[Jesus said] “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!”
(Luke 13:34)
My husband’s grandma raised chickens in Vietnam. One day a hawk came. The mother fluffed up every feather she had and held her wings out. The baby chicks hid underneath, warm and safe. But up top, the mother was ready for battle!
This is the picture Jesus uses to describe what He does for us. He stretches out His wings, calling all God’s people to Him. When we are next to Him, we are safe and warm. Nothing can harm us.
But the devil gets a totally different picture. What he sees is angry and scary. To him, the message is “Go away. Do not hurt the ones I love. You will regret it forever.”
And that is what the cross says, isn’t it? To us who believe in Jesus and trust in Him for life and salvation, the cross is a picture of safety. It reminds us that Jesus laid down His very life to save us—yes, and took it up again, too.
But to the powers of evil? Oh, to them the cross is a terrible thing—the proof that they are defeated and well on the way to being destroyed forever. That will happen once and for all on the Last Day, when Jesus comes again.
Prayer: Lord, I am looking forward to Your coming again. In the meantime, keep me safe with You! Amen.
Lenten Devotions were written by Dr. Kari Vo.
Originally published in The Lutheran Hour on March 13, 2022
Used by permission from International Lutheran Laymen’s League, all rights reserved
Reflection Questions:
* What do you know about hens and how they take care of chicks?
* Have you ever been angry and protective because something was endangering someone you love?
* Are there things in your life that may harm you and make God very protective of you—even to the point of anger?
(To view the entire “Lenten Devotions” mini-series, please click here.)