It cannot be that a prophet perishes outside of Jerusalem. The end of this path is a cross upon which the Son of God is hung, paying the penalty for his children's waywardness. Soon enough comes the denouement, as the old story is repeated, and Christ is hung between two thieves, suspended in space between two poles. It is life without a cross, without the necessity of a savior. On the other pole is the way of redemption.
Hope cries out through pain.
Between the two hangs Jesus, the paradox of tough and tender, the paradigm of all who would speak for God, who would be prophet or priest, who would pick up their cross and follow. We hope, this morning, that we are that people. Jesus speaks of his ministry to his beloved city in two ways this morning. The two don't fit easily together, and often, in reality, we have a difficult time doing both. But both are necessary ministries to God's people.