Old Llantrisant Hill
Introduction
- Opening comments on the importance of Jerusalem
- The place where God had put His name
- It was the place that David ruled over, Daniel prayed towards, that Jeremiah wept over
- 2 Chronicles 7:12,16
- Jesus set His face towards Jerusalem
- Jesus was deeply burdened for Jerusalem
- He longed that they would turn away from their sin and repent
- Just as Ezekiel had preached to Israel
- The city He rode into during Palm Sunday
- He wept over the city
- The pharisees are urging Jesus to go onto Jerusalem - v31
- They had a fake concern for Jesus' life
- They had made a pact with Herodian soldiers and were already plotting His death
- v32 - Jesus was resolute in His mission
- v33 - He is going to Jerusalem to die upon the cross for the sins of His people
- He would not be deflected from this mission, even though the price was very great
- Looking at v34-35
The Tender Love of God
- "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem" - duplication of the word Jerusalem - He longs for them
- Jesus came first for the lost sheep of the house of Israel
- He desired they would know fellowship with and rest in God
- He called people to believe in Him for everlasting life
- There were those who came humbly to His feet and knew the joys of sins forgiven
- There were others who only wanted to see His miracles and fell away
- Yet Jesus continued to teach and preach a rebellious people
- Jesus knows all about us this morning - the true state of our heart
- Jesus calls us today
- Jesus weeps today over those who reject Him
- Maybe you feel the depth of your uncleanness - yet Jesus is willing to make us clean
- Have you turned from your sin into the arms of Jesus Christ?
- "How Often" - the longing of the heart of God
- He had great mercy and compassion for the people of Jerusalem
- Jesus is speaking for Himself and the Triune God
- God continually sent prophets to the nation
- God is a tender God, like a mother hen gathering her chicks under her wing
- God wants to bring us into a place of safety, intimacy and warmth
- Do you believe this of God?
- You must turn from your sin and choose Christ
A Stubborn Refusal
- Jesus had seen how Israel would be cut off and the Gentiles would be grafted in
- Jesus had foreseen the terrible massacre that would come against Jerusalem and how Israel would be scattered
- The Jews had not learnt their lesson from the wilderness years
- In fact, they stoned the prophets that God sent to them
- The prophets denounced their sin, greed, wanton breaking of God's laws and ultimately the people themselves
- They called the people back to the living God but they did not accept the word of God
- Neh 9
- It can feel a bit like this in Wales today
- Israel committed some heinous sins
- Quote from Jesus re that terrible day in AD70
- God is a just and holy God
- His patient does run out
- We must never continue in sin or ignore our sin
- Everything will not be alright
- Oh that we would come to Him
A Day of Decision
- A future day would come when they would return to their Messiah
- However, the day of reckoning for this generation was about to come
- Their time was about to run out
- What about us today?
- You are either for or against Him
- He is either Master of your life or you are your own master
- Nothing in life is certain - except God
- He is willing to save all those who call upon Him
- Give up your sin and come to Christ
- Find life
- Choose life, choose heaven