The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-11-27

cause the two 20 suspect Apparently he knows
nothing OF the real burning questions of the
day. This seemed the more strange TO the two
from the fact they were 20 intensely interested.
We wonder many times in our graver thoughts
that the world does not come to q halt and
join our company in anxiety, We do not un-
derstand that Christ's purpose was 70 deceive.
Prot. a. e. kcudrick, ID. d., says Christ CON
ceals his knowledge in order TO draw them out.
This Is compatible with the most perfect sim
plIcity and integrity Of character" We havo
similar thought in verse %" he made as
though he would have gone farther In
Christ's Omuiscicncc he understood very well
on what subjects the two had been talking be-
fore nc overlook them. But God must adapt
himself 10 human weakness. The teacher for
the moment feigns ignorance on purpose to
Stimulate thought and inquiry. Then il was
necessary 10 introduce con versatiOD and ChrisJ's
method WIS very natural and apt
We have in the conference Of the trio three
questions with the auswers
l. What so sad subject is tho burden Of your
cOnyersatiOn2 The two answer in surprise by
raising another question: How can anyone be
ign0ranJ Of tho wonderful events Of the day a.?
They think their companion must recently
have arrived. The facilities for spreading in
formation were then so inferior that q matter
Of profound interest locally might not be well
known to a nonresident Just arrived. 1t must,
however. have seemed the more strange to
them that their associate knew so little aboHt
these things, seeing that he had apparently Just
departed from jerusalem.
2. What thing52" Christ knew. He raised
the question, not for information, but as ground
for reply. The answer Of the two indicates
goOdly knowledge Of Christ and his mission.
ii assumes ALMOST entire ignorance on the part
Of the stranger to whom it is addressed. Both
seemed TO speak. They poured out their sad
in Of tot
then another; then both together. From his
peculiarly supernatural life they may have
thought, and that without reference to any in
tlmatI0us Of the Scriptures as TO his resurTec-
tiOn ON the third day, that something hap
pen By which they would not lose him even by
death, but the third day after his death gave
no promise Of his restoration TO them. A story
had gotten around, started by the women, that
he was alive. Then, however, all hope was
blasted By him they saw not" Correct trans
latiOn does not require a rendering so harsh as
% fools" The Revised Version translated
better, o foolish men," The idea is, o men,
yielding 70 prejudice rather than to reason :;
exercising emotion rather than judgment.
Bloomfield suggests misudg ing." DIR. Ken
drick says 6 fools is too abrupt.
3. Ought not Christ TO have suffered these
things?" Was it not cOngruous? Would the
prophecies Of the Old Testament have been
fulfilled had not Christ met such experiences?
We're not the very facts which seemed so dis
couraging TO the two the credentials OF Jesus?
We notice the relation between Concerning
Jesus Of Nazareth " 49, and Concerning
himself" w. 7l "Tha things" Of verse IS
are the facts ia relation to Jesus. Christ knew
these were the matters Of greatest interest to
the two, and therefore made them the subjects
which be 'expOuHdcd." We notice the Scrip
tures bear witness 10 jesus. 1t was concern
ing himself" that he spoke, and, in thus ex-
planning his own personality and work, be did
what no other being could do consistently-he
found his data IN the books Of Moses and the
prophets.