the desire of ages-第120节

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hile　on　their　errand　they　communicated　their　glowing　expectations　to　the　friends　of　Jesus；　and　the　excitement　spread　far　and　near；　raising　the　expectations　of　the　people　to　the　highest　pitch。

Christ　was　following　the　Jewish　custom　for　a　royal　entry。　The　animal　on　which　He　rode　was　that　ridden　by　the　kings　of　Israel；　and　prophecy　had　foretold　that　thus　the　Messiah　should　come　to　His　kingdom。　No　sooner　was　He　seated　upon　the　colt　than　a　loud　shout　of　triumph　rent　the　air。　The　multitude　hailed　Him　as　Messiah；　their　King。　Jesus　now　accepted　the　homage　which　He　had　never　before　permitted；　and　the　disciples　received　this　as　proof　that　their　glad　hopes　were　to　be　realized　by　seeing　Him　established　on　the　throne。　The　multitude　were　convinced　that　the　hour　of　their　emancipation　was　at　hand。　In　imagination　they　saw　the　Roman　armies　driven　from　Jerusalem；　and　Israel　once　more　an　independent　nation。　All　were　happy　and　excited；　the　people　vied　with　one　another　in　paying　Him　homage。　They　could　not　display　outward　pomp　and　splendor；　but　they　gave　Him　the　worship　of　happy　hearts。　They　were　unable　to　present　Him　with　costly　gifts；　but　they　spread　their　outer　garments　as　a　carpet　in　His　path；　and　they　also　strewed　the　leafy　branches　of　the　olive　and　the　palm　in　the　way。　They　could　lead　the　triumphal　procession　with　no　royal　standards；　but　they　cut　down　the　spreading　palm　boughs；　Nature's　emblem　of　victory；　and　waved　them　aloft　with　loud　acclamations　and　hosannas。

As　they　proceeded；　the　multitude　was　continually　increased　by　those　who　had　heard　of　the　coming　of　Jesus　and　hastened　to　join　the　procession。　Spectators　were　constantly　mingling　with　the　throng；　and　asking；　Who　is　this？　What　does　all　this　commotion　signify？　They　had　all　heard　of　Jesus；　and　expected　Him　to　go　to　Jerusalem；　but　they　knew　that　He　had　heretofore　discouraged　all　effort　to　place　Him　on　the　throne；　and　they　were　greatly　astonished　to　learn　that　this　was　He。　They　wondered　what　could　have　wrought　this　change　in　Him　who　had　declared　that　His　kingdom　was　not　of　this　world。

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Their　questionings　are　silenced　by　a　shout　of　triumph。　Again　and　again　it　is　repeated　by　the　eager　throng；　it　is　taken　up　by　the　people　afar　off；　and　echoed　from　the　surrounding　hills　and　valleys。　And　now　the　procession　is　joined　by　crowds　from　Jerusalem。　From　the　multitudes　gathered　to　attend　the　Passover；　thousands　go　forth　to　welcome　Jesus。　They　greet　Him　with　the　waving　of　palm　branches　and　a　burst　of　sacred　song。　The　priests　at　the　temple　sound　the　trumpet　for　evening　service；　but　there　are　few　to　respond；　and　the　rulers　say　to　one　another　in　alarm。　〃The　world　is　gone　after　Him。〃

Never　before　in　His　earthly　life　had　Jesus　permitted　such　a　demonstration。　He　clearly　foresaw　the　result。　It　would　bring　Him　to　the　cross。　But　it　was　His　purpose　thus　publicly　to　present　Himself　as　the　Redeemer。　He　desired　to　call　attention　to　the　sacrifice　that　was　to　crown　His　mission　to　a　fallen　world。　While　the　people　were　assembling　at　Jerusalem　to　celebrate　the　Passover；　He；　the　antitypical　Lamb；　by　a　voluntary　act　set　Himself　apart　as　an　oblation。　It　would　be　needful　for　His　church　in　all　succeeding　ages　to　make　His　death　for　the　sins　of　the　world　a　subject　of　deep　thought　and　study。　Every　fact　connected　with　it　should　be　verified　beyond　a　doubt。　It　was　necessary；　then；　that　the　eyes　of　all　people　should　now　be　directed　to　Him；　the　events　which　preceded　His　great　sacrifice　must　be　such　as　to　call　attention　to　the　sacrifice　itself。　After　such　a　demonstration　as　that　attending　His　entry　into　Jerusalem；　all　eyes　would　follow　His　rapid　progress　to　the　final　scene。

The　events　connected　with　this　triumphal　ride　would　be　the　talk　of　every　tongue；　and　would　bring　Jesus　before　every　mind。　After　His　crucifixion；　many　would　recall　these　events　in　their　connection　with　His　trial　and　death。　They　would　be　led　to　search　the　prophecies；　and　would　be　convinced　that　Jesus　was　the　Messiah；　and　in　all　lands　converts　to　the　faith　would　be　multiplied。

In　this　one　triumphant　scene　of　His　earthly　life；　the　Saviour　might　have　appeared　escorted　by　heavenly　angels；　and　heralded　by　the　trump　of　God；　but　such　a　demonstration　would　have　been　contrary　to　the　purpose　of　His　mission；　contrary　to　the　law　which　had　governed　His　life。　He　remained　true　to　the　humble　lot　He　had　accepted。　The　burden　of　humanity　He　must　bear　until　His　life　was　given　for　the　life　of　the　world。

This　day；　which　seemed　to　the　disciples　the　crowning　day　of　their　lives；　would　have　been　shadowed　with　gloomy　clouds　had　they　known　that　this　scene　of　rejoicing　was　but　a　prelude　to　the　suffering　and　death　of　their　Master。　Although　He　had　repeatedly　told　them　of　His　certain

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sacrifice；　yet　in　the　glad　triumph　of　the　present　they　forgot　His　sorrowful　words；　and　looked　forward　to　His　prosperous　reign　on　David's　throne。

New　accessions　were　made　continually　to　the　procession；　and；　with　few　exceptions；　all　who　joined　it　caught　the　inspiration　of　the　hour；　and　helped　to　swell　the　hosannas　that　echoed　and　re…echoed　from　hill　to　hill　and　from　valley　to　valley。　The　shouts　went　up　continually；　〃Hosanna　to　the　Son　of　David：　Blessed　is　He　that　cometh　in　the　name　of　the　Lord！　Hosanna　in　the　highest。〃

Never　before　had　the　world　seen　such　a　triumphal　procession。　It　was　not　like　that　of　the　earth's　famous　conquerors。　No　train　of　mourning　captives；　as　trophies　of　kingly　valor；　made　a　feature　of　that　scene。　But　about　the　Saviour　were　the　glorious　trophies　of　His　labors　of　love　for　sinful　man。　There　were　the　captives　whom　He　had　rescued　from　Satan's　power；　praising　God　for　their　deliverance。　The　blind　whom　He　had　restored　to　sight　were　leading　the　way。　The　dumb　whose　tongues　He　had　loosed　shouted　the　loudest　hosannas。　The　cripples　whom　He　had　healed　bounded　with　joy；　and　were　the　most　active　in　breaking　the　palm　branches　and　waving　them　before　the　Saviour。　Widows　and　orphans　were　exalting　the　name　of　Jesus　for　His　works　of　mercy　to　them。　The　lepers　whom　He　had　cleansed　spread　their　untainted　garments　in　His　path；　and　hailed　Him　as　the　King　of　glory。　Those　whom　His　voice　had　awakened　from　the　sleep　of　death　were　in　that　throng。　Lazarus；　whose　body　had　seen　corruption　in　the　grave；　but　who　now　rejoiced　in　the　strength　of　glorious　manhood；　led　the　beast　on　which　the　Saviour　rode。

Many　Pharisees　witnessed　the　scene；　and；　burning　with　envy　and　malice；　sought　to　turn　the　current　of　popular　feeling。　With　all　their　authority　they　tried　to　silence　the　people；　but　their　appeals　and　threats　only　increased　the　enthusiasm。　They　feared　that　this　multitude；　in　the　strength　of　their　numbers；　would　make　Jesus　king。　As　a　last　resort　they　pressed　through　the　crowd　to　where　the　Saviour　was；　and　accosted　Him　with　reproving　and　threatening　words：　〃Master；　rebuke　Thy　disciples。〃　They　declared　that　such　noisy　demonstrations　were　unlawful；　and　would　not　be　permitted　by　the　authorities。　But　they　were　silenced　by　the　reply　of　Jesus；　〃I　tell　you　that；　if　these　should　hold　their　peace；　the　stones　would　immediately　cry　out。〃　That　scene　of　triumph　was　of　God's　own　appointing。　It　had　been　foretold　by　the　prophet；　and　man　was　powerless　to　turn　aside　God's　purpose。　Had　men　failed　to　carry　out　His　plan；　He　would　have　given　a　voice　to　the　inanimate　stones；　and　they　would　have　hailed　His　Son　with　acclamations　of　praise。　As　the　silenced　Pharisees

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drew　back；　the　words　of　Zechariah　were　taken　up　by　hundreds　of　voices：　〃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。〃

When　the　procession　reached　the　brow　of　the　hill；　and　was　about　to　descend　into　the　city；　Jesus　halted；　and　all　the　multitude　with　Him。　Before　them　lay　Jerusalem　in　its　glory；　now　bathed　in　the　light　of　the　declining　sun。　The　temple　attracted　all　eyes。　In　stately　grandeur　it　towered　above　all　else；　seeming　to　point　toward　heaven　as　if　directing　the　people　to　the　only　true　and　living　God。　The　temple　had　long　been　the　pride　and　glory　of　the　Jewish　nation。　The　Romans　also　prided　themselves　in　its　magnificence。　A　king　appointed　by　the　Romans　had　united　with　the　Jews　to　rebuild　and　embellish　it；　and　the　emperor　of　Rome　had　enriched　it　with　his　gifts。　Its　strength；　richness；　and　magnificence　had　made　it　one　of　the　wonders　of　the　world。

While　the　westering　sun　was　tinting　and　gilding　the　heavens；　its　resplendent　glory　lighted　up　the　pure　white　marble　of　the　temple　walls；　and　sparkled　on　its　gold…capped　pillars。　From　the　crest　of　the　hill　where　Jesus　and　His　followers　stood；　it　had　the　appearance　of　a　massive　structure　of　snow；　set　with　golden　pinnacles。　At　the　entrance　to　the　temple　was　a　vine　of　gold　and　silver；　with　green　leaves　and　massive　clusters　of　grapes　executed　by　the　most　skillful　artists。　This　design　represented　Israel　as　a　prosperous　vine。　The　gold；　silver；　and　living　green　were　combined　with　rare　taste　and　exquisite　workmanship；　as　it　twined　gracefully　about　the　white　and　glistening　pillars；　clinging　with　shining　tendrils　to　their　golden