The evening Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1902-1902, 1902-09-12

us 10 at once to the secret OF his
agony and to the secret of his
victory. Stand just a moment at
the cross aud listen to the splash,
splash OF his life's blood as it
moIstens the ground beneath him
until you hear that couquering cry.
ut is flushed" then once more put
your finger on the thirty-secoud
verse OF the twelfth chapter of John s
gospe! aud read Sand if l be lifted
up IRON the earth will draw all men
INTO me-"
And see In these wondrous words
OF the gospel new light and new
meaning. That awful tragedy is the
adequate sacrifice for human guilt.
mo condemnation may now DO
written on the bow OF sinners.
There Is of course future redcmp.
tive glory awaiting the restless sons
OF men, and for the cay of it, the
whole creation groans aud travails
together until now, but the judge
ment for past sins is u past judge
ment John 5: 2t. Now Can we un.
dersuand and ouly now the full sig.
nilicance Of the words of the text
uttered by our Lord just six days be-
fors his crucitixion.
The doctrine of the cross is a doc.
trine OF mystery unless we stand
close to it. So doing We learn what
Christ would evermore teach in life,
in death, namely that a man must
die before he can really live, that
every Christ-liks death Is IN a true
sense a victory, and that the cost
Of the worlds redemption was
heavy cost.
Christ is the supreme answer to
that question ''If a man die
shall he live agaln?" Every great
man is greater on the day OF his
death and afte rward than lie ever
was before. He who dies the day of
his funeral deserved to die before lie
did. Charles II. Sturgeon is more
certainly alive today than in thu
days Of his flesh. Abraham Lincoln
is u greater man to-day than he was
on the day OF his assassination.
George Washington is knowl BY
more people in the world than he was
on the day of his second election to
the first presidency Of tn, Uaital
States. Dwight l.. Moody breaches
yet with living cloqucnce and spirit
ual power even though we do not see
his form and hear his voice. And
Jesus Christ is drawing all men unto
himself now, though he did not while
he lived.
The words of the text could not be
kept if he had kept his life. There
was much truth in the centurioa's
taunL ale Saved others, Himself he
could not save. "In one sense he could
have saved himself, for he was God.
He who would call to life man who
had been dead four days, could surely
save man from dying even though
that man was himself. But he could
not save his life arl keep his word,
and 10 him his promise WIS of more
value than his life. He had sail it
WIS necessary for The S)n Of man to
die, for him to be lifted up on the
cross that he might draw all men unto
him.
That mother as she walks up and
down the floor all night long and
sings those baby songs to quiet the
raging Of her Daby's fever, coul save
herself and let her blbg die but she
could not save herself and save her
baby too. That father crazcl with
grief, as he hears the cry Of his little
boy in the burning building could
save himself from tho awful conilag-
ration, bat he could not save himself
and save his Child.
That engineer who soas the open
bridge moment too late could
save himself by Jumping from his
engine, but ne could save the train
by sticking to his post at the great
est risk to his life, only he coull
not save the train and save him Sslf
Jesus Christ nee'l not have died.
He had sufficient power to come
down from the cross and walk into
Jerusalem AMI kiss his mother and
meet his disciples in the old falnil-
lar haunts, but he could not do all
this and save the world bahiles.
BY coming down from the cross he
could have saved ono man, himself;
by being lifted up from the earth he
could draw all men unto him.
How will he keep the promise and
prophecy OF the text, for he is not
here in person now TO do it. In
many ways this greatest magnet in
the world is drawing the world OF
men TO him. Great men there have
been, who have drawn tothoms.lves
IN life II large following, but their
presence has been essential to
their followers. Comrades have
stuck to the principles their lead
ers have chanpioncd even after the
leaders have died, but they have
made not many converts. Christ is
dead. No, no. Christ lives, he lives
in the works of his han Is that
breathe of hls beauty and speak of
his mynt.
He lives in his Word, which still |
leads all other publications in the |
enormity of its output and in tho
influence of its teaching. He lives
by the preached word, for still does
it please God by the foolishness OF
preaching, to save them that believe.
He lives in his Church, which is q
beacon light in the world, pointing
thousands to the Light Of the world.
He lives in living epjstles, known
and read Of all men. He draws men
unto himself in all these ways, and
in other ways beyond the reach of
human understanding and human
description.