This is another of Jesus’ sayings that we could pass of us not for us - he was obviously talking about Jerusalem of 2000 years ago. But no ! Jesus weeps when we too reject his offer of peace and do not recogize the part that we, as kingdom people, play in making that peace a reality. The challenge to us is to seek peace with those people we find “difficult”, to bring justice where we see injutice, and to ensure that God’s kingdom is a reality in our own lives and in the lives of those around us.

“Hosanna!” rings in Jesus’ ears.  Rejoicing crowds cover the Mount of Olives. 
Jesus smiles.  How things might have been! 
He rounds a corner.  David’s city spreads out before him, beautiful, glistening in the sun.  “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, …how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not!” (13:34)
No.  Those shining walls enshroud a dark, hate-filled heart, ears that will not hear, eyes that will not see, and snarling lips curling to screech “Crucify!”
Jesus weeps.  How things will be.

They have a lot to answer for. If God is a reality to us, then we should see all people as his children. Before commenting on those outside our sphere, perhaps we should try to see things from their cultural perspective.

This morning we cancelled Sunday school and the youth groups and went to town with an all age service. Which seemed to involve a lot of noise, throwing of sweets, dancing and waving.It was a riot. These words of Jesus not often read out paint a sharp contrast with the indignant Pharisees and the excited chanting children. Readers of the Hebrew scriptures are in no doubt about what happens when a city is taken by its enemies and how the weak and the innocent pay a dreadful price.Golgotha did not save Jerusalem. Disobedience still has terrible consequences. From which the Saviour cannot save us.

Jerusalem, once destroyed, had been rebuilt. trouble was, it was still a citadel yo keep foreigners out rather than God’s Kingdom welcoming people in! Hostile to the occupying power, the priests and the pharisees employed -political manoeuvring rather than seeking to draw outsiders into the love of God with forgiving generosity: tht is what they could not see!

The most common phrase in the Bible - “Do not be afraid”, when combined with trust in the Lord, is a key to finding peace.  If only people could see this - what a difference it would make to bring about world peace.