The King cried

It is Palm Sunday. It is our Lord’s last week when he entered Jerusalem. They call it “the triumphant entry”. In the eyes of the world, the way to bring the King to the city would be different. Probably, luxurious cars led by a grand band, guarded by police cars would be how the world would visualize a King entering a city triumphantly.

But, our Lord chose to ride into the city on a jackass, on a donkey! Rev Lenita Tiong in her message, "The King Cried" on Palm Sunday at Wesley answered many searching hearts like mine - why did he not come home making a splash? The King of Peace will ride on a donkey. Jesus wants to declare that He is King of Peace.

Our Lord probably would have referred to it as a Day of Sorrows. It was the day that he went into the temple for the second time in his ministry to clean out the money-changers in his Father’s house. It was the day that he went up the Mount of Olives. He looked over the city. His heart broke in yearning over the wretched city. And he cried out those unforgettable words, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, killing the prophets and stoning those who are sent to you! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you would not!” (Luke 13:34)

Yes, Jesus wept. Rev Lenita used another word, wail. Yes, his heart broke to see the people being so superficial in their faith. He knew that the multitude who now greet him at the city gates with "Hossana in the Highest" would be the same crowd shouting "Crucify Him, Crucify Him" a week later when he was nailed to a cross outside that very city's gates!

Jesus wailed because the people were spiritually blind. What he saw was forty years later that "The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. They will dash you to the gorund, and 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."(Luke 19:43-44)

Wesleyans were put to thoughts on Palm Sunday and during the Holy Week -

Would Jesus cry for my little faith, my superficial faith?
Would Jesus cry because I am spiritually blind?
Does He know that today I have faith, tomorrow I will shout "Crucify Him"?

And Wesleyans were further probed to think -

Whatever that made Jesus cried should also make us cry today.
Are we crying for the spiritual blindness of people around us?
Are we crying for the superficial faith of people around us?

And,
Is Jesus crying because we are not crying?