The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1905-03-09

Jesus was exceedingly skillful in the
use of passing events for the illustra-
tion of truth. He seized upon them.
He held them up with the hand of an
adept. So when the priest came
with the rejoicing professional, bear
ing aloft the golden urn filed with
water from Sloan, in memory of the
water miraculousIv supplied in the
wilderness, and was on the point of
pouring it our beside the altar, Jesus
cried in strong autithesis, IF any
man thirst, let him come unto Me-,
So now, after they have lighted the
very last of the mnItitudious lamps
upon the golden candelabra in the
treasury of the temple. pretty il
Illumination in memory of the pillar of
fire i'll the wilderness, Jesus cried, Il
am the Light of the world" 1t is as
if he had said, "These lights burn for
a little while. They illuminate "a
limited area. Those who depend
upon them will then grope in
darkness. But L can illuminate the
world to the end of time. / will be a
fiery pillar to whoever will follow. He
need not walk in darkness"
This glorious announcement fell
upon ears which, hearing heard not.
There was fiat refusal on the part
of the national leaders to accept tie
claims of Jesus based, as they were,
upon what they stigmatized as His
unsupported testimony. To this
Jesus responded that his testimony,
instead Of being personal and unsup-
ported, had been repeatedly, audibly,
and visibly cOrroborated by the
Father Himself. Lofty declarations
concerning His person and office and
distinct intimation concerning His
impending death, its nature, and by
whom it should be effected. followed.
Inithis language of terrible severity
there is one delightful interlude. 1t
is the word of encouragement to the
few who, in spite of almost universal
unbelief and hate, still believed in
Jesus Their faith might be crude
and erroneous; the substance Of it
might even be the secular hope of
mere national emancipation; but if
they would only continue in the at
mosphere of Jesus teaching, this i'm
mature and wrong faith might be ex-
changed for the genuine faith OF true
discipleship. Obedience will be the
organ of knowledge, and knowledge
of the truth will be emancipation
The inYeterate hOpelessness of I'M
belief is illustrated in the reply of the
Jews. They deprecate what they
chose to esteem an imputation against
the national honor. They ignore the
incidents of Egypt, Syria, and Baby
lon, and strut as they plume them
selves upon an unbroken nationa!
and personal independence. But
they can not thus parry the home
thrust of the sword which proceeds
from Jesus mouth as the prophet
said it would. One word reveals the
slavery of which Jesus speaks. Sin is
servitude. The Son of God is the sole
and sufficient Emancipator from this
most degrading, pitiful and deadly
/ slavery.
Like a surgeon, with the keen seal
pei of His speech, Jesus opens the
very heart of the nation and shows
the utter foulness of its sin and I'M
belief. How differently. Hebrew
history would have to be written had
there been confession and contrition
on this Hateful occasion. But the ma
tIonal heart was obdurate. Had He
not withdrawn, Jesus reward for His
fidelity would have been shower of
| deadly stones.
The Teachers Lantern.
He that sent Me is with Me
There is an inspiring analogy here.
AS Jesus was sent into the world, so