A Path Among the Rocks

“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.

Luke 13:34

Jesus was making His way to Jerusalem, resolute in His determination to get there. He had a job to do. Healing the sick along the way.  Teaching in parables to explain the kingdom of God.  Warning those that would listen to repent and be saved as time was running short.  He even rebuffed the Pharisees when they warned Him to go somewhere else because Herrod wanted to kill Him (Luke 13:31).  He was on a mission.

But then, we see this verse.  “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem…. how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings.”  The heartbreak is there in the words.  Jesus had spent the last three years in Jerusalem and the surrounding area.  He had put His heart and soul into His ministry and His message.  He so wanted for His people to accept Him as Messiah and be saved.  But they weren’t willing.    

Remember that old song, Time in a Bottle, by Jim Croce?    

If I could save time in a bottle,

The first thing that I’d like to do,

Is to save every day

Til eternity passes away

Just to spend them with you.

That song came to my mind for some reason as I was reading the verse above about Jesus’ lamenting over the people of Jerusalem.  It puzzled me why that song came to me, but as I thought about the words, I think that perhaps Jesus was probably wishing for more time too.  Not for Himself, but for the people.  Jesus mourned the passing of time that couldn’t be bottled and saved to give people a chance to change their mind about Him. 

Jesus still longs to gather us under His wing.  He still longs for us to come to Him just as much as He longed for the people of Jerusalem that day.  He knows about our heartaches, and He wants to comfort us (2 Corinthians 1:4).  He knows about our cares and worries and He wants to reassure us that He has overcome the world already (John 16:33).  He knows about those burdens that are breaking our backs and He wants to give us a lighter yoke (Matthew 11:30). He knows about those sins that we just can’t leave alone, and He wants to help us (Hebrews 4:15). 

Did you know that the Lord has actually given us a gift of time in a bottle?  He tells us about it in Lamentations 3:22-23:

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;

His mercies never come to an end;

they are new every morning;

Great is your faithfulness.

No matter what we’ve done whether it was last week or last night, God’s mercy is brand new every morning.  His faithfulness will never run out or run dry.  Never.  The enemy would have you believe that there is no such thing as time in a bottle.  Don’t believe it.  You can open the bottle of mercy and forgiveness for the rest of your life through Christ.  1 John 1:9 says “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”  You don’t have to clean yourself up or dust yourself off or pretend that you didn’t think it or do it.  Just come to Him.  He will gather you under His wing where He longs for you to be, and He will wash you clean.  And you can start over. 

Proactive Verse:  1 John 1:9 – If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Defensive Verse:  2 Peter 3:9 – The Lord is not slow to fulfill His promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

Prayer:  Psalm 51:7; 12 (NCV) – Father, take away my sin, and I will be clean.  Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.  Give me back the joy of your salvation.  Keep me strong by giving me a willing spirit. I love you Jesus. Thank for your gift of time in a bottle. Help me to open it and receive Your mercy and forgiveness today.