The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1909-04-02
H0SANNA! H0SANNA! TO The SON OF David
PASTOR RusSELrs SERMON.

the length of the favor they had en-
joyed as Gods peculiar people. The
prophet specified. saying, Even today
do | declare that | will render double
unto thee" Czech. 9:12) Thus he in
dictated that particular Palm Sunday
as the turning point of Israel's career.
Our Lord also indicated the impor-
lance of that day as the turning point
In lsraefs history; for when he had
Sidden to the brow of Mt. Olivet, over
looking Jerusalem, the procession
stopped, Jesus saying, 20 Jerusalem,
Jerusalem, which killest the prophets,
and stonest them that are sent unto
thee; how often would have gathered
thy children together, even as hen
doth gather her brood under her wings,
and We would not. Behold, your house
is left unto you desolate. Verify say
unto you, Ye shall see me no more I'M
I'll the time come when We shall say,
Blessed is he that cometh in the name
OF the Lord. Luke "a, s..
In other words, that first Palm Sun
day was the turning point marking the
rejection of natural Israel as nation
and the inauguration of Spiritual Is
rael as the holy nation" the royal
priesthood" the peculiar people" for
a purpose. Other Scriptures show us
that natural Israel is to return to Di-
vine favor as soon as the election" OF
spiritual Israel shall be accomplished.
But at his Second Advent Messiah
will no longer present himself as a
man riding upon an ass, but, as the
scriptures declare, he shall come a
spirit being, invisible to men, but new
ertheless with great glory and power
which shall be revealed in flaming
fire." symbolical of judgments. We are
assured that then the blinded eyes Of
Israel's understanding will be open and
they shall look upon him whom they
pierced and shall mourn for him; and
the Lord declares that then he will
pour upon them the spirit of prayer
and supplicatiOn and the blessing of
the New Covenant shall be theirs. AS
it is written, Behold, the days come,
saith the Lord, that | will make New
Covenant with the house of Israel,
and with the house of Judah. After
those days, saith the Lord, will put
my law in their inward parts, and
write it in their hearts. | will forgive
their iniquity, and | will remember
their sin no more" Ger. 31:31-34)
"And | will take the stony heart out
of their flesh, and will give them an
heart of flesh. '-Ezek. IL: 10.
Rejecting the Lamb.
But that Palm Sunday was notable
and important day to Israel from an
other standpoint. At the beginning OF
their national existence, when they
were delivered from the bondage of
Egypt, God specially arranged for their
Passover. This will be our topic for
next Sunday; but today we notice that
their passover lamb was to be taken
up and brought into the house on the
ninth day of the month Nissan, while it
was to be killed on the fourteenth
day. AS John the Baptist has declared
our Lord was the antitypical Lamb of
God, which taketh away the sin OF the
world" John /: 29.) And now the
antitypical Passover sacrifice was due,
when the Lamb of God was to be slain
for the sins of the world; and Israel
as a nation should have received the
Lamb of God into their house by faith
on that very Palm Sunday on which
he presented himself as King. He
filled the double role of King and
Passover Lamb. However, as they re-
jected him as King, SO likewise rs
their Passover Lamb he was not &C
cepted or received; thus as nation
they were not passed over or saved,
but, contrariwise, their national de-
struction followed. AS the rich man OF
the parable of Dives and Lazarus they
died nationally from divine favor.
But while our Lord was rejected
both as Lamb and King by the Jewish
nation there were individual excep
tions. All the "Israelites indeed" in
whom was no guile, were granted spe
cial enlightenment of the eyes of their
understanding These recognized Je
sus as the Lamb of God-their Re
deemer. And not only so, but they rec
ognized him also as the great King
the King of Glory the Messiah. AS in
dicatipg the blindness of the nation
and the spiritual sight of the small
remnant who received him. our Lord
said blessed are your eyes, for they
see, and your ears, for they hear
These who now recognize their Re
deemer. and voluntarily become ODE
u]GUJ W HUI NY d luil CouSCtioIioh vi
their hearts, are very exceptional
class. as we'll as very small class
His cause has really been unpopula,
from the first, and only such as are
willing to endure hardship as good
soldiers have the courage to volunteer
to be soldiers of the Cross. There is
an outward religion today that is pop
ular Just as there was an outward re
ligion in our Lords day that was pop
ular. But to be true disciples, follow
ers of Jesus, to walk in his footsteps
to forsake the world and follow him
means to all his disciples since what
it meant to his disciples at the First
Advent alienation and separation
Our Lord said, eff the world hate you
We know that it hated me before il
hated you. If ye were of the world
the world would love it's own: but be
cause We are not OF the world, Dut
have chosen you out of the world
therefore the world hateth you.
John 1918, 49, Again he said, Gle
that reapeth receiveth wages, ant
gathereth fruit unto life eternal
John 4."c
"Fear Not, Little Flock"
j. point that is not generally recog
4 is that where natural Israel wa!
,ted the selection of spiritual Is
rael began, and that what natural Is
rael failed to get, spiritual Israel is Il
~. AOtS