O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! Matthew 23:37
The prince of the universe personally manifested Himself in Jerusalem calling her children to repentance. "How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!” These words provide an image of what the Lord felt for the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
The Son of God Himself was sent to plead with the impenitent city. It was Christ that had brought Israel as a goodly vine out of Egypt. Psalm 80:8. His own hand had cast out the heathen before it. He had planted it "in a very fruitful hill." His guardian care had hedged it about. His servants had been sent to nurture it. "What could have been done more to My vineyard," He exclaims, "that I have not done in it?" Isaiah 5:1-4. Though when He looked that it should bring forth grapes, it brought forth wild grapes, yet with a still yearning hope of fruitfulness He came in person to His vineyard, if haply it might be saved from destruction. He digged about His vine; He pruned and cherished it. He was unwearied in His efforts to save this vine of His own planting. *1
Therefore, indeed, I send you prophets, wise men, and scribes: some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues and persecute from city to city, Matthew 23:34
In the parable of the Wicked Vinedressers we find a summary of what the Lord did for Jerusalem. Remember that for over a thousand years God had sent His prophets to warn the His people. Finally, He sent His only Son whom they crucified.
Hear another parable: There was a certain landowner who planted a vineyard and set a hedge around it, dug a winepress in it and built a tower. And he leased it to vinedressers and went into a far country. Now when vintage-time drew near, he sent his servants to the vinedressers, that they might receive its fruit. And the vinedressers took his servants, beat one, killed one, and stoned another. Again he sent other servants, more than the first, and they did likewise to them. Then last of all he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ But when the vinedressers saw the son, they said among themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and seize his inheritance.’ So they took him and cast him out of the vineyard and killed him. Matthew 21:33-39
The Father sent his son but when the servants saw him, rather than receiving him with respect and admiration, they killed him. What was the message that the Son had brought to the world? What was the invitation He made?
For three years the Lord of light and glory had gone in and out among His people. He "went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil," binding up the brokenhearted, setting at liberty them that were bound, restoring sight to the blind, causing the lame to walk and the deaf to hear, cleansing the lepers, raising the dead, and preaching the gospel to the poor. Acts 10:38; Luke 4:18; Matthew 11:5. To all classes alike was addressed the gracious call: "Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28 *1
Despite his humility, compassion, love and mercy the evil servants ignored his words always searching an opportunity to hurt him.
And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” Matthew 8:20
Though rewarded with evil for good, and hatred for His love (Psalm 109:5), He had steadfastly pursued His mission of mercy. Never were those repelled that sought His grace. A homeless wanderer, reproach and penury His daily lot, He lived to minister to the needs and lighten the woes of men, to plead with them to accept the gift of life. The waves of mercy, beaten back by those stubborn hearts, returned in a stronger tide of pitying, inexpressible love. But Israel had turned from her best Friend and only Helper. The pleadings of His love had been despised, His counsels spurned, His warnings ridiculed. *1
Jesus was given such a terrible treatment by His own people. However, if we reject Him, we would be in worse condition then the Israelites. We have a greater light. Not only can we look back and learn from past mistakes, but the Lord has died and resurrected so the we may be saved.
When Christ came to the world, his own nation rejected him. He brought from heaven the message of salvation, hope, freedom, and peace; but men would not accept his good tidings. Christians have condemned the Jewish nation for rejecting the Saviour; but many who profess to be followers of Christ are doing even worse than did the Jews, for they are rejecting greater light in despising the truth for this time. *2
We cannot continue to reject the Lord’s invitation. The Lord desires our happiness, our salvation. Only through Him can we be saved. Perhaps the Lord already knocked the door of your heart many times. Will you let Him in?
JESUS IS COMING SOON, AMEN, YES, COME LORD JESUS!
1 * The Great Controversy, "1. The Destruction of Jerusalem ", Ellen g. White
2 * The Review and Herald, "God Warns His Coming Men Of Judgments", November 5, 1889 Ellen g. White
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