Erroll Hulse on the Redeemer's Tears

These are a few quotes from Hulse's article in Reformation Today in 1995. As Hulse says on page 25, he borrowed the title of this article from one of John Howe's (1630–1705) expositions of this passage. Where are other Reformed Baptists in our country speaking this way?

Jesus complained that the people of Jerusalem had steadfastly resisted his efforts to gather them as a hen gathers her chicks (Matt 23:37).

Erroll Hulse, "The Redeemer's Tears Wept Over Lost Souls," Reformation Today 146 (July/August 1995): 21–22.

Jesus said of these reprobate Jews, 'How often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chickens, but you were not willing.' Every effort had been expended on seeking to win them.

Fundamental to the gospel is the love of God for all mankind. 'For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.' This love is expressed in the riches of God's kindness, tolerance and patience, kindness intended to lead to repentance (Rom. 2:4). God wants all men to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth (1 Tim 2:4). 'He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance' (2 Peter 3:9).

Ibid., 22.

Common grace is seen in the fact that Jesus contended with the lost of Jerusalem.

Ibid., 23.

We experience grief just as Jesus did. We experience the sorrow of seeing sinners destroy themselves by unbelief and impenitence. We love them just as Jesus loves them. We seek their salvation just as Jesus does. We know that God's justice will be vindicated in the damnation of sinners, but we also know that he has no pleasure in the death of the wicked. 'Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Sovereign LORD. Rather am I not pleased when they turn from their ways and live? (Ez 18:23).

Ibid., 23.

He [Jesus] was willing to save all of them.

Ibid., 23.

The kind of anguish experienced by Christ was the frustration and sorrow of pain and humiliation. What he suffered in his soul was as intense as was the pain suffered in his body. He endured the cross (physical torment) and scorned the shame (spiritual torment – Heb 12:2). He felt acutely the shame of rejection at the hands of those he came to save. We suffer similarly in seeing the gospel of salvation slighted and rejected. His discouragement is expressed in the words of Isaiah 49, 'I have laboured to no purpose; I have spent my strength in vain.' But he is comforted with the response of Jahweh, 'I will make you a light for the Gentiles that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth.' Romans 11 declares that there will always be a Jewish remnant that believes as well as a fulness gathered in due course.

Ibid., 24.