The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-09-22
By William T. ELLIS.

BY WILLIAM T. ELLIS.
OR nine months past the atten-
ton Of the great company OF
TX people who comprise the sun
dav-schools Of the world has
been centered upon the life Of
Jesus Christ. Next year the 1nterna-
tional series returns to the Old Iesta-
rnent The present lesson is designed
as a review of the studies of the past
three months which were all round
within the last year Of the Ire OF
Christ
Men sometimes wonder why it is
that religion has such a grip upon the
minds Of the common people one
reason lies in such facts as that for
nine months past above 5000, 600 per
sons on the American continent, most OF
them in the impressionable years OF
youth, have been studying every week,
with more or less thoroughness, a BIZ
ngraphy Of Jesus=a book written for
the avoWed purpose Of showing that
Jesus is the Christ, the very Son of
A King without a Country.
Jesus was crucified as King Of the
Jews. but he never refgned over Jewry.
one of his offenses was his eOsmopol-
tan spirit. The narrow, provincial, Big
oted spirit of His time could forgive
a serious offeuSe more easily than II
could that of an ultra-Jewish patriot
ism. AS slowly as though they mad
been of the strictest sect of the Jews,
His disciples were learning what the
whole world was yet to know. that
Jesus belongs to no race or cline, but
TO all the race of man. The broadest
evangelism of the present day, with its
watchword, "the world for Christ" is
more truly in His spirit than the belief
of the Jews or even of the Puritans,
that they alone were the elect people,
finding a measure of satisfaction in the
contemplation of the fact that the rest
Of the world would be shut out of
heaven. Provincialism. narrowness
and sectarianism are foreign TO the
genius Of the Gospel of Christ.
A Kings Friends.
Every study of the life of Christ
must deal largely with his disciples.
He was to be found with them most of
the time. Their education was part Of
his mission. AS we have seen, Jesus
does not mean the same TO all disciples,
nor do all disciples moan the same to
Jesus But If Jesus had few intimates,
he had a great company of friends.
The Instructions given to his disciples
are stil applicable to every working
servant of the Lord, and illustrate the
truth that in the Kings service are
many kinds of servants, and in His
heart there is place for friends of high
degree and low. AS the cOntending
armies in the East had fighting men
at the front, and commissary and hos
pital departments at the rear, so the
kingdom Of Christ has a working place
for every friend of his His disciples
suffered under no decisions concern
ing the work they were to do. They
would meet opposition Of many sorts,
and of much bitterness. That mat
tered not The one consideration that
weighed with them was that they We're
TO bear witness steadfastly, fearlessly
and faithfully.
The friends of Jesus were one Of his
trials; friendship always costs. Jesus
was an ideal friend; he taught his fol-
lowers that true greatness in the king
dom of heaven comes not from place
but from character and service Self
seeking is not the way to rise in this
Kings service. self-surrender is.
How to Meet Enemies.
The Prince of Peace spent most OF
his public life at war. He himself was
the center of tremendous tumult con-
troversy and opposition. He dared to
tell the truth, even new truth, and he
cared not a mustard seed about being
conventional OF popular. As every
other big, strong, fearless man has
since done he made enemies.
Enemies must be expected in life;
how shall they be met? Jesus showed
how. First. he was fearless; he never
retreated from the truth, or proved dis
loyal to his duty. Second, he was firm;
he continued to call hypocrites hypo-
critics and false leaders false. There
was no weak silence or compromise on
his part. Third. he was measurably in
uliAefe-lt. ne Qld not let the presence
Of enemies interrupt his mission but
ne went right on with his work Much
opposition dies by inattention And
then, he kept a soft heart toward ali
his foes. The worst injury an enemy
can do one is to incite him to hatred.
Jesus loved his enemies-loved them
too well to cease opposing their errors
and to the end his spirit was, Gath
sr, forgive them"
The Kings Teachings.
These friends of the great King who
trOd the hills Of Galilee without place
TO lay his head, had need of fnstruc-
ton II IS hard for us to be patient
with their stupidity; to US thew seem to
have been dull learners. Yet it is to
be remembered that we look back
upon them from the twentieth cen