"Jerusalem, Jerusalem!"

        

Monday musical meditations on God's good news






















An opening prayer:

    Am I a soldier of the cross,
    A follower of the Lamb,
    And shall I fear to own his cause,
    Or blush to speak his name?

    Must I be carried to the skies
    On flowery beds of ease,
    While others fought to win the prize,
    And sailed through bloody seas?

    Are there no foes for me to face?
    Must I not stem the flood?
    Is this vile world a friend to grace,
    To help me on to God?

    Sure I must fight, if I would reign;
    Increase my courage, Lord;
    I’ll bear the toil, endure the pain,
    Supported by thy word.

    Thy saints in all this glorious war
    Shall conquer, though they die:
    They see the triumph from afar,
    And seize it with their eye.

    When that illustrious day shall rise,
    And all thy armies shine
    In robes of victory through the skies,
    The glory: Be it thine. Amen.

Luke 13:31–35

  • At that time some Pharisees came and told him, "Go, get out of here. Herod wants to kill you."
  • 32 He said to them, "Go tell that fox, 'Look, I'm driving out demons and performing healings today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will complete my work.' 33 Yet it is necessary that I travel today, tomorrow, and the next day, because it is not possible for a prophet to perish outside of Jerusalem.
  • 34 "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her. How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! 35 See, your house is abandoned to you. I tell you, you will not see me until the time comes when you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord'!"

Good new questions

  • Jesus wants to gather Jerusalem's children together, like a hen gathering chicks. If he feels that way about a stubborn city, what hopes can you have?

For others pray

  • That God spreads the good news of the kingdom of the Son he loves in Guyana

J.S. Bach's beautiful music for today

  • BWV 46 (YouTube, "Look and see")
  • This piece starts in Lamentations. Jerusalem is destroyed by the Babylonians. 
  • Jeremiah's grief is indescribable.
  • But Jesus will grieve over Jerusalem for even weightier reasons.
  • Why do Jesus' tears flow? He warns people so he can save them.
  • He is going to Jerusalem to die.
  • On the last day he will come again, and it will be too late to repent.

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