26 And as they led him away, they laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus. 27 And there followed him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented him. 28 But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children. 29 For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck. 30 Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us. 31 For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry? (Luke 23:26-31 KJV)
The Crucifixion
We have here the blessed Jesus, the Lamb of God, led as a lamb to the slaughter. It is remarkable how quickly they rushed through His trial. He was brought before the chief priests at daybreak (Luke 22:66), then to Pilate, to Herod, and back to Pilate again, all within a few hours. He was scourged, crowned with thorns, mocked, and crucified between 9 a.m. and noon. His persecutors worked with urgency, afraid His friends might find out and intervene. Never was anyone chased out of the world as Christ was. But as He said, “Yet a little while and you will not see me”—a very little while indeed.
As they led Him away to death, one man was made to carry His cross—Simon, a Cyrenian (Luke 23:26). This was likely done because Jesus was too weak to carry it Himself, and Simon, perhaps known to be His follower, was chosen to bear it, adding further insult.
Many followed Him, mourning and lamenting—not just His friends, but common people moved by compassion. They had heard of His miracles and teachings and believed He was suffering unjustly. A large crowd followed, especially women (Luke 23:27), led by pity or curiosity, but genuinely mourning Him. Though many mocked Him, there were still those who valued and pitied Him and shared in His suffering. The death of the Lord Jesus can stir natural affections even in those who do not yet believe. Many mourn Him who do not truly love Him above all. Yet, even in His suffering, Jesus noticed their tears and turned to them, saying not to weep for Him, but for themselves (Luke 23:28).
“Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me,” He said. Their tears were not to be blamed—only redirected. They should not merely pity His suffering, but weep over their sins and the judgment coming upon Jerusalem. The death of Christ was not a mere tragedy—it was His victory and our salvation. So we ought to weep, not for His pain, but for our own guilt and for rejecting His grace, as the Jewish nation did. When our loved ones die in Christ, we need not weep for them, but for ourselves and our children, who remain in a world full of sin and sorrow.
He warned them of the disaster coming on Jerusalem: “Sad times are coming upon your city; it will be destroyed, and you will be caught in the destruction.” Unlike His disciples, to whom He promised future joy (John 16:22), He told these women that they would have real cause to mourn. He had already wept over Jerusalem; now He told others to do the same. Those who accept Christ as King have reason to rejoice, but those who only weep for Him, without trusting in Him, should fear His judgment.
The destruction of Jerusalem is described through two common expressions. First, they would wish to be childless. Normally, people without children envy those with families, but in those days, people would wish they had no children to suffer famine or die by the sword. They would say, “Blessed are the barren and the wombs that never bore” (Luke 23:29). What people once considered a blessing—children—would become a burden. This shows how uncertain earthly comforts are; what we treasure today may bring us grief tomorrow (Hosea 9:11-14).
Second, they would wish to be buried alive: “They shall begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us,’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us’” (Luke 23:30; Hosea 10:8). They would long to hide anywhere, even at the risk of being crushed, just to escape the terror. This will be especially true for the powerful, as Revelation 6:16 says. Those who would not flee to Christ for refuge will beg the mountains to shield them from His wrath.
Jesus concluded with a powerful warning: “If they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?” (Luke 23:31). This likely draws from Ezekiel 20:47. The green tree represents Christ—innocent, righteous, and full of life. If He was treated this way, what should the corrupt and fruitless expect? If God allowed this suffering for His righteous Son, what will He do to the wicked?
This can also apply more broadly. If Christ, the righteous and fruitful one, suffered such things as our sin-bearer, what will happen to those who remain spiritually barren and refuse His grace? If God did this to the One He loved when sin was only imputed to Him, what will He do to those in whom sin reigns? This sobering thought should lead us to fear God’s justice and tremble before Him. Even the best saints, compared to Christ, are dry trees. If He suffered, how much more should sinners expect judgment?