Omaha daily bee., 1896-04-05
REV. JOHN M'QUOID,
Methodist Episcopal.

Among the great truths set forth in the
New Testament there is one that is singled
out from all the rest possessed OF match
less weight and unique importance Upon 1t
was laid the stress Of an extraordinary en-
phasis by the early church. This truth
looms up separate and apart from all other
facts in the gospel, as a lofty mountain peak
scars into the sky above all other snow
capped SUBMITS round about it. 1t stands by
itself. clad with an Importance, fraught with
a meaning and stamped with message borne
by no other doctrine of the holy scriptures.
This unique and matchless truth Is the re-
surrection OF our Lord from the dead.
Strauss has said: "The resurrection OF Jesus
forms the central point of the center the
very heart of Christianity, and therefore, IL
has been above all things else the mark tor
the sharpest arrows Of her adversaries
Christianity stands by the empty tomb and
challenges the validity of any explanations,
save that OF the historic credibility OF the
resurrection of Jesus. Nowhere does innuei-
fly break down so completely as at TINS
critical point. Who today accepts the doc
trine that Renan pictures so beautifully, that
Mary Magdalene-supposed by him to be
nervous, hystercal, creduous woman-heard
the leaves rustic in the garden, saw mist
or something in the distance, and caught at
II with the assured conclusion. II have seen
the Lord" and that on this ghost story the
faith OF the early church was built, ana
that upon 1t stands the structure OF Christian
civilization today? He who believes that
has reached the point where he is ready 10
believe that the universe Is built upon
soap bubble Therefore, the historical basis
Of fact. on which our hopes of the future
rest, is the one great, practical lesson OF
Easter. We cannot do mad violence to our
own serse, and believe that the most heroic
lives have been inspired by a lie or
dream-the ancient world converted, and Eu-
rope and America built, In all that makes
them lofty and manful. valorous and high
hearted, on a foolish fancy or a childish
myth. For effects our reason demands ade-
quate causes. We are not credulous to the
extent required. From the preaching Of this
fact humanity took on another type Its
relations were revolutionzed. The trumphs
OF the Gospel through the long years of
eighteen centuries are Its witnesses Can
any one suggest another basis for the vic
tories, and leave men sane and the world
not mad?
Easter. also, is suggestive of Joy, Now
that Christ is risen, on the graves OF our
dead
The daylight of eternal glory
Blooms and bushes evermore.
Mark the first word OF Jesus after the
resurrection, "As they went to tell his dis
ciples, behold, Jesus met them. saying, All
hail. And they came and held him by his
feet and worshipped him. And then said
Jesus, BE not afraid " Jesus came from
death and the grave saying, "All hall! BE
not afraid" and now we know that death
is no gloomy entrance, but rather Milton's
''golden gate on golden hinges turning"
All in earth and air and sea
Laugh at my infrmity,
Jeer at me for growing old,
Jeer me as they pass along.
With their music ana their song
into eyes yet untold,
But when earth forgets 10 roll,
Then shall answer back my soul
From beneath life's shading tree,
Through the portals of the grave
Hastened /, my life to save,
From the doom that compassed them"
The tomb is not blind alley; 1t is thor |
SughfareI 1t closes In the twilight to open |