The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-08-26

where the sisters of Lazarus gave r.
supper in his honor. The morning
after the Sabbath he set out fer Jeru-
saltNn.
The Lesson Story.
Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem
ito lay down his life for men. His
work was now almost done. But an
! important public act had yet to be
performed, He mad never made
formal proclamation OF his Messiah
ship. Since the beginning of his min
istry there had not been time when
| he could have publicly pressed his
claims without precipitating the trag-
edy which was destined to close his
/ life. He had on several occasions re-
vealed himself TO a chpsen few, and
he had at all times spoken and acted
in such way that no one with open
eyes could mistake his real character:
but he had cautiously refrained from
making any statement that would give
the hierarchy a shadow of excuse for
him. Now that the time had come
for him to go unto his Father. he
determined to present his claims to
the Assem- bled multitudes at the Pass
over In such a way that no one could
possibly misunderstood him.
cannot do better than repeat the
story just as have told 1t before.
In assuming the supreme dignity of
Messiah or Kins, Jesus used such
means as would be readily understood
by the people of his day. 1t was the
custom of ings when journeying
through their realm TO press into ser
vice such property OF their subjects
as they might need to bring them on
their way Only in an accommodated
sense could IL be said that Jesus
pressed into service" the ass and colt
~.
to disciple or the Spirit OF God went
ahead and moved the owner 10 let
them go. because the Lord had need
of them The colt was brought and
the disciples covered 1t with their
outer robes and Jesus was placed
thereon. IL seems To have been done
without a word from their Master
! There Was no assumption of pompous
dignity on his part No runners were
sent ahead 20 prepare the WY. No
horsemen in gorgeous apparel hur-
ried along the road calling upon the
( people to fail on their faces and
shout the praises of their King. The
whole demonstration was an unpre-
meditated outburst. When the dis
ciples saw that the Master who had
been as one that served among them
I had assumed the dignity of a king.
| their hearts caugh, fire. They felt
! that at last the great day had come,
and they could not restrain them
I selves. ''Hosannat" shouted one;
/ blessed is he that eometh in the
| name OF the Lord" Blessed be the
/ kingdom of our Father David that
| cometh in the name of the Lordl"
! shouted another. "Hosanna in the
/ highest" shouted all around him
4 And then the fire spread The null
/ titude- took up the shout. and the
! mountains echoed the joyful sound.
( The people in tho caravan camps
along the mountain side heard the
/ noise and came running together, join
i ing their voices with the shouts OF
1 the disciples. Crowds ran ahead
! gathering palm branches and myrtle
/ tWigs. and casting them with their
robes in his path. Soon the news
| reached Jerusalem, and a vast multi
/ tude poured forth from it's gates and
/ came to meet him. Such a triumph
/ the world had never seen before. Not
a captive WAS in the procession. There
was no proclamation of battles won.
4 The only fruits OF his eonquests To
be seen were the lame that now
danced for joy. the blind that now
/ Toasted their eyes upon him. the dumb
/ that now shouted loudest OF all In
J all that vast multitude there was but
J overcome by the enthusiasm of the
I hour The bitter hearted Pharisees
/ tried in vain to stop the noise which
! grated SO harshiy upon their little
/ souls, At last they appealed to Jesus
w h ,.issia sitt--Af e~twr---@'ff-t fTrse
should hold their peace. the very
/ stones would cry out" The coming
! Of the King was enough to make dumb
nature break forth with praise.
t,4 a
/ procession swept around the hill. ano
Jerusalem came in sight And then
! the heart of Jesus swelled within him.
/ and the tears were seen to trickle
! down his cheeks. "Oh, If thou hadst
known" the disciples near by heard
him say, III thou hadst known In
i this thy day that which would give
! thee peace; but alas, thou art blind"
Such is the thought of God toward
1 poor sinners who are going headiong
| to destruction.
AS the shouting throng entered the
| city.tt looked as IL Jerusalem would
be taken for the Son Of David with
! out a blow But ii was not an army
/ 1t was only crowd. How easy it Is
( to overeattmate the demonstrations of
I crowd. Immediately around Jesus
| were a few disciples whose enthusiasm
/ came from hearts filled with love and
hope; but the Greater part of the null
| titude had simply caught the conta-
| gion from the disciples. and were only
supertically stirred. When Jesus en-
/ tered the temple the wind subsidized,
! and when he was ready to return to
! Bethany only the twelve" went with
| him. The crowd remained behind,
ready to go as they were led But
! Jesus did not need them. His pur-
! pose had been accomplished. He had
/ offered himself to the assent led mill
! lions as the Messiah, nay. more: he
/ had consecrated himself TO death for
! them and for the whole world.
The Heart of the Lesson.
| At last Jesus comes to offer HIM
self as king. Note that he comes
! without arms and with the symbols
! of peace. for his mission Is not to
1 take the city. but 10 take the hearts
/ of men. Many make room for him
I and welcome him. Many others find
/ him not at all to their thinking, and
! therefore. find no room for him.
| As 1t was then, so II is now The
| triumphal procession goes on daily as
| Jesus passes through the world offer
ing himself as king at the doors Of
/ mems hearts He comes without
I weapons or engines for taking the
| heart by storm He will not scale the
| wall, He stands at the door and
| knocks He offers himself II the
! door Is opened he enters, the Prince
I of Peace; II 1t is not opened there Is
no protest. no thrust, no disturbances;
he goes on his way in peace. And as
urn hAc nm AZ