Day 8 - Mt. of Olives

Jesus arrives in Jerusalem after many months of ministry all over the Galilee region. Standing on the Mount of Olives, He weeps over the city and their rejection of His message. He knew what was coming for Him: rejection and death, the ultimate reason that He came to the earth. 

As Christians, we believe Jesus was born to be the ultimate sacrifice for sin, to not only die, but die a horrible death for those who rejected Him. Jesus must have felt this reality as He gazed over the city that day. 

Throughout the Hebrew Bible, we find references to the imagery of the Lord being a caring parent who seeks to protect and comfort His people. The great mystery of Christmas is that a sinless child, born of a virgin, would come to die willingly for you and me. 

How does Jesus’s compassion towards sinners lead to rejoicing this Christmas season?