Arkansas State press. [volume] (Little Rock, Ark.) 1941-1959, 1944-02-25


Jesus said. am.-~Mark l4'6i. 62,
As our Lord entered upon the last
week of His earthly ministry, the
time had come for Him to present
Himself officially to His people as
their Messiah. As He did SO. we
observe that He then had and now
has right to claim all that we have
and are, as we'll as to exercise ludg-
ment over us,
!. His Right to Property wv. l-D.
We are so prone to call our pos
sessions our own, and to hold them
for our selfish purposes. Just a mo-
ments reflection makes us aware
that we are but stewards holding
our things, as we hold ourselves,
for the use of God.
That means that the Lord need
only send for what we have, and we
should gladly yield it to Him. 1.-THE
Lol : hath need is the only requisi
ton we need. He has absolute pri-
GRITTY. And yet the very fact that
He has need of us and what we
have, dignifies our service or saeri-
fee on His behalf.
How surprising 1t was that the
One who made and upholds all
things Col lilo, IT'D should have to
say, 1.-THE Lord hath need Of him."
in sending for humble beast Of
burden. Yet therein lies marvellous
truth. He has graciously so ordered
the universe that He has need of us
and OF our possessions.
Let us also learn the important
lesson Of unquestioning obedience
taught in verse T. ''They went their
way to do what the Lord told them
to do. How greatly simpllfled and
glorifed would be the lives of Chris
tian people If they would thus obey
Christ.
II. His Right to Praise wv. 7-l01.
God says. Him that offereth
praise glorifieth me" FPS. 50;23l,
and the believer recognizes that
praise Is comely Tor the upright"
FPS. 33:D. Jesus is entirely worthy
OF the praise Of every heart and
voice.
Presenting Himself as their Mes
siah, Jesus received the enthusiastic
acclaim Of His disciples and friends,
who were probably joined by others
who were drawn by the excitement.
The Pharisees did not join in tsee
Luke 1888, 40) nor did the city, not
even knowing who He was Matt.
2l:l0, I'D. So 1t Is today; some love
and praise Him, some hate Him.
others Just ignore Him. Of which
class are you?
He gave jerusalem and the nation
= final opportunity to receive Him.
II was not yet too late, but 1t was
their last chance. Such time comes
in the life OF everyone Of us. They
rejected Him. Do we?
But even though some did reject,
let us not forget that there were
those who shouted, "Hosanna." who
cast their garments down before
Him and waved palms of victory
and Joy. Thank God for their holy
enthusiasm, Pray God that we may
have a little more Of it,
iii. His Right to Punish WV. 15-
49,.
People like to hear about God
of love, one who knows their weak
ness and is kind toward their in
firmities. But we must not forget
that God shows His love by a great
and holy hatred of SIM and a desire
to deliver us from that sin. This
means that He must and wiz deal
in drastic fashion with those who
persist in their sin.
A second time He drove out from
His Fathers house those who had
made 1t place Of merchandise, Of
commercialized thievery.
This is majestic picture. The
Son of God and Son Of Man steps
into tho center Of this unholy traffic
and with mighty, holy indignation
(not anger drives il out. The peo-
pie 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 now). were jubi.
liant.
We read In the same story in
Matthew 2l:l2-22 that the boys who
were in the temple for such is
doubtless the meaning Of children"
in verse $50 were SO delighted at
this magnificent exercise Of His d.
vine authority that they broke out
into "Hosannas," which really
amounted TO a holy "Hurrah."
Well, why not? Hurrah for our
Lordl He will not tolerate iniquity
even though 1t hides under the cloak
Of religion. He is not afraid to speak
out and to act against sin and cor.
ruption.
Possibly the church would reach
good many more men and bows
in our day II il would step out In
faith to fight the wrong and support
the right. Then maybe the young
men would shout, 'Hurrah for the
church." 0
The chief priests and scribes were
afraid and displeased and began Ia
plot against Him. The passage ir
Matthew indicates that their anger
MAS nraf,saa bntb ~, A. -