O Jerusalem, Jerusalem

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Scripture: Luke 13:34-35 (NLT)

34 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones God’s messengers! How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn’t let me. 35 And now, look, your house is abandoned. And you will never see me again until you say, ‘Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord!’”

Devotion:

            In these words of scripture, Jesus is calling out to that great city Jerusalem. Jesus felt both an earthly and divine sorrow for the city. These were his people. His kinfolk. So many times, in this city’s history God had longed for their repentance and salvation. But the people always refused their own rescue. Now at last their messiah was coming to them and still they refused to repent and believe. Luke would have Jesus utter a similar saying on his way into Jerusalem in Luke 19 this time coupled with a prediction of the city’s destruction in A. D. 70.

            How does this scripture speak to the situation of the world today? It speaks to us in the following ways. First, just as the Lord was concerned for the salvation of Jerusalem and the nation Israel 2,000 years ago so he is now concerned for this world and all the people in it. God sees the world rejecting him and his heart is grieved because of it. We need only to meditate on John 3:16 in order to see that God cares for all the people of the world and is not willing that any would perish, but that all would repent and turn to Jesus for salvation.

            Next, God gives us a warning in these words. Just as Jesus is referring to the fact that Jerusalem will be reduced to rubble in A. D. 70 in the days following his death and resurrection. God also foresees the apostasy of our present times and the turning away of many from the faith. The world at large has lost its fear or respect for God. We have what the pollsters call the rise of the nones. People who claim to have no faith in any form of religious observance. In reality these people do have faith in something and that is in themselves.

            The final blessing given in verse 35, is likely in reference to Christ’s second coming. At that time, every knee will bow, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. Whether willingly or unwillingly all will be obedient to Christ. Let us pray for the world’s repentance and acceptance of Jesus Christ as Lord.

Prayer:

            Our Father in heaven, help us to do whatever we can to show this world your love and kindness. May it be that in this age repentance and forgiveness of sins will be a way of life for us and all the people of the world. Let us lift up the name of Jesus every chance we get. Lord, lead those who have departed the church to return to her. Strengthen the faith and walk of those who are your people so that they will desire more of you in their lives. Amen.

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