The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1915-12-25
FOLLOWING JESUS
OF NAZARETH.

answers. When taken to task by His
parents who had been hunting for
Him, He said twist we not hat l must
be about my Fathers business" We
should be attending to Gods business
as early in life as possible and not
delay starting to work for Him.
Jesus knew the Holy Scriptures
thoroughly, continually quoting them
in His conversations and teaching.
In this respect He set us an example
to follow.
Jesus was very practical-His mira
cles were to show that God sent Him,
but at the same time He used them to
supply some need-He fed the hungry,
healed sick, filled fish nets, made wine
for the wedding, stilled the storm,
cast out Devils. They were not for
show, but to show His power from
God. We should endeavor to be prac-
teal in Gods work.
Jesus was self-sacrificing. Being
without sin He would never be sick
all of His s~ufferings were for others
way for others and looked to their
was crucified on the cruel cross for
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Him by forgetting ourselves and
thinking only of others.
Jesus was very courageous, being
without fear. He did not have to go
to the cross, as we read of Him sew
eral times disappearing instantly from
the midst of others. He could have
done the same at any time on the way
to the cross, but He kept on and went
through that terrible ordeal because
of His great love for mankind. "Love
your neighbor as yourself" He also
called the big men ga generation of
vipers." 1t would take a bold man
to preach like this to a wealthy and
fashionable congregation in a New
York church, but Jesus set the exam
pie for us to follow.
Jesus had as His friends the richest
and poorest, the most Cody and the
worst sinners. He made no distinc-
ton, He loved them all-but hated
their sins. We should realize that the
soul of the drunkard, the harlot, the
murderer, is as precious in Gods sight
as the soul of the saint.
Jesus forsook everything in the
world to serve God. His perfect mind
and body would have brought Him
success, riches, luxury, from any bust
ness He might undertake. If He was
living today His master intellect would
enable Him to put the stock exchange
to rout and ruin Wall street and the
country. But He would not do it;
while He was securing untold riches
one soul might be lost. He set US the
example of thinking on laying up
treasures in Heaven instead of here
on earth.
Jesus worried His friends because
of the things He said and did which
were different from others, in His
great zeal for God. Many thought
Him to be crazy. "He is beside Him
SELF, they said. But He was so per-
severing that nothing could stop Him.
He lived but to serve God, and knew
He was right, and all would be well in
the end, no matter what people said
about Him. If we really love God
with all our strength and try to live
up to the law of God in every respect
we may be called crazy by the world
but our love will be such that we will
90 ahead in the face of all opposition,
just as Jesus did.
Jesus had a human body but a Di-
vine spirit. 1t is doubtfulff we would
recognize Him on the street. He look
ed like other human beings and it is
said He was a beautiful Jew. 1t was
the things He did and said which made
Him different. If we are Christians
we may look like other people but the
things we do and say should be differ
ent, as an example to others seeking
salvation and peace with the God of
all comfort.
Jesus never refused to help any
body, He loved them too much. But
He was only able to help those who
were willing to help themselves by
believing. He could not save a man
who was unwilling to be saved and
who would not surrender his will to
God. He was very sad when men
wanted their own way instead of let
ting God have His way with them.
He plead with men with all the ten
derness of His passionate heart, be-
cause He loved them and knew it was
the only way they would find peace,
and that any other way except Gods
way meant destruction of soul and
final punishment and torment. He
wept bitterly over Jerusalem because
those living there would not listen to
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a beautiful example to us to never re-
fuse to aid a brother and to plead with
them no matter how often they refuse
to turn to Jesus or how low the Devil
gets them. Jesus loves every n of
them and He is our example to follow.
Jesus loved and prayed for friends
and enemies; no matter how often the
friends forsook Him or what the enc
mics did to Him. Peter forsook Him
three times, but Jesus gladly welcom-
ed him. He forgives us the same way
if we repent of our sins and come to
Him. Peter, after forsaking Jesus,
saw the error of his way and went out
and wept bitterly. If we have sinned
we will have no peace until we repent
and ask forgiveness. We should love
and pray for both our friends and enc
mics alike.
Jesus faith in God was perfect and
supreme. At the cross He was, from
a worldly standpoint, the most colos-