The Detroit times., 1915-03-29
P relate Doubts If
Christ Could Get a
Hearing, Today
HOMAGE LARGELY
SUPERFICIAL
Lenten Speaker Ana
lyzes Spirit of Palm
Sunday

III was essentially ram SUNDAY
sermon that Bishop Charles d. VII
liams preached In the Miles theater
Lenten services, Saturday noon
Taking his text from ST. John 1919
Behold, the world Is gone after
Him." he said in part;
THAT was the comment of The
Pharisees upon the triumphal pro
cession OF the first Palm Sunday. II
characterizes II perfectly. Palm Sun
day is In a sense the worlds day.
II stands for the worlds homage 10
Christ, its short lived and superficial
enthusiasms, as over against the dis
ciple's intelligent and steadfast 10y,
atty.
1T was an enthusiastic crowd that
gathered about Jesus In Bethany on
this day and accompanied Him in
triumphal procession into the Holy
city.
Probably the first and most ap-
parent OF those motives was local
pride. This crowd was made up
mostly OF pilgrims from Galilee. Je
sus' own province, who had long
smarted under the taunts OF the re.
ligious aristocracy Of Judea. Here
was a chance 10 retaliate. Jesus
was to these Galileans visible.
tangible proof that Galllee could
produce a prophet. He was the re-
| ligious sensation of the day. and IL
was not proud Judea but despised
Galilee that had produced Him.
Therefore they took Him up and
carried Him that day into Jerusalem.
They Haunted Him like banner be.
fore the eyes OF the scribes and
Pharisees.
Now how did Jesus estimate the
value OF this homage? That may be
seen by His behavior. He rides ST
lent and sad In the midst of the ju.
bilant throng, and when the hosan-
mas we're most deafening he burst
into tears. lie knew how soon the
shouts OF 'hosanna' should turn into
Kisses OF cruelty Him So 1t gave
Him no joy, no confidence On the
morrow. He comes into the city I'M
attended save by His few disciples.
The crowds have slunk away, asham.
ed OF leader who apparently weak
ened in the hour of His opportunity.
Nevertheless In that hour OF deser-
ton He goes undaunted and alone
into the very courts of the temple
and cleanses them. His authority
and His confidence rested not upon
the assent OF the crowds. but upon
the conviction OF the truth OF His
message and the righteousness or
his cause; not upon men about Him.
but upon God within Him
But let us look to ourselves. The
world ecclesiastical has gone after
Him. The earth Is filed today with
the worship OF Jesus OF Nazareth.
His temples OF worship rise in al
most every city the world over. And
yet often wonder what would hap
pen II Jesus came to the earth today
among the exclusive, pompous hier.
arches OF Moscow or Rome. and liy-
ed His old life OF democratic sim
plicity down on the common levels
among the peasants. Suppose He dis
regarded our pet orthodoxies as
calmly as He did those OF the
scribes. suppose He OVERRIDE our
technical pieties and our cherished
traditions and customs OF church
manship as He did those OF the
Pharisees. and suppose He substi-
tuted for these things His simple
teaching OF the love of God and the
love of the neighbor as the whole
OF Gods requirement OF man. how
long would we OF the world eccle-
classical tolerate Him in our midst
Could He get an audience on the
floor Of the house of bishops, or the
Methodist general conference, or the
Presbyterian assembly? A great deal
OF the superficial homage OF the
world ecclesiastical would disappear
under that test.
do we wave our palm branches
on the day OF His popularity only ?
Or are we ready TO stand by His
cross and follow Him whithersoever
He may lead US, TO bear our witness
to Him and do our service for Him.
even unto DEATH Only so can we
really enter into the Joy Of His res
direction at the great Easter-tlde. .