Title:- When The Martians Invaded New Jersey
Luke 19:41-43 Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, saying, “If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes.
On All Hallows Eve in 1938, Orson Wells broadcast H.G. Wells “War of the Worlds” in the form of a news bulletin. Many people listening to their radios actually believed that the Martians had landed and that most of the East Coast had been destroyed. More than a million people took to the streets in panic and flooded the phone lines of every support organisation from fire to government with frantic calls for advice and help. Astonishing eh?Just why did so many people believe that the Martians were invading? The radio production and performance of the drama was obviously very contemporary and realistic, however, that wasn’t the problem. After all, if you know it’s a play, then you can enjoy the drama and be a little scared at the same time. Right? I mean, just the right amount of adrenaline is an invigorating experience! No, the root of the problem was simple. Many, many people had missed the opening credits and had tuned into the play partway into proceedings. That’s it! They had simply missed the opening credits.
Jesus approaches Jerusalem. Jesus drew near. Jesus weeps as He sees Titus arriving with his Roman legions in AD 70, just 40 years after His crucifixion. He weeps as He sees over one million Jews slaughtered, sees this great city desolate and ruined, the temple gone. Jesus approaches Jerusalem. Jesus draws near. Jesus weeps.The Jews had forgotten, the Jews had misinterpreted, the Jews had changed, the Jews had rejected the opening credits of the Word of God clearly seen in THE New Testament Himself. The New Covenant, walking on two legs before them. Yes, even though the Divine drama for a full three years would unfold in all its glory before them and would so fill the air waves of Israel so that everyone would know of Jesus, even then, they would still not understand! Why? Because they had rejected the opening credits of the arrival of the Son of God. Yes, even though such a broadcast of words of power would cleanse the leper, re-instate the prodigal, love the leaping lame, free the captive, give sight to the blind and shake old wine so vigorously that uncorked ears would make men's mouths pop with praise to God Most High, would blot the sun would dark the sky would make the lover weep and sigh......even so, the missed or rejected credits concerning the suffering Saviour would make the drama fall and fail upon their stony hearts and waxy ears. They did not understand the story. Jesus weeps and says, “If you had known in this your day the things that make your peace.” Yes, I wonder if with the same passion and desperate love Jesus draws near to many of you today and weeps before your gates these same haunting words. “If you had known in this your day the things that make your peace…..”
I counsel you today then, to ask God to tell you His story, His story about you! And to ask Him to direct you to His opening credits about you and Him and His plan and purpose for you and maybe more importantly, His delight in you, so that you might know and embrace the Saviour as He draws near to your Jerusalem. In the quietness of your centre, maybe the weeping you hear is Jesus? Don’t panic and run away, the Martians have not touched down. But God has. Think about that.
Listen:- Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up. James 4:8-10
Pray:- Tell me Your story, O Son of God. O Tell me Your story, O Son of man. Amen and amen.
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