At the end of this chapter is one of my favourite verses in the Bible: verse 37. It is a sad and beautiful verse, because it speaks of the destruction of Israel and the desolation of the nation, but it also speaks of Jesus’ immense heart of love and longing for every single one of the people, even though they have rejected him and rebelled against him; even though they are plotting at that moment to take his life.

The verse comes at the end of a passage where Jesus lays out in the fiercest terms how the Pharisees and teachers of the law have crushed, burdened, deceived and destroyed the people that Jesus loves so much – the very people that they were supposed to be shepherding on God’s behalf. The punishment for this terrible failure will be severe.

Yet, despite their rejection of him, Jesus’ love for the people is unchanged. He longs to gather them to him as a hen gathers her chicks. The image of Jesus protecting, sheltering, nurturing and comforting the people here is so beautiful.

Make no mistake, Jesus longs for you. He longs for you. You may feel unworthy, unloved and undesirable but, if only you are willing, Jesus will gather you to himself and love you and nurture you and comfort you and renew you.

Whatever it is that keeps you from running to Jesus, throw it off. Get rid of it. Test the teaching you hear and the books you read so that you are not led astray like the Israelites were. Immerse yourself in Scripture.

Find out who Jesus really is, and what he really wants. Commit yourself to that. Don’t be put off by anything. Because when the Lord of all creation holds out his hands and invites us to come to him, nothing else really matters.

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NEWBOLD COMMUNITY CHURCH