Luke 19:41,44 (NLT), “But as he came closer to Jerusalem and saw the city ahead, he began to weep…Your enemies will not leave a single stone in place, because you did not recognize it when God visited you.”

The setting of Luke 19 is Jesus having just made His way from the Northern region of Galilee, through the Jordan Valley, passing Jericho, and on His way towards Jerusalem, for the last time. As He walks over the Mount. Of Olives, on the road that leads down through the Kidron Valley and into the city of Jerusalem, He pauses, looks out over the city of Jerusalem and weeps. The Bible tells us Jesus wept bitterly for His Own Jewish people, who even though He had walked among them, loving, teaching, healing, laughing and restoring them, they refused to recognize Him as their Messiah. He had fulfilled exactly what the scrolls had said about Him (Daniel 9:25). Things they would have read and known, and yet failed to believe, even when He was right there with them. The shocking reality is that just moments before this, as He was entering into the outer district of Jerusalem, the people welcomed Him, waving palm branches before Him and honoring Him with quotations from the scriptures saying, “Blessings on the King who comes in the name of the LORD! Peace in heaven, and glory in highest heaven!” (V:38). They seemed to recognize at that very moment who Jesus was! So why the tears? Jesus knew that they may recognize Him in that moment, but by the end of the week, these same people would be shouting for His crucifixion. He was their only hope for peace and forgiveness, but they would reject Him as their Saviour and suffer dearly for it. Sadly, a day will come in the future where the same tragic scenario will be replayed. Jesus Christ, the triumphant Son of the Living God, will with a loud trumpet, call those who do recognize Him as Saviour. In an instant, we will be caught up to be with Him forever, while millions of people who refuse to believe in Him are left behind to face the horrors of the tribulation. Today, recognize who He is in your life, embrace the peace He offers as you yield to His Holy Spirit within you. Be careful to recognize and respond to His promptings to fellowship with you, filling you with His love and power so you can draw others to know and recognize Him too.