The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1915-02-14
The Power Behind History
Sermon by the Rev. W. N. Long, Pastor Of the
Central Christian Church


The law was given through Noses:
race and truth came through Jesus
4 Christ" ~
Almost 1000 years ago there ap-
peared man who changed the course
81 human history, who above any 9TH
er person, living or dead, dominates
the thought and pulse Of our modern
world. The most intelligent and
progressive part of mankind dates let-
ters and counts time from His death.
Here lies a deep mystery. for He
had none Of the external advantages,
which men thought necessary TO such
vast influence. He was born In pow
efty;; come Of despised race; his
parents were peasants on the frontier
sof . vast empire. He never had what
his cultured contemporaries would
have called an education. 1t cannot
sbe proved that he even read book,
except the jewish scripture, or that he
studied the philosophers Of Greece. He
grew up surrounded by bigoted, fa-
natical Teligiousity. He never travel
/, ed 100 miles from his home; nor, ur-
2fa his fate was practically sealed, did
he ever see any other country than
hiS own. He had no money nor any
desire to make money, no powerful or
influential friends; eschewed politics.
He never led an army, wrote book,
or founded school. He did not I'm
woke the aid Of music, art or litera-
ture, was either shut out from ave-
-nues that In the experience OF men
lead to greatness, or purposcly re-
fused them. His whole public activity
extended over period of little more
than three years, quite possibly only
two. He was only thirty-fiye or six.
at most, when he died. He antagonized
thet religious traditions-politica
hopes Of his people; the interests of
the higher classes and all the in
grained se1fishness Of humanity. He
disappointed his followers and even
his dearest friends. Betrayed by one
OF his own disciples and cruciiied be-
tween two robbers.
And still this man had hardly step
ped into public life. when all felt that
some extraordinary person had come
upon them. This Is mysterious. In
q few weeks he had turned the atten.
tion OF q nation upon himself. Multi
tudes hung upon his words. The
leaders Of the Jews soon found 1t nee
essary to go to Gallilee to oppose this
young man, who was likely to take their
authority over night They thought
he was Elijah or Jeremiah and even
wondered If he might not be the eles-
siah Contrary to rule his most ta>
miltar friends, his table companions,
were more impressed than those who
knew Him less intimately. They ac-
copied Film as their teacher, prophet
and king; found in Him no stain of
sin or trace Of impurity. He was
hailed as the Messiah, although he
was so different from what they>ex-
pected, and by that they meant nothing
less than that He was Gods special
representative on earth, founder Of
the Kingdom Of Heaven and bringer
Z of salvation and final Judge of men.
After death it did not seem unnatural
to- them that he should have risen
from the dead, nor unreasonable with
what they knew of Him, that He
should be sitting at Gods right hand.
They confessed Him as Good Shep-
herd, Prince OF Life, Son Of God, only
! begotten OF the Father, full of grace
and truth. Soon multitudes declared
that He was the strength of their
lives. savior of their souls, "This fact.
which is as plain as day." says Prof.
l1arnack, Is unique in history and
demands that the personality which
lies behind 1t should be regarded as
unique"
These wonderful claims of divine
power were soon matched by the facts
u 50