July 14 2025

Monday July 14

Jesus and the “Daughters of Jerusalem”

Luke 23:27-31

27 And a great multitude of the people followed Him, and women who also mourned and lamented Him. 28 But Jesus, turning to them, said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. 29 For indeed the days are coming in which they will say, 'Blessed are the barren, wombs that never bore, and breasts which never nursed!' 30 Then they will begin 'to say to the mountains, "Fall on us!" and to the hills, "Cover us!" ' 31 For if they do these things in the green wood, what will be done in the dry?"

As we study Luke 23, a good way to recall the events of this chapter is to remember that Jesus had seven encounters or conversations with at least seven people or groups. There was Pilate (vv. 1-25); King Herod (vv. 7-12); Simon the Cyrenian (v. 26); the Jerusalem women (vv. 27-31); the two criminals (vv. 32-43); His Father (vv.44-49); and Joseph of Arimathea.

When we arrive at Luke 23:27-31 Jesus has already gone through terrible beatings and suffering. At this point, on the way to Golgotha, He is not able to carry His cross and Simon of Cyrene is carrying it for Him.  It is now that He has a word for the women of Jerusalem.

Luke informs us that “a great multitude of the people followed Him” (v. 27). Public executions drew crowds of spectators, and one involving Jesus would especially attract attention. Add to this the fact that Jerusalem was crowded with pilgrims, possibly over a million people could have been in the city at the time of Passover, so it is not difficult to believe that a "great multitude" was following the condemned Man to Calvary.

In that crowd was a group of women who openly wept and lamented as they sympathized with Jesus and contemplated the terrible spiritual condition of their nation. It has been pointed out by Bible commentators, that as far as the Gospel records are concerned, no woman was ever an enemy of Jesus. Nor was Jesus ever the enemy of womankind. His example, His teachings, and most of all, His redemption have done much to dignify and elevate women.

If you remember, the news of His birth was shared with a Jewish maiden, His death was witnessed by grieving women, and the good news of His resurrection was announced first to a woman who had been demon-possessed.

Jesus appreciated their sympathy and used it to teach them and us an important lesson (vv. 28-31). While they were weeping over the injustice of one man's death, Jesus was looking ahead and grieving over the terrible destruction of the entire nation, a judgment that was wholly justified. Jesus had told His disciples about this judgment in Luke 19:41-44: “Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, saying, "If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation." 

Jesus looking ahead, even on His way to the cross, knew it would be the women and children who would suffer the most, a fact supported by history. Just forty years later in 70AD, when Titus and the Romans army surrounded Jerusalem, they attempted to starve the Jews into submission. It has been noted by historians that hungry men, defending their city, took food from their suffering wives and children and even killed and ate their own flesh and blood to keep enough strength to fight. It was a terrible terrible time of judgment that Jesus was speaking of.

The nation of Israel was like a "green tree" during the years when Jesus was on earth. It was a time of blessing and opportunity, and it should have been a time of fruitfulness. But the nation rejected Him and became like a "dry tree," fit only for the fire. Jesus often would have gathered His people together, but they would not (Matthew 23:37-39). In condemning Him, they only condemned themselves.

We might paraphrase His words: "If the Roman authorities do this to One who is innocent, what will they do to you who are guilty? When the day of judgment arrives, can there be any escape for you?"

My friend, Jesus has also warned us of another day of judgment coming. Will you be prepared?

God bless!