Jesus gathers you under his deliverance, so you are not left desolate!

“Leave this place and go somewhere rainy for spring break.”

Rarely is this said but it does make sense to go somewhere rainy during spring break in March because of St. Patrick’s Day and the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Finding a pot of gold would be life changing, but most are turned off by the illegitimacy of leprechauns. And that is an issue, but the real problem is that you cannot reach the end of a rainbow.

Pressing on toward an unreachable goal leaves you desolate. For example, a chick could press on toward the goal of leaving the protective wings of the hen. A chick might want to leave the hen’s protection for a variety of reasons. Maybe it feels confident in its abilities, is tired of its curfew or is not getting along with the others. Whatever the case, a chick who is unwilling to stay under the hen’s wings for protection faces desolation. A chick cannot survive on its own against the elements facing certain death if it is too hot, cold, windy or rainy, plus there are many animals who are always looking for a quick chicken nugget snack.

In the same way a chick pursues an unreachable goal in survival away from the hen, the people of Jerusalem faced desolation without God. The prophet Jeremiah warned the people of Judah in the city of Jerusalem that their pressing on toward a disobedient, idolatrous and rebellious life against the Lord God would bring disaster. Jeremiah’s words infuriated the people so that they called for his execution. And we hear Jeremiah’s response 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’s word to his people through the prophet Jeremiah was a call to repentance so they would not be destroyed. If they chose not to return to the Lord and live under his grace, then they were choosing judgment.

 Like a chick pursuing life outside the hen’s protective wing, we can pursue a life without Christ. Christ has gathered all of us under his wings of deliverance. We are blessed to have a new identity in Christ, to be forgiven and righteous, and to be called Christians. The people Jeremiah ministered to were called God’s people too, but they abandoned him. Six centuries later, Jesus ministered to their descendants and some of his words about them are recorded 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. 35 Look, your house is left to you desolate.”

Centuries later, the people were still not willing to turn to the Lord. Their hope was in a desolate house decorated with gold, but empty of the one the prophets pointed to. We put our hope in an empty desolate house too when we pursue Christian morality over faith in Christ. It happens when we construct a Christian caricature in our minds and social circles, and work to achieve it through best practices and even politics. In doing so, we abandon the speaking about sins and the cross. Instead, we call things mistakes or misguided attempts when they are condemning sin. We can run in another direction out from under God’s wings when we cling to an identity of brokenness that hobbles along under the guise of humility, but in reality it is laziness and apathy. Repetitious repentance and ritual that has no desire to bear the fruit of repentance in serving and loving others, has cozied up to temptation and sin. These paths tempt us away from the cross, but Christianity is about the cross. At the cross we are faced with the seriousness of our sins. We are also made aware of and called to a life that will face suffering as Jesus did because he did not give into the easy path away from fighting sin and the forces of evil.

The easy path was available to Jesus. The Pharisees offered the easy path to Jesus in our Gospel reading from Luke 13,

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.”

Herod did play a hand in Jesus’ death, but the Pharisees were not functioning here as his carrier pigeons. The Pharisees did not like the influence and following Jesus had gained, and his calling them out on self-righteousness. Plus, they did not believe in him as the Savior. Their intention was to intimidate Jesus into moving on to another place, but Jesus had no intention of leaving peacefully. Instead,

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!”

Jesus was ready for the showdown in Jerusalem, and he would go to his death according to his timetable. He had a few more signs and miracles to perform, then he would come to Jerusalem at the right time when it was full of Jews from all over celebrating the Passover. Then, many would be witnesses to his suffering, death and resurrection. Jerusalem was the place he would go to save the world, Jerusalem was the difficult path and, despite their hatred for him, Jesus loved the people of Jerusalem as we read in 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. 35 Look, your house is left to you desolate. I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’”

Jesus loved the people of Jerusalem as he loved the world. Jesus delivered the world from sin on the cross so that no one would have to fear Judgment Day, the day when all will say,

“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.”

Jesus left the Father’s side and was forsaken by him for our sins, so he could bring us to the be with him. Jesus has not left you desolate; he brought you deliverance.

“Leave the pot of gold for a punch in the gut.” This is not a common phrase, but when this world offers us an easy path that appeals to our sinful nature, we walk the hard path under the wings of our Savior. There are influencers who paint pictures of a life that looks too good to be true through a product or steps to get there, but you leave it behind because it leaves out Jesus. There are moments when the Bible is challenged, and you speak up knowing the conversation or relationship may be strained. There are moments where the savory taste of revenge and gossip sound good, but you indulge in integrity and bite your tongue. When we stay gathered under Jesus’ wings of deliverance, it is not the easy path, but God gave us words like these from our New Testament reading from Philippians 3 and 4,

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. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body. 4:1 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, dear friends!

Filled with love, Paul encouraged the Philippians to remain under Christ when the enemies of the cross attacked them. Filled with love Jeremiah, called the people of Jerusalem to repent despite death threats. Filled with love, Jesus lamented that so many willingly turned away from him. Filled with love, Jesus forgave all your sins, will always welcome you under his wings of deliverance and is your strength to live for him while facing the enemies of the cross. We eagerly run under Jesus’ wings and look forward to standing with him in heaven with a new and glorious body.

Going somewhere rainy for spring break to find a pot of gold on St. Patrick’s Day is not a thing. Finding a pot of gold would be life changing, but the illegitimacy of leprechauns is an issue. However, the real problem is that you cannot reach the end of a rainbow. Pressing on toward an unreachable goal leaves you desolate. Jesus delivered us from illegitimate moral or immoral living away from him. On the cross, he delivered us and under his gracious wings we walk by faith enduring persecution. You will reach your heavenly goal because Jesus gathered you under his deliverance, so you are not left desolate. Amen.