The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-06-20
Aforementioned SundaySchooi
 Lesson
THE REVIEW.
second Qaarter. Lesson XII. June
 1I. 1908.

conceded to final conscious comments of the dying. This Is so In a superla- I tive degree in the case of Jesus. No | discount In his case needs to be made l for delirfun1 or senilfty. He was in | full vigor of mind and body. Per- | fectly conscious that his end was ap- preaching. he sought to conserve in l his last utterances the instructions of his whole ministry. Nothing could be more opposite. for example. than his l likening himself to good shepherd and his declaring himself the way. holy comforter.
 The last deeds of Jesus arrest at tention as do his words. The raising | of Lazarus was the climax of all his miracles. and each later action. how ever minute. connected with his be- | trAyal. arrest, trial, and crucihxion is harmonious with the character which he was unfolding in his whole career
 The story of Jesus is unique, in that 1t contains a post mortem chapter. the freedom of which, from uncanny taint or ghostliness, makes 1t a class by It. self in the literature which relates to the other world. It is this chapter 1 which proves that the continuity of life is not broken by the experience of death, and is an irresistible argument for the immortal perpetuity of life. |
 Tn his last parable---that of the Good shepherd--Jesus holds the mirror be- fore the ecclesiasticism of his day. He shows the Pharisees by contrast what kind of shepherds they are. Religions institutionalism heeces and kills. It has always done that by whatever name it has been known. On the con- trary true religion gives life. and gives At in the fullest possible develop ment. The unselfsh sincerity of those who promote religion his shown in a self-abandon which Is willing to lay down its life for others.
 The genuine human spirit of Jesus shows itself more clearly in the home he exhibited the noblest traits of friendship. love, and sympathy There he gave and received fraternal tokens But, further, 1t was there hs lifted from the resurrection and the immortal life the imputation that they are far off and impracticable matters. He made them real and present
 Another illustration of the sweet humanness of Jesus is afforded by the incident of "the anointing." That he should accept and evidently prize and enjoy this purely sentimental act of love. shows again how genuinely human he was. Here, also. Is iI- frustrated the aesthetics of religion. That day. in that act, religion expressed itself in a perfume, as it has often since voiced itself in an oratorio or a trescoe. And the Lords own word for 1t. the money was not misspent.
 
 blot on the otherwise fascinating picture of the Last Supper was the unseemly dispute as to precedence at table. There was . scramble for best places. It was in part to rebuke this that Jesus acted a significant parable before them. He performed the most menial task of the scullery drudge, one which. with their Oriental ideas, they would have hardly performed for the Master himself. Peter's strong protest indicates the depth of the | seemIy degradation. But Jesus, with full consciousness of his origin and destiny. could still do this lowly ser vice. The Lord makes an end of caste when he washes his disciples feet. |
 A revelation in moral attributes such an one as Jesus made in his per- son is always greater and more de- sirable than a spectacular manifesto tion. however glorious and overpow- ering. The excellence and perfection of Jesus revelation of the Father con- sists in this: he spoke and acted as God would speak and act in human nature. So Jesus spoke, mot from himself, " not from thoughts originating merely fin his human mind. but he spoke as one manifesting God in human flesh,
 The Holy Spirit was no afer thought or late arrival He was with man from the beginning. but had his fullest manifestation in Jesus. This very fact made 1t imperative that Jesus should depart. Had he not done so his dis cipies would not have realized the pos sibility of an evolution of the same Divine Spirit within themselves, Looked at in this sense, his going was their gain. It was in the bitter ex- perience of persecution that the dis ciples were to discover the possibility gain. and joy of q personal indwe1ling of the Spirit. The offices of the Paraelete would be educative and strength ening in disciples in parti- cuIar and convicting of sin. righteous ness and judgment in the world in gen. eral.
 Judas. when chosen as an apostle we may believe. was not better or worse than the others. Covetousness was his bane. as doubting was Thomas and cowardIce was Peters. Instead ot
 
 1t grew a monster. Under its spell he could sell his master for price and mark him to his enemies with a kiss
 
 The trippIe inscription on the cross signifies that the story of that incom- parable tragedy is to go into all langu- ages. It has done so. All the world knows the moral grandeur with which Jesus suffered The successive words from the cross shine like gems in the tnky blackness. Light of heaven Is ir them. Forgiveness. flial affection compassion. constancy. and faith arg all irradlated. After showing his dis. ciples how to live. Jesus also shows them how to die.
 The crusades. costing such blood and treasure, were, after all. only a hght for will-o'- -the-wisp. The holy sepulci- for which the knights strove is now conceded not to have been the place of Jesus burial at all 1t is well thai the true site is lost The place is tht accident. the person is the essential The fact of his survival of death Rnt the grave is what concerns us. Here ts Illustration and evidence of the con. tinuity of life.
 The crown of all the Easter-da, appeara nces was this showing of him self to the assembled disciples Othel appearances were to individual. Thfi was to the united circle of his Church The circumstances In this instance al lowed the Identification to be mor, | thorouVh and corupIefe The vvo,tra