Luke xix.

37-40.

this? say ye that the Lord hath need of him; and straightway he will send him hither.

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.

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

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

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 off the trees, and strawed them in the way."

"And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice, and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen;

Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.

And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples.

And he answered and said unto them, I tell

you, that if these should hold their

stones would immediately cry out."

peace, the

9, 10.

"And they that went before, and they that Mark xi. 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.'

41-44.

"And when he was come near, he beheld the Luke xix. city, and wept over it,

Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, 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."

11.

"And Jesus entered into Jerusalem, and Mark xi. into the temple: and when he had looked round about upon all things, and now the even

C

tide was come, he went out unto Bethany with the twelve."

See also St. Matt. xxi. 1-11, 14—17.

Luke xix. 29-44.

John xii. 12-36.

LECTURE II.

THE WARNING OF THE DAY OF EXCITEMENT.

ST. MARK xi. 9.

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

THE principal event of the Monday in Passion Week is the triumphal entry into Jerusalem. It is the only one recorded by St. Mark. And if we limit ourselves to his narrative, this one day presents a marked contrast to all the rest. There was so general a feeling of agitation and excitement, that the Jewish nation appeared for a little while to recognize in Jesus the

promised Christ. He came, indeed, in Himself still meek and lowly; but, so far as the people were concerned, with all the outward signs of taking possession of His kingdom. Branches of palm-trees were strewed in the way; the air was filled with shouts and acclamations as He passed along; and when at length He arrived at Jerusalem, St. Matthew adds, that "all the city was moved, saying, Who is this? and the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee 1."

This, then, is an instance of the inconsistency to which I alluded in the former lecture. We should hardly expect a scene of this description to commence Passion Week, and to be separated from the crucifixion by a brief interval of four days. Yet such undoubtedly was the case. Neither will it be necessary to look back upon it from that event, in order to remind ourselves of its transitory character. St. Luke

1 St. Matt. xxi. 10, 11.