The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1908-11-18
THE PULPIT.
4 SCHOLARLY SUNDAY SERMON BY
TIE REV. M. l. BURTON, PHI. D..
Theme: Jesus as Prophet.

paStor-elect OF the Church OF the Pill
grims. His subject was Jesus the
Prophet" He selected his text from
Matthew %21:10-11: And when He
was come into Jerusalem, all the city
was moved, saying, Who is this? And
the multitude said, This is Jesus the
Prophet of Nazareth Of Galilee." DR..
Burton said in substance:
The central question of all this in
Christian life is, how does Jesus save
us; how are we to profit by Christ's
life? 1t is impossible in this short
time to answer but M phase of the
three which our Saviour lived, as
Prophet, Priest and King. Yet each
conveys it's part Of truth upon a pro-
per concept of His holy life. How
ever, it is well to concentrate upon
the prophet side of His life, not to i'm
ply at all any sense Of separateness
between them. We cannot give at
tention now to the kingly aspect, but
to that of prophet, which Jesus lived
for our salvation. What was it that
caused the multitude to follow Him,
and, as st. Matthew tells US, take
Him for a prophet? 1t was He who
proclaimed the truth and in this light
we can e how Jesus is related to
our life. d.
Without going into the questions
and different divisions which natur-
ally arise on all sides, let US consider
how He lived as a prophet. In what
sense does He stand as our prophet?
In. the first place, we know that He Is
q prophet in regard to God. He has
revealed how God is taking us be-
meath His forgiveness and patience
and ever watchful care = how we
cease to exist without Him. Let US
note, in the first place, Jesus revela-
ton Of Gods attitude toward sinful
ness. There are those who declare
sin Is underestimated, but If we are
wise, we can understand Jesus true
attitude in regard to, sin. 1t Is shown
in His denunciations, in His opinions
OF the leaders of the day, in the Ser
mon on the Mount, all Of which show
His conception Of sin. Not only the
man who is the adulterer, but he who
lives in conditions of lust; not only
the murderer, but he who. inspires the
act and remains silent; not alone the
perjurer, but he who fails to be truth.
full by keeping silent. These are
likewise" sinners.
But Gods attitude toward sin con-
Germs not alone our outward acts, for
the inner being Is brought into &C
%countability and cannot escape. Jesus
has called upon US not only to do
something that makes for saliva
ton, but also to have in mind that we
should be something. 1t is of the in
ner self that the victory over sin has
to be won. We should have'a life not
of action alone, but also of being.
Jesus has taught the world the terri
BILE consequences which are to follow
Jul wrongdoing, that the man who
sins will condone it by suffering. He
has told Of the penalties Of sin. He
who. deceives the little one had better
tie a milestone about his neck and
perish in the sea. What awful penal
ties that follow the sinner! But not
alone has Jesus revealed to us Gods
attitude toward sin, but in the second
instance He has revealed God, through
Himself, and has shown His manifold
purposes Of our destiny.
Let IS study the character and life
Of Jesus and we shall see that He has
revealed God to us and shown His
IlO4nCASy oAo pdIlChSC. WHY WoS IL
the multitude followed Him? Be-
cause they took Him for a prophet?
1t is not that alone, but because of
His magnetic personality, which at
tracted all to Him and made Him be-
loved of all men. No wonder the
twelve disciples came at His call and
served Him with true love and faith.
It vas not confined to this inner cir
Gle, however. that Jesus attracted
men about Him by His wonderful per-
sonage. Nicodemus came to Jesus.
The centurion was wont to seek Him
out for counsel. The multitude list
ened to His words of wisdom. He
was a friend Of the publican and sim
ner. At the day Of the feast the
Greeks came and said, 1--WE would see
Jesus" He spoke in infinite love and
drew all to Him. He sought to lead
them through the paths Of His truth
and to teach them quietly, sincerely,
of life and their salvation. How mar
velous and how perfectthat He should
lead men toward the truth and a bet
ter and less sinful life. Witness Him
teaching the multitude to the path
ways Of truth and see Him carry them
to His Word. He knew that much of
His teachings fell on barren soil and
took no root, but He was patient with
His people. Oh, the beauty and pa
thos of the parting with His disci-
pies! 1t passes all understanding.
1t was a crisis in the life of Jesus.
He taught them the truth, and He led
them out in vital existence.
Teaching the people, Jesus was pa
tient at all times. Even the same
twelve men who gathered at His call
to preach the Gospel to the world Of
ten forgot His teaching of the Word.
On the way to the Last Supper they
quarreled among themselves as to
who was the greatest among them.
But He was patient and forgave them.
Did not the priests take before Him
an a~dulteress, and when the accusers
had fled, did He not say, Where are
those who condemn thee? Neither
do I condemn thee. Go and sin no
more" Oh, the infinite love and for
g%iveness of the Master! Then Jesus
tells of the Prodigal Son and shows
that forgiveness with the Father is
possible. Peter sinned three times.
and Jesus forgave him. And not
alone has He forgiven the sinners,
but lie marvellous basis for our won
der is that He suffered to save them.
Jesus was willing to suffer for His
truth. so that His attitude toward
God and men might be recognized as
the true way.
These characteristics Of the life of
our Master reveal Gods attitude to-
ward us and His purpose in infinite
lava -4 ~
satisfied to save men. He would have
JS know rho otoroo1 vpritipc IF life