A LOUD CRY by H. A. St. John

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Jul 2, 1894

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 20, No. 34.

A LOUD CRY.

By H. A. St. John

BY ELDER H. A. ST. JOHN.

PART ONE.

"And they brought the colt to Jesus, and cast their garments on him; and he sat upon him. And many spread their garments in the way; and others cut down branches of the trees, and strewed them in the way. And they that went before, and they that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna; blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; blessed be the kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord; hosanna in the highest." Mark 11:7-10.

"And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this? And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee." Matt. 21:10, 11.

"And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke the disciples. And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, If these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out." Luke 19:39, 40.

Here was a crying out, a loud cry, given by the disciples at the first advent of Christ, and given, too, in fulfillment of the prophetic word. It was a fitting tribute of praise, thanksgiving, and honor to Christ, the Christian's coming King, a glorious parting tribute to the Son of God just before he left this world, to go into a far country, to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. This outburst of ecstatic joy had been accumulating in their hearts for years. Long had they thought upon and talked about the day when their Master would become a king. Long had they wanted to make him king, and to shout forth his high praises without let or hindrance. This was the sudden outgush of a long-accumulating reservoir of pent-up joy.

"Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord." True then, every word of it, "Blessed be the kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord." And this was true also. The rightful heir to the kingdom of David, the kingdom of Israel yet to come, was then extolled with shouts of praise. The kingdom of grace was necessary as a place to fit subjects for that glorious literal kingdom of Christ, which, when it comes, will stand forever.

"Hosanna!" That loud cry of the disciples of Christ at his first advent, began and ended with hosanna. To the ear of one who knows its meaning that word is full of joyful praise. It seems to be the one musical word that contains in itself every reason for gratitude and thanksgiving to God that can be conceived. It is praise God for his goodness, all his goodness, and for all his wonderful works to the children of men. Hosanna! How sweet the sound! How such praise from a full heart, and inspired by the Holy Spirit, must have glorified God! Hosanna, save now. Jesus was the one upon whom help had been laid, and who was able to save unto the uttermost then and now.

And the city was moved with that cry, and the inquiry went up from many hearts and lips, "Who is this?"

The disciples, filled with the spirit of inspiration, are heard above all the noise of the crowd, repeating in eloquent strains the prophecies which answered this question. Adam will tell you, It is the seed of the woman that shall bruise the serpent's head. Ask Abraham, he will tell you, It is Melchizedek, King of Salem, King of Peace. Jacob will tell you, He is Shiloh, of the tribe of Judah. Isaiah will tell you, Immanuel, Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Jeremiah will tell you, The Branch of David, the Lord, our Righteousness. Daniel will tell you, He is the Messiah. Hosea will tell you, He is the Lord of Hosts, the Lord is his memorial. John the Baptist will tell you, He is the Lamb of God who taketh away the sin of the world. The Great Jehovah has proclaimed from his throne, This is my beloved Son. We, his disciples, declare, This is Jesus, the Messiah; the Prince of Life, the Redeemer of the world. And even the prince of the powers of darkness acknowledges him, saying, "I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God."

They spread their garments on the colt and in the way. Nothing was too good for Jesus to sit upon or to ride upon. Although the sharp hoofs of the colt might punch holes in their garments and ruin them, what cared they for such trifles when their souls were filled with hosanna, and their glorious Saviour King was in their midst?

And then there were conspicuous unbelievers in that day, persons of religious dignity and high standing, upon whose bigoted sensibilities that loud cry of hosanna grated like saw filing. So disturbed and infuriated were these religious sticklers for human traditions, that, after trying in vain to stop the cry themselves, they appealed to the Master himself to rebuke his disciples. Jesus replied that if these should hold their peace, even the very stones would cry out. This is a most convincing testimony that God was in that cry, for certainly only almighty power could give voice to stones; and the same power that could cause the stones to cry "Hosanna" inspired the people to make that cry. The very selfsame Spirit that could give a message to inanimate stones inspired the utterance of that scriptural message in that glad day.

The prophecy was fulfilled, that loud cry of hosanna was given, and, not long after, the King of Glory left this world, to go into a far country, to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. The time is about fulfilled, and his triumphant return is at hand; and the true disciples of Jesus are already beginning to swell the loud cry of hosanna. Behold, our King cometh very soon, riding upon the clouds of heaven, in power and great glory!

The whole world will be moved by this loud cry, and thousands of anxious hearts and voices everywhere will be led to inquire, "Who is this?" And the multitude of disciples filled with the Spirit of God will again be heard in triumphant strains, giving utterance to the golden gems of divine truth that sparkle and shine upon the sacred pages of the Holy Bible, from its beginning to its close, prophetic of that event.