“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! Behold, your house is forsaken.” (Luke 13:34-35a, ESV)
The Pharisees were usually antagonistic toward Jesus and His ministry, so it is strange that they wanted to protect Him from harm. Yet Jesus knew that they were insincere, that this was but a plot from the sly “fox” Herod to silence Him. Jesus did not fear Herod or any earthly ruler. He would not stop preaching and healing until His mission had been fulfilled. He had come to die at the hands of the very people He had come to save, the very people He loves.
Jesus’ lament over Jerusalem served as a warning to those who were to reject Him despite the evidence of His authority in His miracles and teaching. These Pharisees, who were so concerned with their authority, public image and position, and those who followed them were to experience the destruction of their nation, loss of their identity because they put Jesus to death. They would also face eternal separation from God. This is why it is so sad when someone dies without faith in Christ. No matter how many awards and titles any person may receive for his talents, piety or acts of charity and kindness, he who does not have faith in Christ, who rejects His gift of salvation will go down to destruction. We must mourn for them as Jesus did.
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