The Washington herald., 1917-04-08
The Herald's Sunday Sermon

IThs following sermon written especially for
ne washinston Herald By Rev. j. Harvey Durham.
pastor Of the Western Presbyterian Church
Text-'1f 10 then be nseu with Christ, seek those
thinss which above. ."-Colossans 81.
The cycle OF another year brings US
again TO the Eastertide With its hallowed
associa ations. The story Is imperishable
the facts are new and abiding; and the
church with faith quickened and hope
strengthened amid banks of flowers and
songs of victory keeps holy day. IT ye
then be risen with Christ seek those
things which are alive" This is the
challenge OF the Apostle. This is The
Practical Message of Easter"
There is in our text both a fact and a
principle The fact is the resurrection
OF Christ; the principle is that faith in
the fact should influence our lives and
serve as a motive and inspiration.
1. First let US think of the fact. "If ye
thus be risen with Christ" The historical
fact Of the Resurrection of Jesus is well
esta ablished. There are many things that
attest its credibility.
At this very hour nature Is preaching
the Gospel OF the Resurrection. The
winter seemed like death. But now the
spring has come the flowers appear upon
old earth cast of the grave clothes Of
winter. why should 1t be thought a thing
Incredible that God should raise the dead?
Man, too. attests the credibility of the
resurrection. The homing instinct is his,
Inexpungable is the immortal hope. No
white clover field ever allured honey
bees as the unseen realm allures and holds
the thoughts OF the common man
Heaven tugs hard at the heartstrings
Toll fV,N Nk,n k1IVr1N n
breast is Gods promise and pledge Of
fulfllment.
And God attests the credibility OF the
resurrection in that He raised Jesus from
the dead
Evidence has been piled upon evidence
until as a careful student of history has
put it, The Resurrection of Jesus is the
best attested fact in all history"
Three Lines of Evidence.
There are three lines of evidence.
(a) There Is the testimony of those who
saw Him after his resurrection. At least
eleven times He appeared to his disciples
and friends. They could not have been
mistaken. They knew Him. They talked
to Him. They walked with Him.
Doubtful Thomas was convinced, and
cried, MY Lord and my God" Saul of
Tarsus, a Ievel-headed man who could
not De away ny HSsiChiSai
siasm, was convinced, and cried. Lord.
what wilt Thou have me to do?''
One day 1900 people who knew all the
facts confessed their faith in the risen
Lord. This Is sufficient attestation OF
the fact Of the resurrection.
Cb) A second line of evidence Is that Of
related facts and the Institutions which
have grown out of the fact that Christ
rose from the dead. This is the argument
from effect to cause and Is irresistible.
The Christian Sabbath and the Christian
church are effects which demand an
adequate cause. The explanation is found
IN the fact Of the resurrection OF Christ.
(c) A third line of evidence is related
results. It is the evidence from expert
ence. Multitudes are convinced of the
fact of the resurrection of Christ because
He has raised them out OF their dead
selves to higher things. Every regener-
ated life has the witness in itself of the
resurrection Of Jesus.
Change In Apostles.
What Q change took place in the apos-
ties and others Immediately after the
resurrection! Where in the history Of
men will you find such a contrast as that
presented by the affrighted apostles be-
fore the resurrection and that same COM
pany fifty days later?
What made this marevlous change?
They had experienced a fact
Why dtathe apostles fee in terror from