Montgomery County sentinel., 1942-05-07

impression that He was an effemi-
nate man who went about doing gen.
tie little deeds of kindness. One al
most feels that He spoke in half
whisper and that He fearfully avoid
ed the difficulties and dangers of life.
Such picture of Christ, whether
in words or on canvas. was never
obtained from the Bible. Yes, He
was gentle and kind; He did go
about doing good; He was altogeth-
er humble-but why give the false
impression that gentleness means
weakness, kindness means a senti-
mental softness. etc. These are the
virtues of strong man and such
man who so excited the admiration
of the boys in the temple that they
shouted a holy "Hurrah" Hosanna
in Hebrew.
On Monday as our Loru came into
the city He saw and dealt with the
fruitless fig tree and later in the day
He cleansed the temple. This seems
to be the order of the events (see
Mark ID and we will so consider
them.
1. Jesus Stimulates Faith by an
Act of Judgment wv. 1920.
In the morning as Jesus returned
to Jerusalem, He was hungry. He
had probably spent the night in
prayer after His time Of fellowship
with the disciples mark 11:1D. 1t
was early spring, and normally not
the time for figs to be ready to eat,
but He saw tree which already had
foliage on it. Since the leaves form
after the fruit, He properly looked
for figs-green. perhaps, but even
so useable for food-and there were
none.
In a swift miracle of judgment, He
condemned the tree, which soon
withered. Some have assumed that
He acted in anger, but that is evil
IDENTIFY not So His act was a sign
to Israel and to us. The fig tree was
a figure of Israel (see Hosea 9:10,
Joel 1T, Luke 1869. They as
nation had the outward signs oE
fruit. that is, the leaves of tenn
pie worship. teaching of the law,
etc., but there was no fruit of re-
pentance and faith. Of real love for
God (see Rom. 2:17-23). Judgment
was certain, and our Lord cursed a.,
useless, fruitless tree to try to awak-
en- the people to their need.
So our Lord comes to us-to look
below the foliage of Christian pro-
fession, of our charities and benevo-
lences, of our correct doctrinal
views-to see If there is any fruit of
real Christian living. How often He
must turn away in sadness because
there is none.
This miracle was not only a sign
of judgment; it was used by our
Lord to stimulate the disciples faith.
What they had seen was only an
indication of what faith (and note it
was their faith) could do. The prom
Use Of God to those who, abiding in
Christ and with His Word abiding in
their heart, ask according to His
will, in faith nothing doubling, is
without limit
II. Jesus Stimulates Praise by an
Act of Authority wv. 12-1D.
For a second time He drove out
from His Fathers house those who
had made it place of merchan-
disc. of commercialized thievery.
This is majestic picture. The Son
of God and Son of Man steps into
the center of this unholy traffic and
with mighty, holy Indignation (not
anger) drives it out. The people
who had suffered long because Of
this religious racket which paid a
nice "cut" to the priests themselves
(probably as a gift even as such
things are managed in our day),
we're jubilant.
The boys who were in the temple
(for such is doubtless the meaning
of children" in v. 15) were SO de-
lighted at this magnificent exercise
of His divine authority that they
broke out into 'Hosannas," which,
as we have suggested, were really
holy "Hurrah." Well, why not? Hur-
rah for our Lord! He will not toll
crate iniquity even though it hides
under the cloak of religion. He is
not afraid to speak out and to act
against sin and corruption. Possibly
the church would reach good many
more men and boys in our day if
it would step out in faith to fight the
wrong and support the right. Then
maybe the young men would shout,
'Hurrah for the church." instead of
some of the things they are saying.
The chief priests and scribes were
'sore displeased" ". 15) both BY
the acts of Jesus and the praise of
the boys. They would bel And they
have host of descendants who hold
places of authority today-yes, even
in the church--who would be much
displeased if such things were to
happen now. But why fear them? Is
1t not high time that the people Of
God honored their Lord both by faith
and good works, regardless Of what :
men may say? Ought we not to
please God rather than men (see
Acts 5:2o and Ps. 56:D?