Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1882-07-26
Sunday School Lesson Notes.
BY REV. j.. o. SHERBURN.

July ghh: The Triumphal Entry-Mark H.. IL.
The incidents of this days's lesson gain
their importance chiefly from the fact that
by means of them very important Old
Testament prophecy is fulfilled, Upon
this prophecy, (Zech. 9:9-1L perhaps as
much as any single passage from tn
prophets, the people rested their hope and
expectation of temporal kingdom set NJ
by The Messiah. Christ had no disposition
to flatter the expectations of the people in
this direction. but all the prophecies con
corning him must be fulfilled. From
Jerico he has come days journey to th,
village of Bethphage, less than two miles
from Jerusalem. The crowds about him
have increased constantly. The great
feast of the Jews is at hand, and pious
pilgrims throng every way leading to the
Holy City.
The divine prescience of Christ appears
in all the provisions made for his entry
into Jerusalem.
He directs his disciples to place where
they may find an ass on which he can ride
and describes the exact place where they
shall find him, and tells them what answer
to give when they are questioned about
loosing him. Different views have been
taken of this incident; some have supposed
that Jesus had pre'arranged the matter OF
the use of this animal through some agent
there, as Lazarus, perhaps, or some other
friend in one of the villages.
1t is not at all necessary to make such O
supposition; Jesus had many friends and
followers in Bethany, few months before
ho had there raised from the dead one
who had been in the grave four days, and
many believed on that account. Others
had long before that accepted him as the
promised deliverer of Gods people. Any
one Of these followers of Jesus would
doubtless have been pleased to put at hi
service anything they possessed. So il
was only necessary that the two disciple.
sent out for the purpose should say ir
answer to the owners question, Th
Lord hath need of him, and this man wa
ready to servo Christ by granting the use
of what he possessed.
Some question has arisen as to the
choice of an ass as the boast TO he used Of
this occasion of kingly triumph. Two
nearly opposite viows have been taken b,
different Bible writer's, Some have affirm
cd that the ass was tho royal animal
and that eastern kings even to the preson
day use the ass or mule on such occasions
Others have held, and their view seems t
have support in the prophecy alread
mentioned, where Christ is termed "low
ly and sitting upon an ass colt" tina
Christ rode upon an unbroken and com
monplace animal that lie might put himsel
on footing with the lowly and the poor
and might also symbolize the rude ant
unframed character of tho subjects owe
which his sway is set up.
Another meaning has in more recon
time been put upon his action in this mat
ter 1t is said that the horse was tn
animal for kings when they went forth Il
war, but when they role in peaceful stat
among their subjects tho ass was chosen
This view nay, in some sense, be said t
combine tho two former, and gives us
doubtless, the better explanation. Christ
kingdom is ono of peace, and royalty 9
peace was just the proper symbol for tbi
occasion.
The lowlineys Of Cntist is In lde prom
nent in the fact that he rode upon
borrowed beast, and its only trapping
were the coarse outer garments which h
loving followers took Ffrom their ow
persons to supply the place Of saddle
The conduct of the disciples is. however
just as honorable to them and just a
much to the honor of Christ az if the
had furnished him the most costly saddle