p. 239 | SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · Apr 12, 1905

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 31, No. 15.

SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS

LESSON 4.—APRIL 23.—THE ENTRY OF JESUS INTO JERUSALEM.

Lesson Scripture, John 12: 12-26, A. R. V.

(12) "On the morrow a great multitude that had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, (13) took the branches of the palm trees, and went forth to meet Him, and cried out, Hosanna; Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel. (14) And Jesus, having found a young ass, sat thereon; as it is written, (15) Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, thy King cometh, sitting on an ass's colt. (16) These things understood not His disciples at the first; but when Jesus was glorified, then remembered they that these things were written of Him, and that they had done these things unto Him. (17) The multitude therefore that was with Him when He called Lazarus out of the tomb, and raised him from the dead, bare witness. (18) For this cause also the multitude went out and met Him, for that they heard that He had done this sign. (19) The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, Behold how ye prevail nothing; lo, the world is gone after Him.

(20) "Now there were certain Greeks among those that went up to worship at the feast; (21) these therefore came to Philip, who was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus. (22) Philip cometh and telleth Andrew; Andrew cometh, and Philip, and they tell Jesus. (23) And Jesus answereth them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of Man should be glorified. (24) Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a grain of wheat fall into the earth and die, it abideth by itself alone; but if it die, it beareth much fruit. (25) He that loveth his life loseth it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. (26) If any man serve Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there shall also My servant be; if any man serve Me, him will the Father honor."

Golden Text.—"Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord." Matt. 21: 9.

SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.

(1) For what purpose were many people gathered at Jerusalem? Verse 12. Note 1. (2) When they heard that Jesus was coming, what did they do? How did they express their joy? Verse 13. Note 2. (3) In what manner did Jesus ride into Jerusalem? Verse 14. Note 3. (4) What prophecy was fulfilled in this act? Verse 15; Zech. 9: 9. Note 4. (5) How were the disciples of Christ affected by "these things?" Verse 16. Note 5. (6) What company of people gave special testimony on this occasion? Verse 17. Note 6. (7) What further effect of that great miracle was manifest? Verse 18. Note 7. (8) How were the Pharisees affected by the great demonstration? Verse 19. Note 8. (9) Who besides Jews had come to worship at this feast? Verse 20. Note 9. (10) What request did they make of Philip? Verse 21. (11) How was this request made known to Jesus? Verse 22. (12) How did Jesus reply to this announcement? Verse 23. (13) How did He show that His death was essential to the salvation of others? Verse 24. Note 10. (14) What spirit must be manifested by those who would have eternal life? Verse 25. (15) Then what gracious promise is given? Verse 26.

NOTES.

1. "On the morrow" was the day following the supper at Simon's house in Bethany, described in last week's lesson. People came to the Passover from every country where Jews dwelt, and they were in "every nation under heaven" (Acts 2: 5). Some of them never had seen Jesus before, and others saw Him only as they came to the annual feasts. It had come to be an anxious inquiry at every feast, whether Jesus would be there.

2. Palms were the recognized symbols of triumph, of victory, and rejoicing.

3. The detailed account of how Jesus procured the beast on which He rode, is found in Matt. 21: 1-7; Mark 11: 1-7; Luke 19: 29-35.

4. This is the only record we have of Jesus' having rode during His travels about the country. This made it all the more significant, as His riding on this occasion was after the manner of the kings of Israel, on an ass, and on one which had never been ridden by any other person. Geikie says: "In the East the ass is in high esteem. Statelier, livelier, swifter than with us, it vies with the horse in favor." In "Zinck's Egypt," it is said: "The rich man's ass is a lordly beast. In size, he is far ahead of anything of this kind we see here at home. His coat is as smooth and glossy as a horse's." The prophecy here quoted is Zech. 9: 9. It is also said that the horse was used especially for war, but riding on an ass was a symbol of peace. So Jesus rode into Jerusalem as the Prince of Peace.

5. "These things" that the disciples did not understand, was the fulfilment of the prophecy; and they did not at all surmise that the apparent fulfilment of their hopes would have such a sad ending.

6. The testimony of those who saw Jesus raise Lazarus from the dead, corroborated by the presence of Lazarus himself in the procession, was a source of additional confidence that Jesus was indeed the Messiah, and that He was about to take the kingdom of Israel.

7. "For this cause."—After the resurrection of Lazarus, many of the Jews believed on Jesus who had not believed before, and they evidently were forward in telling of the event to those who had come from a distance to attend the feast. "For this cause" the multitude of those who went out to meet Jesus was greatly augmented.

8. The great demonstration by the people was too much for the Pharisees, who began to fear lest Jesus, might be the coming King, after all their rejection of Him, and then their prestige would be gone forever. Instead of hope in the prospect of His being the deliverer of Israel, they were the more disheartened, becoming really desperate in their fear of the results.

9. "Certain Greeks."—These men came from the West to find the Saviour at the close of His life, as the wise men had come from the East at the beginning. At the time of Christ's birth the Jewish people were so engrossed with their own ambitious plans that they knew not of His advent. The magi from a heathen land came to the manger with their gifts, to worship the Saviour. So these Greeks, representing the nations, tribes, and peoples of the world, came to see Jesus. So the people of all lands and all ages would be drawn by the Saviour's cross. So shall many "come from the East and West, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven."—"Desire of Ages."

10. Only by His death could Jesus save a single one of the sinful race. If He should decline the ordeal of death, He must "abide alone," as far as earthly children were concerned. By falling into the earth, He could become the Seed of a great harvest at the resurrection day. His children are "the children of the resurrection." Luke 20: 36.