Lamentations 1:12-22
"Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by," cries Jerusalem in the midst of her distress (v. 12). How many times we pass by without bothering to consider the suffering of others! (v. 21). How many precious occasions we have missed to express a little sympathy! Let us ask the Lord to give us more responsive hearts, so that we can better understand the problems of those around us and bring them real comfort from God.
We can but think of the cross in the presence of this unequalled suffering inflicted by the wrath of God (v. 12). But Christ did "nothing amiss" whereas Jeremiah speaks for Jerusalem who, like the thief, recognises that she has fully deserved what she received (v. 18; Luke 23:41). We can also see the crowd of those "that passed by" before the crucified Saviour (Matthew 27:39). Amongst these passers by – and today there are still those who would pass by the cross – were some that were hostile, some mockers, but above all people who did not care. This question is meant for them. Dear friend, the Lord Jesus suffered for your salvation. Don’t you care about it? Does it mean nothing to you?