The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-04-15
IN HOLY WEEK.
N the solemn Days Commemorate
to the Church.

Baltimore American.
The most interesting week of the Chris
tan year begins to-day. The personality
of Jesus and His humanity are brought out
with wonderful clearness. An epitome of
the events which are commemorated during
the week is substantially the life of Christ
so far as il relates TO the human race. His
joys and sorrows. His triumphs and hui
Mutations, are sharply contrasted, and
His cruel death, preceded by the desertion
of His frightened followers. completes the
picture. Much the greater part of Christ's
teachings. according TO the record. were
crowded into this memorable week. 1t
was not until the eve of His passion that
He gave a distinct impression of the
momentous character of His mission, and
it is not apparent that Ills disciples clearly
understood His mission. 1t is impossible
10 imagine that Peter would have denied
Him. or that one OF the twelve would nave
betrayed Him, or that all of them would
have shrunk into concealment during the
agonies of the crucitixion had they realized
that their Master was divine.
His entrance into Jerusalem was a popu-
lar triumph and il is probable that this
demonstration first suggested TO the Roman
auInOIlIlSS the danger OF the government
from this new leader and teacher. Those
were troublous times for the Roman Sedi-
lion lurked in every gathering, and men
of force were constantly arising to head the
mobS and lead them against their hated
oppressors. That the authorities should
have mistaken the purpose of Jesus is but
natural. There can be little doubt but that
the influence of the teachings and example
Of Christ for the two or three years pre-
ceding the passion had eliminated at this
time. and brought together a great number
of His followers. Jesus himself was more
aggressive than at any previous period of
His ministrations. He overturned the tables
of the money-changerS and the seats of
them that sold doves. His discourses car
ried a spirit of defiance, as though nothing
further was to be gained by prudence or
Cancellation. 1t was. in fact, almost an
invitation to His enemies to do their worst,
and that was probably His intention. For,
whether the human or divine side of Jesus
be considered, 1t is reasonable to infer that.
knowing the end, RE had grown weary of
the struggle, and was looking forward Gag
erly to its elimination on Calvary.
The hue and cry against Jesus, the In
stitution of the last supper in commemora-
ton of His death. the Jreachery of Judas
after it's announcement by the Savior him.
self. the bloody sweat in the garden. the
conflict with the soldiers. the hearing be-
fore the high priest. the emphatic denial of
hS Master by Peter, the arrangement be-
fore the Roman magistrate and their con-
demnatiOn. the scourging and the crown of
ANAEA AAAH AAAA W.
of Jesus under the weight of the cross. and
the prolonged agony on that instrument of
torture. are all human events which Chris
tians can understand and appreciate. So far
as Christ appears. they eXemplify in the
broadcast sense every good principle and
emotion in the human heart. and they
make Christ himself the first and greatest
eXempla of the religious truths which He
taught TO mankind. There has been some
discussion of the terrible agony of Christ
i'm the garden. 1t has been urged by some
of the greatest of t~heologians that this was
occasioned. not by the apprehension of
the physical torture Jesus was about to I'M
dergO-for men have died for men since
there was a racc-but by the infinite bur-
den of sin which at the moment rested on
the Savior, and which He was to expiate
on the cross.
That is a mystery which the human mind
cannot comprehend. 1t is possible. however
to comprehend the purely human side of
the affair. and when the relations of Jesus
to His flock are considered. His passionate
love for mankind and His unselish effort
to lead people into the right path, extend
ing over years, to be rewarded at last by
the cruelest of persecution. betrayal. denial
and death on the cross, surely there was
enough to eXtort the momentary weakness
in the garden. Passion week commence
rates peculiarly the human side of the
Savior. and ends with the deep gloom of
the grave, from which there is to break
forth on the morrow the light to give life
TO the world.