The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1908-07-22
LETTER FROM A JAPANESE
CONVERT.

"Dear Teacher:-I thank you fol
sending me the books. At first L could
not understand why you would send
books to a person you have never seen
but ROW 1 understand; since / have
read of Jesus 1, too, want others te
know about him. At once was struck
with admiration for his exceptional
character. The first thing that i'm
pressed me was his kindness; wonder
full because it was unfailing, and was
expressed as fully towards his enemies
as towards his friends; he never thinks
of his own comfort, but is always
showing kindness to others. See, too,
how the people gather round him.
could not understand how any one
could oppose him, and yet L could see
that his enemies intended to kill
him. Where were his disciples
Why didn t they stand up for him3 L
wish l had been there. l read his
words, that he was going TO be cruel
fed by his enemies. Surely, / said, his
disciples and all the people he helped
would not let this happen. Besides, he
had power to do anything he wished,
so still had hope while l read on, but
at last / saw il was coming, and that
Judas, one of his own disciples, was
going to deliver him to his enemies.
How can l express nay contempt for
Judas; as L read of him M feelings
grew from Indignation to fierce anger.
/ could not tolerate the thought OF HIM.
Then when they led Jesus to the court
and the High Priest asked him about
has teaching for which he was accused,
L was proud of Jesus for his answer:
- have spoken openly to the world,
and in secret spake 1 nothing; ask
them that heard me, they know what
l said, and when one of the officers
struck him because of his answer I was
so angry L fairly choked. l sympa-
thlZed greatly with Jesus, everything
seemed so sorrowful for him, but he was
quiet and unmoved in the midst of it
all. In reply to the angry threat Of
the Roman Governor he calmly said,
Thou wouldst have no power against
me, except 1t were given thee from
above" When at last 1 read that they
put a crown Of thorns upon him and
Knocked and spit upon him and were
really going to cruelty him, 1 wept
with wrath. / would not read another
line. 1 slammed the book across the
room and then picked it up and was
alb ut to trample IL in the mud, when
l remembered that it was your book
and not mine, SO l laid it down and
went away; but I could not leave it
alone; / must know what became Of
Jesus. | finished the story and now |
am glad I did
Il have been greatly moved by the
impression which the character of
Jesus made upon those who were around
aim, as, for example, in the Mount of
Dives. when the men who went 70
seize Jesus, stood in awe of him, and
Gould not lay hands on him, but felr
backwards. And again how the
>adducees and Pharisees, discussing the
'haraeter Of Jesus, fell to quarreling |
among themselves. And what q scene |
hat IS in which Plate is made to feel |
rs own sins In the presence Of Jesus. |
lie feared his own sins weRld be re |
realed, and so he washed bis hands be |
ore the people. What foolishness for |
lim to lay the guilt on Others, yet I |
EEL great pity for Plate. He wanted |
o do right. He admired Jesus and /.
wanted to deliver him; but he was weak |
md was really sorry afterwards for |
what he had done.
81 send you the names of five OF my
friends. VIII You please lend them
each a gospels I want them TO study /
he lie Of Jesus, too. THE Friend.