The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1910-07-07
PEOPLES
Sermon by
CHARLES T.
RUSSELL,
Pastor Brooklyn
tabernacle.

usual ne H3u large ana dIIeQIlNe du-
dience. We quote one of his discourses
in part as follows:
All men who have any knowledge of
Jesus esteem him Christians, Gentiles,
and Jews All 4en whatever their
religious convictions are ready to admit
the SURPRISING personality of the great
Nazarene and his wonderful words of
life. 1t is as respects his MesSiahship
that they differ. However, We sub
init that if he were not the special serv-
ant of Jehovah, the Son of God as
he claimed, sent into the world on a
special mission, then he must of neces-
sity have been either a deceived man
or q wicked impostor His wonderful
personality and words of justice and
wisdom and love contradict the
thought that he was either ignorant OF
n deceiver. Hence the only tenable
ground is that he was Il deceived man
or else that he was indeed the Son Of
God who acted and spoke and per
formed miracles under Divine direction
and power. We hold that the evi-
dences Of his teaching Overwhelmingly
cOrrOborate the truth of his claims
But here we make a distinction be-
tween the claims which our Lord Jesus
made for himself and other claims
which have been made for him with
out his sanction and without apostolic
or other inspired confederation.
Let it not be supposed that we are
forgetting the length and breadth of
Jesus love for all humanity and a spe-
cial love for all of his disciples, yea,
for all who loved righteousness and
sought, as he did. to do the Fathers
will In keeping with this was his
prayer for his disciples on the night
before his crucifxion, in connection
with which we read, Jesus having
loved his own, loved them unto the
end" John xiii, y. = And again his
statement Greater love hath no man
than this. that man lay down his life
for his friends" John XIV, 49,. And
again his statement, who is my moth
er, and who are my brethren? And
he stretched forth his hand to his disci-
pies, and said Behold my mother, and
my brethren! For whatsoever shall do
the viii of my Father which is in
Heaven, the same is my brother, and
sister, and mother" OIatthew xiii,
1850. These expressions give us
glimpse Of the length and breadth Of
the love Of Jesus But for the present
occasion let US consider those persons
whom Jesus is said to have specially
loved.
"Jesus BehoIding Him Loved Him"
The rich young nobleman who came
to the Lord said, Rabbi, what good
thing shall do that I may inherit the
Kingdom Of God? Jesus saith unto
him, Thou EGoWest the command
ments and he said unto him.
Master all these have l observed from
my youth. Then Jesus bcholding him.
loved him. Jesus lovingly admired
the young man who was thus DESTROYS
of being in full accord with the Heav-
enly Fathers viii. That young man
had very much of the Masters own
spirit, He wanted to do right and he
desired to have the gift Of God, eter-
nal life. lie thought that he must
have merited this by his faithful atten-
ton to the Law Yet he knew that he
had not attained to eternal life. that
the death sentence was still upon him
He sought counsel of the greatest
Rabbi, the greatest Teacher. That
Teacher loved so earnest a spirit and
proffered him advice on what he still
lacked of coming fully up to Gods re
quirements of those who will be grant
ed a place in the Messianic Kingdom,
which in due time is to bless Israel
and, through Israel. all the families Of
the earth.
In no uncertain terms the Master
gave the young man to see that while
he had been keeping, probably to the
best of his ability, the commandments
of the decalogue, he had only imper-
fectly discerncd the meaning Of the
Divine requirement of love for his
neighbor as for himself The young
man was very rich. And to fulfil the
requirements of the Law to love his
neighbor as himself would have meant
not the boarding Of wealth, nor neces-
saTily the distribution of it all, but
the wise use Of it in the interest of his
fellowmen. But to gain a share in the
Kingdom would require even more
than this. He must take up his cross
and become a follower of Jesus-walk-
ing in the steps Of full obedience to
the Divine will. The price was too much
for the young man, and he went his
way. Jesus merely answered the Ques-
ton but did not urge the young man
to thus present himself a living sacri-
flee to God and his service. Indeed in
no case did Jesus ever do more than
fnvite-never did he urge. On the con-
trary he advised, Sit down first and
count the cost of discipleship.
What could we surmise respecting
the eternal destiny of this young man
who had been striving so earnestly to
keep the Law and to gain eternal life.
and who turned from Jesus and de
clined to take up the cross and follow
him? Could we suppose that Divine
Justice would send such a man to eter-
nal torment under these conditions
f-there were such a penalty over him