The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-02-02

they alone are high born who are
born from above. This light-seeking
legalist had to learn that religion is
a spirit, a life, new nature, a divine
sonship. 1t is a mystery, of course
as mysterious as the wind that was
rustllng the leaves outside the door as
the two men conversed.
This sophisticated Jerusalem citizen
was taken into the school which the
world today needs to enter, that of the
Spirit born life. Flesh and material
ism cannot change things essentially;
but the Spirit of God can. A new
world can come only from new hearts
1t is regeneration rather than reform
that will set right the world. The one
essential thing in Christianity is not
creeds or church membership or in
tellectual af1irmations, but the new
birth. The privilege is one that God
never denies TO those who seek the
new life which is in Christ.
While the two men were conversing
earnestly upon This profound theme,
there occurred phrase that opens a
wide vista of meditation Jesus said.
IF ! told you earthly things, and ye
believe not, how shall We believe if 1
tell you heavenly things?" That, after
the discourse on the new birth! If the
new birth earthly things" what
must the heavenly things be- Verify,
Eye hath not seen nor ear heard. -
The height and depth of the love Of
God are beyond mortal CRAPS. The
staggering profundities of the Gospel
move us to awe and humble rever-
ence.
The Man Who Heard the Uttermost.
To have heard Luther's defense at
Worms would have been a high privi-
lege, and the experience of a life
time. To have been among the listen
ers to Pauls address in Mars Hill,
or to Peters sermon at Pentecost.
would have made one a marked man.
But think what it meant to have
Himself illustrated by His beaming
eyes and ravishing smile, the concen-
tration of all the truth of the Gospel.
the supreme utterance of Omnis-
cience, For God so loved the world
that he gave his only-begotten Son,
that whatsoever believeth on him
should not perish, but have eternal
life,'
That greatest of all words was
spoken to an audience of one. and
Nicodemus was the man. The Living
Word uttered the vocal word of ut
termost salvation. which Luther used
to call. the little Gospel''-and the
man who heard it had not the cour-
age to be true to this superlative rev.
citation! To Nicodemus Jesus I'M
folds His passion. in the picture of the
uplifted cross. To Nicodemus He
made clear the unique mission of
Himself as the Christ. To Nicodemus
He unfolded the Old Testament as it
had never been unfolded before. To
Nicodenus He made this marvellous
exposition of faith and truth. And
Nicodemus still refused to become His
disciple!
Instead he went out into the night:
ana the night that surrounded him
was not so black as the tumultuous
midnight within his own breast. He
had talked face to face with the Christ
Himself He knew that the Messia h
ha6 come. Nevertheless, he loved the
honor that comes from men more
than the honor that comes from God,
and so, for fear of his fellow aristo-
Gratis, the Pharisees, he went back on
Jesus Christ. If ever the records of
sanhedrin which tried Jesus should
be discovered it would be found that
Nicodemus was counted in his absence
as voting against The Victim. For
Nicodemus was not present at that
cruel session: he was somewhere off
in the night, tormented in his soul,
and trying to decide whether he
should risk all and confess Jesus
neutrality-suspicious. look from
the Saviour on the Cross-settled his
souls problem. He made the great
decision too late to comfort and serve
Him when He most needed a friend.
If there is regret in heaven, Nicode-
mus, the scholar, who had not the
courage to follow Jesus, experiences it.