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The Mind of Christ: Part III

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus…

Philippians 2:5

And when He drew near and saw the city, He wept over it…

Luke 19:41

Here is Jesus nearing Jerusalem only days away from being beaten and hung on a cross. He had been telling His disciples that this day was approaching, and they refused to believe it. Now, Jesus is coming into town riding on a colt, lowly, meekly, yet with such exuberant joy from His followers. At this point, Jesus is the only one that knows how His kingdom will be established, and I imagine that had His followers known, their welcome rally may have looked a little different. Nonetheless, their King has arrived in Jerusalem.

Jesus sees the city and weeps. It isn’t for the city but for the people that He weeps. He weeps for their hardened hearts and murderous thoughts. He weeps for their darkened souls and impending destruction.

And these aren’t just any people. These are the people that will yell, “Crucify Him!” and march Him out of the city to be hung on a cross. These are the people that will jeer and taunt Him as He hangs in agony at Calvary. These are His enemies.

And Jesus wept for their souls.

I’m challenged by this. It is hard enough to live a life that exalts Christ. But I generally only see the need for compassion after I have failed to be compassionate. Christ calls me to so much more than I am able to do. How I need His grace to put on a compassionate heart! How I need to live in the Gospel to see an infinite compassion lavished upon me! Only when I see Christ’s compassion for me am I able to have compassion for others. There is power in the Good News of Jesus Christ. It is limitless. It is boundless. It prevails.

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus…

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