Calendar

JESUS LOVES ISRAEL
THURSDAY, JULY 31
Luke 13:31-35

Hosea 11

 

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem…”

 

JESUS LOVES ISRAEL
 
When Jesus was ministering in Perea, the Pharisees warned Him to leave the region immediately because Herod Antipas (the tetrarch of Galilee and Perea) wanted to kill Him. Jesus told the Pharisees, who were probably in cahoots with Herod whom He called “that fox” (referring to his wicked cunning), to tell him that it was not Herod’s timetable that He had to keep but God’s. The time of Jesus’ death was not determined by Herod but by God, and neither Herod nor the Pharisees would be able to lay a hand on Him until the divinely perfect or ordained time arrived. Jesus would not allow Herod but His Father to dictate His movement.
 
Jesus then grieved over Jerusalem who kept putting God’s prophets to death. The Prophet of prophets was now present with them, and He Himself would not be spared. He had poured out all His love upon them, and they had spurned His love. What love this is! Did Jesus love His enemies? Surely, He did! He showered upon them His love, but they responded with hatred. He did good in their midst, but they reciprocated by killing Him.
 
What did Jesus mean when He told Israel, “Behold, your house is left unto you desolate”? The “house” here refers to the nation of Israel. For rejecting their Messiah, God is going to cut off Israel (cf. Rom 11:15, 17). The natural branches indeed have been broken off from the olive tree because of unbelief (Rom 11:20). Jesus said that they shall not see Him until they shall say, “Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.” Indeed Israel till today is blind towards Christ, but this blindness will only be temporary. Israel will not see “until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins” (Rom 11:25-27). This will happen at the second coming of Christ when He will restore Israel nationally at the millennium. On that day, the nation as a whole will confess Jesus as Messiah.
 
THOUGHT: Has God cast away Israel? Answer: Romans 11:1-2.

PRAYER: (Pray for the salvation of Israel.)

Search