Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1903-11-05


world rejoices in this newly found truth.
go back 1900 years and there you viii fine
One whose days were spent in doing others.
good. Follow Jesus through His ministry
and you will soon discover that you are
following the footsteps of the worlds one
pist. Every act. is designed to help an
other You seek for the least trace of
selhshness IN vain. Every work bears the
seal of humanity's best. Indeed, so far
are they above the worlds best that they
bring in their wake sweet thoughts Of
while ago He fed the hungering thousands.
1t was but yesterday He touched new life
into the maniac boy and smoothed the
deep burrows from fathers brow This
morn He drove the fever from the sick one
in Peters home, and mayhap, ere the day
is done He will whisper the hope of Il pure
and holy life to the harlot at the we'll
We have not too much thought of the
works Oh Jesus as the acts OF one fellow
man, toward others. When viewed accord
ing to this standard they are seen to be
the highest realization OF mans highest
ideal. Christ was wise when He said, BE
hold My works. for according to the fnd-
ings Of the best thought of all the ages no
works are more beautiful or higher God.
The mere force. beauty and holiness OF
His acts prove His kinship with the divine
The Christ they were looking for was to
demonstrate His divine power by the
might and conquest Of arms. They had it
all cut and dried just what the Christ
should be and do. He was suddenly to ap-
questered way of life, attended by great
wonders. With the sword He was quickly
to overrun the world and set up in Jeru-
salem Il power that would rule all nations
Any love or philanthropy that could be
worked in would be all right, but before
oh oJc -,o1, H.
Gods wrath against the nations, visiting
them with defeat and disaster, that the
Jew might rule supreme.
To the inquirer Of to-day the answer Of
Jesus should be convincing. Since 1t is
ours to look from the mountain peak %
other proofs and find still other answers
to the all important question. Was Jesus
the Christ!' History gives a twofoid an
swer, first as seen in the preparation OF
the world for the coming of the Messiah
and then in the development Of the worlds
clares that when the fulness of time was
come. God sent forth His Som into the
world. By the fulness Of time he must
have meant the period that wss to elapse,
according to the wisdom of God, before
His Son. the Christ should come. Now, il
find the circumstances OF the time in
which He lived peculiarly fitted for His
coming. What were these circumstances!
The vast Roman empire afforded a broad
and accessible field for the. spread Of oss
new religion. The sceptre OF Roman pow
as a centre were splendid military roads
which extended to the remotest boundaries
OF the empire Because Of these and the
opening OF ocean routes travel was easy
as compared with preceding centuries.
Peonle. Travelled more. Thus facilities for
III 4r,,,4h Lfo,N
than ever before in the worlds history.
But the most notable preparation was
that Of the Jewish people. They had long
striyen with their desire to worship idols.
At last their vision was clarified in this re-
gard, and the way was open for a further
among them. from reading the annals Of
their fathers, had come to long for the
promised Messiah until that longing was
kindled to fervent heat. All these things
peculiarly fitted the time in which Jesus
lived for the reception and spread Of great
religious truths.
Nor is history since that time less re-
markable. He died death of shame; none
could according to the common notion be
more lgnominious or disgraceful. HIS
friends apparently were few. That He
would soon be forgotten would seem nat
multiplied with marvellous rapidity. Per-
secutions began and thousands of then,
were burned, roasted; speared and given
over to wild beasts. Notwithstanding ALI
this, within 300 years one-twentieth part
of the empire were professed Christians,
the Emperor himself among the number.
From that time until the present Chris
tianity and civilization have gone hand III
hand. Many of the great upheavals OF
the worlds life is the story of Christianity
asserting herself against the powers that
would stay her triumphant march: IL was
so in the time Of Charlemagne, of Luther,
of Cromwell and of Plymouth Rock. The
lines of history converge toward Jesus
Christ. In all things truly He has pre-
eminence. Surely, this must be the Christ.
From the historic point OF view was lie
not more than man? His works and the
voice of history declare Jesus to be the
Goldman.
II there still be lingering doubt in the
mind Of any that Jesus is the Christ. the
Kings Son. let him study the human heart
and it's deepest needs and his doubts Will
fly. Sin like a sombre cloud casts dark
ened shadow across every life. Man has
ever found himself gripped In the relent-
less grasp OF an evil nature. None Is ex-
| empt. All alike are tarred with the. one
black stick. If a man tells you he has not
a sinful nature get a little closer and You
will detect the odor of the tar so familiar
to yourself. Congratulate ourselves as We
may upon our goodness, it is still TACT
C0aC we are Dy NATURE Aut " NAA!S
this is true, it is also true that man feels
stirring within him higher and holier ma
ture. He feels within a purpose to be
other and better than he is. Before him
| he sees the ideal of holy character, ma
ture wholly free from sin. and that nature
| he feels to be akin to God.
Now look at Jesus in the light OF these
| facts. His days are one long sequence OF
holy thoughts and perfect deeds. In him
you look for -sinfulness in vain. In Him
there is no fault, not the shadow of a
| thought that man can brand as sinful.
| This at once differentiates Him from all
others. In Him man finds his ideal ex-
pressed. Letathe heart once come in touch
| with Jesus and it needs no other answer
! to it's questions. In Him it is satisfied.
| What it would have, Jesus already has:
! In touch with Him the soul must keep it
it would have its needs supplied, and its
higher life realized. Surely He who alone
realizes life's. ideal and satisfies the needs
and aspirations of the heart must be the
| Christ Oh, soul, have you the assurance
this morning from need supplied. ideals
sanctifed and heart satisfied, that Jesus
is the Christ? Believe Him for HIS word
has been given. If not for this believe
Him for His works sake. If still You
doubt consult the testimony OF history
and of the human heart, and your soul, re-
spending to His divine touch. will surely
cry out, Eyes Jesus, l know Thou art the