Palm Sunday, something happened on the ride into Jerusalem that we don’t talk about too often. It was there, in black and white, but as can often happen to us today it is easy to get so caught up in the crowd, the shouts, the emotion and the excitement that it is easy to let this part of the Palm Sunday story go unnoticed.

But we are not alone; in fact, from every indication, the crowds didn’t notice it, either.   Matthew didn’t record it. Mark didn’t mention it. Luke is the only Gospel writer who records this event. “But as he came closer to Jerusalem and saw the city ahead, he began to weep.” Luke 19:41

The Greek word that is translated “weep” in our Bibles signifies more than tears. It suggests the kind of soul-wracking, gut-wrenching, teeth gritting sobbing that a person does at the tomb of a friend. it is the word used of Mary’s sobs at the tomb of her brother Lazarus, of Mary Magdalene’s sobs at Jesus’ tomb, and of Peter’s “bitter” weeping after he denied Jesus and heard the cock crow.  

Everyone else was having a party, and Jesus was filled with compassion for the lost people of Israel who didn’t really know what they were embracing as Jesus entered Jerusalem.  

If we wish to learn to love like Jesus loves us, do we want to let ourselves feel what Jesus feels, by letting our hearts be broken for those who are hurting, those who are searching, those who don’t even know they’re searching?  

In the song Hosanna by Hillsong, we sing, “Heal my heart and make it clean. Open up my eyes to the things unseen. Show me how to love like you have loved me. Break my heart for what breaks yours. Everything I am for Your kingdom's cause. As I walk from earth into eternity”  

Every time I sing this part of the song I think; Does my heart break for the things that breaks Jesus’ heart?   What about you?  

Are you filled with compassion, as you see those around you that don’t know Jesus?  

I pray that as we remember the story of Palm Sunday our hearts will be broken to show the same compassion that Jesus showed.