we have noted in our series of messages in Romans. When individuals or groups of people willfully choose to resist God’s truth, there will come a time when God joins them and actively keeps them from knowing what they had previously resisted knowing.

It is also possible that the meaning here is simply the fact that the Jewish religious leaders were so full of anger and resentment against Christ along with their intention to eliminate Him, that it clouded their ability to see the truth. So, it may not have been God that blinded them, but simply the natural consequences of all their choices.

I believe the second major cause of Jesus’ grief was because He saw that they path they had chosen was a path of no return.

C. The certainty of their judgment. (v. 43-44)

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."

(The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament by Craig S. Keener) … the city was destroyed in a.d. 70 but not completely leveled. Further leveling (including the filling of an entire valley) took place after the Bar Kochba revolt, which was finally suppressed in a.d. 135.

The Bible is very clear about the fact that God does not delight in judgment. We are clearly told that…

Ezekiel 18:23, 32 (NKJV) ²³ Do I have any pleasure at all that the wicked should die?" says the Lord GOD, "and not that he should turn from his ways and live? ³² For I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies," says the Lord GOD. "Therefore turn and live!

Ezekiel 33:11 (NKJV) Say to them: 'As I live,' says the Lord GOD, 'I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house of Israel?'

2 Peter 3:9 (NKJV) The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

Now we see that the third major cause of our Lord’s grief was the certainty of their coming judgment, and it broke His heart.

So, according to these few verses we find three major causes of grief for our Lord:

1. Their failure to understand and submit to their time of visitation by the Prince of Peace;

2. Their missed opportunity because of their path of no return;

3. Their certainty of coming judgment.                    

These three things broke the heart of the Savior and Redeemer.

Conclusion:

In closing, I want to say that there are two primary points of application I hope we will take away from this message today.

1. It is possible for anyone to miss out on the opportunity for personal peace with God when we squander our “time of visitation.” Therefore we must always be careful and diligent to respond to Him in faith and obedience.

2. Do the things that break God’s heart break ours as well?

Luke 23:27-28 (NKJV) And a great multitude of the people followed Him, and women who also mourned and lamented Him. But Jesus, turning to them, said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. Are we broken and burdened for those who are heading toward judgment?

For our closing song we will be using a song about Jesus, our Redeemer and our King.