LECTURE LXIX.

THE ENTRY OF JESUS INTO JERUSALEM.

MARK Xi. 1-11.

1. And when they came nigh to Jerusalem, unto Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount of Olives, he sendeth forth two of his disciples,

2. And saith unto them, Go your way into the village over against you and as soon as ye be entered into it, ye shall find a colt tied, whereon never man sat; loose him, and bring him.

3. And if any man say unto you, Why do ye this? say ye that the Lord hath need of him; and straightway he will send him hither.

Many of the prophecies which had gone foità concerning Jesus had been already fulfilled. Others still remained: and amongst them one left by Zechariah, who had written, "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Sion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem; behold, thy king cometh unto thee; he is just, lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass." The Lord therefore provides that these words should receive their explanation; and directs two of his disciples to bring the colt, the foal

1 Zech. ix. 9.

of an ass, on which he might for the last time make his entry into Jerusalem. His direction illustrates the manner in which all things are present to the divine mind, and the heart of every man is open to view. Ye shall find a colt, whereon never man sat; loose him, and bring him. He foresaw that the owner of this colt would straightway send him, when he knew that the Lord had need of him. So he perceives in every case, what hearts are opposed, and what are conformable to his will. He directed his disciples to the spot where the colt was tied, which was needed for this occasion. So he discovers the dispositions and the talents which are suited to his purpose, and calls them to his service. And we should endeavour to preserve in our minds such a constant sense that all we enjoy is his, as to be no less ready than the owners of the colt to use our possessions according to his will, and to part with them when he requires. David expresses this feeling, when he had completed the treasures intended for the building of the temple. "Who am I," (he says,) "and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? for all things come of thee, O Lord, and of thine own have we given thee." 2 And the resignation of Job under his privations is based on the same sentiment; "The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away, blessed be the name of the Lord." "

3

4. And they went their way, and found the colt tied by the door without in a place where two ways met: and they

loose him.

? 1 Chron. xxix. 14.

3 Job i. 21.

5. And certain of them that stood there said unto them, What do ye, loosing the colt?

6. And they said unto them even as Jesus had commanded: and they let them go.

7. And they brought the colt to Jesus, and cast their garments on him; and he sat upon him.

8. And many spread their garments in the way: and others cut down branches off the trees, and strawed them in

the way.

9. And they that went before, and they that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna; Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord:

10. Blessed be the kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest. 4

The rulers and the conquerors of this world come among their people with such processions and triumphal honours as are here described. And it pleased Jesus to give this last testimony that he was a king, though his "kingdom was not of this world;" and that he was a conqueror, though he came "not to destroy men's lives, but to save them." He approached the capital city of his own people; he entered into Jerusalem with this train. But from the beginning to the end he maintains the same character. Princes and conquerors adorn their processions with horses and chariots, and all that is splendid and magnificent. The King of all the earth makes the entry into his capital "lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of From the commencement of his abode on

an ass.

"Let the kingdom be happily begun and flourish, which God is to erect, according to his promise made to our father David. Prosperity be to the Messiah, from him who dwelleth in the highest."-Whitby.

earth, to this its close, he rejected every appearance of pomp or grandeur: as if to show how little in the eyes of God are those luxuries and distinctions which men too highly prize, and for the sake of which they often sacrifice the only true honour, the praise of God.

Still there will be a time when the scene will be very different from that which was witnessed on the road from Bethany. "The clouds will be his chariot, and his ministers a flame of fire," when "the Lord cometh with ten thousand of his saints, to execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of their ungodly deeds."5 Now he appears as "meek and lowly," and "having salvation" to bestow. And they who thus receive him, and are rot ashamed of his humiliation, shall be received by him, and enter into his joy, and be partakers of his glory. But of those to whom he then appeared, there were but few who joined in the acclamations of the crowd, and welcomed the arrival of their king.

11. And Jesus entered into Jerusalem, and into the temple; and when he had looked round about upon all things, and saw the eventide was come, he went out into Bethany with the twelve.

He went out with a heavy heart, foreseeing the calamities which this guilty city was bringing upon itself. St. Luke has preserved the compassionate lamentation which he uttered, as he looked round about upon all things; He beheld the city, and wept

over it, saying, If thou hadst known, even thou,

5 Jude 14.

6 Luke xix. 41-44.

at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes. For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side, and shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation."

Still there were some whose hearts the Lord had opened to see the things against which the chief priests and elders of the city closed their eyes. Among these were Lazarus and his sisters, who dwelt at Bethany. To them he retired for rest and comfort; and, no doubt, took this last opportunity to confirm their souls, and prepare them for the approaching tribulation, and to encourage them by the assurance that the night of darkness should be followed by a glorious dawn, which would cause them to forget their sorrows. When the eventide was come, he went out into Bethany with the twelve, and "lodged there."7

7 Matt. xxi. 17.