Luke 13:30-35: Tears over Jerusalem

When I went to Israel, my first sight of Jerusalem came from the pilgrim's way, as we walked up the Mount of Olives, crested the rise and saw the city laid out before us. Take away the Dome of the Rock, and replace it with Herod's Temple, glittering in the sun, and the view would be pretty similar to the one Jesus would have been familiar with.

It is hard not to be moved by the beauty of the sight, and for a Jewish pilgrim, this first sight of the "joy of the whole earth" would have made them burst into song.

Jesus would have walked this way as a pilgrim many times, but now, as he seems determined to make the journey again, he is accosted by some Pharisees who for once, seem to be well-meaning, warning Jesus to stay away because Herod Antipas is trying to kill him.

Jesus is rude about Herod in return, and declares that he will not swerve from his purpose. Grimly he says that it wouldn't do for a prophet to die outside Jerusalem.

Then I picture him calling the city to mind, and weeping for it. For him to go there should be a homecoming. But it will not be so. As John put it in his Gospel: "He came to his own people, but his own people did not receive him." Jesus sees this city in mortal danger, and unwilling to accept his protection.

Going there now will be the death of him.