The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-03-26

stand the mOm6ntOuS 1mpor-
| lM lance to them of the event
M which Christians commem-
| crate on Palm Sunday. 1t
| will be remembered that the
| incident occurred at the close of our
| Lords ministry - three and a half
years after his baptism at Jordan and
| five days before his crucif1xion. The
Jewish Sabbath had been spent in rest
at Bethany. Lazarus. whom Jesus
awakened from the sleep of death,
pared for Jesus a banquet, and when
the Sabbath closed the supper was eat
en-. It was at that time that Mary
| brought forth the box of perfume,
| spikenard very valuable and Herewith
anointed our Lords head and feet.
| 1t was the same occasion on which
| Judas, in a wrong spirit, had muir
INJURED against this expression of her
loving devotion; that it was a waste;
that preferably the money should have
been given to the poor. 1t was then
that the Master defended Mary and
announced that the anointment was for
his burial (Which occurred later the
same week., and suggested to the dis
ciples, 1.-THE poor ye have always with
you. And whatsoever ye will ye do
them good; but me We have not al
ways
The next morning, the first day Of
the week, corresponding to our Sun
day, Jesus made ready for his tri-
umphal entry into the city of Jerusa-
the custom of the Jewish kings riding
upon an ass and hailed and acclaimed
by the popuiace. The incident had
been foretold by the Prophet Zecha-
riah, in great detail, saying, REJOICE
greatly, o daughter of Zion; shout, 0
daughter of Jerusalem; behold, thy
king cometh unto thee: he is Just, and
having salvation; slowly, and riding
upon an ass (Zechariah tx, 81.
Prophecy Must Be Fulfilled.
When the Apostles had brought the
ass and Jesus sat thereon, the large
concourse of people (Which had come
from Jerusalem to see Jesus because
of his awakening of Lazarus) shouted
aloud They were filed with enthusi-
asm and, after the manner of the time,
some broke off palm branches for the
ass to step upon; others laid their gar
ments in the way and thus formed, as
it were, carpet in the road leading
to Jerusalem near by. The shout OF
the people was just as the prophet had
declared. They hailed Jesus as the
promised son of David, the Messiah
long waited for. On previous oc-
casions, when they sought to make
Jesus king, after witnessing his mar
velous works, he Withdrew hlmself
from them to wait for their ardor to
cool, knowing that the Fathers time
was not yet due. But now he knew
that his hour was come and hence,
instead of hlndering, he helped on
with the enthusiasm by sending for
the ass. etc. Prominent sectarian Jews
present, although unable to account
for the miracle, were unprepared to
think of Jesus as the true Messiah. or
anything short of an impostor IN that
role. When these heard the multitude
shouting and addressing Jesus as the
Messiah they were offended ana sent
word to Jesus that he should restrain
the ignorant people who were thus ac-
claiming him.
But instead of forbidding the ova-
ton Jesus intimated that it was the
proper thing, that because the Proph-
d de D of of lie Jerusaiem!: therefore
there must be a Shout If the people
had not shouted, rather than have the
prophecy go untitled, Jesus said the
very stones would have cried out.
En- route to Jerusalem Jesus halted
the ass and the procession at the top
of the Mount of Olives and. overlook
ing the Holy City, wept while he
pronounced his sentence upon it
Unworthy! Unappreciative! AS the
evangelist declares, Israel knew not
the time of her visitation" The time
for Israel to receive the king had
come and they were not only ignorant
were not in the heart condition to
understand or appreciate Jesus cried,
90 Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that
killest the prophets, and stonest them
which are sent unto thee, how often
would / have gathered thy children
together. even as hen gathereth her
chickens under her wings, and we |
would not!" Matthew xiii, 37.) For
three and half years he and his faith |
full apostles had been declaring that |
the kingdom of God was at hand; |
that the people should repent and be- |
lieve the good message. And even
six months in advance of this John |
the Baptist and his disciples had SINH |
larly preached.
After those four years of faithful |
preaching throughout the length and |
breadth of Palestine, the nation was
as unpreDared for Jesus |
as at the first. Hence our Lords fol- |
lowing words, Therefore I say unto |
YOU. Your house is left unto you desc |
late! Ye shall see me no more until |
that day when We shall say-Blessed |
is he that conaeth in the name of the /
Lord!" That day has not yet come. |
Meantime the Jewish nation was there |
cast off from fellowship with God, as |
the prophet declares, Because they |
knew not the time Of their visitat ton"
Israel has been outcast from ma |
tional favor for more than eighteen /
centuries. Thank God, the day is near /
at hand, when, at the second coming of i
Messiah, his kingdom shall be turned |
over to them. And then, as he de-
clares, they will be glad to say, "Bless- |
ed is he that cometh in the name of /
the Lord The long centuries of per- |
secution and separation from Gods |
favor will have brought that people |
20 q 1r,,x,T,Jow oopIfffnx7 rs heart xrh