The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-04-14
In the Religious World
What the Church Folks IRE Thinking
About and Doing. Religious NeWS
From Everywhere.
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON AND YOUNG PEOPLES TOPIC.
FTCnt LVeK VtVAeIes


Easter a story and Spirit.
The International sunday school Les
son for April Is is. Jesus Power
over Disease and Death, Luke q:
1-17. The Golden Text is. Jesus
said unto her / am the Resurrection
and the Life" John IL "a.
BY WILLIAM T. ELLIS
HE facts that lie in the back
ground of life are of the
most important. We read very
little i'm the days news or IN
the prospectuSes or new settle-
- merts, about cemeteries, YET
these are the homes of myriad living
hearts. Death is a present factor IN
life The glitter and power OF the
fashionable parade on a great city
thoroughfare are very far from repre-
senting humanity's true mood the
links that bind these Well-dressed
people to chambers of suffering and
sorrow are none the less real and
strong because so often Invisible
Easter is a priced day not merely
because it marks the advent of spring.
and calls out brightest raiInent and
sweetest music; but chiefly because 1t
has a message for mans deeper ma
ture. 1t alone gives him clear con-
viction upon the problem OF lnmof-
tality, and casts the only light that
falls upon the shadow of death Easter
recalls Christ, the compassionate
Friend of all who suffer, and the con-
uuering Lord of death.
Every garden his its sepulchre. and
every. sepulchre its garden and the
Easter glory of the garden wherein
we lay our dead is taat it is full OF the
footprints of Jesus.
A Contrast in Grief.
Two touching, tender, human Incl
dents from the experience Of Jesus,
both peculiarly appropriate to Easter
constitute the present Sunday school
lesson The first followed immedi-
atelv after he had delivered his Won
derful Sermon on the Mount and
when he was on the way to his Caper-
naum home; the other happened
day later at a village in lower Gau-
lee twenty-five miles away
The principal figure in the first incl
dent was a man of wealth. position,
and authority. an officer in the Roman
army; in the second, by way OF con
trast. it was a fOrlorn widow follow
ing the body of her only son to its
sepulcher in the hillside. The first
sought from Jesus the healing OF
valued servant. and got it; the sec
ond. with no supplieation save her
grief. was given back her son from
the dead. in what may be called the
first of Christ's Easter miracles
different as was the social standing
and worldly state of those two objects
of the loving compassion OF Jesus
both were one in a common grieI-
Sorrow is the great leveler. Death IS
the only absolute democracy. All
graves are on the same plane; there IS
not one kind of sorrow for the KING
and another for the peasant; the
hearts of the millionaires and the
heart OF his humblest employe brea K
IN exactly similar manner when an
only son is lost And for all classes
and conditions of men there is but
one source of comfort in their deepest
grief. the help of the sad-eyed Man
of Galilee. There is only one Easter
message for all men everywhere
A Gentleman of the World.
After the boorishness of the most
exclusive and aristocratic party of the
Jews toward Jesus, it Is refreshing TO
have this perfect gentleman, though a
gentle. appear upon the scene Al
every point he shows himself a polish
ed discreet and considerate cosmopOli-
tan Like everybody else in Caper-
naum he knew of the wonderful pow
er of this new rabbi. When a slave
who was dear to him fell ill-and, by
the way. his relations with his servant
were the finishing touch to the gen
uineness of his characterize straight
way thought of Jesus.
A careful experienced man of the
world, he sought the best way of pre-
senting his cause; so ne made an APP
peal to the proved patriotism of the
Teacher by approaching him through
the lETluGnLlal j eWE or the CITY WHO
were quick to offer his request, sound
ing his praises the while. For the
centurion was a friend of the Jews.
and had built a synagogue for Caper-
naum-possibly the one of which the
ruins may still be seen.
The sensitive and loyal Jesus was
quickly responsive to the plea of this
friend Of his city and of his people
and he started back with the ennis
saries to the centuFiOn's house. Then
occurred an Incident thar caused the
serene Christ to marvel: while help
was on the way. word came from the
suppHanf Lord. trouble not myself;
for am not worthy that thou
shouldest come under my roof: where
fore neither thought I myself worthy
to come unto thee: but say the word
and my servant shall be healed For I
also am a man set under authority
having under myself soldiers: and I
say this one Co and he goeth: and
TO another. Come. and he cOneth;
and to my servant DO this and he
doeth 4
The Humility of the High.
The deep-seated humility Of the mar
was a part of his implicit unquestion
ing faith. He had the Roman soldier
exalted idea of authority. Moreover
he verify believed that as his underlingl
did his Will. so disease and death wer,
but servants of this mighty Healer
quick to obey his every behest. 1t wa.
easy for him to accept government b.
decree: he lied in an atmosphere O
that sort Of thing. His faith was al