Evening journal., 1916-02-04
The Glasses at the Cross
Sermon preached in the Tabernacle last night by Dr. 11on

true and only spiritual organ. zation
in civilization that was worthy of the
name
What was the cause of their bitter
animosity against Jesus? It was due
hrst TO bigotry. They had accumu-
lated a great mass Of man-madc tra-
ditions, which they were presenting
to the people, rather than the Word
Of the living God. They had reduced
all spirituality to meaningless rites
and forms and ceremonies, certain
observances OF speech and dress. And
when Jesus came with the living mes
sage OF truth, fresh and vital from
the heart OF the Heavenly Father
Himself it was such sharp contrast
with their own words and tradition
and ceremonies, that it absolutely
shocked their sense OF propriety.
Would not this same experience be
repeated if the plain. unassuming
Jesus Christ were to return to this
world today? Religious pomp and
ceremony was so foreign to His ma
ture. which was the superlative of
simplicity. Those who regard relig-
ion as a mere matter Of ritual and
form and observance. would be sin
cerely shocked by His plainness Of
speech and manner. They would re-
gard Him just as the former Scribes
and Pharisees did. as an interloper
and disturbcr OF peace. as a disorgan-
izer Of established methods and GUS
toms
Moreover the antagonism Of the
Scribes and Pharisees against Jesus
was largely due to jealousy Religion
had become unattractivc to a great
multitude Of mankind. Il had been
put upon a plane that they could not
understand. These meaningless forms
and phrases were Of little interest to
been taught it was best for them to
remain ia ignorance and let their
thinking be done for them by Tiers
/ When tho loving. natural. gentle
Jesus came with His sermons So SIM
pie that even child could grasp
their meaning the common people
were Immediately attracted They
/ followed Him eagerly. They huns
upon every word He uttered. They
crowded every building whore Hl
spoke. The result was that these
/ Scribes and Pharisees who haC
| claimed religious leadership for them
selves. but were blind leaders of tn,
tlind. without any true spiritual mes
sage or life. became Immediately an
cry They said. "This will never do
We must put a stop to this man:
work. or He will draw all the people
after Him, and we will be left with
out patrons and supporters. Our po
sitions and p-es-ise VIII be endau
gered."
There was still another reason 70
their bitter hatred and antagOnism
These Pharisees had undoubtedly got
ten commission from the sales o
the articles that were used in the tenn
pie OF worship. They were in leagu
b with the money changers, who had
monopoly upon furnishing the kind G
coins which were to be offered in tn
temple worship And when Jesu
came. cleansing the temple, ovel
turning the tables OF the none
changers, and driving out the eattl
from the outer courts with the viii
OF small cords. He struck the blow q
this completely and partnership
which they had formed. with the dis
, honest schemes and practices 70
making money. II was this act whic
perhaps more than any other. arouse
their anger to the point where the
vowed TO put Him to death.
cannot understand today no,
there are churches and minister,
professedly workers of Jesus Chris
VINO can. in similar way retail
sympathy and fellowship with tbos
who are engaged in the vicious busi
, ness of making and selling liauol
why does not every preacher an,
/ local church come out positively an
fearlessly and say to their member
, ship, Either you cut loose fror
your league with that business. whic
is degrading and debauching The hoo
: les and souls of your fellowmen q
else get out OF membership from thi
church until you get right with God
How can a minister OF the eospe
square himself with his own cor
science and his obligations to Jesr
Christ. without cleansing the tempt,
Shall we excuse the Scribes an
. Pharisees for this opposition to Jesl
, on account of ignorance. due to faul
and mistakes in their training? Son
u would, perhaps. but their course w;
largely on account of their cowardic
their unwillingness to endanger the
J. popularity and source of revenu
q How must a preacher or church {
3 day feel thai derives its support Co
Il siderably from the liquor sourc
from men who are systematical
y bartering away the virtue. purity al
J. sobriety OF their fellowmen for dir
y dollars. Il was because Jesus wi
u that divine conscience and courae
e protested against this partnersh
II with evil. that aroused their bittere
~ hostility. Did you ever think tn
u our Lord had no words OF unkindne
S, to the poor victims OF these evils?
le was rather against the leaders al
re promoters Of the evils The humi
le vocabulary seemed almost utter
I powerless in endeavoring to conv
)f the thoughts and feelings in the mil
a Of Jesus. in His condemnation of II
10 class. He called them white Sc
he ulchres. which indeed appeared bea
n. tiful outward, but are within full
I'd dead mems bones and Of all unclea
at ness" Could anything be strong
n than the statements Of the first eva
to gelist. Jesus Christ Himself. as ]