The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-12-08

What the Church Folks IRE Thinking
Abcut and Doing. Religious NeWS
From Everywhere.
suNnAY scHooI LEssoN -ANp YOUNG PEorLEs TopIo.

into its socket with a wrench that
must have racked every nerve fiber in
kept watch before 1t. Utterly blind to
the significance of the worlds suprem-
est tragedy which was being enacted
before their eyes, they gambled over
the spoils of the victim. They were
/ witnesses of a scene that shook heaven
and earth, and that stopped all of the
worlds clocks. destroyed its old CAL
endars, and gave new birth to time
Yet these men gambled away. with
rude Jest and laughter and quarrel
sOmeness. So does the ruling passion
Of Il life intrude itself into the most
sacred scenes. Who does not know
how, even when on his knees in prayer,
there 1ntrudeS into his mind thoughts
that engrossed him at other hours,
and that are altogether alien to the
spirit of devotion2
Yet even these Roman soldiers. like
PLATE, and the priests, and the Phari-
sees, and the people were fulfilling the
divine prophecy. Gods will will be
done by US, or else in spite of US. Jesus
was the willing agent of the Fathers
Will; the ether participants in the
great tragedy were ignorant Of that
will or unwilling to do it, But the
Will of God was done, as it must al
ways be done, despite all the machina-
tons Of men and devils.
Comrades of the Cross.
Nothing outside of himself can real
H..
humiliation to Jesus to die with the
maiefactors on either side of Him. He
was above such a petty thought; and
even so dying He was given an OppOr-
tunlty to minister which was the rul-
ing passing of His life. He willingly
makes himself a cOmrade of every
man on a cross, or of every man bear
ing a cross. For the sake of being
best Brother to men, He is willing to
pay any price; suffering is not too
high a price for sympathy. Jesus is
histOry'S great Sharer.
And He still covets conlradeships
The women at the foot of the cross
were q comfort unSpeakabIe to the
dying Saviour. Then, as it always the
case, it was woman who was mans
support in his extremity Paradoxic-
ally. God has made the weaker sex to
be the strOnger'S final strength and
support Womanhood's queenliest
crown came to her that dark day, amid
nOOntide blackneSS and rending skies,
when the little band of women stood
Loyalty by their crucified Friend
Jesus still wants comrades of the
cross-disciples who know the fellow
ship of suffering. No sorrow, no sac
rifice. no shame can be too great to
bring one into a COMMUNICATING com
munion with the crucified Christ. The
exceeding great reward of all who
suffer in any degree as He suffered is
that they come to know Him and to be
known of Him. All who are closest to
irradiate His power have been with
Him on Calvary.
= Tie End of It All.
Few events are final, most are but
means to an end. The cross was not
Christ's extinction but his coronation.
In itself its endurance would not have
been justifia BILE, the "penitentes' fa iOf /
Mexico, who suffer for sufferings' sake,
have not entered deeply into the true
meaning of the cross The symbol
ism of the cross is sacrifice. as a means
to service. The Lords ministry to
His mother in his last hour was typi-
cal; the crucifixion comprehends an
all and great service.
Mary saw in that hour what the an
gel announcer had meant when he
declared: Thou shalt call His name
Jesus: because He shall save His peo-
pie from their sins" It was only that
He might atone for the worlds SHINING
that the Just died for the unjust This
terrible tragedy would be as idle as a
painted ship upon a painted ocean"
without it were a victorious atone
ment for the sins of men.
Under an Eastern sky,
Amid 4 rabble cry
A man went forth to die
For mel
Thorn-crowned His blessed Head,
Blood-stained His weary tread,
CrOss-laden He was led
For me!
Pierced were His hands and feet,
Three hours DER Him beat
Fierce rays of noon-tide heat
For me!