The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1933-05-13

to his own; but alas, they recelv-
ed him not.
THE CLEANSING OF
THE TEMPLE
The Authority of the King was
asserted in the second cleansing
Of the Temple. Passing the bar
rem fig tree on the way, Jesus
and the disciples went on to the
now barren city, finding it also
fruitlesS despite its snowy foil
age. No sooner had they entered
Jerusalem than he entered into
the Temple. In fact, he probably
entered through the Golden Gate
which opened into the Temple
area, the sanctuary being the OBJ
jective point Of the trip.
First, In the main court of the
Gentiles and OstenSibly for the
benefit of the worshiperS who
came from every quarter a num-
Der of business interests had
been permitted to locate: dealers
in cattle, sheep, doves and other
animals for sacrifice; money
changers who could accommodate
visitors from other lands by sup
plying them with the currency Of
the city and country which alone
was acceptable in Temple wor-
ship; keepers of food supplies,
and the like. While the introduc-
ton Of this traffic may have been
meant for good originally, there
was in it not only Temple desc
Grafton on the very surface, but
also the temptation to all sorts
of abuse. including every chance
at thievery and every impulse to
greed. These very abuses had
crept in and were at their height
when Jesus now appeared.
Second, With what holy indig-
nation must Jeusus have survey
ed the temple courts, thick with
traffic, noisy with yellow buck
sters, crowded with buyers, both
greedy and gullible, and very
theater of cOngested curiosity
like the midway of modern
fair. Not Tor a moment could he
suffer such Dissertation. In
righteous wrath he raised his inn
perial voice and drove the whole
miserable gang from the sacred
precincts. Nor did they linger
then TO. question his authority,
for their own conscience assented
to the utter truth and justice of
his conduct; they knew that they
had no business there and they
knew that they were, as he said,
nothing more than a band OF
thieves who had changed the tenn
pie into a robbers den. What a
quiet was there when the traf-
fickers had retired! Nor would
Jesus allow even those who were
passing from one part of the city
to another to shorten the distance
by going through the temple, or
to carry vessels back and forth
needlessly on this holy ground.
Thus for the second time did the
Lord of the Temple cleanse the
Temple of the Lord.
Third, Was it necessary for
Jesus TO declare the mission OF
the temple? In their own Scrip
lures the Jews had time and
again quoted: "My house shall
be called a house of prayer for
all nations" Thither the peoples
of the earth were to come in or
der to learn of the one true God
and TO worship toward his holy
throne. Alas, that the very court
set apart for them should be 4
den of thieves!
Fourth, When he scourged the
traffickers out of the sanctuary,
Jesus was not exceeding his pre-
negative; it was his right and
duty to cleanse the temple. At
the same time, this striking event
exposed him to fresh luminosity
on the part Of those who now
were legally in charge of the
temple and were. therefore, re-
sponsible for the dissertation
which had for the second time
been so picturesQuely and COM
pletely corrected. When the
"chief priests and scribes heard
it" what did they do, Instead of
welcoming reform and aiding the
reformer, they sought how they
might destroy him." Think of it
But they dared not enrage the
people who were awe-struck by
his doctrine.
Fifth, Without receiving a blow
he went out Of the city that eve
ming again to Bethany with its
room for quiet and its haven Of
loving hearts.
BEHOLD YOUR
KING
First, The King Approaching.
"They drew nigh" He is King.
He approaches each of us. Are
we ready to receive him? Is he
welcomed to the throne-room III
our hearts?
Second, The King Command
ing. "He sendeth." He has a
right to command. His command
ments are not grevious. We are
happy when we obey. Why should
we ever hesitate Or refuse?
Third, The King Foretelling.
aye shall find" He sees beyond
and below our horizon. He shapes
the future for US. He prepares
the way we ought to pursue. Can
we not trust him implicitly?
Fourth, The King Fulfilling.
"a colt tied. whereon no man
ever sat- The seers of old be-
held Jesus afar and infinitely they
pictured details of his career. He
filled out completely the picture
they drew of him. The whole
past converges upon him.
Fifth, The King Utilizing. "The
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