Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-08-27

i
tra-Judean esoteric doctrine, with which
the Judaean conception Of Christ was
brought into conception. forming the
complete Jesus Christ.
Now. II IS true that the doctrine Of
the Messiah, OF the Christ the Anolnt-
ed one, dates back TO the beginning Of
the history OF the human race. and Is
found. On some form in the traditions
and ethical conceptions OF an races.
In tho sacred records OF the Hebrews
wc meet with the Messianic idea from
the story Of the fan to the last chapter
% prophecy Il parallels the historic
narrative and forms the central theme
Of the grand compositions Of the proph.
cts ana poets. The Hebrew writer's rep.
resent the Messiah as a Son Of David
king. delivercr shepherd. clothed
Win divine authorities and attributes
but also a sufferer an atoning sacrifice
Tor the redemption OF the people. Blu,
MS does. by no means. place Him out
side The domain OF history They DO
not represent the Messiah az q mythical
divinity In an Olympian assembly OF
gods. lie was 10 them a real deliyercr
and savior. one who was surely 10 come
ia the fulness OF time and bring saliva.
tion. To them the Messiah was as
much a reality as was Moses and David.
His future kingdom was 70 be as real
as the kingdoms Of Assyra. Egypt. or
other worldly powers with which they
were familiar
But although TIE Messianc doctrine
was clearly outlined by the inspired
writer's, 1t should be noticed that the
Christ OF the New Testament was 50
strange 20 His contemporaries that
they rejected Him. as an imposter. The
Professor says the Jesus-cult was an
eNtra-Judaean, csoteric doctrine. with
which the Judaean conception was
brought into contact. forming the COM
pietc Jesus Christ This is a glarlng
contradiction Of facts. The Judaean
conception. Notwithstanding the pro-
pheuc word, Was so different from the
New Testament Christ. that the Jews
condemned Him TO death as a BIAS
phcmer To the great majority Of them
Hls gentle teachings sounded as the
voice Of a strange shepherd They
knew Him not. They refused TO fol- /
low Him So far were His works. His .
station iu lie, His doctrines, from be-
Ing in harmony with the popular con-
ceptIons Of the Messiah. How. then.
could those conceptions mixed with pa
gan IDEAS form the picture Of the
Christ presented to the world by the
New Testament writer's? The sugges-
ton is extremely absurd. The New
Testament Christ Is the Man. or the
son Of Man. the Brother Of all Gods
children, through whom they have ac-
cess 10 the Father. He is God, and
the Son Of God, and therefore mighty
10 save lie Is a Prophet. TO enlighten.
warn and instruct His brethren. a
Priest. TO intcrccde and make atone
ment Tor them; and a king TO rule over
them, and protect them, and bless them
forever and though He was slain He
lives In glory. and will return to re.
deem the earth. Such is the New TIES.
lament Christ He Is so far from any
conceptions formed either by pagan
dreamers or Rabbinical letter-worship-
ers, as truth is from error, darkness
from light
Jesus though clearly fulfilling IN His
life and work all the prophecies con-
corning the Messiah. was rejected BY
the very class Of people who claimed
that they believed In those prophecies,
and had eternal life in them. That is
a lesson that should not be lost upon
our own axe. IN this age, too, the Lord
has sent His messengers to warn. by
the proclamation OF the everlasting
gospel, the world that the second adj
vent Of the Messiah the King Of Glory.
is near at hand Mankind has always
been prone TO reject divine messengers
messengers with a divine mission
because most men have so erroneous
conceptions Of things divine, that they
DO not al FIRST recognize them when
set before them, and so prejudiced as
10 refuse impartial investigation. The
FIRST messengers Of our Lord were,
therefore, slain. and the same fate be-
zen the Prophet Joseph and his beloved
brother and others. In this dispense.
tion The world should realize the re.
sponsibility resting upon II today. and I
not repeat the error Of those who In
former times rejected the messengers
OF our Lord.