The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-06-19
THE IFSJ~S OF JEW AND GENTLE.

THE JESUS OF JEW AND GENTLE.
The lecture delivered by DR.. krauskopf
on The Blank Page Between the Old and
the New Te~staments" attracted an extra
ordinarily large audience. which was as
creIitable TO the Intelligence OF the city
as il was complimentary 20 the learned
lecturer.
II was a novel experience for many who
listened to It. The broad catholic spirit
which pervades Or. krauskopfs ideas of
the ultimate determination of man ire
spes,tlve of and even free from distinctive
religious belief was only new as coming
from the lips Of a Jew. The popular view
of Judaism is that IL is exclusive. has al
WAYS been exclusive and Will only be other
than exclusive when there is nothing else
10 exclude. The exalted position given TO
the Jew by one OF their own race did not
altogether dispel this notion. but 1t was
so free from sectarian egotism, apart from
the profound belief OF the race in their
exceptional destiny, that II lost all as
perlty.
What, however. came most as a revela-
tfon to the attentive listeners was the his
torical aspect OF the sacrifice OF Jesus
Christ as seen from the Jewish standpoint.
Christian prejudice against the Jews Is
based mainly upon the assumption that
they reviled the Son Of God. urged His
sacrifice 10 a rabbles vicfousness and were
responsible for the awful scene upon Cal
= ILL
far different story. and 1t is among the
marvels OF human tenacity to a conviction
that so very. very few, even among ordin-
arily fair-minded men, find in their hearts
an arnellorating circumstance In the events
leading to the crucihx4on. II IS seldom
that Jesus Christ is regarded as Himself a
jew, accepted only by the Jews until after
His death, that His work and life were
perpetuated by Jews, and that without the
sublime faith OF Jews in the superhuman
element In Christianity His name might
have passed into secular history with that
OF Hitler, Ganaliel and other great and
learned teachers of His time. whose fame
Is almost local and whose works are known
only TO the scholar.
1t is, OF course. difficult for Christians
firm in their faith in the divine nature of
Jesus. established in their minds by the
testimony OF centuries of unquestioning
worship. to conceive that His divinity
could be questioned by those in whose
midst lie dwelt and taught Yet how
much easier TO comprehend than The
miracle by which His divinity was ante
natal! Miracles were not a divine at
tribute to the Jews. Their books taught
them that the prophets worked miracles.
Tho one great mystery. contrary to ell
human experience and opposed to all
natural laws. must be accepted by faith
and not upon any evidence which could be-
come a subject OF general knowledge.
That faIh was lacking on the part CT
many Jews; no people believing in i'm
mortality would wantonly offend in His
presence the omn5potent and omniscent
God. The Jews may have done wrong In
doubting that Jesus was the Son of God.
but that any believing IN Him withheld
their worship. 70 say nothing OF subject
ing Him 10 cruel death, IS incredible Il
IA ilACu more IfNRaHEe mat tfla nlUO1E
Pontius PHate. a representative of the
naughty Roman empire, despising the
Jews. knocking their hopes OF a Messiah.
put to death with Roman barbarity Him
whom. they tauntingly. jestlngly derided
even on the cross as 'The king OF the
| Jews" and that Roman historians put the
| onus upon The Jews themselves.
Jesus mission lasted at most three
| years possibly. II some historians are cor
rect. but l.ttlo more than one year. Yet
throush no,riy twenty centuries Ills sub
lime personality has come down 70 us as
| real today as when he Taught the fisher
| men ~ Caluce. lie comes 20 rs a. tie
| gentle lover ot all mankind. the messenger
| ~ good things. h~a~tnC words Of sweetest
| hone and purest aspirations. with promises
| az rest for the weary. compassion for the
afflicted. and forgiveness for the repent
| ant.
IN all that human mind can conceive q
goodness His divinity Is manifest: in al,
| that Is essential Jesus Christ IS indeed the
! SON OF God.
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