Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-04-27
JERUSALEM In THE NEWS
AND IN THE BIBLE
The International Sunday School Lesson For April
2o Is "Jesus Welcomed as Kingdom IL 1915
WILLIAM ELLIS
BY WILLIAM L. ELLIS

had come up to the feast. Every
body had heard before, or learned
after reaching Jerusalem, of this
new Teacher and Wonder Worker
who had even raised a man from
! the dead. His name was on all
tongues. The jealousy of the ecclesias-
tics was freely gossiped about. Eag-
erness to see Jesus was the domi-
nant idea of the crowds. Wherever
he was reported to be, there the
crowds fiocked. The eyes of the Jew
lsh nation We're upon Him. He
seemed to have deliberately gather
ed up the attention of all the peo-
pie and focused it upon himself. that
His sacrifice might have its fullest
force ana significance. AS a publicity
measure the triumphal entry was
highly significant.
Daring to BE Somebody
If not planned by Him, this tri-
| umphal entry was at least accepted
by Jesus. This was His hour of Man.
hesitation. Not His to be obscure and
humble on this occasion. He knew
the prophecy which was to be full
filled, even If others did not So the
Carpenter assumed the role of Con-
queror, with simplicity, naturalness
and dignity. Not a single hosanna
"ouId iic Sllll, llOl d waving Dfanc0
would He deprecate. When the aris-
tocrats grumbled. He silenced them
by few stern words. All consider
ations of caution were brushed aside;
the die was cast, and this Hero,
whom the crowds acclaimed, knew
that He was riding forward to death.
Less than two miles away He could
see-and we may be sure He looked
the knoll outside the northern
wall of the city where. within q
week, three crosses would stand; and
He would be on one of them. All
that lay between this Hill of Olivet
on which he rode; and the Hill of
Calvary, which was His destination,
was clearly perceived by Christ.
Nevertheless He smiled with pleased
eyes upon the shouting multitudes
that acclaimed Him. He was having
His hour, and it was sweet to Him.
Later, His friends understood the
significance of this ovation. But they
did not perceive it until after He
had died. All, the clear vision that
comes to us as we look across a
grave! If those ambitious followers
had only forgotten themselves long
enough TO enter into the experience
of their Master. they might have un-
derstood the situation in time to be
sympathetic, comforting friends. AS
it was, they failed Jesus throughout
the week when He most needed COM
pretending fellowship.
The Religion That Sings
Everybody brought his own gift
to the triumph of Jesus. Some had
cloaks to throw before Him, after a
fashion which Sir Walter Raleigh
later followed. Others, agile youths
stripped palm branches to wave and
to strew. Still others had only their
voices to acclaim. and they made
the ride across the valley of the
kedron into the city n musical fes-
tival, with the sweet strains of David
Song followed Jesus forever. The
news of His incarnation came with
song. His birth was announced
with a burst of melody that cleft the
skies. His high hour, the triumphal
entry, was to the music of hosannas.
He went forth to His death after
they had sung a hymn" His resur-
rection has put new song into the
worlds mouth. which continues to
this day. Christianity is singing