Jesus said, “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 would not!” (Luke 13:34) It is hard to imagine, but Jesus is expressing deep sorrow and His heart is broken as He mourns. His passion at this point was already well under way. At the same time, He knew what was awaiting Him as He continued in His saving mission. He knew what was going to happen to Him in Jerusalem. And yet, He continued on. In doing so, Jesus proves that He loves those who hate Him. And with the greatest compassion and commitment to save, He longs — yes He longs — to gather us no matter the hardness of our hearts, no matter the sins we struggle with. To see such longing and such love, however, is to see the power of the Gospel. This Gospel by the power of the Holy Spirit working through it is what creates faith in us. May we respond to His cry in faith and may we be gathered to Him tomorrow morning as He gathers us to Himself through His Word and Sacrament!

Some reminders and announcements:

1. Our 3rd Evangelthon is tomorrow after Bible Study. Thus far we’ve knocked on 455 doors and have extended 107 personal invitations. This is also our fund raiser for the junior high and high school youth to attend the 2013 “From Above” Higher Things Conference in Tacoma, WA from July 16-19 this summer. Please sponsor our youth so that they may raise as much money as possible to cover their registration ($350.00 for each of the 10 participants) and to cover their transportation cost which will approach $500.00 for each participant. We need your help!

2. Our first and very well-done (thanks Angela!) newsletter went out via email on February 13th and was labeled: “Saint Paul’s Lutheran Church of Irvine NEWSLETTER: Here it is! Check it out!” If you can’t find it in your email, let me know and I’ll be happy to send it to you again!

3. Pastor’s Issues, Etc. radio INTERVIEW is archived and you may listen to it at any time on your computer. Just go to issuesetc.org and then highlight the option “listen” on top of page and then highlight “On Demand Archives” and then scroll down to interview #2 on 2/20/13, you’ll see my picture with the title “Why We Need The Lord’s Supper.” It is a short 25-minute interview, but I think you’ll enjoy it.

Here is an excerpt from tomorrow’s sermon:

“And You Would Not” (Luke 13:34)

Rev. Dr. Alfonso O. Espinosa

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. We see the genuine humanity of our Great God and King Jesus in these words from Luke 13:34: “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 would not!” It is important to note dear Christians that this text is very appropriate for the Lenten season that leads us to consider Christ’s passion and suffering for us. It comes out here in a powerful manner: Jesus is mourning.

 

The repetition of the word “Jerusalem” is an expression of deep mourning. It is like King David mourning over his son Absalom. When the death of Absalom was announced to David, the Word of God records, “The king covered his face, and the king cried with a loud voice, ‘O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son!’” (2^nd Samuel 19:4) But what you have to understand – if you remember the account – Absalom was trying to kill his father David; he wanted to take the kingdom away from his own father. Absalom was bent against his own father and wanted to destroy him. David about all of this, but when he learned of his son’s death, David cried, “O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son!” David’s commander of the army, Joab, confronted David as he mourned and said, “you love those who hate you.” (2^nd Samuel 19:6) Joab did not understand David, but David was a man after God’s own heart. (1^st Samuel 13:14)

 

In the same way, God incarnate, the Lord Jesus Christ mourned for Jerusalem: “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it!” It is important to understand that Jesus was not merely recounting the history that had occurred up to this point, the fact that the prophets who had been sent to her were indeed persecuted and in some cases murdered. The Lord, however, was also anticipating the fact that Jerusalem was about to do the same thing to Him!

In Your Service and To Christ’s Glory,

Dr. Espinosa