August 6 – 12, 2017
Key Text
“Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass” (Matthew 21:5).
Study Help: The Desire of Ages, 569–579.
Introduction
“Christ came to save Jerusalem with her children; but Pharisaical pride, hypocrisy, jealousy, and malice had prevented Him from accomplishing His purpose.” The Desire of Ages, 577.
Sunday
1 WARM RECEPTION
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When the multitude heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, what did they do? John 12:12, 13.
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What prophecy was fulfilled on that occasion? Zechariah 9:9; John 12:14, 15.
Note: “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.” The Desire of Ages, 570.
Monday
2 TRIUMPHAL ENTRY
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How did some of the Pharisees react to this manifestation? Luke 19:39.
Note: “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’ (Luke 19:39). They declared that such noisy demonstrations were unlawful, and would not be permitted by the authorities.” The Desire of Ages, 572.
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What answer did Jesus give them? Luke 19:40.
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For what purpose did Jesus permit this great demonstration? John 12:16, 23–26.
Note: “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.” The Desire of Ages, 571.
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What did Jesus do and say when He came into full view of the city? Luke 19:41–44.
Tuesday
3 PETITION OF THE GREEKS
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As the wise men of the East sought Christ at His birth (Matthew 2:1, 2, 10, 11), who sought Him at the close of His earthly ministry? John 12:20; Matthew 8:11.
Note: “These [Greek] 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.” The Desire of Ages, 621, 622.
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How did the Greeks express their desire? John 12:21.
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How did Jesus feel when He heard the petition of the Greeks and what did He declare? John 12:22, 23.
Note: “At this time Christ’s work bore the appearance of cruel defeat. He had been victor in the controversy with the priests and Pharisees, but it was evident that He would never be received by them as the Messiah. The final separation had come. To His disciples the case seemed hopeless. But Christ was approaching the consummation of His work. The great event which concerned not only the Jewish nation, but the whole world, was about to take place. When Christ heard the eager request, ‘We would see Jesus,’ echoing the hungering cry of the world, His countenance lighted up, and He said, ‘The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified’ (John 12:21, 23). In the request of the Greeks He saw an earnest of the results of His great sacrifice. …
“When the request was brought to Jesus, He was in that part of the temple from which all except Jews were excluded, but He went out to the Greeks in the outer court, and had a personal interview with them.” The Desire of Ages, 621, 622.
Wednesday
4 JESUS GLORIFIED
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What prayer did Jesus offer as He thought of His death upon the cross? John 12:27, 28, first part.
Note: “In anticipation Christ was already drinking the cup of bitterness. His humanity shrank from the hour of abandonment, when to all appearance He would be deserted even by God, when all would see Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. He shrank from public exposure, from being treated as the worst of criminals, from a shameful and dishonored death. A foreboding of His conflict with the powers of darkness, a sense of the awful burden of human transgression, and the Father’s wrath because of sin caused the spirit of Jesus to faint, and the pallor of death to overspread His countenance.
“Then came divine submission to His Father’s will. ‘For this cause,’ He said, ‘came I unto this hour. Father, glorify Thy name’ (John 12:27, 28). Only through the death of Christ could Satan’s kingdom be overthrown. Only thus could man be redeemed, and God be glorified. Jesus consented to the agony, He accepted the sacrifice. The Majesty of heaven consented to suffer as the Sin Bearer.” The Desire of Ages, 624.
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What answer was heard coming from heaven? John 12:28, last part.
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What did the bystanding crowd say? John 12:29.
Note: “As the voice was heard, a light darted from the cloud, and encircled Christ, as if the arms of Infinite Power were thrown about Him like a wall of fire. The people beheld this scene with terror and amazement. No one dared to speak. With silent lips and bated breath all stood with eyes fixed upon Jesus. The testimony of the Father having been given, the cloud lifted, and scattered in the heavens. For the time the visible communion between the Father and the Son was ended.
“ ‘The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake to Him’ (John 12:29). But the inquiring Greeks saw the cloud, heard the voice, comprehended its meaning, and discerned Christ indeed; to them He was revealed as the Sent of God.” The Desire of Ages, 625.
Thursday
5 THE UNBELIEF OF THE JEWS
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Notwithstanding the many miracles that Jesus had performed, how did the majority of the Jews receive Him? John 12:37–41.
Note: “ ‘But though He had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on Him’ (John 12:37). They had once asked the Saviour, ‘What sign showest Thou then, that we may see, and believe Thee’ (John 6:30)? Innumerable signs had been given; but they had closed their eyes and hardened their hearts. Now that the Father Himself had spoken, and they could ask for no further sign, they still refused to believe.” The Desire of Ages, 626.
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How did some rulers act who were convinced that Christ’s mission was real? John 12:42, 43.
Note: “They [many chief rulers] loved the praise of men rather than the approval of God. To save themselves from reproach and shame, they denied Christ, and rejected the offer of eternal life. And how many through all the centuries since have been doing the same thing! …
“Alas for those who knew not the time of their visitation! Slowly and regretfully Christ left forever the precincts of the temple.” The Desire of Ages, 626.
Friday
PERSONAL REVIEW QUESTIONS
1 How did Christ’s entry into Jerusalem fulfill the prophecy of Zechariah 9:9?
2 How can I ensure that I would have been among those few who discerned the voice of God instead of mistaking it for thunder?
3 What fears and concerns of the Jewish leaders should I be careful to avoid?
4 What was significant about the search for Christ by the wise men from the East and the Greeks from the West?
5 What might be causing my Saviour to weep for me now as He did for Jerusalem?
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