The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-06-14

This r.. to me. the ssnderest 'nci1ehl =
connection with our LORDS bt2ttSt-
There are heights and depths % maJeAsg
and coEdescsnsIon on the par =, 49,
eagzested here. There are also 6elsh1A
arr d4pshs Of loyalty and humility on tsis
mari of John Other Considerations o. A7as
s,orneutous scesse 1T the very verge 3s
res1es entrance upon the grapoest mission
Of the ages--the redemption Of q si1i ~
uorId-may stir different eu1otsoAs " CO.
breasts, all Of them pure and powerful -
OF them stimulating and SUBSTANTIVE ~.
none OF them 30 full OF tender love -
ss1greaslveuea@ a. thoee which cluster
about TIE words Of my text. and when Sfe
recorded by Matthew only. When ~e READ
In the gospel OF Luke the two weFaF, ana
praying" as descriptive of the hfAi tEs x
Jesus did after his baptism, We Dow pr
heads and acknowledge Oar daily need.
We realize It's imperative nature. and Jet
because His communion was 50 different
from ours-we continually pleading for
pardon. He neyer-we fail 10 appropriate
its fin Lesson 10 ourseigss- When later
IRE behold the gioES Of God descend. dofe-
like. upon His head. and hear the eics OK
God from the riff Ia the cloud declaring
the divine parentage and appreciation, we
are GazzIed rather than helped: for we
know that no such outward manifestation
OF heavens favor can distinguish Us.
though we should he never so brave ard
never so faithful. Bat when We come 20
ponder these eondescsndlrR words of Jes -
TO John. as the latter hesitated 20 perform
the rte OF baptism on one who could rot
need II. we find that though orr clrcuTn-
stances may be entirely dIsRsHIiar. there
IL practical thought here for US We m
also be partners In this conversation. and
sometimes OF ua. az well as TO us. my
these words OF the Master be said: suffer
81 to be 80 now
Just Like Jesus.
And will not the beauty and suggestive
ness or this attitude Of Jesus seem all the
more apparent when we remember that
this WAS but the beginning Of a custom
that distinguished His whole career lie
was always placing Himself In the snfe-
rior position. though He lowered sbo e
all humanity. He was forever honoring
men by serving them He particularly ~
sisted that men should have their rights.
though He should be pat 10 Inconvenience
and even humility TO defend them. lie
performed all the duties OF manhood while
lie assumed all the attributes Of the Gel
head. He paid His taxes. like any other
Jew. though to do Il He was obliged 10
employ divine power. He invited n conn
rauy of select followers TO sup with Him.
though He owned no h0use and had no
His superhuman foraknowiefge. as He
outlined His plan OF entertainment: aad
thsn, having shut the door OF the room.
being too poor to employ mental. lie grit
Himself with towel. and washed the dis
cipIes feet. Was IL any wonder that thy
rebsiled? What was HIS reply 30 Peters
impuisiye refusal. Just the same In sp.T-
It NJ this TO John In the words OF my text.
what I do thou knowest not now. bar
hen hal Inr ft.r pss4n
more seIf-reiiant than John. however. and
n took a second and sharper reply to bring
him 10 obedience. When al the entrance
to Gethsemane the band Of ralffians came
upon Him and demanded His person. lie
made no resistance. He even asked them.
'whom seek yer'' and though He could
have escaped or defied them with the
same power BY which He hurled them to
the ground In fright-the majesty Of His
presence~yet He chose 10 submit for the
very reason given the Baptist. ito fulfill
All Righteousness" Even on the cross
when lie might have smltten His ignorant
prosecutors. and bazed forth in glory az
from a throne. He prayed instead that
they might be forgiven. Why? That not
q word 81 God might be broken II was tie
rule of His life 10 place Himself In humii-
iating efrcumsta noes. TO receive from 9TH
ers aerviees and sights that seemed 10 be
no part az His mission to earth. to honor
men by making them tributary TO ffis
subsequent greatness. 20 link humanity in
separately with Himself. 20 show by con-
tinuous acts Of love that IL was kIngiy
20 be condeacendlng and heavenly 20 be
humble. Was there ever such meeltneas.
was there ever such majesty veiieel IN
meskness IN human life before or since
How far the Baptist understood the Mes
siahshsp OF Jesus we have no means OF
knowing All we can infer from the Bible
story Is that nc regarded Him as one FAR
different from those about Him and even
from himself He Fecolled from the re-
quest of Jesus to be baptized. a. thor IN
The idea was out Of the question. lie rec
ognized Him. doubtless through spec Al
enlightenment from God. as Holy
Rrohpet whom he was 20 Introduce 10 the
Jewish people. and who was to eclipse m
entirely. not only in the presentation 81
truth but also in the hestowmenf 81 nc X
ar. For he said: ~ indeed haptlze yau
with water unto repentance; bat tie that
coneth after me Is mghtier than l. whe se
shoes | am not worthy 20 hear, he - N
hsrtiEe you with The Holy Ghost and ~
fire." Whatever these strong words rnie nj
have meant to John. he saw. a. any "a
that such baptism az he was aalnnsag ~
fng to others was not AZ an appropriate fsr
Jesus. These Jews We're sinful. aesp r.
ateiy sinful. violent n their lives. and t'e-
serving 81 the sesereSt punishments. Re
peniance was Invariably required 81 tee NJ
And yet here was person who certsin}-
could make no such confession ana axsr-
else no such repentance. ana fIr asked tse
same rite. 10 he performed hv the sane
bands. and In the came way Ioha fsrhs o.
Him. why" said he, - am the rr,s.er
subject Of baptism. and Thou ART the pr o.
er administrator Of the rite. am slnftf.
Thou arr pure am the forcrunner; tn ma
art TIE Christ. can gnciss to renentan :
Thou canSt torgive sin. CONTEST rhou o.
nfef' suffer & to be so now sirsn,,
quietly. sweetly said Jesus
The Democracy OF Io~u~.
shall tiTst learn some sexsens nom ia
request OF Jesus and the spgrlt which All.
mated H. Apart aiteretAer from RtS ,3l-
vine consciousness. x must have been ve -,
discoursgsnw 10 Him "a take IN this seere
These specimens ~ humanity before II IN
were sad repre@s ntatiVvs % the racr. al
yet they were true representatives. to'.tt
stood eetorc them. and With extraaralnArq
eoianes> 81 manner. and Win a voice IKE
blast frNm trumpet Fsys thera shtir
proper name when De called their, "A a. g..
GRAFTON 81 NlperS And as rasrv og tNe
ranititskis thar ghroneci TIRE hssyyssrz 81 fstA
desert hung their heads in shame before
hts erathing Tehukee ana confessed thets
sins Try but confirmed the correctness 81
the Bsp;ist's estimate ~ thsIr chsraet.r
watis they heSsst Tor rececy.
New. iook a. this sinssss one hv wzw -
contrast. Was tac net more kfane that
cay. with the crowd aboas Ntsi taAn Nh
He kaeAs At naiaasght aFnenw the fs,ann.
safns in PRAYER Between Htra ara
every other beiur there was an
inspsssaslc guif. Ee stcoa on a
narrow neck Of lAn3 uilh room
hpt fer Ills oWa fo,as0rtnfx. 49,
there ssrse1 against llim sa ssgh-r sl-.
IKE sfa. tie sins % q faasSn rAra. Eu-a
Jeha. Fwan ~ Gss thaash Sc vs. ae~ i