Have you ever wanted to help someone—but they wouldn’t let you?

• Maybe it was a friend making destructive choice.
• Maybe it was a family member who kept pushing you away.
• Maybe it was someone who needed help, but refused to receive it.

That can be one of the hardest things to experience. You care and want what is good for them. But they won’t have it.

In this passage, Jesus speaks about Jerusalem.

Jerusalem was the center of God’s people—the place of the temple where God had promised to dwell among His people. And yet, it was also the place that rejected the prophets God sent to call His people back to Him.

And now, it is the place that will reject Jesus.

As Jesus continues His journey toward the cross, He speaks with deep sorrow. He longs to gather His people.

He describes Himself like a hen gathering her chicks under her wings—a picture of protection, care, and safety.

That is His desire.

To gather.
To protect.
To save.

But then come some of the saddest words.

“They were not willing.”

Jesus is not indifferent. He is not distant. He longs for His people to come to Him. That shows us something important about the heart of God.

God does not delight in judgment nor does He desire the death of the sinner. Rather, God…

“desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.” – 1 Timothy 2:4-6

Yet at the same time, this passage also shows the reality of rejection. People resist God. Israel resisted God. They refuse the very One who came to save them.

And still…Jesus keeps going.

Even knowing that Jerusalem will reject Him, He continues toward it.

Why?

Because His love is greater than their rejection and His mission is greater than their resistance.

“God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” – Romans 5:8

That includes you.

There are times when we resist God’s Word and go our own way, yet Jesus does not turn away. He continues toward the cross…For you.

He goes to accomplish forgiveness for sinners—sinners who wander, who resist, who fall short.

And through Him, there is still an invitation. He is still gathering His people to find refuge in Him.

As we continue this journey with Jesus, we see not only His determination, but His heart—and it’s full of compassion.

Let’s pray…

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for Your compassion and patience toward us. We confess that we do not always listen or follow as we should. Yet You continue to call us back through Your Word. Draw us to Your Son, Jesus, and gather us under His care. Help us to trust in Him and to find our refuge in His saving work.

Amen.

As part of your devotion time, I encourage you to also pray for at least some of the following:

• Your family
• Your local church
• Your pastor
• Some of your fellow church members
• The people on your B.L.E.S.S. list
• Your country and her leaders
• Your community

After praying for these people, you may want to finish your devotion time with the Lord’s Prayer…

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. They will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory, forever and every. Amen.