The City: Weeping Over the City

It’s been awhile since writing a post in my “The City” series, but I guess I’ll write a new installment.

In Luke’s gospel we find a glimpse of Jesus’ heart for the city, specifically Jerusalem.

As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it [Luke 19:41]

I could imagine Jesus coming towards Jerusalem, and while at a distance, he sees the cityscape of Jerusalem and weeps for it. He goes on in the next few verses to explain that he wishes the people of Jerusalem knew “the things that make for peace,” but now it was hidden from them and soon destruction would come for Jerusalem.

Jesus wasn’t weeping for the city itself. He wasn’t weeping for the buildings, or the city walls, or even the temple itself. He was weeping for the people! He was weeping for these people who needed redemption. He was weeping for these people who couldn’t save themselves from coming destruction. He was weeping for the masses.

When have we taken on this part of Jesus’ character? When have we taken on a compassion for people that runs so deep that we cannot help but weep for them? The very word compassion comes from Latin words meaning, “to suffer together.” Jesus was so broken inside for these people and their situation that He wept openly. Not only that, but He also did something about it. He didn’t come to solve their problems of coming physical destruction, but He did come to solve their problems of spiritual destruction. Are we moved in our spirits so deeply that we are moved to action for the masses? Are we moved beyond mere sadness for others to compassion for others? Sadness and pity doesn’t move people and doesn’t solve problems; compassion moves people and loves people.

When was the last time you looked over your community, or walked down its main streets, seeing those less fortunate than yourself and those who do not have the love of Jesus in their lives? When was the last time you thought about those in your community or city and wept over their problems, whatever they might be? Even more, when was the last time you were moved to action through compassion for those people? When have you helped to bring the love of Jesus to them, even in the most tangible ways?

This is what it means to have a heart for the city, to weep over the city, to love the city for Jesus, wherever you might live. Last year on Christmas day, I worked at a homeless shelter for the evening. It was a great time for me. It wasn’t nearly what I should be doing to give to others, but it was a start. As we approach the Christmas season, let’s celebrate Jesus coming to us in flesh by being “Jesus in flesh” to someone else. Give more than you get. Go “suffer together” with those who suffer.

~ by Cody Thomas on 9 December 2007.