Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-04-28

| waving their emblemS of beauty, VIC
tory and JOY, was quietly dismissed
that day so that He might later enlist
a new one for life. In some respects
the enthusiastic multitude did not I'M
| derstand the full significance of the
master triumphal entrance. which had
lnoFea the city in a superficial manner,
MANY OF them had seen the exhibition
OF Chrlsts power at the tomb of LaZa-
rus. ne testimony of what they had
seen Influenced many others to risk the
anger or the rulers. who in the popular
! manifestation saw the defeat of all their
piahs 10 secure His death. In His un-
paraiieled popularity they saw their
power slipping away from them. They
ieareu that even the relentless meas
/ ures suggested by Caiaphas could not
stem the tide of the Masters popularity.
~, ne rulers We're afraid to interfere any
hiore than to suggest that He should
repuke His disciples This Jesus Ge
cuncd 10 do because it served ito en-
phasize the claim which He then wish
"itholt reserve or ambiguity TO
make in Jerusalen'
ihc welcome extended by the multi
tude spoke volumes to the Master, who
saw IN the volunteers who had assem-
pied to welcome Him the prophecy of
.tlother day when every knee would
DOW ana every tongue confess Him as
LORD OF Lords and King of Kings. 1t
SuSSested the mastering of the invisi-
PIE ana irresistible moral and spiritual
FORCES OF the world that would be en-
Toited IN the army of the Lord and
prlhs all possessions and persons under
MS rule. 1t was a vision of world
Wlde triumph that filed His soul, when
ne learned that the Greeks were seek
ing tln audience with Him.
When Christ entered the city. He
proceeded directly to the temple, as its
flshtful Master and King. The build
.ns. with its elaborate ritual, pointed
70 AIM The day of His triumphaI en-
trance was the appointed time for the
selection of the passover sacrificial
lamp. Jesus understood what the day
meant for Him. when He entered the
,eApie as the Lamb Of God. to offer
Himself for the salvation of men The
crowd that followed Him could not en-
ter INTO His spiritual experiences, but
the influence of their songs and greet
lnPS IS seen i'll the request OF the Cen
Tie proseiyteS belonging to DecapoliS,
ealilee. or some remote country, to see
Jesus From all the memorable in
cidents or passion week John selected
their request for a formal interview
| as the only one that he deemed worthy
OF record. The incident occurred later
| IN the week, and without doubt took
| place in the temple.
| Excepting Gethsemane. no more SOL
! enn moment in the life of the Lord
Jesus mas been chroncled by His bfog
rapnerS than that related in connection
! with the request of the Greeks. ex-
/ pressing the souls supreme need and
I desires TO see Jesus" Both Andrew
ana PhIlip hes1tated because of race
prejudice and the relation of the Gem
Ties to the kingdom of God about pre-
sentinS the request of the G.eeks to
the Master. They probably would have
refused to have spoken to Jesus about
II at all if they had any conception
OF the influence of their statement upon
the mind of the Master. All at once
Jesus was called to face the cross in
an agony of suffering that causes
momentarlly shrinking like that in the
garden OF GethSemane, as recorded in
the Synoptic Gospels. "He realizes that
the hour for His Identification has now
come. but it is TO be very different
glorihcation from the external triumph
q procession: He must die to live.
ana He must come to glory. the only
, glory Tor which He cared-the glory of
| revealing Gods love to men, by the
| falth and process of suffering
He was troubled and trembled for
The moment on the brink of the dread
! leap into the dark abyss. If He did
!, rot seek the Greeks, concerning which
mere is no record, Jesus answered their
request " illustrating the absolute
necessity of His death by reference
to nature. He cited the case of the
grain of wheat, which only terminates
and becomes a source Of new life and
nultiplies reproduction by being
buried in the earth. its coverings de-
cayinS and pershing as a grain of
wheat before it reproduces its life.
The lngathering Of the Greeks inyoly-
ed the sacrifice of Christ's life They
needed more than they knew Christ
saw in the law of life through death,
| Of Standardization through self-sacri-
riflce, which He stated, the call for
Him as the Son of Man to die upon the
cross, II any one through a spirit of
selfshness was unwilling to live a life
Of service or self-denial for their fell
| lows that person could fail to reach its
objects Jesus taught that it is only
oS lie of service and heroic self
denial that amy one could preserve
their soul or keep it unto life eter-
nal"
me Master summons all His follow
ers to life of self-denial and sacrifice.
II one is to enjoy eternal fellowship
with the Christ they must be prepared
10 follow Him in the path of duty and
devotion. sacrifice and self-denying
service. even death. If God honors the
Lord Jesus for enduring the cross and
despising the shame He will honor
al that follow their Savior, who died
70 make men free. The call of the
Master to follow Him in a life of self
denial is the call to America at this
| hour If We try to save our lives by
selfiShness we are unworthy of being
| considered either Christians or Ameri-
can citizens. The serious demands made
upon CnrlStS followers We're made by
the One who was ready to lay down
His life for the salvation of the world
He requires all who expect to share in
the glories of His triumphant return to
follow His example. If one has the
faith OF the Master they can say with
kipling in his most recent poem cele-
brating the nations entrance into the
struggle TO preserve democracy among
men, makes to say:
In the gates of death rejoice
We see and hold the good
Bear witness. earth we have made our choice
For Freedoms Brotherhood.
Then praise the Lord most high
Whose strength hath saved us whole
Who babe choose that flesh should die
And not the living soul