M'Cheyne - The Saviour's Tears Over the Lost

The 19th Century Scottish preacher Robert Murray M'Cheyne preached from Luke 19:41-42 where Jesus wept over Jerusalem before His crucifixion. I have changed some of the wording for easier modern reading from the Banner of Truth book of compilations of his sermons. From this sermon, I encourage you to read these words:

I come now to show you that Christ is willing to save even the hardest of sinners.

“And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over it;" Christ here gives two proofs that he is willing to save sinners: 

(1) His tears; and 

(2) His words. 

These were the tears of one who never wept but in reality; and these were the words of one who never spoke but in reality. It is impossible for him to lie. “O, if you had known,” he said. It was a broken wish. It shows a feeling of the greatest love and tenderness. His bowels were yearning with tenderness within him, for the love he bore to their souls. His desire was a true desire. He saw them lying in their sin. They had slain the prophets, and despised their messages. He saw that they would soon crucify himself. He saw their hands red with his own blood; and yet, for all that, he wept over them. He saw the judgments that were coming on them. He saw that they would soon lie down in hell; and therefore he wept and cried, “Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes."

I believe there are some here tonight over whom Christ says the same. He sees that you have sinned against light, and against love, and that you have resisted the Holy Spirit these fifty-two Sabbaths which have now gone over your heads. He sees how you have withstood every warning, how you have resisted his ministers, how you have resisted and crucified the Son of God afresh, how you have wounded Christ in the house of his friends; and yet he says, “O, if you had known”. Perhaps, sinner, you will not turn, perhaps you will perish, and before another year has passed, you may lift up your eyes in hell, being in torments. He that cannot lie says, he would have saved you; and if you perish, sinner, your blood be on your own head. It is the very essence of the gospel that Christ is willing to save. He wills not that any should perish, but that all should come to him and live. Some will say, why did he not save Jerusalem, if he was willing? To this I answer, that you must take the gospel as you find it. It is not your business nor mine to inquire into anything of the sort. It is sufficient for us to know that he is willing to save. He said, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.” (John 7:37); “He who comes to me I will never cast out.” (John 6:37).

Now, brethren, in conclusion, I beseech you, strive to enter in at the strait gate. Many have entered, why not you?