The Harmony Chronicle and Order of the New Testament, Part 1 · Section 72 – Section 73
SECTION LXXII.
| MATTH. XXI. from the beginning to Ver. 17. | MARK XI. from the begin. to the middle of Ver. 11. | LUKE XIX. from Ver. 29. to the end. | JOHN XII. from Ver. 12. to Ver. 20. |
CHRIST rideth upon an Asse into Ierusalem.
JOHN maketh the connexion plain, when he saith, On the next day ▪ &c. And sheweth that as Christ went up at this time, in the evidence and accomplishment of that Prophesie, Zech. 9.9. so he also went up in the equity and answering of that Type, of taking up the Paschall Lamb on the tenth day, Exod. 12.3. for this was on that very day: and the Lamb of God doth now go in, as giving up himself for the great Paschal.
Iohn telleth us that he lay at Bethany the night before this, and yet the other Evangelists have related it, that when he came to Bethpage and Bethany, he sent two of his Disciples for the Asse, &c. The Jews Chorography will here help us out: They tell us
1. foreign Two thousand cubits was the Suburbs of a City. Maym. in Schabh. per. 27.
2. foreign Two thousand cubits were the bounds of a Sabbath, or a Sabbath daies journey. Talm. in Setah. per. 5.
3. Bethpage was of this nature: it was not a Town upon mount Olivet as it hath been very generally supposed, and accordingly placed in the most Maps, but it was some buildings and that space of ground that lay from Ierusalem wall forward towards mount Olivet, and up mount Olivet to the extent of two thousand cubits from the wall, or thereabout; and hereupon it was reputed by the Jews of the same qualification with Ierusalem, as a part of it, in divers respects.
Talm. Bab. Pesachin fol. 63. fac. 2. He that slayes a Thanksgiving Sacrifice within, while the bread belonging to it is without the wall, the bread is not holy. What means without the wall? R. Iochanan saith, Without the wall of Bethpage. The Glosse there saith, Bethpage was an outer place of Ierusalem. And the same Glosse useth the very same words again upon the same Tract, fol. 91. fac. 1. And again in the same Treatise, fol. 95. fac. 2. the Mishnah saith thus, The two loaves and the shewbread are allowable in the Temple Court, and they are allowable in Bethpage. Nay the Glosse in Sanhedr. fol. 14. fac. 1. saith, Bethpage was a place which was accounted as Ierusalem for all things. So that the place so called, began from Ierusalem and went onwards to and upon mount Olivet, for the space of a Sabbath daies journey or thereabout, and then began the coast that was called Bethany. And hence it is that Luke saith that Christ when he ascended into heaven, led forth his Disciples as farre as Bethany, Luke 24.50. which elsewhere he sheweth was the space of a Sabbath daies journey, Acts 1.12. which cannot be understood of the Town Bethany, for that was fifteen furlongs, or very near two Sabbath daies journey from Ierusalem, but that he led them over that space of ground which was called Bethpage, to that part of Olivet where it began to be called Bethany, and at that place it was where Christ began his triumphant riding into the City at this time.
It is very observable that he is entertained with the solemnity of the Feast of Tabernacles: for carrying of Palm branches and crying Hosanna was never used but only at that Feast, but now translated to this occasion: which may help somewhat to the explaining of Zech. 14.16.
Count from hence the daies to the Passeover, as the Evangelists have reckoned them, and you will finde that this was the first day of the week [the Lords day afterward] and this day seven night he rose from the dead.
In the midst of his triumph he weepeth over the City, though he knew that within five daies she would be his death.
SECTION LXXIII. JOHN Chap. XII. from Ver. 20, to the end of the Chapter. Greeks would see Iesus. A voice from heaven.
THe order is plain in the Text of Iohn, and needeth no illustration.
Christ was thrice attested from heaven, according to his threefold Office, King, Priest and Prophet. At his Baptism, for the great Highpriest, when he was anointed and entred into his Ministry. At his Transfiguration for the great Prophet to whom all must hear. And now for the great King, when he had newly fulfilled that Prophecy, Rejoyce O Sion, behold thy King cometh, &c.
The Bath Kol or heavenly voice that the Jews commonly speak of, is in the most, if not all the instances that they give of it, but a fiction of their own brain, to bring their Doctors and their Doctrines into credit.