Evening star., 1928-05-12

declaration of His kingdom until aftel
He had reached the suburbs Of Jerlsa'
lem. Five days preceding His crucifix'
! ion. having been guest at Bethany In
! the home of Lazarus, whom the Master
! loved and had raised from the dead. the
previous day He assumed the rights of a
king by delegatlng two of His apostles
probably Peter and John, to obtain fol-
| HIM a colt that had never been used fol
any domestic or agricultural service. Ir
making this requisition the Lord en-
! hibited His kingly authority without
| making any public declaration of His
rights as a ruler. He also revealed His
omniscience when He told the two apos-
! ties where they could find the mother
| ass with her foal. unless He had made
a secret arrangement with some un-
named friend TO provide Him with the
colt.
Although He knew that the authori-
ties had given orders that they should
be informed where He was" so that
they might take Him." Jesus made nc
effort to conceal His plans or person,
Bethany was suburb that was within
easy walking distance of the Temple
and He had during the six days
that preceded His death home there
with Lazarus and his two sisters, Mary
and Martha. where He lived openly and
enjoyed the privacy and peace that His
soul needed in the last moments of His
life in the flesh. He deliberately set His
face toward Jerusalem, where He had
assured His apostles that He would meet
death. He had foreSeen all the events
of that week and made His preparations
with care and deliberation for His tri-
umphant entry into Jerusalem.
Preparing to Enter Jerusalem.
When the hour came for Christ TO
assume the role and exercise the au-
thority of a king, there was no danger
of His creating a revolution. The peo-
pie would have welcomed fighting
champion and leader. Whenever they
had sought To force Him TO accept such
position, Jesus had refused the crown
that they desired to place upon His
head His decision to ride into the
nations capital was public announce
ment that He was the Messiah for in
the verse from which we have oGr
Golden Text. Zechariah had predicted
it, saying:
Rejoice greatly, o daughter of Zion:
Shout, o daughter of Jerusalem:
Behold thy King cometh unto thee:
Lowly, and riding upon an ass.
Even upon colt the foal Of an ass"
Perhaps the owner of the colt was q
believer in Jesus and understood His
request for the use of the colt was an
evidence of the Masters MeSsiahship.
The fact that the Lord had need of
the ass and her foal would probably
have been sufficient reason for lhe
owners permitting the apostles TO take
the colt to the Christ for His use. espe-
cially in view of the fact .iIat he had
promise that He would return the colt
to him. There was something about
Jesus that Influenced men TO do His
will He commenced TO exercise His
authority as king and to prepare for
Ills public proclamation OF His right
by a courteous request for the loan OF
the colt that He might ride upon it2
back in accordance with prophetic mes
sage that pointed out how He would
enter Jerusalem. Not like warrior.
but as a peaceful potentate. accom-
pliShing His purpose not by force of
arms, but by love and mercy. During
the past week two organizations ceie-
brated their centenary---tile Red Cross
in Switzerland and the American Peace
Society. Both of these organizations
have achieved a notable work. pro-
gressive in character, because they have
been established upon the principles OF
the Prince of Peace the worlds great
est humanitarian and physician. whose
spirit has filled the world with the love
OF ones enemies The service of these
organizations have demonstrated the
practicabiiity of the Gospel. When all
the followers of Jesus act upon His
principles, like the apostles did and the
owner OF the colt, we will teach men
by our example TO unloose their pos
sessions and give them TO the Master
l for His use.
The Messiah's Inauguration.
Christ's inaugural procession was
marked by simplicity, which was In har-
mony with His character and career
HE was born in a manger, OF a peas
ant maiden, the espoused wife OF 2
carpenter; He had been a mechanic.
and worked as a builder. He had been
the friend OF publicans and sinners. He
had gympathized with the masses and
the humble and poor made up the
great crowd. who had enthusiastically
proclaimed their conviction In His Mes
siagiip by their song OF "Hosanna TO
the Son of David: Blessed Is He That
Corneth in the Name Of the Lord; Ho-
sanna In the Highest" In their en-
thuaiasrn they were giving Him honors
that belonged TO the Messiah, as they
well knew from the Scriptures.
Luke supplies SOME details, omitted
by the others. OF that unique march OF
the Master toward Jerusalem, accom-
panied by an ver-growing crowd Oi
enthusiastic followers. for he records
how the sight Of the city deeply moved
the Christ He wept over the city that
would reject the Master, cruelty Him
and by so doing pass judgment upon
| themselves as being unworthy OF eter-
nal life. In that hour. Jesus longed tc
/ save them. but In spite Of their popular
! demonstration. the Master knew thf
| situation He maintained his poise The
/ popular applause did not carry Hin
| away. He did not allow II 70 hasten
| any violent action. He entered thf
| temple. that lie loved. as an ordinars
| Worshlpper He observed the irrcVereni
/ b. rter5ng and heard the noisy CONNER
! cial transaction in the place of PRAYER
/ His silent gaze probably revealed t
Z some Of His apostles His resentment o
! the degradation of the place Of worship
/ He returned 70 Bethany, where tina
1 night He ma" have decided upon Tn
/ cleansing Of the sacred house o.
( prayer"
/ Assumes the Judgeship.
/ His heart was filled with love foi
/ Jerusalem End Was hungry for theii
I lore and loyalty when He turned 10
ward the city the next day PASSING