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Chapter 1—A Forecast of the World’s Destiny
From the crest of Olivet, Jesus looked upon Jerusalem. In full
view were the magnificent buildings of the temple. The setting sun
lighted up the snowy whiteness of its marble walls and gleamed
from golden tower and pinnacle. What child of Israel could gaze
upon the scene without a thrill of joy and admiration! But other
thoughts occupied the mind of Jesus. “When he was come near, he
beheld the city, and wept over it.”
Luke 19:41
.
Jesus’ tears were not for Himself, though before Him lay Gethse-
mane, the scene of approaching agony, and not far distant, Calvary,
the place of crucifixion. Yet it was not these scenes that cast the
shadow upon Him in this hour of gladness. He wept for the doomed
thousands of Jerusalem.
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. Jerusalem had been honored of God above all the earth.
The Lord had “chosen Zion ... for his habitation.”
Psalm 132:13
. For
ages, holy prophets had uttered their messages of warning. Daily
the blood of lambs had been offered, pointing to the Lamb of God.
Had Israel as a nation preserved her allegiance to Heaven,
Jerusalem would have stood forever, the elect of God. But the
history of that favored people was a record of backsliding and rebel-
lion. With more than a father’s pitying love, God had “compassion
on his people, and on his dwelling place.”
2 Chronicles 36:15
.
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When entreaty and rebuke had failed, He sent the best gift of
heaven, the Son of God Himself, to plead with the impenitent city.
For three years the Lord of light and glory had gone in and out
among His people, “doing good, and healing all that were oppressed
of the devil,” setting at liberty them that were bound, restoring sight
to the blind, causing the lame to walk and the deaf to hear, cleansing
lepers, raising the dead, and preaching the gospel to the poor. See
Acts 10:38
;
Luke 4:18
;
Matthew 11:5
.
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