Based on Matthew 23:37-39, Jesus weeping over Jerusalem

When you think of Holy Week, what comes to mind? The Palm Sunday parade, the Last Supper, Jesus praying in Gethsemane, Judas betraying and Peter denying, the trials, the mocking, the crucifixion, the resurrection.

Matthew 21-25 reminds us Jesus spent a large portion of Holy Week in the Temple teaching those who would listen and debating those who needed to listen, the religious leaders.

Jesus weeps seeing Jerusalem and the temple before him as he comes down the Mount of Olives on Palm Sunday. He weeps again in the middle of his prophetic, high stakes ministry in the temple. He weeps still today.

Jesus, we see you weeping

You speak life
We deny your bidding

You open every door
We make it hard for people to know You
We keep You at a distance

You draw near
We turn relationship into a business
a show
a set of rules
a way to gain favor and notoriety

You do not force the fix
You weep
Your heart and body break

Silent reflection

Jesus,
break us as You are broken
So we may weep as You weep
See as You see
Love as You love

So we may be saved

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. – 1 John 1:8-9
_______________

For the next few months, I’m reading a chapter from the Gospels each day. This is part of the Summer in the Scriptures reading plan sponsored by the Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church. Click Here for the reading plan.

You’re most welcome to read along and to join the Facebook discussion group, Summer in the Scriptures. You don’t need to be a Methodist or attend a Methodist church. All are welcome and all means all.

As part of the Facebook group, I’ve been supplying prayers based on the day’s reading. Feel free to post your prayers and observations based on the readings here or there as well.

May the grace of the Gospels, the challenge, and the call, inspire us to great faith and great good works in Jesus’ name. – Lisa <><

Jesus Weeps (Matthew 23) © 2020 Lisa Ann Moss Degrenia
You are welcome to use this work in a worship setting with proper attribution.
Please leave a comment for information and permission to publish this work in any form.