Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-03-15
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| PALM SINpAY-THE LOST OPPORTUNITY.
Text: IF thou hadst known, even thou, at
/ least in this thy day, the things which belong
unto thy peace! But now they are hid from
/ thine eyes. Luke 1912.
! Little did the Jews understand the mo-
! mentoue importance to them of the event
: which Christians commemorate on Palm Sun
/ day. H. viii be remembered that the Incl
I dent occurred at the close of our Lords min
! istry-three and half years after his bap-
/ tlsm at Jordan and five days before his cru
cifiXioh. The Jewish Sabbath had been spent
/ In rest at BETHANY. Lazarus, whom Jesus
awakened from the sleep of death, with his
sisters. Mary and Martha, prepared for Jesus
a banquet. aud when the Sabbath closed the
supper eaten. 1t at that time that
4 Mary brought forth the box of perfume spike
| nard yerv valuable. and Herewith anointed
Lords head and feet 1t the same
! occasion on which Judas. in wrong spirit.
| had murmured against this expression of her
| loving devotion: that IL was a waste; that pre-
ferahly the money should have been given to
the poor. II then that the Master de-
Tended Mary and announced that the amounting
was for his burial (which occurred later the
same week, and suggested TO the disciples
The poor ye have always with you. And
whatsoever ye will ye do them good; but me
We have not always
The next morning the first day Of the week.
corresponding to our Sunday, Jesus made ready
for his triumphal entry into the city of Jeru
salem The Jewish king, according TO the
custom or the Jewish kings riding upon
aud hailed and acclaimed by the populace.
lhe incident had been foretold by the prophet,
Zecnariah. in great detail, saying Rejoice
greatly. o, daughter of Zion: shout, daughter
Of Jerusalm: behold. the King cometh unto
thee; be is just. and having salvation; lowly,
and riding upon an ass. '-Zech. 9:9.
PROPHECY MUST BE FULFILLED.
When thr apostles had brought the and
Jesus sat thereon. the large concourse Of people
because Of his awakening of Lazarus) shouted
aloud. They were filled with enthusiasm and,
after the manner of the time, some broke off
palm branches for the to step upon: others
laid their garments I'm the way and thus formed.
rs II were. carpet in the road leading to
Jerusalem near by. Tho 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 the people sought to make Jesus
king. sitter witnessing his marvellous works.
be withdrew himself from them to wait for
their Grdor to COOL knowing that the Fathers
limo was not vet due. But now be knew that
his hour was come and hence, instead of hin
derinG, he helped on with the enthusiasm by
sending for the ass, etc. Prominent
tartan Jews present although unable to
count for the miracle, we're unprepared to
think Of Jesus the true Messiah. any
thing short of an impostor In that role. When
these heard the multitude shouting and ad-
dressing Jesus as the Messiah they were Of
Tended and sent word to Jesus that he should
restrain tho Ignorant people who were thus &C
claiming him.
Eut instead of forbidding the ovation Jesus
because the prophet Zechariah (9;sl said,
Shout. daughter of Jerusalem" therefore
there must be a shout. If the people had not
shouted. rather than have the prophecy go
fulfilled 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. overlooking the Holy City, wept
while he pronounced bis sentence upon it--Un-
worthy! Unapprecative As the evangelist de-
clares. Israel knew not the time of her visi-
taton.' The time for Israel to receive the
King had come and they were not only ignorant
of the matter collectively. but they were not
in the heart condition to understand or APP
preciate. Jesus cried, 20 Jerusalem Jerusalem.
thou that kiest 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 mott" Matt. 23:37) For three
and half years he and his faithful apostles
had been declaring that the kingdom of God
was. at hand; that the people should repent
and believe the good message. And even six
months in advance of this John the Baptist
and his disciples bad similarly preached.
After those four years Of faithful preaching
throughout the length and breadth of PHles.
tine. the nation apparently unprepared
for Jesus at the first. Hence our Lords
following words. Therefore 1 say unto you.
Your house is left unto you desolRte! Ye shall
more until that day when We shall
say-Blessed is he that cometh In the name OF
the Lord.'' That day has not yet come. Mean
time tho Jewish nation was there cast off
from fellowship with God. as the prophet de-
clares. because they knew not the time OF
their visitation"
Israel has been Outcast from national favor
| for more than eighteen centuries Thank God
the day is at hand when at the second
coming of Messiah his kingdom shall be turned
over to them. And then. as he declares.
they viii be glad to say, BLESSED is he that
cOmeth in the name OF the Lord" The long
centuries of persecution and separation from
Gods favor viii have brought that people to
humber condition of heart, where they will be
glad to receive of divine grace upon divine
terms. To this great event st. Paul refers us
I'm Romans 1l:27-34
Although Cod forekrew all that had trans
oired the offer of the kingdom to Israel WIS
Just as bons fide, just as genuine, as though
he had not known it. God always does his part !!
Whatever failure there is in any matter OF
contract belongs to humanity.
If Thus have before our minds the origin
of Pain Sunday and what It signified as the
climax of tho test of natural Israel In re
sDect "a Messiah. we are prepared TO go fur
ther and to note that in, Gods providence there
is similar test for Us Christians.
ENEMIES FOR YOUR sAKES."
ST. John emphasized particularly the fact
that tho rejection Of the Jewish nation, because
of their rejection Of Messiah, did not apply 20
ell the individuals of that nation. AS the
Pronhet Isaiah had foretold (Romans, s27-33)
there was small. faithful section or rem
nant." THIS remnant accepted Christ and wera
by him accepted and became the nucleus or
foundation of Spiritual Israel the day Of
Tentecost. Thus we read, He came unto his
| own nation. and his own received him not tas
q nationl; but to many received him. to
them he gave liberty (privilege) to become
sons of God. even TO them that believed on
his name: which were begotten not of blood nor
Of the win OF the flesh, OF the VIII OF
man, but Of God-at Pentecost. John 1:il-1s.
Thus so far the spiritual part OF Gods
great promise to Abraham Is concerned II has
passed fron the Jewish nation: but there stII
remains for them glorious earthly portion. to
which they will he introduced at our Lord ;
second coming. Then their sins will be can
celed. and as people the Hebrews will return
to DviEe favor and will inherit the earthly
features OF the promise made to their fathers
Then through them Gods blessing will be ex-
tended to al nations srd peoples under Israel's
new covenant which will unen become opar-
ative ut the hands of their great Mediator
he Christ the Messiah in glory. But by thar
time the election of the saints Of this gospel
age will be complete and the Messiah will in
clide Jesus the Head and the Church his Body
Joint heirs with him In his kingdom-ioint
heirs with him in the spiritual features of the
great Abraham promise. Gal. 1929.
All this is clearly, stated by the apostle in