The Republican., 1933-05-11
Lesson for May Ia
JESUS ASSERTS HIS KINesHIP

LESSON TEXT--MarS 11:1-S3.
GOLDEN TEXT-Rejoice greatly, o
daughter of Zion; shout, o daughter
of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh
unto thee: he is just. and having saliva
tion; lowly, and riding upon an ass,
and upon a colt the foal of an ass.
Zech. 9:9.
PRIMARY TOPIC-PraisinG Jesus.
JUNIOR TOPIC-King of All Kings.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOP
IC-Acknowledging Christ as King.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOP
IC-The Lordship of Jesus.
!. Jesus Officially Presented to the
Jewish Nation as Their King (vv.
lid.
1t is hardly proper to designate this
the "triumphal entry for it was only
so to outward appearance. twas rath-
er the promised Messiah publicly Of
fering himself to the Jewish nation as
the king.
l. The preparation wv. 1-0).
a. Two disciples sent to bring the
colt wv. 1-3). Jesus told them just
where to find it and how to answer
lle OWueI > llQuIIS'
b. The obedience of the disciples
wv. 4-6). Without asking the reason
why, they went at Christ's bidding.
The command may have seemed
strange and unreasonable, but they
rendered explicit obedience.
2. The entry. into Jerusalem (vv.
7-1O).
a. The disciples put their garments
upon the colt, and Jesus sat upon it
". y. This action showed their rec
Ognition of Jesus as their Messiah, the
King II Kings 9:13).
b. The action of the multitude (vv.
8. 81. Some spread their garments in
the way. Others who had no garments
to spare threw down branches. This
entry was in fulfllment of a prophecy
uttered some five hundred years be-
fore Czech. 9:9. They uttered the
very cry which the prophet predicted.
Since the prediction of the first COM
ing was thus literally fulfilled, we can
be assured that those concerning his
second coming will likewise have lit
eral fulfllment. The prophecy of Zech.
14:3-11 will he just as literally full
filled as was that of Zech. 90.
c. The action of Jesus ". 1D.
Upon entering the temple he looked
round upon all things, but as it was
eventide. he with the twelve withdrew
to Bethany.
~. Jesus Exercising KingIy Authority
wv. 12-19).
1. The barren fig tree cursed (vv.
12-14). The fig tree is typical of the
Jewish nation. The fruit normally ap-
pears on the fig tree ahead of the
leaves. The presence of the leaves is
assurance of fruit. This was an acted
parable of Christ's judgment on Israel
for pretension to being the chosen
people without the fruits thereof.
9. The temple cleansed (vv. 15-19).
For the various sacrifices many oxen,
sheep, and doves were needed. 1t was
impracticable for people from distant
parts to bring their sacrifices with
them. They brought money, therefore,
and bought the animals needed. This
privilege was provided in the Jewish
law (Deut. IA :24-2G). In such cases
exchange was necessary. However,
when evil men used it as an oppor-
tunity for gain, it became an offense
to God. 1t defiled his house. Jesus
made a scourge of cords and drove
out the money changers (John 2:1O,
overthrowing their tables and pour
ing out their money. By this act he
declared himself to be the Lord of the
temple. and one with God. The scribes
and chief priests grasped the mean
ing thereof. for they were aroused to
murderous hate and sought to destroy
him.
III. Jesus Authority Challenged wv.
27-33).
l. BY whom wv. %, 2S). The chief
priests, the scribes. and the elders
demanded that he show by what au-
thOrity he accepted the honors of the
Messiah and by whom he was given
the right to cast out the money
.. Jesus answer wv. 90. 30). He
responded to their challenge by a
question which placed them in a di-
leInma. Since John was his forerun-
ner. the commission of John and Jesus
had the same source If Johns COM
mission was from heaven, Christ's
commission was from heaven likewise
If they had accepted Johns message
they would have been ready to accept
his. They were powerleSs to destroy
John because the people accepted
John as having been sent from
heaven.
g. The answer of the chief priests
and scribes (vv. 31-33). Perceivng the
force of the dilemma in which they
were placed. they confessed that they
did not know the source of Johns
commission. These rulers had no af-
fection for Jesus so they rejected his
message and sought to destroy him.
Living Our Belief