Wondering...

I wonder what Jesus was thinking as he looked over Jerusalem? Scripture tells us that earlier he had 'set his face toward Jerusalem'. He would not hide from the church authorities now. No, now was his time to enter the holy city. Did he know it would be on a donkey? with palms and shouts of hallelujah? Did he know that as he descended into the the Kidron valley, it would become for him, 'the valley of the shadow of death.' How much did Jesus know ahead of time? Fully God/fully human, did he have foreknowledge of the events that would take place? Did he know the rejection that was coming and the suffering that would follow? Did the human side of not knowing cancel out the divine side of all knowing?

I suspect that Jesus knew what was going to happen...not because of his divine nature, but because the consequences of holy choices was leading him into conflict with the religious institution. The hierarchy could not have this: eating with unclean prostitues and tax collectors. healing anyone who asked on the Sabbath, leading people in his teaching to believe he was the awaiting for Messiah. No...their power had been threatened and they had had enough.

The Gospel of Mathew tells us that as Jesus looked over the valley at Jerusalem and wept saying,

Jerusalem, Jerusalem the city that

kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it.

How often have I desired to gather your children together

as a hen gathers her brood under her wings.

But you were not willing.

Matt 23:37

Jesus says that he longed or desired to gather the people...to gather us..be we were unwilling. And so knowing what 'Jerusalem'--what the authorities have done before to prophets...I believe he knew he was heading to his death.

In Jerusalem there is a church now where Jesus sat. You can sit in this little chapel on rickity chair with a large window. Like Jesus, you are invited to sit in the cold and look across the valley to Jerusalem. At the top of the four corners of the building are large urns or vases. In the mystical tradition it is said that they vessels hold the tears of Jesus.

As I sat there with my bare feet on the cold stone, I found myself praying and crying... "O God, make the killing stop...there's been too much suffering, too much pain, too much death. Make peace Lord; make peace.

What did Jesus pray? I wonder....