The Time of Thy Visitation

It was a day of great rejoicing. The crowds were shouting the praise of the One whom the disciples called their Master. He was in a perfect position to accept the throne of Israel. What a glorious day! As Jesus rode on a colt, the disciples prepared the way for Him by spreading their coats on the ground for a pathway. Was there ever a brighter day in the history of Israel?

And suddenly, when the procession reached the Mount of Olives, it all came to a stop. Jesus beheld the city of Jerusalem in all its glory. The majestic temple with its huge marble walls, glistening in the light of a setting sun… The many pilgrims from foreign lands who had come to celebrate the Passover…

We are told that “when He was come near, He beheld the city, and wept over it.” Why did He weep? Not for Himself, although He well knew that His way would soon lead Him into the valley of the shadow of death. Not for His disciples, although He knew that they would be sorely tried by the events of the next few days, and one would abandon his integrity so far as to betray his Master. It was for the inhabitants of the glorious city of Jerusalem that Jesus wept.

“If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! But now they are hid from thine eyes… For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side, and shall lay thee even 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.”

All that Jesus predicted about the destruction of Jerusalem came true, although no one believed Him at the time. It came true in a far more dreadful way than anyone supposed was possible. Why? How could this happen to Jerusalem, and the temple??? The pride of the entire Jewish nation… After all, was it not God’s own temple? How could God let something so terrible happen to His own temple?

Because Jerusalem knew not the time of her visitation…

Maybe there’s a lesson for us today…

We have seen a great light… Shall we follow it, or turn away?

History repeats itself because we don't learn from it… Must it happen again?