Kankakee Valley Post, Volume 16, Number 22, DeMotte, Jasper County, 12 April 1946 — The Pastor's Column [ARTICLE]

The Pastor's Column

KING FOR A DAY OR FOREVER

By Rev. W. D. Archibald

Of till the events in Jesus’ life Palm Sunday was the one great gala day. He planned in part for the occasion by sending for a donkey on which he would ride into the capital city. This was probably the only time he ever came into the city in this way. When his friends and followers saw Him come riding it suggested to them that thus a king would come. So they conducted themselves in the light of that suggestion. To be a king required regal qualities of character. He must match life’s problems and situations with royal bearing and masterly understanding. In Ivanhoe the Black Prince though unknown bore himself as a king that he was. In the Bible story Saul wounded in the battle to drive off the Philistines ends the day by committing suicide. Though the regal circlet had rested on his brow a kingly heart did not beat beneath it. In the Passion Week so long ago Jesus stood as a prisoner before Pontius Pilate. His captors had spat upon him and beat him. In mockery they threw the royal purple about his shoulders, and pressed a crown of horns down on hjs head and a reed for a scepter in his hand. In derision they mocked him as a king. But when He stood there before Pilate and the mocking throng He so conducted Himself that Pilate was assured that He was indeed a king by His conduct and bearing. He marveled that he stood silently while His accusers raved on jn their mad frenzy. John says that Jesus told Pilate that indeed he was a king. To that end He had been born. But His kingdom was spiritual. It was not confined to national boundaries. It was not limited to that day. It icached out to include the whole world and on down through the days to come for all ages. A king must have ability to command and secure obedience. Jesus had walked by the seaside and fishermen rose up to follow the carpenter of Nazareth. There was none other to whom they could turn. He sent them out as messengers for His kingdom and as they went for Him all was well for their mission.

He had their supreme loyalty. Fisherman left their families and their boats to become fishers of men. Tax gatherers left their lucrative positions to follow in ways of service this master of men. Sinners left the street to minister to his needs in supreme loyalty to the kingly soul that was His. The joy and rejoicing of that Palm Sunday must have been a great satisfaction to the Christ. The jubilation of the occasion was an expression of the abundance of life which He came to assure them. Their expressions of delight grow out of their satisfaction in proclaiming Him king. Their “Hosannas” made a highway for a king* What a day! What a king! But to be a king for a day is but to play the part. The test of ,kingship js made by time. The ages have vindicated the worship of the exultiing wayside throng. The proud roman power bowed in acknowledgement of the kingliness of the Christ. This Christ who was the king for the crowd would have us find in Him the ruler for our lives. He would have us give Him loyalty not for a day but forever. We are invited to a place in His Kingdom. To accept He must be our king forever. Let this day this year tind us among His worshippers. NT