Oh, 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
What a picture of Jesus’ heart. Specifically for the city of Jerusalem and the people of God, the Jewish people who were rejecting him in Jerusalem, who would soon crucify him in Jerusalem and yet see his compassion for them. He loves them so much. He longs for them to be brought into the Kingdom of God, to be nestled under the wings of God as Father through his love for them.
Luke 13:34 encourages us to pray for the unrepentant.
I want to let this verse lead us to pray in two ways. One for us to, with compassion, plead before God like Jesus here with his spirit in us to plead before God for people around us who to this point have not been willing to come to God through Jesus, to pray and plead for them much like we see in Jesus, this longing for their salvation. And specifically to pray this for Jewish men, women, and children all around the world, scattered in many different countries, for us to join in Jesus’ prayer and longing specifically for Jewish people to know and receive Jesus’ love for them.
Oh God, we pray by the Spirit of Jesus in us, for people in our lives who we’ve shared the gospel with, who we long to know your grace and your mercy long to be brought into relationship with you. And to this point, they have not been willing. God, we press in right now and we pray, even as different names, people are coming to our mind, family members, friends, co-workers, classmates we’ve prayed for before. We ask God, please do what only you can do. We pray again today for their salvation. Lord, we long to see them come to know you. Please, oh God, do whatever is needed in their hearts to open their eyes, to see your love for them in Jesus.
God, we pray for their salvation. Please, please, please, God, do it today. We pray that today might be the day for some of them. God help us to be persistent in praying and longing for them. And loving them and wise in the opportunities we have to share the gospel with them.
Prayer for the Jewish People
And God, we pray specifically by the Spirit of Jesus in us, for the Jewish people. For Jewish men, women, and children all around us. Wherever we might live and all around the world where they are scattered. God, we pray it would open their eyes to see Jesus the Messiah, your love for them in your Son. Lord, we pray that you would cause many Jewish people to turn to you.
God, we know you long for this. Jesus we know by your Spirit in us that you have this longing in your heart. God, we pray, we join with you in your heart… In pleading for the spread of the gospel among Jewish men, women, and children… Many of whom are unreached by the truth about who you are, Jesus. Please, oh God, cause the gospel to spread to them. And grant them willing hearts that they might receive your love in Jesus. In his name we pray, by the power, leadership, and compassion of his Spirit in us. Amen.
David Platt serves as a Lead Pastor for McLean Bible Church. He is also the Founder and Chairman of Radical, an organization that helps people follow Jesus and make him known in their neighborhood and all nations.
David received his B.A. from the University of Georgia and M.Div., Th.M., and Ph.D. from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Some of his published works include Radical, Radical Together, Follow Me, Counter Culture, Something Needs to Change, and Don’t Hold Back.
He lives in the Washington, D.C. metro area with his wife and children.
