Jesus Enters Jerusalem and Weeps for the City
Welcome to Day 286 of our journey with Jesus. Today, we see what happened when people met Jesus. The main truth for today is this: Jesus enters Jerusalem as its promised King and weeps because the city does not recognize the peace God offers. Let’s begin.
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Jesus in Action
Luke 19:28–44
Step 1 of 5
Descubre qué pasó cuando las personas conocieron a Jesús.
Dicho esto, Jesús siguió adelante, subiendo hacia Jerusalén. Cuando se acercó a Betfagué y a Betania, junto al monte llamado de los Olivos, envió a dos de sus discípulos con este encargo: «Vayan a la aldea que tienen enfrente y, al entrar en ella, encontrarán atado un burrito en el que nadie se ha montado. Desátenlo y tráiganlo acá. Y, si alguien pregunta: “¿Por qué lo desatan?”, díganle: “El Señor lo necesita”». Fueron y lo encontraron tal como él les había dicho. Cuando estaban desatando el burrito, los dueños les preguntaron: ―¿Por qué desatan el burrito? ―El Señor lo necesita —contestaron. Se lo llevaron, pues, a Jesús. Luego pusieron sus mantos encima del burrito y ayudaron a Jesús a montarse. A medida que avanzaba, la gente tendía sus mantos sobre el camino. Al acercarse él a la bajada del monte de los Olivos, todos los discípulos se entusiasmaron y comenzaron a alabar a Dios por tantos milagros que habían visto. Gritaban: ―¡Bendito el Rey que viene en el nombre del Señor! ―¡Paz en el cielo y gloria en las alturas! Algunos de los fariseos que estaban entre la gente le reclamaron a Jesús: ―¡Maestro, reprende a tus discípulos! Pero él respondió: ―Les aseguro que, si ellos se callan, gritarán las piedras. Cuando se acercaba a Jerusalén, Jesús vio la ciudad y lloró por ella. Dijo: ―¡Cómo quisiera que hoy supieras lo que te puede traer paz! Pero eso ahora está oculto a tus ojos. Te sobrevendrán días en que tus enemigos levantarán un muro, te rodearán y te encerrarán por todos lados. Te derribarán a ti y a tus hijos dentro de tus murallas. No dejarán piedra sobre piedra, porque no reconociste el tiempo en que Dios vino a salvarte.
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Luke 19:28–44 records what happened as Jesus came near Jerusalem. He sent two disciples for a colt. A crowd praised God on the road. Then Jesus wept over the city.
Two Disciples Go to a Village.
Jesus went ahead toward Jerusalem. He came near the villages of Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives. The Mount of Olives is a hill east of Jerusalem. From its top, a traveler could see the whole city spread out below. Jesus sent two disciples ahead. A disciple is a student who follows a teacher. He told them to enter a nearby village. They would find a colt tied there that no one had ever ridden. A colt is a young donkey. They were to untie it and bring it to him. If anyone asked why, Jesus told them to say, “The Lord needs it.” Here the word “Lord” refers to Jesus himself.
The disciples went and found everything just as Jesus had told them. As they untied the colt, its owners asked, “Why are you untying the colt?” The disciples answered, “The Lord needs it.” They brought the colt to Jesus. They put their cloaks on it and helped Jesus sit on it. Cloaks are outer garments.
The Crowd Praises God on the Road.
As Jesus rode along, people spread their cloaks on the road. Near the place where the road goes down from the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began to praise God with loud voices. They praised God for all the miracles they had seen.
They said, “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” These words come from Psalm 118:26. In that psalm, the words welcome a king who comes in God’s name. The crowd called Jesus a king. The crowd gave glory to God.
The Pharisees Ask Jesus to Stop the Praise.
Some Pharisees were in the crowd. The Pharisees were a Jewish religious group that carefully followed the Law of Moses. They said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!” They wanted Jesus to order the crowd to stop.
Jesus answered, “I tell you, if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.” Jesus did not tell the crowd to be quiet. He said the stones would cry out if the disciples were silent.
Tears Over the City.
As Jesus came closer to Jerusalem, he saw the city. He wept over it. He said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes.” Jesus spoke to the city itself. He said the city could have known what would bring it peace. He said this was now hidden from the city’s eyes.
Jesus also spoke of a coming time. He said, “The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and close in on you from every side. They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God’s coming to you.” An embankment is a raised wall used to attack a city. The word “recognize” means to know and accept. Jesus said the city did not know the time when God came to it.
What the Encounter Showed.
Jesus entered Jerusalem on a colt. A crowd of disciples praised God on the road. Some Pharisees told Jesus to stop the praise. Jesus answered them. Then Jesus wept over the city. The crowd called Jesus king. The Pharisees objected. Jesus wept. The same event produced praise and objection. Jesus held both without changing course.
Jesus entered Jerusalem on a colt while a crowd praised God. This is the Meet step in the Jesus365 Journey. It belongs to Jesus in action in Luke 19:28–44. Next, the Listen step examines the words the crowd and Jesus spoke.
Considera esto.
What does this encounter reveal about Jesus?
Notice the encounter
Read Luke 19:28–44 and watch how kingship, praise, judgment, and compassion meet in one scene.
