SEVEN DAYS THAT CHANGED THE WORLD – Day 5

Day 5 Thursday: Jesus Weeps Over Jerusalem

Key verses

“As He drew near and (Yeshua) saw Jerusalem, He wept over her, saying, “If only you had recognized this day the things that lead to shalom! But now they are hidden from your eyes. For the days will come upon you when your enemies will surround you with barricades and hem you in on all sides. And they will smash you to the ground—you and your children within you. And they won’t leave within you one stone upon another, because you did not recognize the time of your visitation” (Luke 19:41-44). 

As Jesus drew closer to Jerusalem, the Temple was most certainly the main feature of the city.

During this time, it was magnificent with its shiny, gold gilding and the white marble, gleaming resplendently in the spring sunshine. But that mass of gold and sparkling snow did not wake the pride of the Savior. On the contrary, it was an infinitely pathetic scene. The fair city, smiling across the valley, brings before His vision the awful contrast of the city’s future; lying in ruins and crushed before the Roman army. He hears not the acclamation of the crowd, but bitterly weeps and wails for what is yet to come. His sorrow, a sign of real manhood as well as the compassionate character springing from the very heart of God. The form is human, the substance divine. The man weeps because the God pities.

Today’s Prayer

Mighty God, we cannot comprehend why you care so tenderly for us. What are we to such a holy and pure God? And yet, you have demonstrated Your love over and over. You became human in all its humiliation, becoming lower than the angels (Hebrews 2:9), and then, traded a servant’s towel (John 13:5) for a cross, so that we could have life. Thank you for your compassionate love so that now, we in turn can love others in the same way. This we claim in the wonderful name of Christ, for His glory everlasting. Amen

Additional Prayers:

• Pray for the Jewish people in America to come to know their Jewish Messiah.
• Pray that God will continue to open the eyes of the Jewish people in Israel that Christ is their rescue and hope.
• Pray for the ultraorthodox people around the world who are being persecuted and lead them toward places where they will come to know Christ.