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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。
From the crest of Olivet； Jesus looked upon Jerusalem。 Fair and peaceful was
the scene spread out before Him。 It was the season of the Passover； and from
all lands the children of Jacob had gathered there to celebrate the great
national festival。 In the midst of gardens and vineyards； and green slopes
studded with pilgrims' tents； rose the terraced hills； the stately palaces；
and massive bulwarks of Israel's capital。 The daughter of Zion seemed in her
pride to say； I sit a queen and shall see no sorrow； as lovely then； and
deeming herself as secure in Heaven's favor； as when； ages before； the royal
minstrel sang： 〃Beautiful for situation； the joy of the whole earth； is
Mount Zion； 。 。 。 the city of the great King。〃 Psalm 48：2。 In full view were
the magnificent buildings of the temple。 The rays of the setting sun lighted
up the snowy whiteness of its marble walls and gleamed from golden gate and
tower and pinnacle。 〃The perfection of
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beauty〃 it stood； the pride of the Jewish nation。 What child of Israel could
gaze upon the scene without a thrill of joy and admiration！ But far other
thoughts occupied the mind of Jesus。 〃When He was come near； He beheld the
city； and wept over it。〃 Luke 19：41。 Amid the universal rejoicing of the
triumphal entry； while palm branches waved； while glad hosannas awoke the
echoes of the hills； and thousands of voices declared Him king； the world's
Redeemer was overwhelmed with a sudden and mysterious sorrow。 He； the Son of
God； the Promised One of Israel； whose power had conquered death and called
its captives from the grave； was in tears； not of ordinary grief； but of
intense； irrepressible agony。
His tears were not for Himself； though He well knew whither His feet were
tending。 Before Him lay Gethsemane； the scene of His approaching agony。 The
sheepgate also was in sight； through which for centuries the victims for
sacrifice had been led； and which was to open for Him when He should be
〃brought as a lamb to the slaughter。〃 Isaiah 53：7。 Not far distant was
Calvary； the place of crucifixion。 Upon the path which Christ was soon to
tread must fall the horror of great darkness as He should make His soul an
offering for sin。 Yet it was not the contemplation of these scenes that cast
the shadow upon Him in this hour of gladness。 No foreboding of His own
superhuman anguish clouded that unselfish spirit。 He wept for the doomed
thousands of Jerusalembecause of the blindness and impenitence of those
whom He came to bless and to save。
The history of more than a thousand years of God's special favor and
guardian care； manifested to the chosen people； was open to the eye of
Jesus。 There was Mount Moriah； where the son of promise； an unresisting
victim； had been bound to the altaremblem of the offering of the Son of
God。 There the covenant of blessing； the glorious Messianic promise； had
been confirmed to the father of the faithful。 Genesis 22：9； 16…18。 There the
flames of the sacrifice ascending to heaven from the threshing floor of
Ornan had turned
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aside the sword of the destroying angel （1 Chronicles 21） fitting symbol
of the Saviour's sacrifice and mediation for guilty men。 Jerusalem had been
honored of God above all the earth。 The Lord had 〃chosen Zion；〃 He had
〃desired it for His habitation。〃 Psalm 132：13。 There； for ages； holy
prophets had uttered their messages of warning。 There priests had waved
their censers； and the cloud of incense； with the prayers of the worshipers；
had ascended before God。 There daily the blood of slain lambs had been
offered； pointing forward to the Lamb of God。 There Jehovah had revealed His
presence in the cloud of glory above the mercy seat。 There rested the base
of that mystic ladder connecting earth with heaven （Genesis 28：12； John
1：51）that ladder upon which angels of God descended and ascended； and
which opened to the world the way into the holiest of all。 Had Israel as a
nation preserved her allegiance to Heaven； Jerusalem would have stood
forever； the elect of God。 Jeremiah 17：21…25。 But the history of that
favored people was a record of backsliding and rebellion。 They had resisted
Heaven's grace； abused their privileges； and slighted their opportunities。
Although Israel had 〃mocked the messengers of God； and despised His words；
and misused His prophets〃 （2 Chronicles 36：16）； He had still manifested
Himself to them； as 〃the Lord God； merciful and gracious； long…suffering；
and abundant in goodness and truth〃 （Exodus 34：6）； notwithstanding repeated
rejections； His mercy had continued its pleadings。 With more than a father's
pitying love for the son of his care； God had 〃sent to them by His
messengers； rising up betimes； and sending； because He had compassion on His
people； and on His dwelling place。〃 2 Chronicles 36：15。 When remonstrance；
entreaty； and rebuke had failed； He sent to them the best gift of heaven；
nay； He poured out all heaven in that one Gift。
The Son of God Himself was sent to plead with the impenitent city。 It was
Christ that had brought Israel as a goodly vine out of Egypt。 Psalm 80：8。
His own hand had cast
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out the heathen before it。 He had planted it 〃in a very fruitful hill。〃 His
guardian care had hedged it about。 His servants had been sent to nurture it。
〃What could have been done more to My vineyard；〃 He exclaims； 〃that I have
not done in it？〃 Isaiah 5：1…4。 Though when He looked that it should bring
forth grapes； it brought forth wild grapes； yet with a still yearning hope
of fruitfulness He came in person to His vineyard； if haply it might be
saved from destruction。 He digged about His vine； He pruned and cherished
it。 He was unwearied in His efforts to save this vine of His own planting。
For three years the Lord of light and glory had gone in and out among His
people。 He 〃went about doing good； and healing all that were oppressed of
the devil；〃 binding up the brokenhearted； setting at liberty them that were
bound； restoring sight to the blind； causing the lame to walk and the deaf
to hear； cleansing the lepers； raising the dead； and preaching the gospel to
the poor。 Acts 10：38； Luke 4：18； Matthew 11：5。 To all classes alike was
addressed the gracious call： 〃Come unto Me； all ye that labor and are
heavy…laden； and I will give you rest。〃 Matthew 11：28。
Though rewarded with evil for good； and hatred for His love （Psalm 109：5）；
He had steadfastly pursued His mission of mercy。 Never were those repelled
that sought His grace。 A homeless wanderer； reproach and penury His daily
lot； He lived to minister to the needs and lighten the woes of men； to plead
with them to accept the gift of life。 The waves of mercy； beaten back by
those stubborn hearts； returned in a stronger tide of pitying； inexpressible
love。 But Israel had turned from her best Friend and only Helper。 The
pleadings of His love had been despised； His counsels spurned； His warnings
ridiculed。
The hour of hope and pardon was fast passing； the cup of God's long…deferred
wrath was almost full。 The cloud that had been gathering through ages of
apostasy and rebellion； now black with woe； was about to burst upon a guilty
people；
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and He who alone could save them from their impending fate had been
slighted； abused； rejected； and was soon to be crucified。 When Christ should
hang upon the cross of Calvary； Israel's day as a nation favored and blessed
of God would be ended。 The loss of even one soul is a calamity infinitely
outweighing the gains and treasures of a world； but as Christ looked upon
Jerusalem； the doom of a whole city； a whole nation； was before Himthat
city； that nation； which had once been the chosen of God； His peculiar
treasure。
Prophets had wept over the apostasy of Israel and the terrible desolations
by which their sins were visited。 Jeremiah wished that his eyes were a
fountain of tears； that he might weep day and night for the