Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1910-03-26
PEOPLES
Sermon by
CHARLES T.
RUSSELL,
Pastor Brooklyn
Tabernacle.


Little did the Jews understand thu
momentous importance to them Of th'
event which Christians commemorate
on Palm Sunday. It will be remem
bered that the incident occurred at the
close of our Lords ministry three anC
q half years after his baptism at Jor
dan and FIVE days before his crucifix
ion. The Jewish Sabbath had beer
spent in rest at Bethany. Lazarus
whom Jesus awakened from the sleeI
Of death, with his sisters Mary and
Martha, prepared for Jesus a banquet
and when the Sabbath closed the sup
per was eaten It was at that time
that Mary brought forth the box Of
perfume, spikenard very valuable, and
Herewith anointed our Lords head
and feet. II was the same occasion Oh
which Judas. In a wrong spirit, had
murmured against this expression of
her loving devotion; that 1t was a
waste; that preferably the money
should have been given to the poor. It
was then that the Master defended
Mary and announced that the anoint-
ing was for his burial (Which occurred
later the same week), and suggested
to the disciples. "The poor ye have al
ways with you. And whensoever We
viii ye do them good; but me ye have
not always"
The next morning, the first day Of
the week. corresponding to our Sun
IL a NVt-
umphal entry into the city Of Jerusa-
lem as the Jewish King. according TO
the custom of the Jewish kings riding
upon an ass and hailed and acclaimed
by the populace. The incident had
been foretold by the Prophet Zecha-
rlah in great detail, saying, "Rejoice
greatly. o daughter of Zion; shout, o
daughter Of Jerusalem; behold, thy
King cometh unto thee; be is just, and
having salvation; lowly, and riding
upon an ass" (zechariah TX, 81.
Prophecy Must Be Fulfilled.
When the apostles had brought the
ass aud 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 of palm branches for the
asa to step upon; others laid their gar
ments in the way and thus formed, as
It were, a 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
velo1s works, he withdrew himself
from them. to wait for their ardor to
cool, knowing that1the Fathers time
was not yet due. But now he knew
that his hour was come and hence,
instead Of hlnderlng, he helped on
with the enthusiasm by sending for
the ass. etc. Prominent sectarian Jews
present, although unable to account
for the miracle, were unprepured 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 and sent
word TO Jesus that he should restrain
the ignorant people who were thus ac-
him.
But instead Of forbiddlng the ova.
ton Jesus intimated that It was the
proper thing, that because the Proph-
et zechnriah Dix, % said "Shout, o
daughter OF Jerusalemw therefore
there must be a shout. If the people
had not shouted. rather than have the
prophecy go unfuldlled. Jesus said the
very stones would have cried out.
Enroute TO Jerusalem Jesus halted
the ass and the procession at the top
Df the Mount OF Olives and, overlook
lng the Holy City. wept while he
pronounced his sentence upon it.
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 |
sf the matter collectively. but they !
were not in the heart condition to
understand or appreciate. Jesus cried.
20 Jerusalem, Jerusalem. thou that
kiilest the prophets. aud stonest them
which are sent unto thee. how often
would / have gathered thy children
together. even as u hen gathereth her
chickens under her wings, and ye
would not" (AIatthew xxtii, 37.l For
lhree and half years he and his faith
ful apostles had been declaring that
lhe Kingdom Of God was at hand;
hat the people should repent aud be-
ieve the good message. Aud even
six months In advance OF this John
he Baptist and his disciples had slmi.
ariy preached.
After those four years OF faithful |
preaching throughout the length aud
breadth of Palestine. the nation was
apparently as unprepared for Jesus
IS at the irst Hence our Lords fol
owing words, Therefore { say unto
you. Your house Is LEFT unto you desc
atel Ne shall see me no more until |
hat day when SO shall say Blessed
* he that rpuelh In the name OF the
I.ordr fhat day has not yet come /
Meantime the Jewish nation was there
'ast oif from Fellowship with God. as
he prophet declares because they /
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