Jesus Enters Jerusalem and Weeps for the City

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.