"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!"

This does not teach the absurd theory that Christ had been trying to save the inhabitants of Jerusalem from their sins and make them His children but could not because they would not let Him.  A construction of this passage, or any other, that would represent Jesus as weeping over His own inability to save is certainly to be abhored by all intelligent minds.  If that were true He would continue to be a weeping Christ through all time and to all eternity, while Satan would be dancy with exultation.  Who could trust such a weakling as that?  It teaches no such thing.  The authorities in the Jewish capital are addressed.  The protection of its inhabitants under the old covenant is referred to.  They had the promise of many blessings and the protecting care of God under that covenant if they would be obedient to His laws, but they rebelled and therefore "would not."  A curse is here pronounced upon them by Jesus for their rebellion, for He says, "Behold, your house is left unto you desolate."  ---Elder John R. Daily Zion's Advocate, 1906