Jesus Wept Over Jerusalem
37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!
38 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.
39 For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord. – Matthew 23:37-39
Jesus is the Prince of Peace. When the world will not have peace, there is division—but this is not the heart of God for His people. Jesus wept over Jerusalem. It was His desire that they should listen to His message, but they would not—and this was the Father’s will. It was the Father’s will that Jesus be crucified for the sins of Jerusalem and for all who the Father will draw to Jesus in the future.
The sword comes when people reject the way of the Lord. In one sense we could say that this is the Father’s doing because “no man can come to the Son unless the Father draws him.” Those who the Father ordain to know of the Son come to the Son, and those who come to the Son are made to know of the Father. Yet, in some sense, though the Father and Son are equal and the same, they are distinct persons also. The Son submitted His will to the Father, and He is equal with the Father. We, submit our will to the Son, and we are made one with Him and the Father by the Holy Spirit of God that is in us.
The Holy Spirit of God has a heart for peace, but when man reject peace, they bring division upon themselves. We do not bring division. This is not the heart of God. “How long must I suffer you” who use the word of God to justify the foolish mind of man? I include myself in this. I love justice and I want to see it done. Yet, I know that I too deserve to have justice done on me, and when I consider this and the grace of God towards me, I humble myself and sit my raving butt down.
Jesus will avenge. This is not our job. If division must come, let it come because we take up our cross and follow the Prince of Peace, even to our death if need be, while everyone around us tears each other limb for limb in futile attempts to establish their own kingdom.
If we do not deny the gospel of the kingdom of Jesus Christ—we will die. Go ahead and live by the sword. See where that gets you. Far better to live by the sword of the Word of God—a God who wept over the city that would be destroyed because it forsook Him.
Weep over our cities! Weep over the people who reject the ways of Jesus and instead bring warring, famine, and death to this world! Weep over your own murderous heart so that you might have a heart for peace. Subdue yourself under the Prince of Peace, and He will gather you under His wings. Those who continue to grieve the Holy Spirit are desolate as they “draw back unto perdition,” but “not you, beloved.” We are not “sons of perdition.”
There might come a time for us to war too, but the people of God have always martyred themselves for the gospel. They did not pick up swords. “The Lord saves not with sword and spear, for the battle is the Lords, and He will give you into our hands.” Live by His Word and die a Christian’s death. Let the world die the death of those who love violence. When we are raised and called to Jesus—we who submitted ourselves even unto death as He did—we will partake in His vengeance. And He will have it.
The false Prophet calls people together to war too soon. He is a “son of perdition.” “But not you, beloved.” Be patient, wait on the Lord, and He will give us what we need when the time comes. If we must war, we war—but “rest yet a little season.” Don’t be too hasty to desire destruction. This is the great temptation of this time. Remember, Jesus wept.
