Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1914-07-29

Zech. tx, 9-Commentary Prepared by
Rev. D. M. Stearns.
1t is sometimes difficult to get the
correct sequence of events in the life
of our Lord, but it does seem from
John xii. /, 2, that the supper and
days before the passover and just be-
fore the so called triumphal entry of
the lesson today. and yet the lesson
on the amounting is not assigned us
till Oct. 4. Well. the order of events
does not always matter much If we
see Himself more clearly and receive
the message for our own hearts. The
great event of this lesson is recorded
In each of the four gospels and was
literal fulflllment of the prediction in
Zechariah tour Golden Text. quoted
in Matt. xxi. A, 5; John xii, 10. Full
filled prophecy is the key to that
which Is as yet unfulfilled. so we
should confidently expect as literal
fulfllment of other predictions of
Zechariah, such as those in Zech. ii,
1912; vi, u. 10; wifi, %, %: xii, o. 10.
After the night at Bethany. when
Lazarus, whom He had raised from
the dead, was one of them that sat at
the table with Him John xii, 1. p, He
and His disciples proceeded toward
Jerusalem. On the way He sent two
of the disciples to find an ass and colt
tied in village near by, saying that
they should loose them and bring them
to Him, and If any one asked why
they were to say. ''The Lord hath need
of them" verses 2, 3; Matt. xxi. 2, 81
The colt was one whereon yet never
man sat, reminding us that He was
Mary's firstborn and also that Jo-
sephs new tomb had never been used
till it received His body. The disci-
pies are not mentioned by name. but
as Peter and John were a little later
sent to prepare the passover duke
xxi, 81 they may have been the two
sent on this occasion also. Whoever
they were, they found even as He had
said unto them, both in connection
with the colt and the man bearing the
pitcher of water duke xix. 81; xxi,
1913. So it always has been and will
be, and whether in this life or the life
to come.
Having brought the colt. they put
their garments on him, and Jesus sat
thereon. Many spread their garments
in the road also. and others cut down
branches off the trees and strewed
them in the way, and the multitude as
He came to the descent of Olivet be-
gan to rejoice and to praise God with
loud voice. saying: "Hosanna. Bless
ed be the King that cometh in the
name of the Lord Blessed be the
kingdom Of our father Davidr' and
other words. Compare verses to 10
and Luke xix, 1888. The Pharisees
found fault, as usual, and wanted the
noise stopped, but our Lord said. ~
their peace the stones would immedi-
ately cry out" duke xix, 80. 40).
This lesson is called The Triumph
al Entry" and. while thus far there is
some show of triumph. it was for our
Lord a sad day-one OF the three occa-
sions on which we read that our Lord
wept, the other two being at the grave
of Lazarus and in Gethsemane John
XII, IS; Heb V, y. The record Of this
weeping is found in Luke xix, Ala,
and part of it is as follows: He be-
held the city and wept over it, saying:
II 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 because
thou knewest not the time of thy visi-
tation." Compare His other pitiful la
ment over the city in Matt. xiii. 81
80. He saw the judgments which
would come upon the city and nation.
even as He sees the wrath which will
fall upon the unbelieving.
The city was moved as He entered
it and the question asked who is
this?" (Matt. xxi. 10, III. reminding us
of the same question concerning Him
in Jer. xxx. 81; lisa. xiii, l. the one
referring to His first coming as our
0dg ICnttIuCAs anu tue
other TO His coming in judgment. The
reply of the multitude on this ecca-
sion. This is Jesus. the prophet of
Nazareth of Galilee" Matt. xxi. III.
reminds us of His own reply to the
question of Saul of Tarsus. II am
Jesus of Nazareth whom thou perse-
cutest" (Acts xxi. 81. Having entered
the city. He went TO the temple. heal
ed some blind and lame people. quot
ed part of the Eighth Psalm to the
faultfinding chief priests who would
have Him stop the children from cry
ing "Hosanna to the Son of David"
looked round about upon all things and
then returned to Bethany with the
twelve and lodged there verse IL and
Matt. xxi, 141D. According to one of
the harmonies. the incidents and say
ings Of John xii, 20-36. fit in here.
have been helped by considering
the following suggestions from the in
cident of the ass colt, typifying a sin