The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1945-03-23
THE LAST WEEK

THE LAST WEEK
LESSON TExT-Matthew 21:e.1e.
GOLDEN TEXT-Blessed Is he that com.
eth In the name Of the Lord: Hosanna In
the hishest.-Matthew 2l:9
The official presentation of Him
self to the Jewish people as their
King, their rejection of Him and,
what was even more solemnly mean
ingful, His rejection of the Hebrew
nation because Of their unbelief-
such are the stirring events which
face us as we 60 with our Lord into
the last week Of His earthly minis
try.
The first event in that sequence
is the one we study in our lesson
for today, namely, the coming Of the
King to Jerusalem.
I. Preparation and Presentation
wv. 8, y.
The King comes, but even In His
hour Of royal triumph He gives to
His followers the unexplainable but
inestimable Joy Of meeting His need.
l. "The Disciples Did AS Jesus
Appointed" ". g.. He had need of
disciples who would do His bidding
without question or hesitation. How
precious is such obedience! Let us
also 60 ard do what He commands.
He needed the colt and the ass.
How simple and lowly was that need,
and yet how glorious that man was
ready to meet It'll
Gods plans are worked out in the
little things as well as the great.
Prophecy was being fulfilled here
(see v. 81 by little thing. Is God
waiting to carry out some great pur-
pose through some little thing which
you are Withholding from Him7 Why
hinder Him any longer?
2. "And He Sat Thereon" ". y.
Though He did not come with the
pomp and trappings Of an earthly
petentate, the King Of Glory came
to His people to offer them for the
last time the opportunity to receive
Him.
He asks you to yield your life to
His kingship. What will your answer
be?
III. Acceptance and Rejection wv.
s-11, 10, 1877.
/. "The Multitude Cried :.
Hosanna" wv. 8-11). The fact that
before the week was over some Of
the same voices cried, Cruelty
him!" should not obscure the fact
that there were childlike believers
w. 16) who really had faith in
Christ.
There is something inspiring about
that picture of enthusiasm and de-
votion. Real faith in Christ ought
to result in fervor of spirit which
will stir our hearts and our cities.
Are we not altogether too dead and
formal in much of our worship to-
day? Do we not need more holy
enthusiasm for Christ and for His
Church?
2. "The Chief Priests and Scribes
-. Were Sore Displeased" WV. IS,
1877. Small wonder, for not only had
the children put them to open
shame by recognizing the Christ
whom they had ignored, but He had
also ruined their polite religious
'racket" which produced for them
such lovely profit.
Mark this-when anyone Is dis
pleased with Jesus or with His chill
dren or with His work on earth, you
can be sure that there is reason,
and not holy, upright or good rea-
son either!
iii. Judgment and Compassion
wv. 12-14).
What a remarkable picture! In
the midst of flaming judgment and
destruction we find His loving COM
passion upon the blind and the lame.
Folk who think that Christ has no
message but love need to look on
Him as He cleanses the temple. On
the other hand, those who think that
He has NO word but judgment need
to behold Him as He stands in the
midst Of the overturned tables and
debris and heals the needy.
l. "Jesus Cast Out . and Over
threw" WV. IL, 49,. He knew where
to begin to cleanse the city. He
started in the temple. Absolutely
right is the man who suggested that
the place to start to clean up a city
is not in the slums but in the
churches.
You will not be ready to clean out
the tavern or that other low place
where the gang hangs out in your
town until you have cleaned out the
church If sin is being harbored
there.
The same is true of the individual.
A regenerated heart will bring a
reformed life, not vice versa. You
can live only after you have been
born.
2. ''He Healed Them" ". 14). The
very hands which had just over
thrown the tables and cast out the
money-changers now gently touched
the lame and the blind with healing.
The eyes which had blazed with holy
indignation now shone with love and
compassion. The scene of Judgment