We celebrate Palm Sunday with waving branches and shouts of “Hosanna!”, yet hidden in the joyful procession is a moment few talk about—a Savior’s tears. As Jesus approached Jerusalem, He saw more than just cheering crowds. He saw hearts hardened by pride, minds closed off to peace, and a future clouded by destruction. He wept not because He was weak, but because He loved too deeply to stay silent.
Scripture Readings:
• “As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said, ‘If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes.’”
—Luke 19:41–42 (NIV)
• “Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey.”
—Zechariah 9:9 (NIV)
• “He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.”
—John 1:11 (NIV)
Reflection:
Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem was a moment of divine paradox—triumph and tragedy wrapped together. The King arrived not on a warhorse, but on a donkey—signifying humility, peace, and prophecy fulfilled (Zechariah 9:9). The people cheered for a deliverer, but misunderstood the kind of kingdom He came to bring.
From a distance, Jesus could see the glorious Temple, the crowded streets, the city bursting with pilgrims—but His eyes were fixed on something deeper: the spiritual blindness of His people. As He wept, His heart broke for their refusal to believe, their unwillingness to see what would truly bring peace.
Jerusalem, the city whose name means “City of Peace,” had rejected the Prince of Peace. Their cries of “Hosanna!” were short-lived. Days later, they would cry “Crucify Him!”
Jesus’ tears were not just for their coming destruction in 70 A.D.—though He foresaw it with prophetic clarity. His tears were also for the deeper loss: the missed moment of salvation, the blindness to God’s presence, the hardened hearts that clung to religion but resisted relationship.
This moment is a mirror for us too. How often do we welcome Jesus with our lips but resist Him with our hearts? How many times have we longed for deliverance but ignored the Deliverer’s voice calling us to surrender?
Application:
1. Self-Examination – Ask: Do I want Jesus on my terms, or am I truly surrendering to His lordship?
2. Prayerful Reflection – Invite Jesus to reveal areas of spiritual blindness or resistance in your heart.
3. Scripture Meditation – Spend time in Luke 19 and John 12 this week, slowly walking through the events of Holy Week.
4. Compassion for Others – Let Christ’s tears stir your own compassion for those who have yet to see Him for who He truly is.
5. Respond with Worship – Not the shallow worship of momentary praise, but the deeper worship of a life yielded to the true King.
Closing Prayer:
Lord Jesus, You entered Jerusalem not for Your own glory, but to lay down Your life. You wept over a city that could not see its moment of visitation. I confess that at times, I too have missed You—relying on religion, protecting my pride, or seeking peace in the wrong places. Forgive me, Lord. Help me to welcome You not just with my words but with my whole life. Open my eyes to see You, soften my heart to follow You, and fill me with a peace that only comes through surrender. Amen.
The Engrafted life 
Leave a comment