The Savannah morning news., 1900-09-10
wonsnIr A LIVING CHRIST.
Rev. ". y. watkins sermon at the
Christian Church.

Christian Church.
The Living Jesus" was the subject OF
Rev. W. r. watkins sermon yesterday
morning at the Christian Church Chris
t,.ns worship living. not dead Jesus.
he said and cited many passages from
the Bible 20 substanilate and illustrate
liz views For his text. Or. Watkins took
Reve atons 22le. Il, Jesus"
This" the preacher said. lis short.
tut sweet and suggestive text. Just two
words I. Jesus Link It into another
scripture gem. This same Jesus lie had
stepped into a chariot OF cloud ana been
ewept out Of view His disciples stood
siraining their eyes 20 catch one more
glimpse OF His vanishing form whittier
rad lie gomez Was He lost in the clouds?
Angels sent 20 cheer their Responding
hearts say, He Is IN Heaven. and that In
due tirne he will ccme again
Let US call three witnesses who shall
confirm the angels teaching. The first
witness II stephen, the first Christian
martyr. Ia Acts 800 Is the account OF
his tragic. yet glorious end. He saw the
heavens opened and Jesus standing at
the right hand of God This was not an
optical illusion. a phantasy Of the brain.
IA. Il was the vision Of faith: he was
flled with the spirit and his emanciDated
soul leaped from its battered house OF
a. ay 10 the embrace OF his Lord. Stephen
tells us Jesus is alive.
The second witness Is Saul Of Tarsus
on his way TO Damascus. a very wolf %
he'll about 70 spring on the few defense
less sheep of Christ. there he was smitten
20 The ground by light brighter than the
monday sun. and a voice from beyond tho
home OF the thunder pierced his very
heart: why persecutest thou Me- And
20 this trembling inquiry Who art thou.
Lofd?' came the response: ! am Jesus
who was this Saul? According to the
story OF Stephens martyrdom there
was a young man stapdlng by. holding
the clothes OF Stephens murderers. He
was an accessory 20 the crime. As
stephen fell asleep upon his bed of stones
his dying eye rested for a moment on this
young man. and he brea;hea ;hc prayer:
'I.ord. lay not this sin 90 their charge 10
II was the last arrow in the CULVER. and
Il went straight TO the mark Scarce
had Stephens FIRST song OF praise died
away before the throne when an angel
was sent 10 tell the surprising news con-
corning that very same young man;
behold. he pTayeth!" Who will dare
deny AuRustines saying. The church
owes Paul to Stephens prayerr' Surely
Il was one link in the chain of Gods puf-
poses. Parents. pray on! Now Paul
testiies that Jesus is alive. lie saw His
glory and heard his voice.
our third witness is John the Evan
geiist. Thirty more years have passed.
the beloved disciple has been hanished
TO Patmos Persecution l. gun that
alwals recoils. Here In solitude broken
only by the splash OF the waves upon
the rocky shore. or the screams OF the
wild sea birds. we're recalled visions that
sustained tho lonely exile. and have
thrilled the hearts OF successive genera
tons OF believers. John saw Jesus. who
said: 4 am He that was dead. and be-
hold. / am alive forevermore!
SO then angels Stephen, Paul, John ell
tell US that Jesus lives! Wedo not worship
dead Christ ours Is living saviour.
Alive today. az He was here on the
earth. The life OF Jesus Is different from
th. life OF any OF the person IN history
Caesar was Christ is! IL Is a great de-
feet in our study OF the life of Christ 90
consider Him In but single chapter OF
t4is ttfe and work. As we study Him his
toricaily. let us commence Win nm per
sonally, Offering the prayer
For Jesus make thyseh TO me
A living light realty.
"uis name Is Jesus ssill. He IL not
ashamed OF His old human name that was
,uaocfated with Bethlehem and Calvary.
sometimes people who get up in the wored
are ashamed OF. and repudiate former as
sociafes. They seek TO conceal their mum
be origin. Not 20 with Jesus. That "
the name which Is 40 be above every
rame. Sweetest name on mortal tongue
sweetest note IN angels song.
Let Il be shrined In our deepest
memories. and woven Ia our highest
harmonies.
SO strike to-day anew the keynote OF
nv ministry. / would present Jesus-the
,inner's savior-the sinners friend. BE
this my theme:
Happy II with my latest breath.
may but gasp HIS name.
Preach Him TO ALI and cry in death.
Peholdi behold che Lamb "