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Today's Little Lift
by Jim Bullington
Focus Text: Matthew 23.37-38
Hear more of Jesus’ lament over Jerusalem: “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! See! Your house is left to you desolate” (Matthew 23.37-38). We will focus on a portion of this text as we continue our theme of Jesus Wept while Jerusalem Slept!
The term “how often” suggests that Jesus’ wish for Jerusalem was not a fleeting feeling; over and over again He had wished the same outcome for them. But, alas, to no avail; His will was not their will. He willed their salvation; they willed their destruction. Jesus had visited Jerusalem in person on numerous occasions even as revealed in the gospels, but which point is made very plain in the gospel of John. However, the personal visits of Jesus were not the only visits. In fact, He alludes to His other visits even in this text. Note the expression “…the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her.” Who did the sending? Why were there repeated forays into the capitol city by the prophets? Why was there a divine bent on gaining her ear?
The answer to all these questions is right in the focus text; Jesus wanted them to heed His word; He wanted them to escape the imminent threats at her gate by heeding His call. His love for Jerusalem was certainly not due to their pristine lifestyles or their flawless religious persuasions. Rather, one could say that Jesus loved the great city in spite of her character. The greatest love is expressed in these terms. Sometimes mothers love their sons in spite of the way they act. Sometimes fathers love their daughters in spite of the way they act. However, it can always be said of Deity; God loves us in spite of ourselves and in spite of how we act. Why did Jesus love? The answer is simple; Jesus loved because He was, is, and always shall be Deity. Jesus loved because God is love!
Hidden in the focus text is an attribute of love that we cannot afford to overlook. Here it is: Love can never be coerced! Love is the free exercise of one’s own will. It is not the product of chance or of coincidental meeting. Love is a choice that we make with our minds and our hearts. Jesus loved, and He desired Jerusalem’s love in return. However, the saddest phrase in the text is this, “…but you were not willing.” The fact that they stoned and killed others is terribly loathsome, but the fact that their hearts were not willing to heed is the saddest of all sentiments. The implications of that condition are harsh and far-reaching. Their physical destruction was sealed by their deeds, but more pathetic was the fact that the fate of their souls was sealed by their refusal to hearken to the words of Jesus Christ.
Perhaps some of those who heard Jesus words as recorded in Matthew 23 also heard Peter’s words on Pentecost (Acts 2). It is certain that Peter accused some of his audience of crucifying the Lord with lawless hands (see Acts 2.23). However, the three thousand who obeyed the gospel were not a drop in the bucket as compared to Jerusalem’s swollen population of possibly 2 million souls at the time of the annual feasts. Jesus Wept while Jerusalem Slept!
Questions:
1. What attitudes does the figure of the hen and chickens suggest on the part of Jesus?
2. What does it suggest on the part of the city of Jerusalem?
3. What prophets had Jerusalem treated harshly? Was that type of treatment an exception or the rule?
4. Was baptizing 3000 on the day of Pentecost a great response? Why or why not?
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