Evening journal., 1907-02-04
''CHRIST THE MAN."
MURRAY'S THEME
continued From FIRST rageI

AS a mechanic Christ studied the
Scriptures. and as His custom was
entered the synagogue every sabbath
day, heard patiently those who knew
less than He. and especially honored
those who sat in Moses seat. Thus
He blended wark and worship, the
study Of plans with the precopts OF the
Scriptures. Thus He worked out the
problems OF His existence as the lichen
OF the rock and the oak OF the forest.
The earth. the air, the water teem
with busy life. The Joyous song OF
labor sounds out from the million
voiced earth.
we AN like gold. but dread the dig
ging. The cat loves fish but viii not
wade TO catch them but nothing Of
this with Jesus OF Nazareth lie is an
example OF labor. He was "a friend 81
the labormg man, yea He is the friend
Of every man. The greatest boon
heaven ever bestowed on a man is q
faithful friend. The greatest friend Is
Jesus Shakespeare has set forth
friendship in Two Gentlemen OF
Verona. and IN The Merchant of
Venice This beautiful relationship
is also made immortal in Tennyson's
In Memoriam.' The inspired penman
thought 1t worth while TO give us the
names Of the royal friends, David and
Jonathan. There Is infinite solace in
sincere affection. There is unspeak-
able advantage In hearts knit to-
gether. We have thought it would
have been pleasant TO have been with
Plato in his garden or TO have heard
the table talk OF Luther, or to have
been with Bunyan In the streets of
Bedford. or TO have been with Luther
and Meianchton. Goethe and Schiller
but what would it have been In COM
parlson with Jesus and His friends, as
Mary. or Martha. or John, or Lazarls
knew Him, loved Him.
"The tie was so strong between
Jesus and John that when He We,
diving on the cross. He committed his
mother to John TO he taken care OF
without consultation, and from tha
time John took her to his own home
Yes. they were good friends grea
friends. true friends, but the bes
friend to have is Jesus.
Jesus as man lived His privatl
life and began his public ministry "A
Nazareth lie oheycd the ordinance
of the church, was baptized by John
f. had trials and temptations as othe
mon. He met the tcupter with th
word Of God. which He had memorize'
n His home. and was victorious hl
the use OF this two-edsed sword. III
was one Of the people. He attende
wedding feasts, and dined with tn
rich and poor alike. as opportunity OF
fered. He was temperate in all thing
and sinless In all His doings
What interest gathers about
young mans ministry! His first ser
vice. His first text. The place an
the people. It was so with Jesus.
is an put down for us. The place wa
the synagogue at Nazareth. The tex
Is. 6l: i-3. 1t was the Sabbath das
He stood up and read. He sat dow
and preached. All eyes were fastene
4 upon him. They had never hear
ANYTHING like Il. They were great
stirred up. SO much so that they too
s Him out OF the synagogue and led Hi
D to the brow Of the hill and would hay
q cast Him down. but His time had nc
d come and He walked away from thel
o leaving them IN amazement and won
!. der.
r Jesus was a man Of prayer w
a must not think that prayer consist
simply in confession and contritioi
3 for here IS a praying man who had n
e sin to confess, no sin to repent nc
n 10 turn from. He prays nevertheless
e prays without ceasing, in everythin
gives thanks. He prayed TO Fl
q Father I'm heaven and taught His 70
lowers to do the same. The garde