The Idaho Springs siftings-news. (Idaho Springs, Colo.) 1905-19??, 1918-05-17


self to the nation.
/. The preparation wv. 1-6).
GD Two disciples sent for the ass
wv. 1-3).
He told them just where to go to
find it. and how to answer the own
er's inquiry. This shows how perfect
ly the Lord knows our ways. His
matchless gaze beholds all that we
think or do. by day or night. 1t also
shows that God uses unlikely and in
significant things In the accomplish
ment of his purposes. The providing
of this animal was the working out Of
the Divine plan according to Christ's
foreknowledge.
10y Obedience Of the disciples (vv.
4-6).
Without asking why, they go at his
bidding. The command may have
seemed strange and unreasonable, hut
they rendered explicit obedience. The
true disciple will render full and glad
obedience, no matter how strange or
unrea sonable the command may seem
.. The entry into the city of Jerusa
lem wv. 7-10).
"a The disciples put their garments
upon the ass and set the Lord upon II
". y.
This act showed their recognition
of him as their king e Kings :13).
(2) The multitude.
Some spread their garments in the
way; others who had no garments tc
spare, cut down branches and strewed
In, iah inc
acceptable unto him. To give what we
have and do what we can, is all that
the Lord demands of us. This entry
was in fulfilment of prophecy ut
tered some five hundred years before
Czech. 9:9).
(3) The Lords action ". 10Y.
Upon entering the Temple, he looked
around upon all things; but as 1t was
eventide he withdrew to Bethany with
the twelve.
n. Jesus Exercising His Royal Au.
thority wv. 1910. l. The barren fig
tree cursed wv. 12-14). The fig tree
is typical of the Jewish nation, The
fruit normally appears on the fig tree
ahead of the leaves. The presence OF
leaves is the assurance of fruit. This
was an acted parable of the Lords
Judgment on Israel for pretension of
being the chosen people without the
fruits thereof It indicated the spirit
ual state Of the Jews.
2. The Temple cleansed wv. 1910.
For the various sacrifices in the
Temple, many oxen, sheep and doves
were needed. Many persons came
from the distant parts of the land;
therefore 1t was impracticable for
them to bring their sacrifices with
them. so they brought money and
bought the animals needed. This priv
ilege the law had granted to them
Deut. IA :2426), for the exchange was
necessary. When evil men used it as
an opportunity for gain, it became an
offensc before God. 1t defiled his
house. He made himself scouree OF
cords, and drove out the money chang
ers. overtl,rowing their tables and
pouring out their money. BY this act
he declared himself to be the Lord OF
the Temple and one with God. That
which God intended to be house OF
prayer for all nations was being made
"den of thieves"
III. Jesus Authority Challenged wv
2733y. They challenged him to show
by what authority he accepteu the hon.
ors OF the Messiah, and who gave him
the authority to cast out the money
changers. This placed Jesus in Ill.
lemma. He responded by a question
which placed them in a cOunter-dilem-
ma.
Since Join was his forerunner,
the divinity of his commission rested
upon that of John. They were power
less to discredit John, because the peO-
pie accepted John as such. If they
had accepted Johns message. they
would have been prepared to accept
his. They cowardly confessed that
they did not know. The agnostic Is al
ways a coward. These rulers had no
affection for Jesus, so they rejected
him and sought to destroy him. It IL
the same today. The reason men re-
ject Jesus Is not because Of intellectual
difficulties, but because of the lack Of
affection for him.