Scripture to Read: Luke 13:34–35
Jesus was burdened for the Jews and grieved over the people of Jerusalem, as God had Luke record the following: Luke 13:34–35, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, just as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not have it! 35 Behold, your house is left to you desolate; and I say to you, you will not see Me until the time comes when you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’” Anytime our Lord repeats a word in Scripture, it normally signifies a deep emotion that God has for a people or an individual. Jesus was broken for the people of Jerusalem, for too many of them had rejected Him as their Messiah up to this point in Scripture. Jesus also described their sins from their past, how they had killed the prophets of old and stoned to death the people God sent to them. Jesus had incredible compassion for the Jews and deeply wanted to protect them and take care of them just as a mother hen protects her young chicks. Jesus had been to Jerusalem many times before, as recorded in the Book of John, but they refused Him. Jesus stated that the Jewish people would ultimately welcome Him as their Messiah. God had Paul record in Romans 11:25–27 how after the fullness of the Gentiles has come in that “all Israel will be saved,” signifying that God is not finished with Israel.
Challenge & Application
Why was Jesus so burdened for the people of Jerusalem?
How do we know that God is not done with Israel yet as His chosen nation?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!