The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-04-27
LESSON FOR APRIL 20
JESUS WELCOMED AS KING.

LESSON TEXT-John 12:12-ls.
GOLDEN TExT-Blsssed is the King
OF Israel that cometh in the name OF the
Lord-John 1913
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 /, A. D. 80.
]. The Lesson Of His KinshEp. wv.
1910. Reading carefully the record
Of each evangelist, regarding this tri-
umphal entry, we are still at a loss
fully to describe the scene. It oc-
CURED the day following the supper in
the home Of Mary and Martha and
Lazarus, l. 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" (Mntt. q :3). This command
was In line with the prophecy Czech.
9:9). The young ass was n 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
15:14). In response to their faith,
they found everything just as he said
1T would be Guke 1882. Placing
their garments upon the colt (Matt.
2l:D Jesus rode upon It toward the
city, the people crying, "Hosanna"-
literally, "Save, beseech" Cps. 10 :37-
40; see Luke 10 :3S; Nix. II :9.1o; Matt.
21:9). 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. 81 :s), and cast their
palm branches before him. The Pharl-
sees protested duke 10 :30-40), 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 19:37-4O). Unfor-
tunately the enthusiasm Of the peo-
Pile was not long-lived. Many Of the
same ones were soon crying, Cruelty
him" (Ch. 19:14-15). Jesus himself
did not join in the general Joy duke
|19:41-44), for he. with prophetic eye,
saw the outcome duke 10 :41-44).
u. The Lesson Of Reverence wv. II.
19) 1t Is one thing to acknowledge
Jesus as King. It 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
anolnted King ought to be aNsuggestion
to those who look upon Jesus merely
as 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 anolnted 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
Tor Jesus excited the hatred of the
Pharisees, making 1t all the more in
tense, for they saw the crowd forsak.
Ing them, and following one whom
hey envied and hated. To one anoth.
pr they exclaimed, Behold, how ye
prevail nothing" Notice the personal
pronoun "ye," seeking to lay the fault
upon others rather than taking their
pwn share Of the burden, another
touch Of human nature which IL eyi.
dent even today.
Ill. Tho Lesson Of the Greek pm.
srims wv. 20-28). These Greeks came
hrst to Philip, who himself was
Greek. The hour had come ". 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
the PharIsees. Christ came first to
the Jews that through them he might
reach the Gentlles. 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 tlnged with sorrow, for it
was a prophecy of the price that he
must pay for the redemption Of the
world.
The Son of Man was glori1ed by his
death; he was glorifled by his recep-
lion on the part of the Gen.ues; he
was giorifed by the approval Of the
Father.
Verse "a expresses one of the most
tremendous facts ia the life Of Jesus
tCf. Cor. 1880.
Think Of the rich fruits of Chrssts
death, the countless lives that he
reached and ennobled, and the effect
II hiB life on fhe Dracticol afpoJ.s 30