Lesson XXVII—July 9th
Note the People. It is the Qommon people, the humble class; no kings, no courtiers, no priests, no princes, none of the rabbis or teachers. Probably most of them were from Galilee where H e had found the readi- est acceptance. The clothing takes the prace of rich carpeting and branches the place of banners. Note the Praise. Hozanna. Blessed King. Matthew says, " Ho s a n na to the Son of David." Mark, "Blessed be the coming kingdom o'f our F a t h er David." Luke, "Blessed be the King t h at cometh in the name of the Lord." Various voices uttered a variety of hosannas and all ascribed honor to the m an Jesus as the one who embodied the perfection of the Lord. Note the Pharisees. They were filled with envy and rage and were determined upon His death. They feared the rising tide of popularity and would gladly remove Him from the public attention, Jno. 11:47, 48. Note the Popular Enthusiasm. How short lived was the popularity of this Prince. To- day it is "Crown H i m ," tomorrow it is "Crucify Him." He was not deceived. He knew the h e a r ts of men, Jno. 2:25. Some were honestl honoring Him. Conventions and E a s t er services do not deceive the Lord God. He knows where the h e a r ts are t h at are beating loyally. Note the Prophetic Picture. He will yet come with power and great glory; then the meek will receive Him and the mighty shall tremble in His presence. come a sacrifice for sin t As David's Son, He is the King of the Jews, as Son of Abra- ham He is a world Savi6ur, Gal, 3:7-14; Eph. 2:11-13. His a n s w er suggests first: The Soul in Conflict, verse 27. "Now is My soul troubled." T he hour had come, verse 23 and verse 27. His whole career had directed toward a " crisis, which He termed the hour. It must be in every life t h at the hour shall come, the hour of test- ing and "trial, the hour t h at means triumph or failure. The hour came to Joseph, Gen. 39:9,. and he triumphed; the hour came to King Saul and he failed and lost his king- dom, 1 Sam. 13:11-14; the hour came to Dan- iel and he had the victory of faith, Dan. 6:22. Every soul must have its conflict and all who will m ay come off conquerors. The Soul in Sacrifice, verse 25. Here the Lord Jessu utters a great and glorious, though bitter truth. The grain of wh e at mu st die, or abide alone. There can be no fruitfulness without forgetfulness. If Christ
T H £ TRIUMPHAL ENTRY.
John 12:12-19.
Compare Matt. 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-11; L u ke 19:29-44. This beautiful scene is recorded by all of the Evangelists. Following the anoint- ing a t Bethany, Jésus the next day pro- ceeded to Jerusalem. It was the time of the F e a st of the Passover; there were thou- sands of strangers from all over the world. Many had been attracted by the story of the marvelous miracles wrought by Jesus, some were honest believers a nd many were enthusiasts t h at composed the crowd t h at went out to meet Him. Note the Prince of Peace. The meek and lowly one. There was no glitter, no pomp, no display of worldly power, no chariots, no horses, no crown, no retinue; all of the out- ward m a r ks of royalty were missing. He sat upon the foal of an ass, fulfilling scrip- ture, Zech. 9:9. The ass was often used by distinguished personages, Judges, 5:9, 10; 10:4; 2 Sam. 17:23. The ass. was associated with daily life rather t h an military display: He is the Prince of Peace.
Lesson XXVIII—July 16th
THE SEEKING GREEKS. Jno. 12:20-36.
Among the throng which came to see Jesus were some Greeks. There were ma ny plofls proselytes such as Cornelius and the Etheopian Enuach; m a ny would, no doubt, come from Decapolis. They recognized Philip and Andrew as from their own neigh- borhood. Although Jesus had declared t h at He had come to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, yet the disciples come boldly with their request. Mark tells us t h at Jesus had this same day cleansed the temple a n d declared t h at it should be the house of prayer for all nations, M a r k 11:15-17, and this may have encouraged them. We do not know whether the Lord received them •or whether the message was given to An- drew and Philip in their hearing or not, but the context clearly teaches us the great t r u th t h at for the Gentiles He mu st be-
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