The Cry of a Compassionate Savior
04/14/2025
“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.”
— Matthew 23:37 (NIV)
This verse is one of the most emotionally charged statements Jesus ever made. It’s not a moment of anger or judgment, though it comes at the end of a chapter full of warnings and woes. It’s a moment of deep sorrow and divine lament. Jesus, the Son of God, stands overlooking Jerusalem, the city of God’s people, and His heart breaks.
He cries out, “Jerusalem, Jerusalem…”, repeating the name in a tone of grief, like a parent calling out to a wayward child. It’s the city that had received prophets for centuries. Voices, crying out on God’s behalf, yet time and time again, those prophets were rejected, silenced, or even killed.
The image Jesus uses is tender and maternal: “as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings.” It’s a beautiful metaphor of shelter, warmth, and protection. It’s not forceful. It’s an invitation. The hen doesn’t chase or coerce. She simply opens her wings and waits, longing to gather. And yet… “you were not willing.”
This one phrase captures the pain of divine rejection. Jesus’ desire was to gather, to heal, to protect, and to restore. But the people’s response was to resist, to harden, to refuse. It’s a sobering reminder that while God’s love is unrelenting, He never overrides our will. His arms are open, but we must choose to run into them.
Think of a time when someone tried to help you, but you pushed them away. Or perhaps a time when you offered your heart to someone, only to be ignored or hurt. Jesus understands that pain. In fact, He carried that pain all the way to the cross.
But His lament is also hope. If He longed to gather them then, He still longs to gather us now.
Here are a few things you can do today to draw closer to Him.
Reflect on the ways you might be resisting God’s presence or guidance in your life.
Repent of any area where you’ve been unwilling to come under His loving protection.
Respond to His open invitation today—spend time in prayer and draw near to Him.
Reach out to someone who may be feeling distant from God and gently remind them of His love.
Take five minutes today to sit quietly and imagine Jesus saying this verse. Not just to Jerusalem, but to you by name. Let it sink in that His desire is to gather you close. Will you be willing?
Jesus, thank You for Your deep, unwavering love. Thank You for longing to gather me close, even when I have wandered far. Forgive me for the times I have resisted Your voice or gone my own way. Today, I come willingly under Your wings—seeking Your shelter, Your comfort, and Your direction. Gather me in, Lord. Keep my heart soft and responsive to You. Amen.
Pastor Jeff
#LoveGod #LovePeople #FindFreedom #FindYourDesign
“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.”
— Matthew 23:37 (NIV)
This verse is one of the most emotionally charged statements Jesus ever made. It’s not a moment of anger or judgment, though it comes at the end of a chapter full of warnings and woes. It’s a moment of deep sorrow and divine lament. Jesus, the Son of God, stands overlooking Jerusalem, the city of God’s people, and His heart breaks.
He cries out, “Jerusalem, Jerusalem…”, repeating the name in a tone of grief, like a parent calling out to a wayward child. It’s the city that had received prophets for centuries. Voices, crying out on God’s behalf, yet time and time again, those prophets were rejected, silenced, or even killed.
The image Jesus uses is tender and maternal: “as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings.” It’s a beautiful metaphor of shelter, warmth, and protection. It’s not forceful. It’s an invitation. The hen doesn’t chase or coerce. She simply opens her wings and waits, longing to gather. And yet… “you were not willing.”
This one phrase captures the pain of divine rejection. Jesus’ desire was to gather, to heal, to protect, and to restore. But the people’s response was to resist, to harden, to refuse. It’s a sobering reminder that while God’s love is unrelenting, He never overrides our will. His arms are open, but we must choose to run into them.
Think of a time when someone tried to help you, but you pushed them away. Or perhaps a time when you offered your heart to someone, only to be ignored or hurt. Jesus understands that pain. In fact, He carried that pain all the way to the cross.
But His lament is also hope. If He longed to gather them then, He still longs to gather us now.
Here are a few things you can do today to draw closer to Him.
Reflect on the ways you might be resisting God’s presence or guidance in your life.
Repent of any area where you’ve been unwilling to come under His loving protection.
Respond to His open invitation today—spend time in prayer and draw near to Him.
Reach out to someone who may be feeling distant from God and gently remind them of His love.
Take five minutes today to sit quietly and imagine Jesus saying this verse. Not just to Jerusalem, but to you by name. Let it sink in that His desire is to gather you close. Will you be willing?
Jesus, thank You for Your deep, unwavering love. Thank You for longing to gather me close, even when I have wandered far. Forgive me for the times I have resisted Your voice or gone my own way. Today, I come willingly under Your wings—seeking Your shelter, Your comfort, and Your direction. Gather me in, Lord. Keep my heart soft and responsive to You. Amen.
Pastor Jeff
#LoveGod #LovePeople #FindFreedom #FindYourDesign
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