When the city came into view, he [Jesus] wept over it. “If you had only recognized this day, and everything that was good for you! But now it’s too late. In the days ahead your enemies are going to bring up their heavy artillery and surround you, pressing in from every side. They’ll smash you and your babies on the pavement. Not one stone will be left intact. All this because you didn’t recognize and welcome God’s personal visit.†  Luke 19:44 (The Message)
Jesus’ prophetic word was pretty much fulfilled in 70 A.D. with Rome’s destruction of Jerusalem. The only thing left today is what we know as The Wailing Wall. It’s important to catch these points:
Jesus wept.
Despite His sadness, God did not back down from the consequences.
The consequences happened because the children of God made a choice.
I believe that if a parent is a good and loving parent, they will have experienced “tough love.†Tough love happens when a child has been taught right from wrong and yet makes a choice that can bring terrible consequences if not corrected. The parent warns the child not to make that same choice again as it is an important point of learning and so there will be unpleasant consequences if the child chooses one way and rewards if they choose another. But the child wants what he/she wants and so the unpleasant consequences occur and something wonderful is lost and everyone is sad. Being a parent is not for the weak!
God wept because His children continued to ignore the Gift that God had sent them because Jesus was not the kind of Messiah that they wanted. Their idea of God’s kingdom was earthly. God was giving them an eternal Kingdom. Are we still looking for the comfort and status of an earthly reward? Do I take the promises of “abundant life†and “great rewards†and think of what God can give me now? Is Jesus sad because I cannot see beyond my own physical wants? Am I still so blind?
God makes a personal visit into my life every day. When I take time to pray, have a conversation with Jesus, then God is in my life. From every breath that I take to my concerns on any given day, to loved ones who are ill or in harm’s way, God is here in my life and wants to be in my life. He hopes that I will make the choice to be with Him. But He is willing to do some tough love so that I will make a good choice. That’s what a good parent does.
Love Without End Amen written by Aaron Barker, sung by George Strait
