One of the many sufferings our Lord experienced throughout His physical life on Earth (before His crucifixion) was in not being received. This suffering was more intense for our King in Exile to endure than most other sufferings due to the fullness of His unselfish love for all mankind. He came to give of Himself, to serve and not to be served. Jesus never lived for His own agenda or self-interests. While , as the Son of Man, He COULD have lived for Himself, but because He continually emptied Himself of Self., His heart was (and IS) completely full of the Father and Holy Spirit’s love for all mankind.
To be full of THAT kind of love , only to have that love rejected , shunned, and a wall of defense put up to block His Light from entering one’s heart caused Him great spiritual pain. Spiritual pain is far worse a suffering than even emotional pain, and not many experience this degree of suffering unless they have reached a certain degree of oneness with Jesus. Those who DID receive Jesus could only receive His Love and Light by degrees.. a little at a time. That is also painful for our Lord, and required a great deal of grace .. the patience of genuine Love that longed for His beloved to look His way, and open her heart to receive His Living Water and Light. Love longs to give of Itself ., to love and to be loved. Love is pained by limits set and walls erected.
When Jesus wept over Jerusalem, His heart was deeply pained. (Luke 19:41) “When He saw the city (Jerusalem), He wept over it, saying, “Would that even today you knew the things that make for peace., but now they are hid from your eyes!…” He was also deeply grieved when He said, “Oh, Jerusalem, Jerusalem, killing the prophets and stoning those who are sent to you! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not! (would not let Him)
In the Scriptures, we read, “We love Him because He first loved us”., This is painfully true because our Lord’s final act of Love for His Beloved on this Earth even resembled an embrace of all mankind. His arms were extended on the crossbeams left to right in one huge “embrace” for all… including His enemies. It was His last cry of Love that expressed His desire to embrace all- that through His final Sacrifice for mankind, might souls be brought through Him, back to the Father.. Like a Hen gathering her chicks under Her wing.
note: after this blog post, I blindly opened to Jesus’s recorded words in “He and I”, and opened to the following: “Not to be wanted.. to have to depend on your welcome! I , who would always want to lavish My love on each soul. And how can I, if you keep your door closed to Me? I was going to say, “If you look hostile an suspicious. Some are afraid that I’ll ask too much of them. If they only knew how happy they would be in giving Me everything in complete and joyous surrender. The most beautiful gift you can give Me is your joy in serving Me.”(…)
Jesus- King in Exile 