The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-02-20

l
should Jesus be in Gallilee, while John
was in dungeon? 1 offer no apology
as some ministers do from the pulpit;
you read about it in books, of his lapse
of faith. Elijah did. Jesus once cried
out, MY God, why doth thou forsake
meH' If He did not ask in His trial
where is God, do not think He could
have had faith. So He sent a message
to the lord and said: "Jesus, thought
Thou vast the Messiah: let me know
if Thou art; but don't leave me in this
extremity, in this dungeon at the close
Of my life!"
Jesus answered the message and sent
back not merely comforting answer,
but noble tribute to John He did not
say as He might, my servant, don't be
cast down; thou hast lived thy life for
Me, and if thou art now in a dungeon
at the end of thy days, thou hast not
long to live. and will not suffer long. !"
Jesus did not say, IT answer YOU not
l send you back upon your prophet
ISAIAH" He said to the messenger:
Tell him of the kingdom, of its great
increasing wealth and prosperity, of
the great work that is being done; tell
him what you have seen: tell him Of
the strength of the people in their faith,
Of the state of the way of the right
eous, of our advance to be the greatest
Of empires. Tell him that and no more.
He saw them depart carrying their
message a noble tribute to John; but
after their departure Jesus could not
contain Himself on thinking of this
man. I don't exaggerate when sa1-
this He only allowed Ills passions to
be evident upon Two occasions, once in
His anger at the scribes and Pharisees;
again upon this message to John. He
awoke the people into thinking Of John
and famed their passion into white
heat over this man. all of them knew
him and many had gone long ways to
hear John.
He said '"Whom did We go out to
see: to listen to his prophecy, to his
wisdom. as broad as the banks on
either side of the Jordan. John or Me?"
He paused in His question while like a
mighty water-food every man at the
remembrance of John said Amen.
Jesus said again: Whom did you go
out to see; man in fine clothes, man
who lived at feasts and bancuets, in
luxurious houses and in wantoness?"
He paused while the people saw John
rise before them in his rough gar
ments, his rough loaf of bread, In all
his self abnegation, and tears filled
their eyes with pity for this man, who
had literally lifted them in his arms
and carried them to the feet of Jesus.
Jesus began again: Whom did We 60
out to seer" But the people could en-
dure no more. A man shouted why
do you ask? A prophet" And all took
up the word and shouted out: "A
prophet! The greatest name ever given
to man; the name Of Moses and Isaiah
prophets" ,
Jesus looked at the people almost sat
isfied and said, You are right proph-
ct, but the greatest Of all. This man
hath laid himself down that My chariot
might go over his body. and there is not
a man who willb be greater than john"
Do you understand Johns character
now? ns
There is Herod in luxury and sin. Do
you envy him? There is John, without
a career, about to die in O. dungeon, de-
voted to state, religion and God. If you
had lived in those times and had been
asked the question, Whom would you
rather be, Herod upstairs or John down
in the dungeon? what would you have
replied? Who succeeded?
The only Son of God rose up on His
throne and with overpowering enthusi-
asm pronounced judgment on John
When Jesus said, Greatest Of men,"
the light of heaven filled that dungeon.
and although John saw it not, he felt
its influence and overhead the angels Of
God stood as guardians.