Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1889-04-04
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
SERIOUS SUBJECTS CAREFULLY AND
ABLY CONSIDERED.

Thoughts Worthy OF Calm Renec-
tIon-HaIf an Hours Study Of the Scrip
tures-Time Wen Spent.
The lesson for Sunday. April z. may be
found In Mark XII. ILL.
INTRODUCTORY.
The whole choir OF gospel voices sounds
for us here. Our Savlour's passion IL draw
ing nigh. The cross Is just beyond the city
gates yonder Even John. whose voice
now for somc time we have not
heard In this sacred recital. speaks
again. There is Significance in the atten-
ton given to the details OF this incident
John tells US the meaning OF 1t all. az; l6) !:
These things understood not his disciples
at the first; but. when Jesus was Rloritied.
then remembered they that these things
wero written Of him. and that they had
done these things unto him. 1t was dis
tinct Messianic event, such as CAST its
shadows far before unto the days OF
prophecy.
They came nigh. In the lesson OF March
"a Christ was passing out OF Jericho on his
way to tho city OF sacrifice (seyenteen
miles). Now. having passed the night pre-
vious at Bethany with Lazarus and Mary
and Martha John IL: 1 sq.). he at last
reaches, his gracious destination
Jerusalem. Tischendorf omits Bethpha0e.
but not Bethany. The original. In keeping
with the p. e2nant Greek construction. uses
the proposition into. Into Jerusalom and
into Be hany." having reference doubtless
to tho purpose held in mind on the way
OF the city.--TSoo OF his disciples. Prob
ably Peter and John. subsequently sent to
prepare the passover. duke ~: 81
Go your .oav.' Having reference to a quiet
withdrawal (upha0o). ).-IntO the uttLage.
That suburb OF the ancient city. called Beth
phage. which they had to pass through or
pass by. en- route from Bethany to Jerusa-
lem.-As soon as ve be entered in. Or
Just as ye enter. The allusion Is to place
rather than time. --Neuer man sdt. More
accurately. no man has yet sat; hense: ser,
viceable for sacred purposes. Mum. 10: ~
Loose him. Matthew speaks also OF the
mother OF the colt brought along. thus add
ing to the formal sacredness OF the scene.
WHAT THE LESSON TEACHES.
They came nigh to Jerusalem. They were
never very far away from that city OF holy
immolation. Ever was Calvary's hilltop
close at hand. Never did the turrets Of that
sacred city, sacredest OF all for that which
was to occur without the gates. fade wholly
from our Saviour's view. His divine head
felt. no doubt, the prick OF the thorn even
by the peaceful shores of far Galilee, and
on distant Hermon's height he spoke with
Moses and Elias -of his decease which he
should accomplish at Jerusalem. Long
before, yea. from the very outset OF his
theanthropic career may we not say from
the very foundation OF the world. he had
steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem. !"
As soon as De be entered into 1t. More
closely rendered 1t is just as ye enter in.
This Is the divine exactness. None but a
God could afford TO be precise on such O
point. The gospel writer's are very definite
in their narration here. They were i'm
pressed with the divinity displayed. There
was Christ out there by the wayside. There
wo"e no walls. gates. trees. hills to shut
lage.- he says. and confidently as II he him
self had placed 1t there-and had he not2-
he says Just ut the entrance We will find u
colt tied" A magician cleverly guessing
would have left himself some loop-hole OF
escape from possible failure by giving larger
latitude and scope to his directions. Some
where along about 1900. the calculator tells
ia, the world Is to como to an end. He may
be right; he may not God only knows.
Saws the Master calmly. Just there Mt the
entrance you shall find" 1t is God who Is
speaking.
Went their uav and found. They just
rent aud found. That is the simple word
of the original. Suppose we do as well.
Obedience finds. We do not read Of their
pausing on the edge OF the village under
some fig tree TO wait and wonder how it
could be. or under some juniper to wholly
doubt and despond. No. they went right
along in the path marked out, and as they
went forward they found 1t just as ne said
it would be. Why not trust Gods word7
Why not believe his promises2 For exam
ple he tells us to go. preach. and he will be
with us. Has any true missionary OF the
cross ever bund that promise to
fail? He tells us to open our
mouths for Christian testimony and he
ness ever failed at this point? Has God
not made even our stammering and our
tears to testify graciously for him2 He
points to his book and he says knock for
comfort and it shall be opened unto you
opened for comfort. He points the sinner to
Coma and
Have you found him? Well have you comet
What do ye loosin0 the colt? 1t was just
as he said. and so they are not startled;
they have their answer ready. Brother, the
Master has anticipated the worlds hostility
and tho worlds challenge. He has armored
us and weaponed US beforehand. There in
his word Is our full and adequate equip
ment. -Of whom shall be afraid?" Daniel
Sloan down there at the Chicago Y. M. @. A.
rooms has sent out a handy little leafiet.
Have you seon it. used it?--The Workers
Guide" "Inever did anything bad" Nns.l
Rom. 3: IL. L am good enough" Nah. 1: IA.
Il am better than Others" Luke Is: IL.
I'm too great sinner" Tim. 1: Is. And
every query or cavil there Is a word OF
Scripture. Try 1t and see.
EUen as Jesus had commanded. Let us
hold fast TO the word just as It Is written
for us. They said just as Jesus said Is
there any better way? Here In our handy
lustrated so that they strike the eye as soon
as you turn the leaf They arc Christ's own
words. Somehow. though. all is truth. the
sentences from our Saviour's own lips seem
doubly freighted. We call IL Christ IN the
Inquiry room. And we like to have the
seeker and the sorrower speak right with
Christ regarding doubts and distresses.
Here on our study table Is book called
What Jesus Says" nearly three hundred
pages OF the wonderful words OF life arrang-
ed for the use of pastors and workers.
There on our book shelves Is The Words
of Jesus" Christs sayings arranged for the
responsive service OF public worship. There
also Is -Christs Christianity" system of
divinity in the great Teachers own words.
Friend. have you ever taken the pains to
note how much Jesus said2" And he said
nothing In vain.
Hosdnnd IN the highest. Garments and
palm branches. Hymns and hosannas, hon.
age OF hand and heartl Let every Sabbath
be u day OF the gates, welcoming. triumph
ing time for him who cometb. ever cometh.
In the name OF the Lordi And let every
hymn take hold upon heaven. "Hosanna In
the highestl" II never came to US before as
It did at our last reading OF Revelation Will.
Listen: And another angel came and
stood over the altar. havin golden censer,
and there was given unto him much in
cense. that he shoul add IL Revision)
unto tho prayers o( oil the saints" Angel
voices mingle with ours. heavens supplica-
tions and praises augment earth's pious
cries. -Hosanna in the highest"
Next Lesson---The Rejected Son. Mark
II: LA
And This Isn't Lean Year. Either.