The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1917-02-10

not question as to the truth or
falsity of his teaching, but as to his
personality-Who was he?
Law Of cLrist's Life.
AS we study Jesus Christ in the brief
three years of his active public life, we
find the law of division prevailing. Now
and then, there would be an outburst
of almost universal favor but imme-
diately there would be an outburst of
almost universal opposition. Quite lit
orally, he seemed to have come to d.
vide men, even members of the same
family, father against son and mother
against daughter.
At this point, we may inquire as to
the purpose of his coming. The pop
ular view of the angels message that
Savior had come to bring peace to
the earth, is to be modified by the Sa-
vior'ssown words that he Came to bring
sword, and while the ultimate result
of the Savior's coming will be univer
sal peace, the road to that peace is one
of conflict and human division. Jesus
did not come to originate division or
to instigate it. but to make clear the
actual division that already existed be-
tween men, but which was obscured.
Jesus Christ simply caused the ele-
nlents in humanity, that were really
antagonistic, and which were SO
mingled that the lines of division were
mot clear to become more distinct. AS
a bringer of Judgment then. we must
mot look on Jesus Christ as he has been
uaricatured as coming, with overmas-
herring rage, bent ON revenge"
4 The text is very clear that the dis
-e.iission was rs to whether Jesus
Christ was the prophet predicted in
deuteronomy 1915, IS, or not. To put
the matter broadly, was he the full
tillment of prophecy? That might be
questioned by The Jews today, but
with the Gentle world the question Is
Gather, Is that historic Jesus who he
claimed to be after he came to this
earth? There lis practically universal
consent to tine character of jesus of
Nazareth-tte old-established and
orthodox churches and indeed, NANNY
of the modern religious faddists pro-
claim the perfect character OF Jesus
Christ, but the bone of contention Is
not reached by these The bone lies
Mt the point where man asks, lis this
Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of God,
not mystically, not potentially, net
morally, but essentially and really the
Son of God possessing divine att
tributes and manifesting true deitya
Ultimately, that is the question that
must be decided, and it is t&e di-
vidfng line.
Division Will Continue.
The New Testament contains NANNY
figures of speech that Indicate two
classes of men regarding Jesus Christ.
There are the wheat and the tares.
the sheep and ithe goats, the good and
bad fishes, the company on the right
hand and the company on the left,
the Just and the unjust, the clean and
the filthy, tine man who confesses and
the man WthU uSulco, LIVES anu s4ae&t-
rus, AbrahaM's bosom and hell. This
Astounding OF contrasts is not without
meaning aMei men should heed it,
Many of these, of course belong. to
the hereafter sand indicate that the
division will continue. Whether 1t
lis properly named or not, essential
universalism DIS 10 popular doctrine of
to-day.
Fortunately. if tine man is not be
Riever In the deity and Saviorhood OF
Eesus Christ. be can accept that he
fSef and go over to the other side.
1t is no difference what may be
ones prejudice 2Guching Jesus Christ.
He must take sides, he Must act as
the people of JesN.saem asated in an
gwer to Pilates question, @!Fhis man
OF IsSrabbas?" 1t is, Theoretically. a
choice between two opinions, practi-
eaiay a choice between taEiGg Jesus
MS bnother or Satan as maSter-in
short. it is a choice ultimately between
Rife add death.