To Feel What He Feels

Today's Verses -- Luke 19:41-44

Context:
Jesus has just entered the city of Jerusalem. He was welcomed by a crowd of disciples who were loudly praising God for the miracles they had witnessed.

Text:
41As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it 42and said, "If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes. 43The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. 44They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God's coming to you." (NIV)

taken from www.biblegateway.com

In the entire New Testament we only see Jesus weep twice. The first time was at the death of his friend Lazarus when he saw how distraught Martha and Mary were at their brother's death. This time it is for the children of God, knowing the future they faced because of their disobedience and disbelief.

For centuries Christians have been trying to live their lives in such a way that they could be more Christ-like. We want to see the world with his eyes, love others as he does, and make choices he would make. But can we really feel what he felt? One of the times when I believe we get to experience a small portion of his emotion is when we are witnessing to beloved family members and friends.

When those who are closest to us close their eyes to the truth, it hurts us to the core. We know what the eternal future holds for them, yet they refuse to accept the gifts of grace and salvation. Especially when that loved one is close to death, our efforts become more desperate and we would do anything to help him or her make the right decision. We feel like failures and the pain of our beloveds' eternity weighs on our lives for years. It's at that point that we understand how Jesus felt when the Jews denied his deity.

On the other hand, when our loved ones' eyes are opened and they finally release their own will to accept the help of Jesus, our joy is immeasurable. Again, we get to sense a small portion of what Jesus feels when he knows that he will personally be able to spend eternity with on of his Father's children. For each and every new convert, God runs to the individual and embraces him as if he or she were the only one to return to the truth. And our peace expands knowing that we will get to spend eternity with one more cherished soul.

I guess the key thought today is that we are to strive to be as Jesus is, even to feel what he feels. He would rather we try to open the eyes of others to the truth, risking the pain or the joy that will result with that person's response, than to walk through this world not caring enough to try.