​Tragic unbelief

But as he came closer to Jerusalem and saw the city ahead, he began to weep. “How I wish today that you of all people would understand the way to peace. But now it is too late, and peace is hidden from your eyes. Before long your enemies will build ramparts against your walls and encircle you and close in on you from every side. They will crush you into the ground, and your children with you. Your enemies will not leave a single stone in place, because you did not recognize it when God visited you. Luke 19:41-44

When Jesus Christ entered Jerusalem and was referred to as “Triumphal Entry,” He was fulfilling the prophecy from the Old Testament. Finally, He was presenting to the Israelites that He is their long-awaited Messiah. “Rejoice, O people of Zion! Shout in triumph, O people of Jerusalem! Look, your king is coming to you. He is righteous and victorious, yet he is humble, riding on a donkey—riding on a donkey’s colt” (Zechariah 9:9). Yet, they refused to recognize the type of Messiah Jesus was. The idea that the Messiah will suffer and die on the cross was not the one they were anticipating Jesus will be doing. This was inspite of the fact that they knew the prophecy about the coming Messiah. “But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us all” (Isaiah 53:5-6). This is why Jesus made this remark about Jerusalem’s destruction; “Your enemies will not leave a single stone in place, because you did not recognize it when God visited you” (Luke 9:44). There are other instances in the Scriptures describing the tragic unbelief of people even when they were already told about the coming of God and the fulfillment of His plans. In the time of Noah, he declared God’s plan of destruction through the flood due to people’s unbelief and unrepentant attitude. “People didn’t realize what was going to happen until the flood came and swept them all away. That is the way it will be when the Son of Man comes” (Matthew 24:39). After Isaiah responded to God’s call to be sent to the Israelites so he could convey the word of God, the people were hardened in their hearts because of their unbelief. He even expressed how God was longing for them to respond to His revelation. “Then Isaiah said, “Listen well, you royal family of David! Isn’t it enough to exhaust human patience? Must you exhaust the patience of my God as well? All right then, the Lord himself will give you the sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God is with us’)” (Isaiah 9:13-14). It is sad to see people continuing living their lives of unbelief. How long will God show His patience before judgment comes? “The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent. But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief” (2 Peter 3:9-10).

Blessings.