The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-01-18

seph's SOM So far, manifestly, there
was only rapturous approval of their fell
low townsman.
We follow the scene to the end.'
1t was the custom for the preacher in
the synagogue, at the close of his SER
mon, to hear such questions as the audi.
tors we're prompted to ask. This sermon
Of Jesue, we assume, was followed by
succession of questions. Jesus found his
townsmen wishing of him two things
first, to act on the proverb, Physician
heal hyseF, -that liz, rise above being
Joseph's son, and become rich and splen-
did, after the pattern of David; second,
to bring some benefit to bis own towns
men. They wished him to make the
Jewish poor rich, to release jewish pc.
litical captives. to give sight to the Jew
ish blind, to do justice to the Jewish
bruised, to bringan era of Jewish liberty,
wealth and renows.
Jesus saw that bis Gospel of humanity
was rejected by his townsmen. They
we're looking for merely jewish Mes
siah.
Jesus in his disappointment found
comfort in the proverb,--No Prophet is
acceptable IN has oaUn country. He
thus confessed his faith that the Gospel,
which was now spurned by his towns
men. would be welcomed by the world.
Anger was now increasing in the
assembly. Joseph's son had conferred
benefits elsewhere; he has none for his
own village. He has awakened hope by
his compassionate words, only to dissi
pate it. He purposes to treat us as he
will treat the Gentiles. So the Nazar
enes reasoned.
This selfish spirit, in which we see the
very essence of bigotry. was deserving
of severe rebuke And Jesus gave it
such rebuke as no Jew would be likely
to forget. He told his audience first
story of Elijah, how in the famine he ia
vored no widows of Israel, but went to a
Gentle widow of Sidon on an errand of
mercy. He again told the story of Elisha
how he cured none of the lepers of Israel
but cured the Gentle leper Naaman.
These were indisputable stories of the
Jewish scriptures. Their application
was too apparent to be mistaken. He
compares u.s." they said, ito Gentiles and
lepers; he processes the purpose to be-
come an acceptable prophet 10 other
races than his own" They acre all
filled a0ith aorath in the synagogue as
they heard these things.
What followed, as summarized in the
record? The disappointed and disordeIly
audience was dismissed. The crowd
gathered around Jesus. Infatuated men
pressed upon him, encircled him. They
compelled him to go before them until
they reached the outer edge of the rock
on which the village was built. To cast
blasphemer down the precipice would
be, as they thought, meritoiious work.
Were not the Jews commanded to stone
blasphemers to death? To cast one in
to chasm was the equivalent of ston-
ing. Now that the precipice. was reached
what was to be done? Should he have
the form of trial? The question was
speedily settled for them. HE who," to
quote the words of Edersheim. had
hitherto allowed himself to be pressed
onward by the surrounding crowd. now
turned. and by his look of commanding
majesty, which ever and again wrought
on those around miracles of subsection
constrained them to halt ard give way
before him, while unframed he passed
through their midst"