Getting to Know Jesus Even Better #4

In Luke 13, Jesus had just announced that many of those in Jerusalem and Judea who had come out to hear Him and see Him would not be among those to enter the banquet hall of the Kingdom of Heaven, while many of those whom they considered "less" - the Galileans and the Gentiles, would. 

31 At that time some Pharisees came to Jesus and said to him, “Leave this place and go somewhere else. Herod wants to kill you.”
32 He replied, “Go tell that fox, ‘I will keep on driving out demons and healing people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach my goal.’ 33 In any case, I must press on today and tomorrow and the next day—for surely no prophet can die outside Jerusalem!
34 “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing. 35 Look, your house is left to you desolate. I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.""

These religious leaders wanted Jesus to go away, and they were hoping that the fear of Herod would help Him decide He would. They were wrong. Jesus was not in the least bit intimidated by the corrupt leader. In fact, knowing men's hearts, He knew that Herod was afraid of Him.  Jesus was going to press on into Perea, the region across the Jordan, where Herod's rule was strong, before returning to Jerusalem for His last time.  He alone would decide when to go up to Jerusalem for His final journey, where He knew He would die. As He looked toward the city He cried out with a heart of sorrow, noting that they had rejected Him, and though they would cry out their Hosannas, their hearts were far from Him and His Kingdom.