Arizona republican., 1908-01-20


 ulate an answer. They neither know nor have ever heard of Jesus. His name is strange to their ears. But we are not talking to them tonight. There are many others who do not care enough about Jesus to even con- .sider the question. They are not here this evening. But it is certainly safe to assume that you who are here will give this question a candid answer. It is a good exercise for us to inSerro- gate ourselves occasionally upon fun damental truths lest our faith become mere form and our knowledge of Christ TO more than a memory.
 It is significant that Jesus himself asked the question originally. He knew how important it was that they should hold right views of his person and work. He knew how easily men are led to. accept partial or false ideas of himself. All sorts of rumors were flying about concerning him. It was essential that those who were to be his representatives in the world should know Him fully and truly. Jesus presses for personal answer. Standing in his presence with his clear but friendly eyes, looking into their own, there could be no evasion, no hypocrisy, nothing but utter genuine ness. We uncover our souls in the presence of Jesus as to no other being on earth. With him there can be no reservation. If they do not know they will not make haste to speak. It matters little to Him, but it means everything to them that they should be able to give the right an- swer to his question.
 There are three sources of answer for us all.First we may tell what we have heard from others, that is the hearsay source. Jesus inquired for this first. The crudity and imperfect ion of current ideas would help to clear the way for the larger truth. A good many people never get beyond the hearsay stage. Their religious ideas are inherited traditions like those held by the Pharisees and rebuked by the Master. Hearsay knowledge is worth little in earthly courts, and it is worth still less in the court of Heaven. Personal thought and meditation have led many to high ideals of the charac- ter of Jesus. It is impossible to credit in any degree the records of his life without believing that the present to us a most remarkable person. If we study the history of Christian life and thought, trace the works of Jesus still going on in the world we shall be ready to enthrone Him as one of the most kingly of men. Yet We may not rise in our conceptions above the hu- man ideal and our answer may be that of ancient and modern Liberalism He is a mana peerless and marvel ous man. but only man. Many never get beyond this point. But when Jesus asked his disciples what they them selves thought of Him, Peter an- swered, Thou art the Christ the Son of the living God" The immediate comment of Jesus must never be for gotten. Blessed art thou, simon Bar Jonah; for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee. but my Father who is in heaven" The highest source of answer then to our Lords question is divine inspiration. We can know who Jesus is in the highest and fullest sense onl-- as God reveals il to Us in character except as he is taught of God. Blessed is the man whose ear God has opened to hear this great revelation.
 There are three practical ways of an- swering this question. What men think of Jesus is revealed by the an- swer of a worldly life. Those who can go on living for this world, satisfied with bis rewards and content in its sins have never yet had a vision of the Christ. He is nothing to them. There is also the twin answer of an empty profession. We read of those who had ''the form Of godliness but had de- nied the power thereof" They may pass by the name of Christ but the power of Jesus is not manifest in their words and deeds. They wear the gar ments of the kings household but they do not honor the king in their daily lives. These have not yet come to know him as. he is.
 It is in the answer of a genuine and self forgetful allegiance to Jesus as Saviour ard King that we discover those who have received the Fathers revelation of the Son. Blessed is that person. Put this question to yourself alone. Face it honestly and seriously. If you cannot give Peters answer be assured that you are still in the lower grade. You need to go ahead farther if you would know Jesus truly. It is worth while to know him whatever it may cost to learn the lesson.