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THE KING’S BUSINESS
literalness Christ has fulfilled the prophe cies that have been already fulfilled. v. 16. "These things understood not His disciples at the first: but when Jesus was glorified, then remembered they that these things were written of Him, and that they had done these things icnto Him.” Over and over again we are told that the disci ples did not understand at the time the things which their eyes witnessed. Proph ecies were being fulfilled, the fulfillment of which they did not see until later when they came to ponder upon the things which were done (cf. John 2:22). It was after Jesus was glorified and the Holy Spirit was given (cf. John 7 :37-39) that they fully understood the meaning of the évents in which they themselves were actors. vs. 17, 18. "The people (multitude) therefore that were with Him, ( omit, ) when He called iMzarus but of his grave (the tomb), and raised him from the dead, bore record (witness). For this cause the people also (also the multitude went and) met Him, for that they heard that He had done this miracle (sign).” At this time of year Jerusalem was full of people who had come up to the Passover, and they hearing that Jesus was coming to Jerusa lem went out to meet Him. Many went out because they had heard of the won derful miracle, the raising of Lazarus from the dead. This fact is not mentioned in the synoptic gospels. The message here in John helps us to understarid why the peo ple were so ready to go out and were so demonstrative in their reception of Him. The enthusiasm was tremendous. For the moment the great crowd believed that He really was the Messiah. They threw their best garments, their holiday attire, in His way (Matt. 21:8). They had cut dovjn .the branches of the palm trees that lined the road, and with these implements of victory went, forth to meet Him. They cast their palm branches on the way before Him for Him to ride over (Matt, 21: 8 ). As they turned the corner of Mt. Olivet Jerusalem rose before their view in great splendor, and the people began to rejoice
the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusa lem is more brief than that given in Mat thew 21, and Matthew’s account shtiuld be carefully studied in connection with this lesson. The entry of our Lord into Jerusa lem occurred upon the day following the supper in the home of Martha, Mary and Lazarus. It has been customary to think of this entry as occurring on Sunday and in commemoration of it we' observe Palm Sunday, but there are several circumstances that we cannot go into here that prove that this entry could not have been on Sunday, but must have been on Saturday. vs. 14, IS. "And Jesus, when He (hav- ing) found a young ass, sat thereon, (;) as it is written, Fear not, daughter of Sion, (Zion;) behold, thy King someth, sitting on an ass’s colt.” Leaving the 1 home of His three friends in Bethany, in the morn ing of Saturday, April 1st, A. D. 30, Jesus soon came to Bethphage. At that point on His journey to Jerusalem He sent two of His disciples on a trying errand. They were to find an ass tied at a certain place and her colt with her. They were to loose them without asking any one’s permission and bring them to Him to whom all things belonged, with no other explanation than that “The Lord hath need of them” (Matt. 21:3). This was a real trial of faith, but these disciples proved themselves to be disciples indeed by doing precisely what the Master had told them to do (Matt. 21:6). This is the supreme test of discipleship (John 15:14). They found everything just as Jesus said it would be (Luke 19:32). The disciples put their own garments on the ass and the colt (Matt. 21:7) and Jesus rode on the colt. In putting their otvn garments on the colt for Jesus to sit upon they proclaimed their own acceptance of Jesus as King (cf. 2 Kings 9:13). The way in which Jesus entered Jerusalem rid ing on the colt accompanying the mother, was a very exact and literal fulfillment of Zech. 9:9. Those who protest against the literal interpretation of the prophecies which are not as yet fulfilled, would do well to note carefully with what minute
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