1 . World History Predicted
" If thou hadst known , even thou , at least in this thy day , the things which belong unto thy peace ! but now they are hid from thine eyes . For the days shall come upon thee , that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee , and compass thee round , and keep thee in on every side , and shall lay thee even with the ground , and thy children within thee ; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another ; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation ." Luke 19:42-44 .
From the crest of Olivet , Jesus looked upon Jerusalem . Fair and peaceful was the scene spread out before Him . It was the season of the Passover , and from all lands the children of Jacob had gathered there to celebrate the great national festival . In the midst of gardens and vineyards , and green slopes studded with pilgrims ' tents , rose the terraced hills , the stately palaces , and massive bulwarks of Israel ' s capital . The daughter of Zion seemed in her pride to say , I sit a queen and shall see no sorrow ; as lovely then , and deeming herself as secure in Heaven ' s favor , as when , ages before , the royal minstrel sang : " Beautiful for situation , the joy of the whole earth , is Mount Zion , . . . the city of the great King ." Psalm 48:2 . In full view were the magnificent buildings of the temple . The rays of the setting sun lighted up the snowy whiteness of its marble walls and gleamed from golden gate and tower and pinnacle .
" The perfection of beauty " it stood , the pride of the Jewish nation . What child of Israel could gaze upon the scene without a thrill of joy and admiration ! But far other thoughts occupied the mind of Jesus . " When He was come near , He beheld the city , and wept over it ." Luke 19:41 . Amid the universal rejoicing of the triumphal entry , while palm branches waved , while glad hosannas awoke the echoes of the hills , and thousands of voices declared Him king , the world ' s Redeemer was overwhelmed with a sudden and mysterious sorrow . He , the Son of God , the Promised One of Israel , whose power had conquered death and called its captives from the grave , was in tears , not of ordinary grief , but of intense , irrepressible agony .
His tears were not for Himself , though He well knew whither His feet were tending . Before Him lay Gethsemane , the scene of His approaching agony . The sheepgate also was in sight , through which for centuries the victims for sacrifice had been led , and which was to open for Him when He should be " brought as a lamb to the slaughter ." Isaiah 53:7 . Not far distant was Calvary , the place of crucifixion . Upon the path which Christ was soon to tread must fall the horror of great darkness as He should make His soul an offering for sin . Yet it was not the contemplation of these scenes that cast the shadow upon Him in this hour of gladness . No foreboding of His own superhuman anguish clouded that unselfish spirit . He
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