Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-08

was withdrawn. 1t was not an eclipse. as
some have endeavored to show but SUI.
pernatural shutting in of the orb of day.
The whole land was envelcDed In darkness
Tor three hours. until the ninth hour as tho
Jews reckoned time. until 3 O'Clock i'm
the afternoon. The earth quaked the
rocks were rent and tombs were opened
me veil of the temple. drawn across the
most molly place, was rent from the top to
the bottom, signifying the taking AWAY Of
the ceremonial of the old dispense lion.
Wmch was wall or partition between
Jews and Gentiles, SO that forever man
might come boldly to a throne OF grace
These phenomena cast CONSERVATION into
the hearts of all, extorting a confession
from the centurion Matt, xxvii:54D a late
and unexpected but valuable testimony 1t
was near the close of these phenomena that
Jesus. having been six hours on the cross
cried with a loud voice. Father. into Thy
hands L commend my spirit" and gave up
the ghost duke, xiii :46).
TESTIMONY (Vcrses AZ. As, 49.-He
would have had a heart of stone who could
have witnessed the commissions in nature
ana near the dying words of Jesus and b0
unmoved. 1t is probable that many who
gathered about the cross were deeply af-
!ec'ed. The evangelist has made record OF
the only one who gave expression to his
thought and feelings. me centurion. the
Roman who had charge OF the execution,
siorified God and exclaimed, This was q
sn' ecu s man, or, as another has IT, This
utterance may have followed the other q
oouple testimony, resulting from a growing
CONVECTION. This was rare language for q
heathen, showing that to the last there
was something that gathered about Jesus
having in 1t an irresistible persuasyenese
similar emotions were awakened in others
who condemned themselves shifting upon
their breasts and retiring from the scene.
All this time those who had followed the
Lord stood at distance gazing I'm amaze
meht' knowing not ,he significance of what
they saw.
BURIAL Oversees JO-50.-It must not
De supposed that all Jews in high station
were enemies of Jesus. We know to the
contrary. mere were some who held Him
In high esteem. Nicodemus, a ruler was
one OF them who. came at night to learn Of
His doctrine, and there might have been
others who might have come secretly and
Ielt that Jesus was worthy better fate.
After the crucifxtion one Of them an.
peared-Joseph Of Aramathea, a counsel.
lor, good and just man. By some unac-
countable influence he consented when tho
Sanhedrin pronounced the verdict of guilty
OF blasphemy. But when all was over
his better impulse gained the mastery.
Boldly going to Plate he obtained permis-
sion and then caused the body to be re-
moved from the cross and laid In his own
tomb. This was a beau,ITui act of regard,
the last service which good man could
render to one who had merited his es-
TEEN.
CONCLUSION.-What means all tt;s7
Jesus, the innocent. dying like a maIefac-
tor! 1t was predicted and explained In
norant followers Matt, xvI:2D. 1t was
explained again to two of them on the way
to Emmaus after the resurrection luke
xxiv:4O. It was all In accordance with
prophecy Qsa-, liii:3-S). And through the
illumination of the Holy Spirit this death
became the fundamental theme of the gos-
pei Cor, i:2s-2D, the ground OF apps.
tolic glory Gal, vi:1D, the method and
means OF reconciliation between God and
man Rom, v:10). The cross once the in
strument of death, is now the emblem OF
Christianity. Must Jesus bear the cross
alone, and all the world go free?" Naysbut
all who would be as must suffer like Him
Matt, xvi:24. The crucifxion of the
body prepares for the LIE of the spirit
Gal, ii:20). By His death He became the
captain of salvation QHeb.. ii:1O). and the
active force OF tie mural world John
Xii:32), And, though it be hard saying.
there is no hol.er ambition for any man
than to be made comfortable unto His
death" phil, iii:1O). -.
Questions Answered.
Any person. may send any biblical ques-
ton to DR.. Gilbert LOB street north
west, this city, and receive an answer
through The Star
1885, Why are certain epistles called
catholic.
Answer The word catholic means gen.
eral. 1t is applied to certain New Testa-
ment letters of the apostles, seven in NUM-
ticular persons. but to Christians generally.
The other letters were written to churches
or individuals named therein.
1877. Why were the letters of Paul placed
in the Bible before the letters of Peter,
James, John and Jude? AS the latter were
personally acquainted with Jesus during
his lifetime might 1t not have been expect
ed that their writings would have prece-
dence?
Answer. There may be no significance in
the order of the books In the New Testa-
ment. No one can tell how or when or by
whom they were arranged In their present
order. There Is. however one possible ex-
PLANTATION. Paul was the missionary apos.
tie. His work in founding churches among
the gentiles gave him influence among
many people who needed to be instructed
in religious Things by writings that might
be used in his absence. His Wort, as an
author was prior to that Of the other apos-
ties and was more influential Naturally.
when the collection of the writings was
made his would be esteemed worthy Of
most prominence. for they covered wider
field and concerned a greater number Of
people. Even to this day 1t is held that
the Pauline thought Is by far the largest
deposit in the New Testament. Scholars
are disposed to put his utterances in the
front and to interpre. all others by him.
His was a master mind. He dominates the
theological world today and can never be
displaced as an authority on all religious
questions.