Jesus gazes upon the scene, and the vast multitude hush their shouts, spellbound by the sudden vision of beauty. All eyes turn upon the Saviour, expecting to see in His countenance the admiration they themselves feel. But instead of this they behold a cloud of sorrow. They are surprised and disappointed to see His eyes fill with tears, and His body rock to and fro like a tree before the tempest, while a wail of anguish bursts from His quivering lips, as if from the depths of a broken heart. What a sight was this for angels to behold! their loved Commander in an agony of tears! What a sight was this for the glad throng that with shouts of triumph and the waving of palm branches were escorting Him to the glorious city, where they fondly hoped He was about to reign! Jesus had wept at the grave of Lazarus, but it was in a 576 godlike grief in sympathy with human woe. But this sudden sorrow was like a note of wailing in a grand triumphal chorus. In the midst of a scene of rejoicing, where all were paying Him homage, Israel's King was in tears; not silent tears of gladness, but tears and groans of insuppressible agony. The multitude were struck with a sudden gloom. Their acclamations were silenced. Many wept in sympathy with a grief they could not comprehend.

Jesus stirrer på dette syn, og den store skare dæmper deres jubelråb, tryllebundne af denne pludselige skønhedsåbenbaring. Alles blikke rettes mod Frelseren i forventning om i hans ansigt at læse den samme beundring, som de selv føler. Men i stedet for dette ser de sorgens skygge over hans ansigtsudtryk. De bliver forundrede og skuffede over at se tårer i hans øjne og hans skikkelse svaje som et træ i stormvejr, medens der lyder en angstfyldt klage fra hans skælvende læber, som om den kom fra dybet af et knust hjerte. Hvilket syn var dette ikke for englene at se! Deres elskede fører i fortvivlet gråd! Hvilket syn var ikke dette for den glade skare, som med jubelråb og med viftende palmegrene ledsagede ham til den herlige stad, hvor de i deres blindhed håbede, at han nu skulle herske. Jesus havde grædt ved Lazarus grav, men det var i guddommelig smerte og i deltagelse for menneskers elendighed. Men denne pludselige sorg kom som en smertens tone midt i det store begejstrings kor. Midt i en frydefuld begivenhed, hvor alle ydede ham deres hyldest, græd Israels konge! ikke stille glædestårer, men tårer og stønnen under en uimodståelig kval. Mængden blev pludselig grebet af en mørk sindsstemning. Mange græd af deltagelse med en sorg, som de ikke fattede.