Lesson 170 - Junior

Memory Verse

"Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord" (Luke 19:38).

Notes

Obedience

Jesus and the twelve disciples were on their way to Jerusalem ([LUK:18:31]). As they drew near the towns of Bethany and Bethphage, Jesus sent two of the disciples on an errand. He told them just what to do, just what to say, and what they would find. The two disciples did what Jesus commanded. They did not question or doubt Him. They did not ask "Why?" or say "If." They obeyed and found it even as He had said.

Need of It

As the two disciples entered a nearby village, they found a colt tied with its mother, an ass, as the Lord had said ([MAT:21:2]). Jesus had told them to bring the animal to Him. When the owners asked why they were untying the colt, the disciples answered with the words that Jesus had told them to say: "The Lord hath need of him." The answer satisfied the owners. We do not read of an agreement about renting or buying the colt. They were willing to have their animal used because the Lord had need of it. Are you as willing to let the Lord use that which you call your own -" your life, your talents, your testimony, and your possessions? Is it not enough that the Lord hath need of it?

Learn a lesson in obedience from these two disciples. God expects all His followers to obey without questioning or making excuses. When the Lord gives you the privilege of doing something for Him, do as He bids, speak the words He gives you to speak. By obedience you will find His promises, "even as he had said."

The Lord is pleased when children obey their parents, too. In Colossians 3:20 we read: "Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord." The Bible also states: "Obey them that have the rule over you" (Hebrews 13:17).

Fulfilled Prophecy

Perhaps the disciples discussed among themselves why Jesus needed the colt. We do not reads that Jesus was accustomed to riding a colt. Surely He was not so tired that He needed to ride. No, that was not the reason. It was done to fulfil the prophecy which was spoken many years before ([MAT:21:4]): "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass" (Zechariah 9:9).

The disciples took the colt to Jesus as they had been told to do. Upon the colt they put their garments, willing to use their own property as well as that of others, for the Lord. Then they put Jesus on the colt upon which no other man had ever sat ([MAK:11:2]). In front of Him, on the road, they placed their garments and the branches of palm trees ([JHN:12:13]).

As Jesus, riding upon the colt, drew near to the Mount of Olives, the multitudes of people began to rejoice and praise God for the mighty works they had seen. They acclaimed Jesus King, and shouted praises to Him, for they hoped that He was riding into Jerusalem to set up an earthly kingdom. Notice that their praise was similar to that of the heavenly host the night that Jesus was born: "Glory to God in the highest" (Luke 2:14). The multitudes who went before and those who followed Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying: "Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest" (Matthew 21:9).

Honour to Jesus

This must have been a wonderful day for the disciples who thought that Jesus would soon set up His Kingdom. The multitudes that were going to the Passover Feast joined in the praises ([JHN:12:12-13]). Try to picture this joyous scene as Jesus rode triumphantly into Jerusalem. The pathway had been strewn with garments and branches of trees, to honour Jesus. They acclaimed Jesus "the son of David" (Matthew 21:9). Who had been prophesied to be the Messiah ([ISA:9:7]), who Jesus really was ([MAT:1:1]). They seemed to be shouting the praises contained in Psalm 118:25 and 26: "Save now, I beseech thee, O LORD . . . Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the LORD." "Hosanna," translated, means "save now."

Praises Accepted

Never before had Jesus permitted the disciples to so honour Him. To the contrary, Jesus had asked, upon different occasions, that they tell no one of the miracles performed and the great things they had seen. Jesus asked silence from all these: a leper ([MAT:8:4]), two blind men ([MAT:9:30]), multitudes that were healed ([MAT:12:16]), the disciples after Peter had said: "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God" (Matthew 16:16, 20); also from those who wept after the healing of Jairus' daughter ([MAK:5:43]); and from the disciples who had been with Jesus at the Transfiguration ([MAT:17:9]).

Now Jesus accepted praise and honour from the people for He knew that "his hour was come" (John 13:1; 12:23). Jesus not only accepted their praise but He, when Pharisees objected, said that even the very stones would cry out to praise Him if the people did not. May we never be guilty of withholding praise from the Lord! May it never be necessary for the stones to tell His praise because we have held our peace!

A Great Day Coming

Perhaps you would like to have been there to wave palm branches that day when Jesus rode into Jerusalem. There is another day coming even more glorious, in which you can take part, when Jesus comes to reign as "KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS" (Revelation 19:26). It is true that Jesus reigns now in the hearts and lives of His people. But He will also reign upon the earth for a thousand years ([REV:20:6]). The time will come when "the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever" (Revelation 11:15). He will come, riding upon a white horse ([REV:19:11]), with ten thousands of His saints ([JUD:14]; [REV:19:14]), as a multitude of voices cry: "Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth" (Revelation 19:6).

We have already studied about Jesus' coming and what a great and terrible day it will be. A great day for those who have prepared for His coming! A terrible day for those who reject and neglect Jesus! Are you ready and waiting for His return?

Weeping Over Jerusalem

As they drew near Jerusalem, Jesus beheld the city and wept. In the midst of what appeared to be a happy occasion, the heart of Him who was being honoured was moved to compassion for those who had failed to believe on Him, and who, because of their unbelief would suffer judgement. Instead of peace, the way of escape would be cut off so they would be taken captive and scattered while the city itself would be cast down with a great slaughter. On another occasion Jesus lamented over Jerusalem and said: "How often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not!" (Luke 13:34).

Temple Cleansed

Jesus entered the Temple at Jerusalem. There He found it necessary to cleanse it, for the people were polluting the house of God. At the beginning of Jesus' ministry, He had driven money-changers out of the Temple ([JHN:2:15]). People came from distant lands to worship. Perhaps some had a different kind of money, just as different kinds of money are used in foreign countries today. To make worship easier, they thought, men exchanged the foreign money for the kind used in Jerusalem. Others sold the animals used for sacrifice so that the worshipers need not bring from a distance the offering of their herds and flocks.

It was lawful to take money to the Temple in place of offerings of their crops and flocks when the people were "not able to carry it" or if the place was "too far" (Deuteronomy 14:24). But the people had done the wrong thing in making the exchange in the Temple, for the Law also stated that after the offerings had been turned into money, they were then to take it unto the place which God would choose ([DEU:14:25]).

A House of Prayer

Jesus had said, "Make not my Father's house an house of merchandise" (John 2:16). Jesus found this same condition in the Temple, and it was necessary again to drive out the buyers and sellers. What a terrible thing to make God's house a den of thieves ([MAK:11:17]), a den of robbers ([JER:7:11]), when it is a house of prayer! If Jesus came to look at your church, would you be driven out because you are misusing it instead of using it as a house of prayer?

Palm Sunday

This Sunday we are commemorating that day on which Jesus rode triumphantly into Jerusalem. It is called Palm Sunday, and begins what is called Passion Week, the week before Easter. This brings to the minds of God's people the day in which He triumphantly entered their lives. From their lips burst forth praises to Him for all His mighty works. Have you let Jesus come into your life to rule and reign? There could not be a better time than today. Do not delay, lest the doom that befell Jerusalem fall upon you, too.

Questions

1. Where did Jesus get the colt?

2. Why did He ride on a colt?

3. What was the shout of the people?

4. Why did the people praise Him?

5. What would have happened if the people had withheld their praises?

6. Why did Jesus weep over Jerusalem?

7. Why was it necessary to cleanse the Temple?

8. How had the people made it a "den of thieves" instead of a "house of prayer"?