The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1916-05-05

~ HS NiOctc
up the serpent in
the wilderness, even so must the Son
OF Man be lifted up" Again in the
eighth chapter. twenty-eighth verse:
when We have lifted up the Son OF
Man. then shall we know that l am
he" And in the twelfth chapter. the
thirty-fourth verse, where the people
in response TO Christ's words I'm our
text reply: I'VE have heard out OF the
law that Christ abideth forever: and
how sayest thou. the Son OF Man must
be lifted up?" II is very evident from
this reply that they understood him TO
mean by the expression lifted up" his
death. And so a careful study OF the
use OF this expression In this gospel
convinces one that by IL is meant
Christs death upon the cross.
Christ. therefore. in our text tells
us that through his death there would
come TO him an added power, the
power to draw all men TO him. a power
which was not evident when he
walked this earth as the Son OF Man
Christ never had any large following
then, probably never more than FIVE
hundred disciples at any one time.
But today. on this side OF the cross.
millions follow in his train His words
have come true: And II be lifted
up I will draw all men unto me-"
What is this power? We have all
experienced &C. II is the attraction OF
sacrifice. Who is not drawn by Il?
I shall never forget how. as a boy, ]
was drawn to that hero OF the great
lakes. John Maynard. by reading the
story OF his sacrifice. He was pilot
on lake steamer that caught fire, and
though the flames swept around the
pilot house he bravely stood at his
post. From the stern OF the vessel,
where passengers and crew were gath.
cred. the captain repeatedly called out,
Can you hold out a little longer.
John?" And each time, more feebly.
came the reply: AYE. aye. sir. little
longer" At last the keel OF the boat
ground upon the gravelly beach. and
all were saved except John Maynard,
who died at his post. Who, ask. is
not drawn by such sacrifice? And II
the sacrifice OF John Maynard draws
ones heart, who is there that will not
be drawn to Christ as they know the
story OF his sacrifice on the cross?
Hearts are drawn. the world over,
as the old love story OF the cross is
told There is no doubt about that.
Matchless as the teaching OF Christ is
wonderful and beautiful as his life on
earth was. IL Is the story OF Calvary
that draws human hearts. For there
God in Christ met and settled forever
the problem OF every human heart.
Sin was there put away by his sacri-
fee; there he bore our sins In his own
body; there he. who knew no sin. was
made sin for US II was divine sac
rifice meeting every human need. No
burdened soul need longer stumble
and fall under tho weight OF sin.
Weary, worn one. why not yield
yourself 10 the drawing power Of the
uplifted Christ? That is the question.
Christ draws all men, but will all men
yield? That depends upon the men,
for as free moral agents we have the
power OF saying. NO" Among the
saddest words Jesus ever uttered are
these "Ye will not come unto me that
We might have life" Note II carefully.
will not" II is a matter then OF our
Wills. Will we yield?
In a little New York state town
where I was a student pastor a man
sat alone one Sunday night in his
home. Some time before this a de
voted Christian woman in paying him
a bill. said. "Mr -. wouldn't be
in your shoes for all you have in the
world" And az she said this she
placed in his hands two volumes OF
the life OF Christ. requesting that he
read them. Time. that Sunday night,
hung heavily on his hands The folks
we're away: he had nothing 20 do
Aimlessly no picked up one OF the vol
umes and began 90 read. not In the
front OF the book but near the close.
II was the second volume Of the life
of Christ. and as he read he became
deeply interested. then fascinated.
finally drawn. What was he reading?
The story OF Calvary. A tear glistened
in his eye, rolled down his cheek. then
another and another At length, un.
able 20 resist longer. he rushed out OF
the house. up town 20 tho little
church, and Just as the benediction
was about TO be pronounced. down the
aisle came the man 4s he reached
the pulpit he cried aloud. What must
do 10 be saved7" And there. that
night, drawn by the uplifted Christ, he
yielded himself 70 him who is mighty
TO save. Oh. my friend. the uplIfted
Christ draws. VIII you yield1