The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-07-28
A Man IrrepressibIe and UnanswerabIe
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q man lrrepreSSlDlS and DnaI1syVera0Ie
BL WILLIAM T. ELLIS
The International Sunday school les
son for July 20 is, j esus dimes with
Pharisee." Luke IA: LA. The
Golden text is. He that humbleth
himself shall be exalted"
HE man who knows himself
and who knows what is in
man, and who is afraid of
nothing. cannot be confound-
ed or suppressed. The wonder
- full triumphs Of Jesus during
His earthly mission, over the shrewd
and powerful enemies that thronged
Him on every side, form a fascinating
theme of study. The solitary grand
eur of His figure, as He stood alone
amid adverse conditions and relentless
foes, has never yet been adequately
portrayed.
There seemed never a moments re-
spite for Him. In every society He
was sure to ind enemies, malignant
crafty, INSCRIPTIONS. The most inno-
cent invitations were frequently but
traps to catch Him. Thus, on the pres
ent occasion, He accepted the invita-
ton Of a wealthy Pharisee to take din
ner with him on the Sabbath day. This
surely seemed harmless enough; vet
the invitation was one more of count
less schemes to enmesh Him. This rul-
ing Pharisee was not above such con-
Gempuble tactics Indeed, Jesus must
early have got over being surprised at
the Httleness of big men.
1t is said that Jesus never refused
sny invitation. He went to this din
ner as cheerfully as He would go to
the humble meal of a publican. Ger
tainiys He had no respect for social
caste line In frank sincerity He went
where He was hidden. If there be
treason in the hospitality, let it be up
on the head Of the host. The oppor-
tundty for which the oily, whispering
Phartsee watched, was not long in
AZ n ",
to see whether Jesus would break tn e
Sabbath, and the appearance of a man
with the dropsy presented the test.
Then, as now one did not have long
to wait or far to go to find deep hui
man need. Take a peep at the real
nature Of the crowd that is nearest to
you, and you will find more suffering
and tragedy than ever you dreamed.
The man who moves among men in the
sltruistic spirit Of Jesus, viii find on
every hand opportunities for helping
and healing. These Pharisees had no
thought Of the mans need; they cared
only for an ecclesiastical statute.
When religion runs to seed, 1t puts
regulations above righteousness and
ceremony above charity.
Gentle Teachers Scorn.
There is biting scorn in the question
which Jesus held out to the lawyers
and Pharisees. answering their un-
spoken attitude us it lawful to heal
opponents of law. He asked them a
question coming within their prov
1nce; but they held their peace; they
did not dare make answer, one way or
the other The teacher straightway
took the man with the drOpsy. healed
him and let him go, and then reIent-
lessly turned upon his indignant enem-
les. which Of you, He said, shall
have an ass or an OK fallen into a pit
and viii not straightway pull him out
on the Sabbath day" Here He was
judging them by their own law. They
could not answer this Teacher who !
seemed so guileness, and yet who knew
how to puncture their keenest subtle |
ties. They were made to feel how
ever the whitening scorn of a great !
hearts contempt
The Scramble for Place.
The true philosopher is the man
who uses his eyes. Jesus saw straight |
Wherever He went, He cOmprehended /
the real significance of the lives about /
Him. Nor did He hesitate to speak /
forth fearlessly His judgment upon |
what He saw. Not only were tn csc /
Pharisees censorious and unIoving. but |
in their scramble for place, like the |
rich Jew, Isaac of York at the tourna- |
ment in "Ivanhoe." they made them
selves ridiculous.
The scene might have been a modern
instance from Washington, or New I
port or Ottawa. The jeaIousies and /
strifes for precedence, with the heart /
6urnings of the defeated ones. are /
large factors in the social life Of Of |
gncial centers. The principle which I
> esus laid down as q substitute for the !
Nvolhshly indecent one that prevailed al /
the Pharisee's house, and which pre- /
walls throughout the world, was:
when thou art hidden, 90 and sit I
down in the lowest place, that when /
ne that hath hidden thee cometh. he
may say unto three. Friend. go up /
higher; then shalt thou have glory in |
the presence of all that sit at meat /
with thee. For everyone that exalt- /