The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1918-11-16

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cred history that
the so-called forces Of nature were
subject to him. After he had stilled
the wind and the waves, those with
him in the boat asked: What man.
1er of man is this that even the wind
and the sea obey him?" (Matt. 8:27).
Their question is ours as we read the
record of his miracles. And we should
remember that we cannot excise the
miracles from the record If we would.
They are vital part Of the record
| that cannot be gainsaid. To inveigh
against them and say they are not to
be accepted as legitimate testimony
does not alter the fact that they are
in the record, nor satisfy the honest
msin who really seeks an answer to
this question. He must not be set
aside in his quest to understand the
being of Christ by the silly statement
that it is pnscientific to believe in
miracles. They must be weighed and
their evidence considered. The Apostle
John SAYS they are signs and that
they were done by Jesus in the pres
ence of his disciples and recorded that
we might believe that Jesus is the
Christ, the Son of the living God, and
that believing we might have life
through his name. (John 20:31). They
are not hindrances but helps to faith.
And before you set them aside as neg
li0;bIn foTyn 4bo NocraI of Tohu opd
with open mind and heart read 1t care
fully for their testimony of Jesus.
In the fifth chapter Of Johns Cos
pei, Jesus names four that bear wit
ness of him. And among them he
names his works. "They bear witness
of me that the Father hath sent me-
5:33-39.) So whatever man may say
about the miracles Of Christ, remem-
Der he says they are his witnesses.
But let us pass the miracles and
note some of Christ's other works. He
met a hard-fisted taxgatherer one day
and said unto him, Follow me! And
miracle of miracles this money-loving
Jew left all and followed him. Sup
pose you try the same thing on some
Jewish financier and see If 1t works.
Get him, if you can, to leave all and
follow you. "What manner Of man is
this Jesus that a ttlx-gathering Jew
leaves all and follows him?"
He happened one day to pass
through Jericho, and again his word
was obeyed by another Jew whose oc-
cupation was like Matthew's. FAC
chaeus obeyed the Lords word to come
down from his vantage point in the
sycamore tree, and 10! greater mir
acle was wrought in him than that
which turned the water into wine, or
stilled the storm. It was the instant
Transformation from sordid, selfish,
grasping character to generous, peni-
tent, repentant one, determined to
right the wrongs of his life. AS he
stands in the presence Of the Master
he says: "Behold, Lord. the half of my
goods I give to the poor; and If I have
taken anything from any man by false
accusation, I restore him fourfold."
(Luke 19:1-10.)
These are only two of the wonder
works of Jesus. The record is full of
them. If you would find the right an
swer to our question, study that mar
velous record as given in the gospels.
And the record is not yet complete
and will not be till grace Is no more,
for today Jesus transforms men who
obey him as marvelously as he did in
the case OF any Of whom we read In
Holy Writ. Your own life may be a
witness to ais work In you. eye" says
the apostley speaking Of believers, "are
his living epistles known and read Of
all men," And If you would answer
the Masters question Alright read these
living letters that speak Of his work Of
grace, as well as those recorded in the
Scriptures. You will find them In ham,
let. town AID city, in stores and Offices.
behind the plow and the throttle. in
busy martS OF trade and on blood
stained battlefields; wherever men are
there you will find among them his
living eplHtles. Read them! And
when you have read them ask your
self, Who is this Jesus who has
wrought smch a marvellous work in
these lives, that they show forth the
love and humility and power of him
who died FOR them?"
Listen not to human voices that
wOI11d dpffpcf vnrlr faith h1yt IN the
inner voice of your soul. Does 1t not
say with Feter: ~Thou art the Christ
the Son of the living God?"