The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1898-04-15
AN EASTER SERMON.
Delivered BY Elder l. Green, at the
Christian Church.

SnrlStlan OnurCn.
II ana the way, the truth and the liie."
John IA, 6.
The text we have selected is generally
conceived to consist of three parts, and
each part tNiDdependent Of the other parts.
/ will however consider it as o unity.
Christ had just been telling his disciples
that he was going away to prepare
place for them, and assuring them that
He would come again and take them
unto Himself, In order that they might
be gith Him always, adding, "And
whittier 90 ye know, and the way ye
know" Thomas assured Him they did
not know where he was going and con
sequently did not know the way.
This question involved an inquiry with
reference to single thing. Thomas
made no inquiry with reference to alb
etract truth and life, or the relation of
Christ to them in the abstract, but he
simply inquired with reference to "the
way" As the inquiry has reference to a
single thing, 80 Christ's reply which is
our text involves only a single thing
The words truth and life are only used
as they have reference to the way The
word truth expresse5 the character OF
"the way !" the word life the end of the
way-thus, am the truthful way to life.
Hence, Christ says, "No man cometh
unto the Father but by Me, showing
this idea to be the central truth or glst
of the text. This solution harmonixes
with the entire Bible. 1t is the funda.
mental central and crowning truth of
the Bible. 1t is this great truth which
explains every allegory. type and apo
logue in the entire Bible. II we take
this truth away we have only book OF
fables. Christ must ever remain "the
way" The pages of the book reveal this
great truth to man, that he may know
that there is life for him, and know how
to obtain it by ''the way" which is
Christ, Who is the only hope of the
world.
This great truth is the master key
which unlocks heavens arcana. 1t is
the master hand which unravels the
mysteries and weaves the threads into a
beautiful web of truth containing hope
for fallen man. 1t opens revelation g
bosom and reveals to our understanding
eyes the great heart of the Bible thro.
bing with life, as IT sends it's life and glory
circulating through Christian civiliza
ton, developing the world, and making
it more like God. 1t is tho great key
stone cbiseled from the diamond rock OF
heaven, by tbs bleeding hand Of Christ,
while cll Calvary trembled beneath the
blows OF His hammer, which awakened
the sleeping dead, and frightened created
light back into the bosom of uncreated
night; and now finished it stands as a
mighty archway between created man
and uncreated God. As beautiful
bridge it stretches from the regions oI
death to the regions OF life, spanning
hades and hell, its every stone cemented
by the blood Of its architect and builder
When the great question OF life ant
death was presented to man Tor hi,
+, choice, he chose death This involved
the destruction OF mans relation to the
universal system of God, aud trampled
upon the law governing universal
being, thereby causing discord
throughout all the universal system OF a
bene6cent Father BY this act man
separated himself from God, the source
OF all life. 1t severed the bond OF con-
neeton upon which his spiritual life de-.
pended, and with jar that made all
creation groan, Eden's gate closed
and hurled by the force OF law from God /,
moral decay begins its dreadful ravages,
and sin holds high carnival in the nature
Of man, and fetld mould grew upon the
damp walls of Gods deserted sanctuary
ia the soul of man. Separated from the
source Of life, and left alone he wandered
from God out into the lifeless, sunless
regions Of ain.
Some way must be brought about,
some plan devised by which man could
come back to God and again enjoy the
life God intended for him. To do this
God must devise plan that will bring
man back of his own free will, that He
may freely forgive him. This plan the
plan OF all the ages, was to send His son
into the world to manifest His great love
TO man, and thus draw him to Himself
by love, the great tie severed by man
when he fell To accomplish this and
save man Christ came into the world
and psrtook of all oarth's SORROWS. But
having taken upon Him self body like
unto ours, and being fashioned like unto
man, it became necessary for Him to
disrobe Himself of the flesh, and master
the sitaation by triumphing over death
This was no, only necessary to tae &C
complishment OF his purpose with reler'
ence TO mans present life, but especially
ia order that having redeemed him from
sin, He might bs able, having gained the
power over death aud the grave, to re
deem him from the grave. Thus thf
,1f H,1 ~. fat =
was begun. All heaven is interested ID
this work of God Tor man. All hell tries
to thwart His philanthropic purpose
Demons see the work progressing ant
are astonished at tho great work Of Coz
for man. Will he fail? II no fail
earth's only hope ia gone down behint
sims darkest cloud to rise no more for
ever. Demons haste with lightning
speed to foil Him in His undertaking
! They wait for him on every corner tina
they may cause Him to fall prey t.
their cunning subtility, but their efforts
fail and He marches on against hell'i
blackened legions, accomplishing thi
work Of Ills Father In making Himsel
"the way" from this sin Scared Sarti Il
life where there 10 no sin TO mar tn
beauty OF the soul. Fallen angels, fallel
hhHanity and the great euemy OF tn
soul unite their forces and oppose th
onward march OF Christ.
Now the cloud OF persecution hang
low and the clash OF arms are heard tn
cruel, merciless kiss Of the son Of pei
di.ion betrays Him, and all unite thei
rejoicings in their apparent triumph
The bowling mob cry Away with Him
He is not worthy TO live" Submit HI
must or He can never redeem sinful man
He must meet the enemy OF man AM
God on his own battle field aud gain
victory that will put him to fight, an
make fallen man iree once more, am
enable him to attain to that life whiei
had been forfeited by his progenItors
Again tho cruel cry is heard, AVA.
with Him. !" aud His temples feel th'
thorns as they are pressed down on Iii
bowed head. Angels iorhear to aid, tina