Jerusalem had been the child of His care, and as a tender father mourns over a wayward son, so Jesus wept over the beloved city. How 578 can I give thee up? How can I see thee devoted to destruction? Must I let thee go to fill up the cup of thine iniquity? One soul is of such value that, in comparison with it, worlds sink into insignificance; but here was a whole nation to be lost. When the fast westering sun should pass from sight in the heavens, Jerusalem's day of grace would be ended. While the procession was halting on the brow of Olivet, it was not yet too late for Jerusalem to repent. The angel of mercy was then folding her wings to step down from the golden throne to give place to justice and swift-coming judgment. But Christ's great heart of love still pleaded for Jerusalem, that had scorned His mercies, despised His warnings, and was about to imbrue her hands in His blood. If Jerusalem would but repent, it was not yet too late. While the last rays of the setting sun were lingering on temple, tower, and pinnacle, would not some good angel lead her to the Saviour's love, and avert her doom? Beautiful and unholy city, that had stoned the prophets, that had rejected the Son of God, that was locking herself by her impenitence in fetters of bondage,--her day of mercy was almost spent!

Jerusalem havde været hans hjertebarn, og ligesom en kærlig fader sørger over en søn, sådan græd Jesus over den elskede, stad. Hvordan skal jeg kunne opgive dig? Hvordan skal jeg kunne se dig viet til ødelæggelse. Skal jeg da slippe dig, så du kan fylde din ugudeligheds bæger? En eneste sjæl har så stort værd, at verden bliver til en ubetydelighed i sammenligning med den, og her skulle et helt folk gå til grunde! Når den hastigt dalende sol ikke mere ville være at se på himmelen, ville Jerusalems nådes dag være til ende. Medens optoget holdt stille på toppen af Oliebjerget, var det endnu ikke for sent for Jerusalem at omvende sig. Barmhjertighedens engel var dengang ved at folde sine vinger sammen for at stige ned fra den gyldne trone og vige pladsen for retfærdighed og den hastigt kommende dom. Men Kristi store, kærlige hjerte bad stadig for Jerusalem, som havde ringeagtet hans nåde, foragtet hans advarsler, og som snart ville væde sine hænder i hans blod. Hvis Jerusalem blot ville omvende sig, så var det endnu ikke for sent. Medens de sidste stråler fra den nedgående sol dvælede på templet, på tårn og tinder, ville så mon ikke en god engel føre byen hen til Frelserens kærlighed og afvende dens dom? Skønne, ugudelige by, som havde stenet profeterne, som havde forkastet Guds Søn, som ved sin manglende anger og bod låsede sig selv i trældommens lænker nu var nådens dag næsten til ende!