Middletown transcript., 1917-04-28

LESSON TEXT-John 12:12-19
GOLDEN TEXT-Blessed is the King
of Israel that cometh in the name Of the
Lord-John 1918.
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. 80.
!. The Lesson of His Kinship. (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. 1t oc-
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 81 :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 SUI
preme test of discipleship (JOhn
1910. In response to their faith.
they found everything just as he said
it would be Uuke 9:32). Placing
their garments upon the colt (Matt.
21:O Jesus rode upon it toward the
city, the people crying, "Hosanna"-
literally. "Save, I beseech" Cps. 10 81
40; see Luke 10 :3S; Nix. II $40; Matt.
81 :9). The enthusiasm of the moment
was tremendous. For the moment this
great crowd (Mk. II: :9) believed that
Jesus was really the Messiah, threw
the garments Of their holiday attire in
his way Matt. 81 :S), and cast their
palm branches before him. The Phari-
sees protested (Luke 10 :39-40), but the
enemies of Jesus for the moment were
impotent (John 12:10. The Phari-
extent as to get excited along with the
multitude, though with another pur-
pose (See Luke 19:374O). UnfOr-
tunately the enthusiasm of the peO-
pie was not long-lived. Many of the
same ones were soon crying. "Crucify
him" (Ch. 10 :14-15). Jesus himself
did not join in the general JOY duke
10 :41-4H, for he, with prophetic eye,
saw the outcome Uuke 10 :41-4D. All
the city was stirred as Jesus entered
Matt. 81 10Y. When he truly enters
a city it is always stirred. 1t was not
until after the resurrection that the
disciples of Jesus understood the
meaning of this event. They then re-
called what the prophet, Zechariah
had said, and saw in the fulfillment OF
his prediction the Messiah of whom he
spoke.
II. The Lesson of Reverence wv. IT.
19.) It is one thing to acknowledge
Jesus as King. 1t is quite another to
revere him as Lord and Savior. Never
was there 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 Cod
anOinted King ought to be suggestion
to those who look upon Jesus merely
as Il 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,
Gods rightfully anointed King?" There
had been a large company of people
| 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
tense. for they saw the crowd fOrsak
| ing them, and following one whom
they envied and hated. To one anoth~
er they exclaimed Behold, how ye
prevail nothing" Notice the personal
pronoun Eye" 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. 1t is very easy for
present-day readers of the life of Jesus
to be swept with enthusiasm, and to