Jesus gathers his people to protect them!

A headline reading, ‘The Capital Has Fallen,’ is terrible news. The people of a country look to the capital for leadership, guidance, stability, power, unity, identity, etc. When a capital city falls, the people are left with a dark future.

Jerusalem has been the capital city of many peoples. Israel under the leadership of Joshua conquered the city of Jerusalem in about 1400 B.C. Eventually, Jerusalem was Israel’s capital for some time after that, but when the nation of Israel divided into Israel and Judah, Jerusalem was the capital of Judah in the South, while Samaria was the capital of Israel in the North. By the time Jeremiah served as prophet in the 600s B.C. Israel to the North had fallen to the Assyrians because they had turned away from God. Jeremiah’s message for Judah and Jerusalem was to give up their ungodly lifestyle, worship of false gods, trust in human strength and political alliances, and turn back to God in repentance. Some of Jeremiah’s words for the people of Jerusalem are recorded in our Old Testament reading from Jeremiah 26, 12 Then Jeremiah said to all the officials and all the people: “The Lord sent me to prophesy against this house and this city all the things you have heard. 13 Now reform your ways and your actions and obey the Lord your God. Then the Lord will relent and not bring the disaster he has pronounced against you.” God sent Jeremiah to his people to warn them to stop trusting in something or someone other than God. If they did not turn back to God, then they would be destroyed by the nation of Babylon. Jeremiah was not welcomed for his message to save the people of Jerusalem but hated.

Jesus was also hated for his efforts to save the people of Jerusalem. In our Gospel reading from Luke 13, we read, 31 At that time some Pharisees came to Jesus and said to him, “Leave this place and go somewhere else. Herod wants to kill you.” 32 He replied, “Go tell that fox, ‘I will keep on driving out demons and healing people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach my goal.’ 33 In any case, I must press on today and tomorrow and the next day—for surely no prophet can die outside Jerusalem! Most of the Pharisees were against Jesus. However, we are not told whether their intentions in this instance were good or bad. In either case, Jesus was not deterred. Jesus certainly was not going to be intimidated by Herod, who was a wicked, scheming man who had killed, beheaded to be more precise, John the Baptist. Jesus was not afraid of being killed in Jerusalem, in fact that was what he expected to have happen to him there.

Jesus’ goal was to take away sin when he arrived in Jerusalem. Any attempt to keep Jesus from Jerusalem worked against his goal. This means any attempt you make to avoid what Jesus did at Jerusalem dangerous. You put people in danger when you avoid the topic of sin. Sin is so serious that it leads to death and hell. When others around you are caught in sin, take the time to talk with them about it. Tell them about your own sins and struggles and share Jesus with them. Be serious with yourself about your sins and the danger they pose for you. Find and surround yourself with people like Jeremiah, Christian friends and a pastor, who will call you out on your sins even when it hurts. You and the people in your life face real danger of death and hell when you avoid the topic of sin and grow comfortable putting your trust in something or someone other than God.

Jesus’ crucifixion is the proof that the people of Jerusalem were against him. Yet, Jesus wanted to save Jerusalem. These were his people. Throughout its history, God had sent many prophets to warn them of the dangers of their sin and to call them to repentance. We heard Jesus’ concern for Jerusalem in our Gospel reading from Luke 13, 34 “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.” Jesus pictured the people of Jerusalem like helpless wandering baby chicks who need the protection of their mother. Jesus gathered the whole world under his protective arms as he hung on the cross in Jerusalem. The sin living in all of us that leads us to hurt others and ourselves, and the sin that fills our hearts with more guilt and regret each day we spend in this world was put on Jesus at the cross. Jesus did this to fulfill the words of Isaiah 53, 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. You have peace with God because God punished Jesus. You are healed because Jesus was pierced to death.

Do not stop Jesus from going to Jerusalem. There is an old saying that asks, “How do you defend a lion?” And the answer is, “Get out of its way.” Get out of Jesus’ way and let him fight for you. In other words, do not change the message of the Bible. Jesus’ goal in coming to this world and going to Jerusalem was to save you from sin, death and hell. He has gathered you to be part of a greater city and a greater people not of this world, you are first and foremost citizens of heaven and God’s kingdom.

God is your protection from the world. In our New Testament reading from Philippians 3, Paul wrote, 17 Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do. 18 For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven. Paul’s message to his brothers and sisters by faith in Philippi pointed them to the cross, to Jesus’ goal in going to Jerusalem. Many who are enemies of the cross of Christ work to pull you away from the message of sin and hell because they are focused on earthly things like entertainment and popularity. God’s concern for you and thus, Jeremiah’s, Paul’s and Jesus’ concern for you is to set your mind on heavenly things for that is your true home.

God wanted Jerusalem to be the place where God’s Word was shared. Jerusalem failed to remain in God’s Word and lost the message of the Savior. God has gathered you to be his people so that you remain in the Bible. Stay in it for protection and provide that protection in Jesus for the people in your life. The world remains the same today as it was in the time of Jesus, it is a twisted place that calls right wrong and wrong right. So, as parents teach your children God’s Word. Instead of skipping worship on Sunday for vacation or a game, reschedule. And if you cannot help being in a different place, watch the livestream. And, instead of yelling at the politician on tv, pray out loud in front of your children for their decisions and influence to be good for the people they serve and follow God’s purpose for government. Turn off the show or song that promotes drunkenness, violence, promiscuity, etc. and spend time talking about good, godly, true things. Notice too that whether you are a parent or not, these applications apply to you as a friend, mentor, grandparent, student, coworker, etc.

To the world Jesus’ death was terrible news for believers. To the world, Jesus’ death meant darkness for our hope, but for you his death was the fulfillment and the beginning. To share the good news of Jesus’ forgiveness, resurrection and our home in heaven, you must be faced with your own sins and the payment Jesus made on the cross to free you from death and hell. Jesus went to Jerusalem to gather his people to protect them. Amen.