March 15, 2018

As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it… (Luke 19:41 NIV) 

Jesus has just entered on a colt on Palm Sunday. He has had a glorious welcome by the people of the city. After the glamour of the event, as he approaches the city, he weeps over it. He knows that the days are coming in which it will be difficult for the city and its people. Let’s look at how he prays for his city:

41 As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it 42 and said, ‘If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace – but now it is hidden from your eyes. 43 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. 44 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 recognise the time of God’s coming to you.’ (Luke 19:41-44 NIV) 

He refers to a time when the Romans will surround the city before they conquer the city killing the people in it and destroying the city including the huge temple in their midst. If only Jerusalem knew what was coming to them. He gives the reason. Jerusalem did not recognise the time of God’s coming to them. What does this refer to? I believe it is because Jerusalem did recognise God’s coming to them in the person of Jesus. If they had, they might have prevented the judgment coming upon them. 

In the last few weeks, we have been praying through the booklet  “Seek God for the City”. As we prayed through the booklet, in some ways we have been putting on the “eyes” of Jesus for our city. We have been praying for our city, whether Mississauga, or Oakville or Toronto, that God will visit our city with his mercy and grace. Keep on praying. Even if you have not used this booklet now, please spend a few minutes now praying for your city. Pray that God will make his healing presence known through Jesus who is God come down as a fellow human being. Pray that the Holy Spirit will touch people’s hearts. 

This coming Wednesday, March 21 at 7:30 pm, we will have our Seek God for the City Lent Prayer Service at Glenbrook Presbyterian Church, 3535 South Common Court, Mississauga, ON. Together with the Glenbrook church family, we will pray for our city. May I invite you to this prayer service. 

Pastor Pye