Following after Jesus #89

In the 13th chapter of Luke's Gospel, he wraps up the chapter this way:

31 At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, “Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.” 32 And he said to them, “Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I finish my course. 33 Nevertheless, I must go on my way today and tomorrow and the day following, for it cannot be that a prophet should perish away from Jerusalem.’ 34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! 35 Behold, your house is forsaken. And I tell you, you will not see me until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’”

This follows right on the heels of what we saw yesterday, when Jesus talked about the few and the many who would be in His kingdom. Many would not be in it who thought they should, and many would be in it some thought should not. A case in point was the Pharisees. They did not want Jesus to come to Jerusalem and stir things up, lest the Romans get upset and take away their power. They tried to scare Jesus with the craziness of Herod, but Jesus would not be intimidated, by him or them. Jesus said He had a job to do, and soon it would be done.  Like the prophets before Him, all roads lead to Jerusalem; it would be there He would be rejected and killed. We can then almost picture looking towards Jerusalem and saying 34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! 35 Behold, your house is forsaken. Christ was compassionate and merciful willing to forgive, but Israel was not willing to repent and receive salvation. It was heartbreaking. It still is, when someone sees and hears the good news and invitation of God, but refuses to accept it. Jesus then tells them that soon they will sing their Hosannas, with their words proclaiming Him to be their Messiah, but not truly recognizing Him as such.  May that not be the case with us.