April 9, 2025 Morning Devotional

Morning Devotion: Read Luke - Jerusalem’s Woe Foretold

Luke 13:31  The same day there came certain of the Pharisees, saying unto him, Get thee out, and depart hence: for Herod will kill thee. 32  And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected. 33  Nevertheless I must walk to day, and to morrow, and the day following: for it cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem. 34  O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not! 35  Behold, your house is left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you, Ye shall not see me, until the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.

The religious Pharisees (like priest of today) came to Jesus and made a veiled threat that Herod would kill Him. Isn’t that just like the world to use tactics to try and scare others for their own means?

We know that Herod wanted to see Jesus and did so later when Jesus was turned over to him by Pilot. Read Luke chapter 23.

Jesus responds by saying that He must go about His business casting out devils, doing cures walking today and tomorrow and such.

Then He says something intriguing; He says on the third day He would be perfected, referring to His resurrection. And, He says that “it cannot be that a prophet cannot perish out of Jerusalem.”

We know that many prophets perished in Jerusalem.

Luke 11:51  From the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zacharias, which perished between the altar and the temple: verily I say unto you, It shall be required of this generation.

What Jesus was saying was that He cannot be destroyed before His time., before He made it to Jerusalem. Everything is done in God’s timing.

He was eventually slain outside of Jerusalem on mount calvary just as the Old Testament offerings were.

Hebrews 13:12  Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. 13  Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.

Remember the Lord is speaking about end times and is on His way to Calvary. He then makes a profound statement concerning Jerusalem.

Luke 13:34  O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not! 35  Behold, your house is left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you, Ye shall not see me, until the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.

Zechariah12:2  Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem. 3  And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it.

Although Israel is prosperous now, she will be made desolate, probably through the Abrahamic Accords. The rapture will take place and then the abomination of desolations takes place in the middle of the tribulation period, then Israel will be made desolate. In her desolation she will be looking for the Messiah.

When Jesus returns in the clouds with great glory, then, Israel will recognize Him as their Messiah, the one whom they rejected, and pierced, and killed.

Zechariah 12:10  And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.

Would you recognize who Jesus is? Would you trust Him now before its is too late? He went to the cross for you. He paid your sin debt and offers you forgiveness and everlasting life.

The choice is still yours,

Pastor Cook