The wageworker. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1904-????, 1908-09-05


made the claims that he did. The
strongest minds ON earth stand with
uncovered heads in the presence of his
teaching. The Sermon on the Mount,
even infidelity is willing to admit, was
the utterance of clear head and
pure heart. The whole trend of his
life indicates the soundest mind. filed
with the healthy enthusiasm which a
great mission inspires. The charge
that he was a mailman no one is fool
ish enough to defend. Then we are
driven to one of two other positions.
He was either God. or the worst of
men. A good man cannot claim to be
what he knows he is not. A good man
cannot be hypocrite Now. does any
enc in this day contend that Jesus was
a deceiyere 1 have yet to hear such
q one.
Rabbits Admission.
A candid Jewish rabbi admitted in
sermon some time ago that Jesus
was a good man, whose object it was
TO Go good. and said that he died
martyr TO his mission. Such an admis-
sion puts man who rejects the divin-
ton, for now he must prove that
good man can be hypocrite: that
good man can be the worst of men.
There is no middle ground. Jesus
pressed this fact home upon the
young man who came to him. saying:
Good master. what must 1 do to in
heSst eternal lifes" when he replied:
Why callest thou me good? There is
none good but one, that is God" MARK
io:17-1S0 ITO say that l am good, is
equal to saying that l am God: and
if you admit that l am good, your
place is at my feet as a worshiper.
and the place for your money is on
the altar of my service" The ques-
ton of Jesus: Which of you con-
vinceth me of SIM challenges not
only his hearers. but all the ages: and
their verdict has echoed the words of
PLATE: Il find no fault in this man"
Friends and foes who lived close to
him. and inspected his words and
actions. confirm the claim that he was
good. Peter says. He did no sim
neither was guile found in his mouth"
u Peter 2:22o ''Ye know" says john
that he was manifested to take away
our sins. and in him was no sim" q
John $3.50 We believe that no man
lives to-day bad enough to deny this
claim. and assert that Jesus WIS q de-
ceiver. The very thought shocks the
consciousness of one who is at all IA
miliar with his character. If then. no
one can be found foolish enough to
claim that he was mailman. or bad
-,
man. surely the verdict that he was
good is universal. And if good, he was
God.
His Work.
His work was TO establish a king
dom not of this world. John IS: S6.)
Such thought was not of this word
The Jews were looking for tempora
king. to deliver them from Roman
rule. If Christ had taken hold of th~i
idea. and used it for his own advance
ment. he would have acted like a man,
and his success could have been en-
| planned as the success of Napoleon and
Washington can he explained. On the
contrary he opposed the leaders of
public opinion. and began the estah-
| lishment of kingdom which lives to.
| day after the Kingdoms of Greece.
Rome and Egypt have ceased to exist
| a young man. a poor mechanic. from
mountain village. with no rich. pow
| erful allies. does this in three wars.
And he does it by the deliberate sacri-
flee of himself. Men have died mar
I tyrs to their mission. But man has
never yet planned martyrdom as q
| part of his mission. Jesus told his
disciples that he would so to Jerusa-
lem and be crucified. and on the third
day rise again Matt. 1921 He pro-
viIes before his death for memorial
! of that death. Men 40 not build monu.
ments to their defeats. The French
have no monument to Waterloo. But
Jesus would have his followers re.
member not the Mount of Transfigura
ton. but Calvary: not his glory, but
his shame. Indeed. he makes his
shame the test of discipleship. he tells
/ his followers that they must expect to
be hated. prosecuted. killed. Men dc
not try to establish Kingdoms in this
way. All these things go to prove tina;
Jesus was not native to this world
He was more than man. and. as see
him standing out distinct from and
above all others, cannot resist the
impulse to fall at his feet. and say
with Thomas: My Lord and my God.'