“O 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, but you were not willing!” (Luke 13:34).
Jerusalem was once a great city…
In God’s kingdom geography has a limited importance.
God indeed created “geography” – His is the earth. He has the
authority to divide it.
In God’s kingdom geography without God’s presence is
just a piece of land.
Example from OT
“Lot looked up and saw that the whole plain of
the Jordan was well watered, like the garden of the LORD, like the land of
Egypt, toward Zoar. (This was before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.)
(Genesis 13:10). Lot chose a very profitable piece of “geography”.
Abraham took what was left. God had a word with him,
“The LORD said to Abram after Lot had parted from him, “Lift up your
eyes from where you are and look north and south, east and west.” (Genesis
13:14).
On top of whatever he got, Abraham got God. An
outstanding piece of geography.
Jerusalem was an outstanding piece of geography
(Psalms 122:1), but without God was about to become just another city…a
desolate house.
Jerusalem here becomes a living parable of not
making it into God’s kingdom…not making it “in time” through the narrow door.
The door was widely open…”how often…” But now it
is closing fast…you were not willing…your house is left to you desolate…”
Jesus is still in the posture of a hen – gathering
people under His saving wings. People from all the nations are welcomed by Him.