The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1918-10-26

IUIut WlluL Adhh
Christ holds in the hierarchy of beings.
There are those who try to make us
believe that Christ is mere man,
and nothing more; but we are not per-
shaded that they have answered the
question correctly. We readily admit
the humanity of Christ. 1t is rarely
ever challenged today. In fact, the
tendency of the age is towards the hui
manizing Of Christ altogether. But
after we have admitted that Christ is
man, there is that about him which
tells us that we have not fully an
swered his question.
1t was Napoleon Bonaparte who
said: II know men, and tell you
that Jesus Christ is no mere man."
That is just it; we, too, know men,
and, because we do, we know that
Jesus Christ is no mere man. Every
one agrees that Jesus Christ is the
one sinless personality of the race.
Twenty centuries of hostile criticism
have not found flaw in his character.
1t Is as stainless and spotless as ever.
OF what mere man can you say that!
There has never a man lived whose
character could stand the white light
of criticism as has the character Of
Christ
And his character is no Pigment of
the fancy. 1t is not the product OF
the imagination of a few unlearned
fishermen. AS Theodore Parker says:
"Shall we be told such man never
lived? His whole story is a lie? Sup
pose that Plato and Newton never
lived? But who did their works, AMI
thought their thoughts? 1t takes a
Newton to forge Newton. What
man could have fabricated a Jesus?
None but Jesus"
Before, then, we can answer
Christ's question Alright, we must con-
slider his stainless, spotless character,
unequaled by any man in the past and
unattained by ;.ny man in the present.
Robert Ingersoll, who never admit
ted more than he was obliged to, ac-
knowledged that Christ was "a good
and heroic man." That was great
concession for the avowed infidel, and,
when weighed carefully, it is seen to
be an argument in favor Of the unique
character of Christ, which lifts him
above mere men. For it is obvious
to anyone that there can be no dis
crepancy between a good man and his
word. If Christ is all Robert Ingersoll
Is willing to admit--a good man,
then Christs word must be "a good
word" What he says of himself must
be true, or he at once loses his good
character and becomes a charlatan.
SO Christ, then, must be heard. 1t Is
absolutely unfair to pass judgment
upon him without hearing him. And
1t will help us, in view of all that Is
admitted concerning him, If we listen
to him speak.
First, he hears testimony to his own
character by publicly challenging any
one to convict him of sin (John S:46s
No one was ever found who accepted
the challenge, and PLATE, who exam
ined him on spurious complaint OF
the Jews, said: II find no fault in
him." BY his own testimony, con-
firmed by the word Of PLATE, he stands
before us as the one without spot or
blemish.
Again, he claims that the record he
bears of himself is true. II it be not
true, then we are shut up to one al
tentative, and that he was not, as Rob
ert Ingersoll has admitted ga good
man !" for man is not good if he ever
breathes falsehood.
He plainly states that he knows
whence he came, and whittier he goes
| (John 8:14), and who he is. Hear
him as he says: "No man hath
assembled up into heaven but he that
came down from heaven, even the Son
| of Man, which is in heaven" (John
3:13). To the woman of Samaria, who
says: Il know that Messias cometh
which is called Christ" he replies: u
that speak unto thee am he" (John
| 4:25-26); and to the one born blind
whose eyes he had opened, he asked
"Dost thou believe on the Son Of
| God?" TO which the man once blind
replies: "Who is he, Lord, that ]
might believer" To which Jesus an
swered: "Thou hath both seen him
and 1t is he that speaketh unto thee
(John 8 :35-37).
Having noted the matchless, sinless
/ life Of Christ and heard his wondrouS