The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1909-03-12


perish f0olishness; but unto us when are
saved il is the power of Cod Cor. LIS.
1t is very remarkable that the Cross,
which symbolzed the most ignominious
form of capital punishment under the
laws Of the Roman Empire, should be
the symbol of Christianity. Thus, be-
levers who are deeply learned in the
Bible, will have no difficulty in discern
ing that the same Divine providence
which in advance marked bread as SYM
Dol of the Bread of Life from heaven, and
water as symbol of the water of life
from the throne of God. and marriage as
picture of the relationship between
Christ and the Church, directed also that
the Romans should adopt the Cross as a
symbol of ignominy. Was not this an
ticipated in the Divine prophecy which
declared, Cursed is every one that
hangeth on a tree"-a cross? And did
not our Lord Jesus use this very word
Cross with proper figurative significa-
ton considerably in advance of his own
crucifiXion, saying, IF any man would
be my disciple, let him deny himself, and
take up his Cross, and follow me.
Matt. 1924.
Evidently the Cross, the shame of the
Cross, the ignominy of the Cross, the
ordeal pictured by the Cross, were fore
ordained picture-lessons- of the
self-denials and sacrifices expected not
only for Messiah, but for all those who
would be associated with him as his
Bride" class, members of his Body,
his Royal Priesthood" his Peculiar
People," his "Holy Nation"
1t will be discerned that we are draw
ing sharply defined contrast between
the meaning of the cross presented to oul
minds in the Scriptures and the unregen-
Grated sentiment which sees it merely as
the symbol of pride and ostentation
whether upon banners or buildings OF
bestudded with jewels for persona
adOrnment. Let lis be understood, that
the Peoples Pulpit stands for the Cross
in the simplicity of its original institution
a symbol-in the words of our Lord anC
his apostles symbol of self-denial
self-sacrifce, suffering for righteousness
sake in opposition to the spirit of the
world, the flesh and the Adversary.
On the other hand, let us not be under.
stood to have any Superstitlous reverence
for a splinter from the Cross of Christ OF
for one of the nails reputed to have been
driven through our Saviours flesh. We
do not bow down to them nor reverence
them in any sense. Our thought goes Out
to the Cross of Christ on much higher
and nobler plane when We recognize the
work of grace connected with our Say
tours sacrifice, which was finished on the
Cross In the proper understanding of the
matter our Lord took up his Cross a
soon as he reached manhood's estate
under the Law-when thirty years Of
age Immediately he presented himself
to John at Jordan and made full con
secration unto death, symbolizing it by
water immersion. There, begotten by the
holy Spirit, he came up out of the water
and for three and a half years tigurative-
ly, symbolic@lly, was bearing his Cross
His Cross consisted not in his living
separate from sin, for he had lived
separate from sin up to that time. He
knew no sin. = Cor. 5:2l.
His Cross, on the contrary consisted ir
self-denial as respects things which woulC
have been entirely proper and right
against which there would have been nc
law. These he sacrificed in the doing OF
the Fathers will, in laying down his life
a ransom for mankind Although his own
will was righteous one. he tells us that he
came not to do his own will, but the viii
of him that sent him-the Fathers will
He tells us what this will was, namely
that he should lay down his life, giving
himself ransom for many. and that