The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-05-04
TEACHING POINTS.

INTRoDucrIoN.-Iesus as he foretold was by
his disciples left alone-alone with the Father. Yet
John and Peter followed at distance, and became
witnesses to the generations of the events of the
trial
a1 v. GEO. While mechanical harmony in
the testimony of different witnesses is suggestive of
collision, testimony must be substantially in agree
ment with itself to be of value Minor discrepancies
NAV even promote general credence but when wit
nesses tell radically different stories, their testimony
is mutually destructive. The witnesses against
Jesus failed because they did not agree together.
They demonstrated that they were not speaking
from knowledge--The fall of Peter is one OF the
most instructive incidents of the Gospel narrative
In the light of his character his fall is Ineligible
He was swayed by his momentary impulses. Be
cause he suffered himself to fall into forgetfulness
he became for the time the subject of the powers of
charlottesville Lords look was instantaneous
conveyance of the moral power of the Gospel. 1t
was ptiful and compassionate it was hopeful; it
a timely intimation to go at once from hence.
The repentance of Peter sudden response
of his soul to the Gospel summons. His repentance
sincere and his conversion complete. "He
went out" says Farar, mot Judas into the night
of despair, but to meet the morning dawn. If the
angel of innocence had left him. the angel of repent
ance took him gently by the hand" ave ind,"
says Bishop F. D. Huntington, Sin tracing Peters
career, that his zeal was mixed with many incon-
sistencies but Christ saw that he had in him the
noble material of vital and victorious aposteship;
he refashioned him into sefcommanding as well
as eager champion, and at last made him first and
foremost of the twelve companions Of the Lord"
e. V. 90, 81. When the high priest Caiaphas
commanded Jesus to reply to his false accusers, Je-
sus was silent. He was not surprised when he was
made the subject of false differences and false state
ments. He knew what was in man.-But Gaia
phas, although Sadducee and materialist, was
the chief official representative of the national re-
ligion of the Jews Jesus could yield certain cour-
tesy to the official, however he may have regarded
the man.-If Jesus had even now, under the high
priests questioning, chosen to remain silent, he
might have escaped the cross and made final fail
ure of his mission.
81 ". 6z-64 1t cannot be questioned, except
the entire story of Jesus be questioned, that Jesus
voluntarily martyr to the declaration that he
was the Son of the Blessed. 1t is to be noted how
ever that he Immediately afterwards desgnates him.
self as the Son of Mantle was the Christ, not
exclusively for the Jews but for Man.-The bear
ing of Jesus through his unparalleled trial inspires
every appreciative beholder with admring wonder.
The Lord was not Inundated. Nothing could ever
humiliate him. But sinful human nature, in the
exhibition it then made of ITSELF reached its deepest
humiliation. The blindfolded Christ could see the
soldiers and temple police, with uncovered eyes,
were blind. The Victim who could so become a
Victor and conquer evil with good, is worthy to be
the spiritual Lord of the ages.