Here is the Scripture reading for the today! Matthew 23 37 “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing. 38 Look, your house is left to you desolate. 39 For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord."
Jesus crying out for the people if Jerusalem - for the religious leaders who he has been pleading with for two chapters in Matthew's gospel to surrender to the fact that He is truly the Christ - the Son of God. Some the boldest most audacious words Jesus ever spoke precede these heart crying sentences.
When I see this in context I am drawn to the reality that Jesus gets "in our face" so to speak that we might come to Him - not in pride and arrogance as if we can "deal" with Him! But "come to Him" like little chicks come to the safe covering of their mother hen's wings!
Over the next couple of weeks at PoG we are going to journey with Jesus as He walks and talks His way through the days which lead up to His death and resurrection! We will see a side of Him that is easy to miss. Not because it is hidden but because we might find it "unbecoming" of our image of Jesus. Jesus pushes people - all people! He pushes not in the sense of manipulating or controlling them - He pushes people to either accept Him for who He is or reject Him out right. Either surrender to Him or rebel against Him! He knows that "sitting on the fence" is a dangerous place to be when it comes to faith. He is on a mission!
It is His heart for people that I know I must remember as I see Him be really harsh sometime! His heart "longs" for us. Isn't that what the reading says, "how often I have longed to gather your children together" Jesus really loves us - His people - all people! He loves us all enough to be really tough sometimes! He knows it is not good for us to sit on the fence - so He longs for His children, for us.
This moves me! First of all, as a "object" of His longing. To let my self be loved by Him and not fight it! This also moves me as an "agent" of His longing. I know He longs for others as well and I want to be an agent of His longing in their lives. I want His longing for them to shine through me! I get to let them know that the God of the universe longs for them!
He longs for me - He longs for you - He longs for them! Today you and I get to be both "objects" and "agents" of His longing!
delton
