The Carlisle independent., 1917-04-26
INTERNATIONAL. SUNDYS0u)(G
 LESSON
LESSON FOR APRIL 29
JESUS WELCOMED AS KING

LESSON TEXT-John 12:12-19. GOLDEN TEXT-Blessed is the King | of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord-John 12:13.
 This lesson marks the beginning of that last tragic week in the life of our Lord, the most important week in all history since creation. The date was probably April 1. A. D. 30. ]. The Lesson of His kinshp. (vv. 12-16). Reading carefully the record of each evangelist, regarding this tri- umphal entry, we are still at loss fully to describe the scene. It oo cured the day following the supper in the home of Mary and Martha and Lazarus. i. e. on the Jewish Sabbath. From Bethphage Jesus sent two of his disciples into Jerusalem to secure the colt. They were to loose him with out asking anyone's permission. and bring the ass and her colt to him to whom all things belong, with no other explanation than, "The Lord hath need of them" (Matt. 21 :3). This command was in line with the prophecy Czech. 9:9). The young ass was a symbol of peace, but the going of the disciples, In obedience to his command, was an act of faith, and obedience is the su- preme test of discipleship (John 1 15 :14). In response to their faith, they found everything just as he said 1t would be Uuke 19:32). Placing their garments upon the colt (Matt. PED Jesus rode upon it toward the city, the people crying, "Hosanna"- 1 literally, "Save, I beseeeh" CPS. 19 :37- 40; see Luke 19 :3S: NIX. II :9-10; Matt. 21 go. The enthusiasm of the moment was tremendous. For the moment this great crowd (Mk. II :S) believed that Jesus was really the Messiah, threw the garments of their holiday attire in his way (Matt. 2f :S). and cast their palm branches before him. The Phari- sees protested Ouke 19 :39-40), but the enemies of Jesus for the moment were impotent (John 12 :19). The Phari- sees forgot their dignity to such an extent as to get excited along with the multitude, though with another pur- pose (See Luke 19 :37-40). Unfor- tunately the enthusiasm of the peo- pie was. not long-lived. Many of the same ones were soon crying, "Crucify him" (Ch. 19:14-15). Jesus himself did not join in the general joy Nuke | 10 :41-4D, for he, with prophetic eye, saw the outcome Uuke 19 :41-44).
 II. The Lesson of Reverence (vv. IT, 19) It is one thing to acknowledge Jesus as King It is quite another to revere him as Lord and Savior Never was there a time when we need more to have reverence for things holy and for constituted authority than the | present day. The act of reverence on the part of this multitude for the God anointed King ought to be suggestion to those who look upon Jesus merely as a man.
 Ride triumphantly:
 | Behold we lay
 Our lusts and proud wills in Thy way
 Jesus grief is in strange contrast with the joy of the multitude The | practical application for us today is: Have we cast our talents before him, 1 Gods rightfully anointed King?" There had been large company of people present when Jesus was at the tomb of Lazarus, and raised him from the dead. The testimony of these eye witnesses to the power of Jesus must have had great weight with the multi tude. The enthusiasm of this crowd for Jesus excited the hatred of the Pharisees, making it all the more in-
 
 ing them, and following one whom they envied and hated. To one anoth- CT they exclaimed, "Behold, how ye prevail nothing" Notice the personal pronoun "ye," seeking to lay the fault upon others rather than taking their own share of the burden, another touch of human nature which is evil dent even today.
 III. The Lesson of the Greek Pill grims (vv. 20-26). These Greeks came first to Philip, who himself was a Greek. The hour had come (v. 23) when the work of Jesus for the Jews was to be finished. The Jews had been threatened with Greek religion. and that assault had been stopped by lllc HdIlSteS. 1ETlSl cdIuc uTSL lO the Jews that through them he might reach the Gentiles. Now his work for the Jews is done. He rejoices as he sees the Greeks coming to him, for 1t was to be in Greek dress and in Greek form of expression that Christianity was to conquer the world. But this rejoicing is tinged with sorrow, for 1t was prophecy of the price that he must pay for the redemption of the world.
 The Son of Man was glorified by his death; he was glorified by his recep- ton on the part of the Gentiles; he was glorified by the approval of the Father.
 Verse 24 expresses one of the most tremendous facts in the life of Jesus (Cf. Cor. 15 :36).
 Think of the rich fruits of Chrfst's death, the countless lives that he