"Christ saw in Jerusalem a symbol of the world hardened in unbelief and rebellion, and hastening on to meet the retributive judgments of God. The woes of a fallen race, pressing upon His soul, forced from His lips that exceeding bitter cry. He saw the record of sin traced in human misery, tears, and blood; His heart was moved with infinite pity for the afflicted and suffering ones of earth; He yearned to relieve them all. But even His hand might not turn back the tide of human woe; few would seek their only Source of help. He was willing to pour out His soul unto death, to bring salvation within their reach; but few would come to Him that they might have life. GC 22.1"
"And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it,"
EGW's passage elaborates on the scene described in Luke 19:41, where Jesus weeps over Jerusalem. The EGW passage provides context and explains the reasons for Jesus's sorrow, making it a clear thematic parallel.
"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!"
The EGW passage directly references the lament over Jerusalem and expands upon the themes of rejection and impending judgment found in Matthew 23:37. The phrase 'how often would I have gathered thy children together' is directly alluded to.
"The Majesty of heaven in tears! the Son of the infinite God troubled in spirit, bowed down with anguish! The scene filled all heaven with wonder. That scene reveals to us the exceeding sinfulness of sin; it shows how hard a task it is, even for Infinite Power, to save the guilty from the consequences of transgressing the law of God. Jesus, looking down to the last generation, saw the world involved in a deception similar to that which caused the destruction of Jerusalem. The great sin of the Jews was their rejection of Christ; the great sin of the Christian world would be their rejection of the law of God, the foundation of His government in heaven and earth. The precepts of Jehovah would be despised and set at nought. Millions in bondage to sin, slaves of Satan, doomed to suffer the second death, would refuse to listen to the words of truth in their day of visitation. Terrible blindness! strange infatuation! GC 22.2"
"And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it,"
The EGW passage directly refers to Jesus weeping over Jerusalem, as described in Luke 19:41, and uses it as a springboard to discuss the sinfulness of sin and the rejection of God's law.
"For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin."
Both passages touch on the suffering and emotional depth of Christ. Hebrews 4:15 speaks of Jesus' ability to sympathize with our weaknesses, while the EGW passage describes His anguish over sin. The connection is thematic, focusing on Christ's humanity and compassion.