Compare the great procession at the Queen's Jubilee in June, 1897, and the still more magnificent Durbar at Delhi, India, in 1912, in honor of King George V. No Roman triumph was ever so magnificent, or meant a millionth part as much for good. The whole empire was enthused; princes of India and premiers of the eleven self-governed colonies, with their suites and soldiers, brought brilliancy to the show, and demonstrated the extent of the military resources of the empire. And yet .far greater was the "choir invisible"; far more glorious the religious, moral, literary, and scientific improvements made to bless the people, which invisibly accompanied every procession. Jesus' Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem. the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord." of our father David that cometh in the name of the Lord." in the highest." Hosanna in the highest." 66 THE PRINCE OF PEACE. 9. They that went before Jesus riding on the young ass, and they that followed, cried, "chanted with a rhythmic swing responsively,"-Hosanna to the son of David. Hosanna is the Greek word for "Save, we pray." It is equivalent to "God save the King," "Hail," "Hallelujah," the French Vive le roi, and Italian Viva. We get a better idea of the scene by putting together the manifold words of praise as reported by the different evangelists. "Hosanna," "Hosanna to the son of David," "Blessed is he... Blessed is the King Blessed is "Blessed be the kingdom "Peace in heaven and glory A NEW NOTE OF PRAISE. Luke tells that when the procession reached the brow of Olivet where Jerusalem in its glory and beauty, and the shining marble and gold of the Temple, first broke upon their sight in the morning sun, "the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen." Many from Galilee had seen how he had healed the sick, the lame, the blind, lepers, and demoniacs. Many doubtless had themselves been healed by Jesus and thus gained the new life of faith in him. And John records that many of the people of the city had been present at the raising of Lazarus from the dead, and bore witness to the miracle. There is no greater praise of Jesus than comes from those who bear witness to his healing power, and to the redemption of their souls from sin. THE CHOIR INVISIBLE. If the eyes of these multitudes had been opened as were those of Elisha's servant at Dothan, so that they might see the invisible, and hear the inaudible, no pen could picture the real triumphal procession. They would have seen the vast multitude of those whom he had healed and comforted and saved from sin, — Lazarus and Bartimæus, the ten lepers, the widow of Nain's son, the ruler's daughter, Peter's mother-in-law, a host of those whom he had raised from the dead, those from whom he had cast out devils, the blind he had made to see, and the lame that now walked, the lepers he had cleansed, those who had been delivered from the bondage of their sins and brought into the light of the gospel. There would join them the angel choir who sang at his birth, and all the angels that rejoiced over each sinner that repented, all singing, "blessings, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb, for ever and ever." THE PRINCE OF PEACE. What a picture this would make for an artist who would fill the air around and above the actual procession with these persons, as the space around Raphael's picture of the infant Jesus is filled with a cloud of angel faces. All the great triumphal processions of history have been in honor of deeds of war, carnage, destruction of life, ruin of every kind, of which our modern generals say, "War is hell." Behind the armies what a sea of woe surged! How many dead strewed the way, and how many burned villages and towns marked their progress! How many widows and orphans were the consequence of that march, and how much of poverty and distress bears witness to the dreadful progress of armies which were hailed and cheered in their triumphant march. But Jesus was a Prince of Peace, everything he did was to help and cheer and make better, to turn deserts into gardens, to make the dead in sin to live. It was well for the people to realize that Jesus' kingdom was a kingdom of righteousness gained by peaceful methods and new hearts, and not by war. SCENE III. A Discordant Note in the Hosannas (Luke). Among the crowds, Luke tells us, there were some enemies, who objected to the whole proceeding, and they spoke to Jesus and asked him to rebuke his disciples. Jesus answered, "I tell you that if these shall hold their peace the stones will cry out." Real stones as at the destruction of Jerusalem whose tongues have never ceased to speak; and hearts as hard as stones. Compare Antony in Julius Cæsar, who would Stones of Nineveh, Babylon, Egypt, tombs and temples, still cry out the truth of God's Word. Compare Robert Browning's poem, "The Patriot," with whom at first "It was roses, roses all the way, With myrtle mixed in my path like mad: The church spires flamed, such flags they had." But in one year all this was changed for binding ropes, and stones, and a scaffold. SCENE IV. Jesus Weeping over Jerusalem (Luke). As Jesus began to descend the slopes of Olivet the city of Jerusalem suddenly burst upon his vision in all its magnificence and glory. He was on the very ground "on which, a generation later, the tenth Roman legion would be encamped, as part of the besieging force destined to lay all the splendors before him in ashes." Jesus saw this as in a vision, and knew that if only they would repent, and accept him as king and become part of the kingdom of heaven, all these terrible things could be avoided. But they would not. And Jesus wept in pitying love, saying, “If thou hadst known in this day, even thou, the things that belong unto peace!" But they would not. SCENE V. In the City. When Jesus reached Jerusalem, he probably entered by the Golden Gate; all the city was stirred (Matt.). The Greek word for stirred, means shaken as by an earthquake or a storm. Used by Matthew (8:24) to express the effect of a violent tempest upon the waters of the sea of Galilee. See description in Rev. 6:12-14. Waves of excited feeling swept over the multitude. They did not know what was coming next. The promised redemption, deliverance from Rome, the reign of the Messiah, so that citizen after citizen began to inquire of the newcomers, "Who is this." The multitudes who had accompanied Jesus replied, “This is the prophet, Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee." Jesus then went into the Temple, looked round about upon all things, and it being now eventide, he went out unto Bethany with the twelve. SCENE VI. The Children's Echo of the Hosannas. The next day Jesus returned to the Temple as we shall see in our next lesson. But one event on that occasion completes the picture of this Sunday's events. The children took up the chant-songs of the day before, and in the Temple court were crying, "Hosanna to the son of David," so that "out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise." It is a great thing for the church to have the children join in their services. The children and young people should be first in the care, the arrangements, the training, the planning of the church. "An angel paused in his onward flight, That it will bear most fruit for earth and heaven?' "The Saviour heard and said, as he smiled, ENTHUSIASM FOR CHRIST. We are accustomed to say that this same multitude, who on Sunday shouted Hosanna, cried, "Crucify him!" on the following Friday; that "the whole enthusiasm of the multitude at the end is nothing more than the last upstreaming brilliancy of an evening sun before it vanishes beneath the horizon." But when we say that a city votes "no license one year, and "license" the next, we do not mean that the same persons to any extent voted on opposite sides. Richard Glover is doubtless near the truth when he says, "The whole of that enthusiasm was not excitement. If most of the gladsome voices were silenced by the cross, very few, if any of them, took up the other cry, Crucify him!' Doubtless many of those who sang hosanna that day asked at Pentecost, 'What must I do to be saved?' and were among the first believers." The scene, says Dr. Robinson, " proves Christ's fitness to evoke religious enthusiasm. It is a frightful mistake to suppose, and a wilful perversion to assert, that Christianity, as a scheme of faith, is tame, insipid, and lifeless." There never has been anything on God's earth so adapted to kindle all the enthusiasm of the soul, and to make it an enduring flame. Blessed are they who have felt and continue to feel a deep, abiding, glowing enthusiasm for Christ and his gospel. LESSON VI. - August 9. THE BARREN FIG TREE AND THE DEFILED TEMPLE. GOLDEN TEXT. - By their fruits ye shall know them. -MATT. 7:20. THE TEACHER AND HIS CLASS. That bright paper The Executive, suggests an effective way of interesting the school in Temperance Sunday. A TEMPERANCE TRAINING DAY. "In former times in New England, one day in each year was set apart for a special review and display of the tactics of the militia companies of a given township. This was known as 'Training Day.' Since the Christian life is so often described as a warfare against the forces of evil, the World's Temperance Sunday is an excellent occasion for holding a Sunday School Training Day. a "Each class or department may represent a company, presenting a question-andanswer drill on some phase of the general subject. One company may prepare drill on the necessity for temperance, in its deepest and broadest sense, for athletes; another on Temperance and Business; a third, on Temperance in the Professions; a fourth, on Temperance and Art, which may include literature and music; and a fifth may discuss Temperance as Related to Character and Usefulness. Each company is duly officered, the person asking the questions representing the drill sergeant. "Before presenting its special 'drill,' each company marches to the platform, or the open space in front of the platform, and following the orders of the drill sergeant, goes through some military evolutions, varying in difficulty and complexity according to the age and capacity of the companies. "At the head of each company the color sergeant carries the school and class colors, while the regimental color-bearer carries on a staff a shield with the representation of a fountain at which a dove is drinking, with the inscription: 'AS GOOD SOLDIERS OF CHRIST.' "The company is drawn up in line facing the school, and the drill sergeant questions his company on the special topic assigned or chosen. Questions and answers are, of course, prepared in advance, each soldier knowing what questions are to come to him, and having his answers ready to give in the same prompt, snappy fashion in which they are asked. "It will add greatly to the interest and value of the drill, if a committee from each company secures the needed statistics and information and prepares the brief catechism. Preparations will begin several weeks in advance, in order that the material may be collected, sifted and arranged in the question-and-answer form. "A band or orchestra will add greatly to the effectiveness of such an exercise, playing for the marches and other evolutions, and leading the school in such hymns as 'Onward, Christian Soldiers,' True-hearted, Whole-hearted,' The Son of God Goes Forth to War,' etc. The Battle Hymn of the Republic' can also be used to good advantage. THE TEACHER'S LIBRARY. The popular magazines, especially the stronger ones, have been dicussing this We quote subject more than ever before. from the Sunday School Times part of their list of articles in the magazines, several of which I have read, and know to be effective. "The entire exercise deals rather with the necessity and benefits of temperance "Fighting the Deadly Habits,' by Samtraining, in the sense in which athletes use the word 'training' than with the evils uel Merwin, in the American Magazine of October, 1912. A popular presentation of of intemperance. The purpose is to set before the school a positive ideal of prep-in straightening out moral kinks' and the work attempted by Charles B. Towne, in the highest and real sense.' -Laura helping the 'poor fellows who are trying to aration for usefulness and service, success Bell. Mr. run the race of life with a handicap.' Towne himself sets forth some of his views in 666 Help for the Hard Drinker,' in the Century Magazine of June, 1912. A plainspoken statement of what the author believes this condition demands from the victim and his friends. "A Physician's Straight Talk on Alcohol,' by Woods Hutchinson. A pamphlet published by The Sunday School Times Co. The statement of an expert; popular in style, forceful and convincing. "The Injury of Tobacco,' in the Century Magazine of March, 1912. In many men's classes this will be hitting pretty near home. Grown men ought, however, to be willing to listen to the truth when it is spoken by a recognized authority - and this article, too, is by Charles B. Towne. "The Advance of the Water Wagon,' SUBJECT: The Curse of Intemperance by Henry Smith Williams in the Century and how to remove It. 1. THE CURSE OF REFUSING TO BEAR GOOD FRUIT, vs. 12-14; 20, 21. II. DEFILING THE TEMPLE OF GOD, vs. 15-18. 1 of November, 1910. A survey of the vast advance of temperance in recent years; effectual as an antidote to the poisonous insinuation that 'the dry wave is receding.' a "The Moderate Drinker,' by Charles W. Eliot in the Ladies' Home Journal of March, 1909. A short extract from Speech by President Eliot before the Massachusetts No-License League, giving the celebrated author's conclusion that there is no question about the ill effect of alcohol, even in very moderate doses.' "Where the Blow is Struck,' in the American Magazine of November, 1909. A plea for the greatest sufferers—the wife and children of the drunkard. -as presented by one who feels the blow."" 12. And on the morrow, when they were come he was hungry: hungered. 1 Matt. 21: 18. I. The Curse of not bearing Good Fruit, vs. 12-14, 20, 21. day following the Royal Entry into Jerusalem, Monday morning, On the morrow the April 3, A.D. 30, Jesus 13. And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find anything thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for it was not the season of figs. the time of figs was not yet. Je'sus of from answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit thee And his disciples heard it 14. And he hereafter for ever. henceforward 1 Matt. 21: 19. came out from Bethany and he was hungry. Quesnell suggests that he had spent the night after his triumph in fasting and prayer. 13. Seeing a fig tree in the distance, he went to it expecting to find some figs for his hunger, but he found nothing but leaves. For the time, the usual season, of figs was not yet. Jesus had reason to expect fruit on the tree, because of "the ostentatious show of leaves. The fig often comes with or even before the leaves, and especially on the early A Barren Fig Tree. kind. If there was no fruit on this leafy tree, it might justly be condemned as barren.". The Land and the Book. Some varieties are earlier than others, and sometimes in warm, sunny nooks the trees develop weeks earlier than in other situations. In the fig tree leaves were a profession of fruit. The leaves said, Come and get some fruit. 14. Said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. This was the sentence of a judge. It was a prophecy, as well as a curse. There is no greater curse than so to live that our lives shall be barren of good fruit. 20, 21. The next morning, travelling the same road, Peter called Jesus' attention to the tree, Master, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away. Application to Intemperance. There are three things in this incident which bear upon the total abstinence question. 1. What the leaves do for the tree. 2. The false professions of good fruit, alluring the young and inexperienced. 3. Its barrenness of good fruits. FIRST. WHAT THE LEAVES DO FOR THE TREE. The leaves of every tree have their uses. They make the tree itself, each leaf sending a thread down to the roots, and these together make the trunk and branches. Alcohol, the source of drunkenness, has its uses. It is good to burn. It is a preservative of certain things, especially of dead things, the form of which men wish to preserve. It has many other useful properties. These represent the leaves of the barren fig tree. SECOND. FALSE AND ALLURING PROFESSIONS OF GOOD FRUIT. It claims to make men happy, as we hear in the old drinking songs. It claims to make men strong, brave, eloquent, free, abounding in life, and friends especially to the young. "Drink, and you will be happy, with joys beyond your highest dreams. Drink, and your sickness will flee away, and health and strength be renewed. Strong drink is the famous fountain of youth." These are false and the deceptive promises, like the promises of the veiled prophet of Khorassan in Moore's Lalla Rookh. His silver veil covered his distorted features, His young, enthusiastic follower and shone with the radiance of the sun. |