WHY DID JESUS WEEP OVER
JERUSALEM?
The
doctrine of election in the Bible
By Dr. Rick Flanders
“And when he was come near, he beheld the
city, and wept over it…” Luke19:41
The scene is a sad one.
Jesus,
the Messiah of Israel, comes near the city of Jerusalem, and weeps over it.
Jerusalem, the holy city, was built on
Abraham’s Mount Moriah and David’s Mount Zion.
Its foundations rested upon the Salem of
Melchizedek and the Jebus of the Jebusites.
It was made the capital of God’s nation
during the reign of King David, and served as such until it was destroyed by
the Babylonians.
Jerusalem was rebuilt by a remnant of the
Jews under Zerubbabel, Ezra, and Nehemiah. It had heard the voice and seen the
face of the Son of God.
One day, the prophets tell us, it will be the
capital city of the world and the center of God’s Kingdom on earth!
But as the awful day it crucified our Saviour
approached, Jesus wept over the city.
Jesus cried for Jerusalem at least three
times.
Luke 13 tells us about a day when He wept
over the city before arriving there.
As “He went through the cities and villages,
teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem,” He cried, “O
Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are
sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen
doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not! Behold, your house is
left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you, Ye shall not see me, until
the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the
Lord” (Luke 13:34–35).
Luke 19 tells us about Jesus weeping over the
city as He entered into it.
He
wept over it, saying: “If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy
day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine
eyes. For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench
about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side, And shall
lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not
leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy
visitation” (Luke 19:42–44).
Matthew 23 records a sermon Jesus preached in
Jerusalem just a few days before He was crucified, and at the conclusion (verses
37–39) we read words almost identical to those of His lament in Luke 13.
He was
weeping over the tragedy of a lost opportunity.
The Israelites that assembled in Jerusalem
for the Passover missed the opportunity to be saved from both earthly and
eternal destruction.
They were visited by their Saviour, but they
did not know it. Instead of receiving Him, they killed Him.
Some people must wonder why the Son of God
would be seen weeping that day.
A slant on the doctrine of election that is
gaining more acceptance in our day says that the salvation and damnation of
individuals is based ultimately upon an arbitrary choice made by the Lord.
Some are chosen for reprobation and
damnation, while others are elected for repentance and salvation.
Some declare, the perfect will of God is
always accomplished and that people receive and reject Christ because God foreordained
that they would.
But if
that were so, why was Jesus weeping?
He was weeping because He is not willing that
any should perish. That’s what the Scriptures clearly say.
“This is good and acceptable in the sight of
God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the
knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and
men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified
in due time.” 1 Timothy 2:3–6
“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some
men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any
should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” 2
Peter 3:9
Yes,
the saved are the elect of God, but election is based upon God’s foreknowledge.
What
and whom God knows determines whom He chooses!
The
Bible says that we are “. . .
elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification
of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ . .
.” (1 Peter
1:2).
Election is defined in Romans 8 as God’s
sovereignty acting in accordance with His omniscience and omnipotence.
Study verses 29 through 34:
“For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be
conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many
brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he
called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
“What shall we then say to these things? If God be for
us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up
for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Who shall
lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is
he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again,
who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.”
The Lord predestined those He foreknew to be
like His Son someday.
This
process is called election.
It is a mystery to us because we cannot
understand what it is to be the all-knowing, all-powerful Ruler of the
Universe.
But we do know that the election of His own
does not negate the part human choice plays in determining a soul’s destiny.
If Jesus was about to do exactly what He
wanted to do, why would He weep? If He had chosen to destroy Jerusalem, why
would He weep over it?
What tragedy would there be in a sinner’s
rejection of God’s mercy if he could do nothing else?
The choices of man do play a role in his
redemption or destruction.
Of
Jerusalem, Jesus said, “…how often would I have
gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings,
and ye would not!” (Luke 13:34)
Jesus “would,” but they “would
not.”
The
tragedy over which Jesus is weeping is the tragedy of lost opportunity.
The people of the holy city missed the
opportunity to be saved because of foolish and wicked decisions they made!
Their Saviour came to their city, but they would not have Him!
A willing heart makes the difference between “peace” (Luke 19:42) and destruction
(Luke 19:43–44).
It was true for Jerusalem, and it is true for
the individual soul.
If you will decide to turn from sin and
self-righteousness in order to trust in Jesus Christ for your salvation, the
Bible says that you will be saved!
Of the first-century Israelites, Paul said
that,
“…they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going
about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto
the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to
every one that believeth…
“For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him
shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek:
for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever
shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans
10:3–4, 10–13).
A decision of the heart will secure one’s own
salvation, and also a decision in the Christian heart will lead to the
salvation of others!
If Christians surrender to do their Father’s
will, a harvest of lost souls can be won to Christ, who would not otherwise
have been saved.
Hear what Jesus said to His disciples after
personally leading a sinner to salvation.
“My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to
finish his work. Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh
harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for
they are white already to harvest” (John 4:34–35).
The willingness of Christians to evangelize,
and of sinners to repent, make the difference in the matter of who will spend
eternity with God and who will suffer forever in hell without Him.
The unwillingness of men creates the tragedy
of lost opportunity over which Jesus is weeping in the book of Luke.
Are you struggling with a big decision or wondering how
your eternal future will play out?
Why not talk to the God of the universe and let Him work
in your behalf?
He says, “I will instruct you and teach you the way
you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you" (Psalm 32:8).
Ask God to show you what to do. Pray the following
prayer:
“Heavenly Father,
I admit that I am a
sinner and my sins have separated me from You. I now want to turn away from my
past sinful life and begin a new life with You.
Please forgive me. I
now receive your Son, Jesus Christ as my Savior, my Master and my Lord. I
believe and confess that Jesus Christ died for my sins, was buried, and rose
from the dead.
I want to receive all
that Jesus Christ has provided for me as my Savior. Your Word says, ‘Whosoever
shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved’ (Romans 10:13).
I believe and confess
that Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and no man comes unto
the Father, but by Him.
Lord Jesus, I pray and
ask You, to come into my heart and be Lord of my life. I thank You that you
have given me eternal life, and according to Your Word, I am born again.
Heavenly Father, thank
You for the gift of the Holy Spirit Who is in me now. I surrender my life to You.
I promise to study Your Word – the Bible.
Use me for Your glory.
In Jesus’ Name. Amen.”
.
.
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“WHY HAVE YOU CHOSEN ME” Rodger Strader
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lyrics
Why have You chosen me out of millions Your child to beYou know all the wrongs that I have done
Oh how could You pardon me, forgive my iniquities
To save me give Jesus Your son
But Lord help me be what You want me to be
Your word I will strive to obey
My life I now give, for You I will live
And walk by Your side all the way
I am amazed to know that a God so great could love me so
Is willing and wanting to bless
His love is so wonderful, His mercy so bountiful
I can't understand it I confess
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