CBS Was There” was a radio program that debuted in 1947. In 1953 it transitioned to television with a new title, “You Were There.” I remember seeing the program on our Admiral black-and-white television, a sobering thought. Narrated by Walter Cronkite, the program took us to the crash of the Hindenburg, the execution of Joan of Arc, and other events of world history. Imagine “You Were There” on the original Palm Sunday.
“We are in Jerusalem, the capital city of the Roman province of Judea. The city is astir because a charismatic rabbi, Jesus of Nazareth, is processing into the city. Thousands have turned out and are shouting, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’ We interviewed people in the crowd who told us that they are expecting Jesus to restore national independence. Jesus, they said, has done amazing miracles, just days ago he raised a dead man named Lazarus. But the religious leaders we interviewed are convinced Jesus is a religious heretic and rabble-rouser who will upset their delicate power balance with Rome. Surprisingly, Jesus’ closest disciples don’t know what to make of it all. James and John thought they were going to take power in Judea, but Jesus told them ‘no.’ Another insider, Peter, said Jesus has been talking about dying in Jerusalem, an idea which Peter rejected. ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’ Walter, the week ahead will tell us how this all turns out.”
Had you been there, knowing what you know now, what would you tell a television reporter? That the crowds will turn on Jesus, that He will be crucified, but shockingly, will come back to life? If the news bureau did a fact check, they would say you are only partly correct. “His disciples did not understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered” (John 12:16).
Walter Cronkite ended his historical episodes the same way. “What sort of day was it? A day alike all days, filled with those events that alter and illuminate our times…all things are as they were then, except you were there.” No, you weren’t there, but you will be there when the now exalted Jesus comes in glory on the Last Day. Then, finally and for all time, we will all exclaim, “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!”
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