Sharing the Heart of Jesus

Scripture — Luke 19:41-44 (NRSV)

As he came near and saw the city, he wept over it, saying, “If you, even you, had only recognized on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. Indeed, the days will come upon you, when your enemies will set up ramparts around you and surround you, and hem you in on every side. They will crush you to the ground, you and your children within you, and they will not leave within you one stone upon another; because you did not recognize the time of your visitation from God.”

Devotion

In Luke 19, as Jesus was approaching Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives, his disciples welcomed him with joyful shouts of praise to God (19:36-38). Yet, as Jesus looked across the Kidron Valley to the city of Jerusalem, the mood changed drastically. All of a sudden, Jesus began to weep. The Greek verb used here suggests, not just a few tears, but painful sobs (klaiō, 19:41). Jesus was demonstrably grieving.

Why was Jesus so upset? We can understand what motivated his outburst because he spoke as he wept, saying, “If you, even you, had only recognized on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes” (19:42). He went on to predict the destruction of the city by its enemies, something that happened in AD 70 when the Romans sacked Jerusalem and destroyed its temple.

As I reflect on this heart-rending scene in Luke, I’m struck first by the powerful emotions of Jesus. I try to imagine what it might have been like to observe this display of feelings. I expect I would have been deeply moved, perhaps also somewhat confused. Remember, his disciples were welcoming him as their new king. Was Jesus revealing that his kingship wouldn’t happen? Was he not the messianic king of Old Testament prophecy? We who know where the story of Jesus leads are not perplexed in this way. But I think we would have been if we were with Jesus in that moment.

I wonder if Jesus looks at the world in a similar way today. To be sure, his saving work has secured salvation. His death and resurrection opened the way of peace for all: peace with God, peace with others, peace within ourselves. Millions upon millions of people have begun to experience this peace through faith in Jesus Christ. Yet our world is anything but peaceful. Injustice, violence, and oppression fill the headlines daily. Hatred is painfully common. Many of us live with consistent fear. And millions of people do not know God’s love through Jesus Christ. The church, God’s main vehicle for sharing this good news, is too often inept, self-absorbed, and divided. Though Jesus surely delights when his people walk in his way of love, are there times when he also weeps over us? Might he be saying about us, “If you, even you, had only recognized on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes.”

Finally, the example of Jesus challenges me to have a vulnerable heart toward others, even those who feel like my opponents. Jesus knew that the leaders of Jerusalem, both Jewish and Roman, would soon oppose him, mocking, flogging, and killing him (18:32). Yet he wept even for these. As I look at the pain in the world around me, as I think of people with whom I disagree, I wonder if I have the heart of Jesus for them. Or have I let the ways of this world harden my heart with self-righteousness? Am I able to weep over the brokenness, pain, and sin of this world and its people?

In this season of Lent, may God give us the grace to be touched by the heart of Jesus. May we share in his grief over the state of our world. May we invite him to soften our hearts even as we renew our firm commitment to his mission of peace.

Find all Life for Leaders devotions here. Explore what the Bible has to say about work at the High Calling archive, hosted by the unique website of our partners, the Theology of Work Project. Reflection on today’s Life for Leaders theme can be found here: Weeping Over Jerusalem.