Sunday 21 February 2016
- Bible Book:
- Luke
“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!” (v. 34)
Psalm: Psalm 27
Background
The opening phrase of today's passage ("At that very hour …")invites us to look at the preceding verses. Jesus had been teachingin towns and villages on his way to Jerusalem (
It was 'at that very hour' that the Pharisees approached Jesus.Whether they were genuine in their warning about Herod or using thestory as a ploy to move Jesus on is debated; the important thing,however, is that Jesus went to Jerusalem not at the behest ofothers but to continue to fulfil God's purpose. When Jesus says, "Imust be on my way, because it is impossible for a prophet to bekilled outside of Jerusalem" (v. 33) he is pointing to a sense ofdivine necessity that is also expressed in
Jesus' response to this was to lament over the city using theimage of a hen gathering her brood under her wings (v. 34). Similarimages are found in Ruth 2:12, some of the Psalms (including
His statement at the start of verse 35, "See, your house is leftto you", echoes God's words in
To Ponder
- What cities other than Jerusalem have rejected prophets?
- How would you share with someone else your understanding ofGod's purpose for your life and the life of the world? In whatways, if any, would you talk about 'a divine necessity'?
- How does the image of a hen gathering her brood under her wingsspeak to you?