The words of Jesus at the end of Luke 13 are heart-wrenching and sobering:
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! Behold, your house is forsaken. And I tell you, you will not see me until you say, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” (Lk 13.34-35)
Patient mercy has been extended to Jerusalem for generations and is now coming to its greatest expression in Jesus. God has called. They have refused. The time of mercy for the impenitent is coming to an end.
In the conversation Jesus had just previous to this lament, he spoke of the way of salvation being through a narrow door and the opportunity for salvation being a limited time. Once the door is shut, those on the outside will weep, wail, and gnash their teeth. (Lk 13.28) A vivid, historical image of this exists in the story of Noah. For one hundred twenty years while Noah was building the ark, he preached, and through that time and preaching God was mercifully patient. But once the ark was built and God shut the door, those on the outside were shown no mercy. The time of mercy had come to an end. Those outside the ark would now suffer the consequences of the life they chose. So it would be in Jerusalem. So it is with every life and culture.
You can hear the deep anguish and love for Jerusalem in Jesus’ words. These aren’t the words of an uncaring, blood-thirsty God being revealed in Christ Jesus. Genuine lament is expressed. God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked. (Ezek 18.32; 33.11)
However, it is also important to note what is not heard. There is no begging or bargaining with the recalcitrant. Throughout his ministry up to this point, Jesus has proclaimed the mercy of God in word and deed, calling people to faith and repentance. Those who respond, joining his kingdom agenda on his terms, he is happy to receive. Those who refuse–whether through outright rejection or, like the Pharisees, want Jesus to modify his call and kingdom agenda–must live with the consequences of their choices. We hear in Jesus’ words that he is willing to gather them under his wings and receive the just punishment for their sins, protecting them from the wrath of God, but they must be willing to come under his wings through faith and repentance. Jesus doesn’t negotiate the kingdom standards. Genuine care for people means holding that line because anything less is playing into the destructive plans of sin and Satan. Compromise would be unmerciful. If they refuse to repent and pledge fealty to him as their king, he doesn’t take responsibility for their decision.
Many of us have had the pain of being in a relationship with a person who, for whatever reason, decides he no longer wants to do the right thing. It is a gut-wrenching experience. We plead with him to do the right thing. We warn him of the consequences of his actions. Still, he refuses.
We face temptations at this point. We face the temptation of compromising the standard, giving in to sin and saying, “Well, maybe it’s not so bad. Maybe I’m being too rigid and unloving.” At this point, we begin to enable and actually encourage sin in a person’s life.
We face the temptation to assume too much responsibility for sinning person’s decision. Though we would never admit this because we know it is theologically incorrect, we believe that we have the responsibility to change him or save him. We have a technique, a power, that will bring the person to his senses and make him change. “If I could counsel him, I could change him.” “What did I not do that made him do this?”
Interestingly, we never see Jesus saying anything like this. He proclaimed and the response was the responsibility of those who heard. When people refused, Jesus never ran after them bargaining with them or trying another approach or a new technique. When the rich young ruler walked away sad after hearing Jesus’ demands, he didn’t run after him and negotiate new terms. When Jesus proclaimed that he was the bread of life in John 6 and people walked away, he looked at his disciples and asked, “Do you want to go away as well?” We never see Jesus trying to use any special techniques on Judas. He proclaimed the word, held the line, and the response was fully upon the hearer. If Jesus, who is the God-Man, didn’t “play God,” why do you think you should?
When the impenitent suffers the consequences of his sinful choices, that is no one’s responsibility but his own. Caring for a person deeply doesn’t equate to being responsible for his lack of repentance. We proclaim the standard, call for a righteous response, and leave the results to God’s mysterious will.
As is demonstrated in the ministry of Jesus himself, there are times when certain expressions of mercy come to an end; for example, ending a relationship. As long as breath resides in an impenitent person’s body, there is hope in this life for repentance. We can continue to pray for it and call a person to it. But God’s mercy will not last forever. The door will be closed in death, for it is appointed unto man once to die, but after this the judgment. (Heb 9.27)
