The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1911-06-01

his royal nature. The imper1ecuon OF
our love is IN its disquietude. With a
few rare exceptions we are never
quite satisfied that we have not
given our love too easily, too quick
ly or too freely. But Il was not so
with Jesus.
Having loved, he loved unto the end.
And we believe that means not only
unto the end of life and throughout
eternity. but also unto the full ca
pacity OF his infinite heart TO love.
Some one has said, Jesus was a sower
and not reaper" that He had very
few followers as compared with other
great leaders or teachers"
The soundness Of that statement is
not at all clear. II seems to us that
Jesus made friends quickly and that
he had far more of them than most
men who live only thirty-three years,
and whose work was revolutionary.
II IL certain no mans friends ever
chung or cling more closely than the
friends OF Jesus What man OF thirty
three can name twelve friends TO
whom he has given q whole hearts
devotion and received the same In re
turn? This Jesus did and had. Even
poor, misguided Judas was his friend.
And down to the moment when he
left the upper room the master looked
across the table. and in loving warn
ing said The hand Of him that be-
trayed Me is with Me on the table"
And after his great sin such remorse
came In Judas heart on account OF
the way he had abused the friendship
Of the Lord that he went out and hung
himself
Now men do not kill themselves for
abusing those they hate. And, OF
course, all that the New Testament
tells us about the kingly friend is a
mere outline. Only a few names are
given. What is the name Of the friend
who had the colt ready and waiting
for Jesus at Bethpage when Jesus
wanted to ride? Nobody knows. Who
! was the friend. bearing the pitcher
OF water" through the streets Of Jeru-
salem. who opened his house for the
last supper, Nobody knows. But
they were among the friends Of Jesus.
In the New Testament we see the
beginning OF the great principle and
that Is about all And the essential
principle OF Christianity is friendship,
based on perfect love. Let us not for
get the eleventh commandment That
n Christianity. We know that the
Jewish religion made but a slight i'm.
4 w N
fessed H. The Greeks undertook TO
meet the longing Of the human heart
by culture. and marvellous were the
achievements OF that gifted empire:
all the same. the world by wisdom
knew not God"
Then Rome incarnated a dream Of
power and colonized as far as the
Ganges. But with power came self.
ishness and II crushed liberty 70
death But Jesus came and said. "Ye
are my friends" He said II to Greek
and Roman. To Judah and to Israel.
To Samaritan and Publican. Scribe
and Pharisee. and ITO as many as
believed on Him to them gave He
power to become the sons OF God
And what did that mean? II mean,
II even an usorious tax collector like
Zaccheus truly repents and restores
his ili-gotten gains where they belong
he shall be treated as a friend OF the
Lord. II a woman has been a sinner
and she is sorry and she will promise
TO sin no more. she is to be forgiven
She Is not to be stoned. Her sisters
shall not say Poor thing. We are
awfully sorry for her. you know.
while all the time in their hearts they
are not feeling kind at all. They are
TO help her go in peace. And men are
to be kind and help her That is the
idea She Is not to be tortured by
regrets. and alarmed by fears. and
torn by conscience, but the evil spirits
are TO driven out OF her. and into the
door of her heart is to enter the ange
OF peace.
When Samaritans are full OF preju
dice. and bigotry. and hatred. Shall
we not call down fire from HEAVIER
and destroy them?" ask the apostles
But Jesus answered MOI No. The
sen OF man came not to kill but ts
save. To make alive"
THE good shepherd layeth down
his life for the sheep. Greater love
hath no man than this. that a mar
lay down his life for his friends. But
God commendeth His love to US In
that while We were yet sinners. enc
mics. His son died for u.s."
Oh, what is lover Who can fathom
Il. Who can denne-it? There is only
one who can do II. and that one Ia
Jesus. For Jesus N the love Of God
spelt friend. And today wherever We
see the rich helping the poor. and tbs
wise instructing the ignorant and the
strong bearing the burdens OF the
weak, and tho saved seeking the lost
wherever doors Of opportunity are be
ing opened by helping hands with
smiles OF encouragement. wherever
hope carries its lantern to guide our
steps along the unfamiliar and slip
perry paths OF life. wherever we car
get on the track of men and women
that have crossed the road to lift uI
wounded traveller and take care OF
him until he can take care OF himself
there, and everywhere. behind thes,
ministries. and rising above all as tn.