Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1910-03-23
PEOPLES
Sermon by
CHARLES T.
RUSSELL,
Pastor Brooklyn
Tabernacle.

on Palm Sunday. 1t will be remem-
bered that the incident occurred at the
close of our Lords ministry-three and
a half years after his baptism at JOr-
dan and five days before his crueifix-
ion. 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,
and when the Sabbath closed the sup
per was eaten. 1t 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
murmured 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 anoint-
ing was for his burial (Which occurred
later the same week., and suggested
to the disciples. 1.-THE poor We have al
ways with you. And whatsoever We
will we do them good; but me We have
not always"
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-
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-
riah in great detail, saying, Rejoice
greatly. o daughter of Zion; shout, o
daughter of Jerusalem; behold, thy
King cometh unto thee; he 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 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
1t were, q 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 q king, after witnessing his mar
velous works, he withdrew himself
from them, to wait for their ardor tC
cool, knowing that the Fathers time
was not yet due. But now he knew
that his hour was come and hence
instead of hindering, he helped OF
with the enthusiasm by sending fol
the ass, etc. Prominent sectarian Jews
present, although unable to accoGn
for the miracle, were unprepared Il
think of Jesus as the true Messiah. OIL
anything short Of an impOstor in tina
role. When these heard the multitude
shouting and addressing Jesus as The
Messiah they were offended and sen
word to Jesus that he should restrain
the ignorant people who were thus &C
claiming him.
But instead of forbidding the ova
ton Jesus intimated that it was tn
proper thing, that because the Proph
ct Zechariah GX. 9) said Shout.
daughter of Jerusalem!' therefor
there must be a shout. If the peopl
had not shouted, rather than have tn
prophecy go unfuilled. Jesus said tn
very stones would have cried out.
Enroute to Jerusalem Jesus halte
the ass and the procession at the to
of the Mount of Olives and, overlook
ing the Holy City. wept while b
pronounced his sentence upon it
Unworthy! Unappreciative! AS th
evangelist declares, Israel knew nc
the time of her visitation" The tim
for Israel to receive the King ha
come and they were not only ignoran
of the matter collectively, but the
were not in the heart condition t
understand or appreciate. Jesus CRIED
20 Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou tha
killest the prophets, and stonest theI
which are sent unto thee, how ofte
would have gathered thy childre
together, even as q hen gathereth he
chickens under her wings, and y
would notw (Natthew xiii, 81 Fc
three and half years he and his faitl
full apostles had been declaring tha
the Kingdom of God was at hanC
that the people should repent and b
Heve the good message. And eve
six months in advance of this job
the Baptist and his disciples had sim
larry preached.
After those four years Of faithf
preaching throughout the length ar
breadth of Palestine, the nation w;
apparently as unprepared for Jes,
as at the first Hence our Lords fl
lowing words. Therefore say un
you, Your house is left unto you des
late! Ye shall see me no more un
that day when We shall say-Bless
is he that cometh in the name Of t
Lordp That day has not yet CON
Meantime the Jewish nation was the
cast off from fellowship with God,