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Lent 2 2025
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hamilton, Ohio
Pastor Kevin Jud
March 16, 2025
Jer. 26:8-15, Phil. 3:17-4:1, Luke 13:31-35
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It is a normal day in the farm yard as chickens peck the ground and chicks run around like cute little yellow fuzz balls with legs. Just then a dark shadow slides across the ground. The rooster crows and the mother hen scurries around trying to corral her chicks. The shadow slides back and forth ominously. The soaring hawk has seen the chicks and is looking to make lunch of one of those cute, little, fuzz balls. Most of the chicks, sensing their mother’s distress and hearing her alarmed clucking, run to mom and nestle under her wings. Snuggled under her wings they are safe. Mother hen puts her body between her chicks and the hawk. Her body is a shield for the helpless little ones. One chick, however, does not seek shelter. One chick declares he is a brave little chick. He isn’t afraid of some shadow on the ground. He will be just fine on his own. He is good enough, he is smart enough and he is strong enough all by himself. The chick thinks he knows what he is doing, but he looks ridiculous -- a helpless, fuzzy little chick strutting confidently around the yard unafraid of the circling hawk.
In a flash of feathers the hawk dives and grabs the chick in its talons and flies away to find a place to eat. All that is left of the brave little chick is a little fuzzy yellow down blowing around in the dirt. The chicks sheltered under their mother’s wings are safe, and as mother hen’s heart rate slows to normal the other chicks start to peak out from under their mother’s wings.
Jesus is on his way toward Jerusalem passing through the territory of Herod Antipas along the Jordan River just north of the Sea of Galilee. Jesus earlier foretold his death, Luke 9:22 (ESV) 22 saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.” At Jesus’ transfiguration Moses and Elijah talk with Him about His departure which would happen in Jerusalem. Then Jesus set His face toward Jerusalem and is now on His way with His disciples teaching along the way and in the Synagogues on the Sabbath.
While He is teaching and journeying some Pharisees warn Jesus, Luke 13:31 (ESV) 31 … “Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.” We can’t be sure if the Pharisees were genuinely concerned for Jesus’ safety, or if they just wanted Him out of their territory, but Jesus responds defiantly, Luke 13:32 (ESV) 32 … “Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I finish my course.”
But Jesus is actually not planning to stay in the area so He continues, Luke 13:33 (ESV) 33 Nevertheless, I must go on my way today and tomorrow and the day following, for it cannot be that a prophet should perish away from Jerusalem.’
Jerusalem…Jesus turns His thoughts and His heart to Jerusalem which means, city of peace, Jeru – Shalom, but it is hardly that. Jesus laments, Luke 13:34 (ESV) 34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it!” The stone pavement of Jerusalem is stained with the blood of prophets. Tradition holds that Isaiah was sawn in two in Jerusalem by King Manasseh. Zechariah was stoned to death in the temple court for criticizing King Jehoash. The prophet Uriah was killed by the sword of King Jehoiakim during the time of Jeremiah. And now Jesus -- prophet, priest and king -- is going to Jerusalem to die. It would be natural for Jesus to hate the people of Jerusalem for what they are going to do to Him, but His compassion shines through. Jesus wants to protect the people of Jerusalem. “…How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!”
I am not sure how frustration works with God in flesh, but it seems like it must be incredibly frustrating for Jesus. He is coming to the great city of Jerusalem to give Himself for the people, and the people will reject Him, arrest him, and cry out to crucify him. Jesus is ready to cover everyone with the robe of His forgiveness and righteousness to protect them from the evil one, but the people strut around like proud little chicks thinking they are good enough and strong enough and smart enough. They reject the protection Jesus offers because they think they don’t need a savior.
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem! Jesus laments the rebellious disobedience of the Holy City, but He does not turn away. He continues on His way, Luke 13:33 (ESV) 33 …for it cannot be that a prophet should perish away from Jerusalem.’
Despite the frustration, despite lamenting over Jerusalem, Jesus continues on His way to finish His course all the way to the cross and the tomb and the Sunday resurrection. Despite their proud strutting, Jesus does not give up on the people of Jerusalem… and Jesus does not give up on you.
How many times has Jesus lamented over your sin and rebelliousness? How many times have you strutted around like a proud little chick acting like you don’t need Jesus’ protection because you are good enough and strong enough and smart enough and you’re not afraid of the evil one? How many times has Jesus lamented over your sin and then continued to offer you His Body and Blood to forgive and cover all of your sins.
Despite opposition and rebellion, Jesus stays the course all the way to the cross. Jesus stretches His arms over you on the cross at Golgotha. He offers you protection under His wings. Psalm 91:1–6 (ESV) 1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty…. 4 He will cover you with his [feathers], and under his wings you will find refuge….”
You need refuge in Jesus. As a baptized child of God the devil is targeting you. Like a hawk seeking to snatch a helpless little chick, the devil prowls like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Stay protected in Jesus. Jesus has ascended into heaven but He has not left you alone. The Church is the Body of Christ. The Church gives you shelter from the storms of life and from the evil one himself. Jesus gives you the Holy Spirit delivered to you in the water and word of Holy Baptism and in the truth of God’s Word. The Church delivers to you the truth of your forgiveness in Jesus. The Church pours out on you the forgiveness of sins, life and salvation. United in the one Spirit, under the protection of the Body of Christ, you are safe for eternity.
Despite the temptation to strut around through life proudly and independently declaring you are good enough and strong enough and smart enough, you instead, each week, come here and humble yourself by kneeling before the Lord and confessing that you are not good enough, you are not strong enough, you are not smart enough. You give up the ridiculous strutting of a proud baby chick and you tuck yourself safely under the protective wing of your savior -- who has given His all for you. Amen. -