07-29-2025 PART 1: The Compassionate Call and the Tragic Refusal

Section 1:

In Matthew 23:37, Jesus delivers a profoundly emotional plea, lamenting over Jerusalem's long history of rejecting God’s messengers. With piercing tenderness, He compares His longing to gather the people of Jerusalem to a mother hen gathering her chicks under her wings. This image reflects not only protection and intimacy but also the genuine affection Jesus holds for His people. His desire was not just to correct or rule over them—it was to draw them into closeness, love, and safety. But that desire was resisted. Jesus’ statement, “but you were not willing,” is heart-wrenching, revealing that human resistance can block divine embrace. Despite God’s repeated overtures, the city refused His covering and comfort.

Section 2:

The rejection of this divine invitation carries grave consequences. Jesus prophesies that Jerusalem’s house—the spiritual center and, by extension, their lives—will be left desolate and empty. This declaration highlights that when God is not welcomed, what remains is spiritual emptiness. Jesus forewarns that they will not see Him again until they are ready to acknowledge Him with reverence, crying, “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.” This is more than a prediction; it’s a sorrowful reality check about missed opportunities and hardened hearts. The Lord had offered proximity, warmth, and divine favor, but their unwillingness led instead to separation and silence.

Section 3:

Dr. Dave draws a powerful connection between Jesus’ grief and our own personal heartaches over loved ones who have not yet turned to God. The episode challenges believers to reflect on the gravity of rejecting God's call and to intercede fervently for those who have hardened their hearts. He encourages earnest prayer—not just out of duty, but out of deep compassion, that God would break through the deception, pride, and distractions preventing people from responding to His love. Using the example of Saul’s radical transformation, he calls for divine interventions that shake people awake before it’s too late. The message is clear: Jesus’ desire is nearness, but we must respond while the invitation still stands.