The record-union., 1898-12-27

iOIs dllu Jesus the supreme genius u
the world, who has never been, never
can be surpassed He is the supreme
revelation of God.
The transcendent superiority of Jesus
was expressed by Charles Lamb in
this way. Suppose, in a large room
filled with distinguished men OF
science and learning, Shakespeare
should enter. As a recognition of his
genius all would instantly rise to their
feet. But if Jesus should enter they
would all instinctively kneel. There is
| quality of character in Jesus that
will not permit US to classify Him
With other men. The distinction be-
tween Him and the founders of other
| religions is infinity, Between the great
white dome of Mount Shasta and an
anthill at its base there is no compa-
rison. So it is between Jesus and all
other teachers of religions. Jesus
stands out above and apart from all
| others. There is a quality of Divine
ness in Him that is not to be found
| in any of the children of men. AS
one has Well said: There were chill
dren, sweet and pure, born into the
world with the child Jesus, but He
| journeyed with them but little way in
the path of common humanity. The
separating distance soon widened into
the immeasurable space
! It was the habit of Napoleon Bona
parte during his ST Helena exile to
| converse about the great men of an
tiquity. On one occasion he turned to
an officer and said: Can you tell me
who Jesus Christ was?'' The officer
-ai 1oO I,7 M
to the subject. Then" said Napoleon,
Il will tell you." And he began to
| compare Jesus with some of the heroes
Of history, showing how Jesus sur
passed them adj. He said: II under
stand something of human nature, and
l tell you all these We're men and l
am man, but not one is like Him.
Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne and
myself founded great empires. But
upon what did the creations Of our
genius rest? Upon forcel Jesus found
ed His kingdom upon love, and to this
day millions would die for Him. l
know men and I tell you Jesus is not
man. He is more than man.
The life of Jesus is recorded in
fodr small pamphlets or books
we call gospels. These four lives of
Jesus We're written by men who
We're either eye Witnesses of, or receiv-
| ed from eye Witnesses the facts they
| record. These brief biographies con-
tain reliable history. They give in plain
language a true and trustworthy ac-
count of a remarkable person who lived
in Palestine nineteen hundred years
ago. The facts pertaining to Him are
established in the same way as facts
in regard to any historical character,
as Alexander, or Socrates or Cromwell.
OF the early life of Jesus little is
told. He lived a life of toll BY man
ual labor He earned His daily bread
and helped support His widowed
mother and younger brothers and sis
ters. He was a carpenter He knew
the tolls and privations of working
men. AS He grew in years He grew
in favor with God and man. AT the
age of thirty He left the abscure viii
lage where He had so long lived and
toied, and for three years went
| through the villages and towns of
Palestine preaching and teaching rehg-
ious truths He went about doing
good. Scan His life critically and you
fail to find a single act of selfishness
injury He was holy, harmless, unde-
| filed. He never erred, never blundered,
never fell into a mistake. He charged
other men with sin and called them to
repent, but He himself never repented
and never offered prayer for forgive
ness. He was watched by men who
hated Him, and when they brought
Him to the judgment seat they were
- 1I,a
Him. He was put to death on a charge
| OF blasphemy because He said He was
| the Son of God PLATE the judge tes-
| titled to His innocence when he said,
Il find no fault in Him." Judas, who
knew him intimately, confessed 81 have
betrayed innocent blood" The Roman
| Centurion, standing by the cross, said,
Truly, this was righteous man"
Conscious Of His sinlessness Jesus
| threw out the challenge, who of you
convinceth me of sin?" OF His obedi-
ence to the Father He could say, Il
always do the things that please Him. -
He was exposed to sin, tempted in all
| points, as we are, but never once
| yielded to the tempter. 'He did no
| sin, neither was guile found in His
mouth" In these respects Jesus
stands separate and apart from all
other founders of religion. There is no
record in the literature Of any people
OF a life for which absolute perfection
| is claimed from it's beginning to it's
| close. But the character of Jesus as
exhibited in the gospels is perfection.
| No defect can be discovered and no
additional virtue imagined
Jesus lived the truth before He
preached it, There was perfect har-
mony between His teaching and His
| life His character gave emphasis to
His words, and His words found their
| highest Illustration in his character. His
words and deeds blend like noble po-
etry set to golden music. In Him the
| ideal and real are one. He united in
Himself the human and the divine. He
revealed the humanity of God and the
divinity of man. We do well to re-
member and hold fast the fact that the
| life of Jesus of Nazareth is ''the human
| life of Cod 1t is God revealed in hu-
man conditions. Jesus, the eternal Son
of God, humbled Himself that He might
| lift humanity up to the nights of kim
| ship and fellowship with God. This He
| could not have done had He been a
mere man. InlS lie ala because he
was a real incarnation of God. He was
God manifest in the flesh. The divinity
| of Christ is at the heart and core Of
| the gospel He has given US to preach.
| The life of Jesus was as conspicuous
| for philanthropy as for piety. His love
| of man was as marked feature of His
life as His love of God. He was as hui
name toward man as He was devout
toward God. He manifested tender