The recognition of Jerusalem as
Israel’s capital by the United States of America is generating great interest
in the media currently. Some are even attempting to link this to prophecy. This
essay is not an attempt to analyze the recent declaration by the United States but
to bring to mind the serious and momentous events of the past which are perhaps
having an influence on the present!
In relation to Jerusalem, Christ was
quoted to have said: “They will level
you to the ground--you and the children within your walls. They will not leave
one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of your visitation
from God." (Luke 19:44)
And in respect of the evil
reception accorded Him and His rejection by the called nation, the Lord Jesus
gave a Parable of the Wicked Tenants which is a symbolism of Israel’s rejection
of Christ which will result in a just punishment for the tyrannical and vengeful
people! In the Parable Israel symbolizes the wicked tenants who refused to give
the landowner his dues. The landowner symbolizes the Father Who sent Christ.
The people judged themselves when on hearing the Parable they declared that the
wicked tenants will be brought to a wretched end and will be replaced by others
who will give the landowner his fruits in their seasons.
By the rejection of Christ followed
by the atrocious acts on Golgotha, Israel in reality broke a great covenant resulting
in the repudiation of their earlier call as a nation.
For the full Parable let us quote Mathew
21 v 33-43:
“33Listen to another parable: There
was a landowner who planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a
winepress in it, and built a tower. Then he rented it out to some tenants and
went away on a journey.
34When the harvest time drew near,
he sent his servants to the tenants to collect his share of the crop.
35But the tenants seized his
servants. They beat one, killed another, and stoned a third.
36Again, he sent other servants,
more than the first group. But the tenants did the same to them.
37Finally, he sent his son to them.
‘They will respect my son,’ he said.
38But when the tenants saw the son,
they said to themselves, ‘This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and take his
inheritance!’
39And they took him and threw him
out of the vineyard and killed him.
40Therefore, when the owner of the
vineyard returns, what will he do to those tenants?”
41“He will bring those wretches to
a wretched end,” they declared, “and will rent out the vineyard to other
tenants who will give him his fruits in their seasons.”
42Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the
Scriptures: ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. This
is from the Lord, and it is marvelous in our eyes’?
43Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit.”
May we be discerning in these matters and stand at our own posts
ever ready to serve the Almighty alone so that we may succeed and fulfil the
duties apportioned to us in this earthlife of ours!
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