“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! See, your house is left to you desolate. For I tell you, you will not see me again, until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’”
O how we miss the heart of God. Here, Christ, the Son of the living God, sent to take away the sins of the world, stood face to face with the beloved city of God. Keep in mind that this passage comes right after several “woes” to the scribes and Pharisees. These “woes” were the sound of grief.* This city had a tragic and harsh history of destroying those that God sent to them to bring truth.* Christ points out this truth, but not with the anger that we might expect.
The heart of Jesus breaks. He cries out to the people of Israel, almost pleading with what cannot be undone. He grieves with the words, “How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings…” I imagine tears in His eyes as He says, “and you were not willing.”
I cannot imagine how it must break the heart of God that people do not run to Him. I cannot imagine how hard it must be to watch those you love suffer the consequences of their own decisions. Maybe you have seen this in your life. Maybe you have encouraged, pointed, or pleaded with someone you love to change or to choose the path of truth. Jesus has too.
The people that day stood face to face with Immanuel, God with us, and they rejected Him. Jesus’s lament continues as He tells them that they will not see Him again until the end of all things.* How horribly tragic. They missed it. They could have worshiped. They could have praised. They could have hugged, and laughed, and walked with Jesus Christ, and they missed it.
Where is Jesus in your life right now? What is He saying to you? Don’t miss it. Please. Please don’t miss it.
Who might need to see Jesus in you today? Who might need to hear His words through your lips?
The heart of God breaks for you; the heart of God breaks for the people around you.
Today, take a step.
Maybe today the one step God wants you to take is to feel His heart of compassion for you. Perhaps you need to let go of your perception that He is cold and uncaring. Maybe God wants you to share about Jesus to someone around you. Perhaps there is some part of who He is that He really does not want you to miss.
Whatever the step, ask God to direct it. Take a moment to take that step. Invite Him to speak. He will.
Life is a long road. Walk it with Jesus. Take a step today… just one is fine.
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*Leon, Morris, The Gospel According to Matthew. Pillar New Testament Commentary (Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1992), 590–592, and Keener, C. S., Matthew (Vol. 1, Mt 23:37–39).) (InterVarsity Press, 1997).