Jackson County journal. (Sylva, N.C.) 19??-19??, 1918-11-22

"A tested fact OF Sa-
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.
Ter of man is this that even the wind |
and the sea obey him?" (Matt. S:2O. |
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 q 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
man 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 unscientiic 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
ligible, take the Gospel Of John and
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 MS pass the miracles and
note some of Christ's other works. He
met Manifested 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 it werks.
Get him. if you can, to leave all anc
follow you. "What manner of man is
this Jesus that tax-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 com,
{ down from his vantage point in thu
5 sycamore tree, and 10! greater mir
{ acle was wrought in him than tina
: which turned the water into wine, o.
!. stilled the storm. It was the instan
2 transformation from a sOrdid, selfish
grasping character to a generous, peni
$ tent, repentant one. determined t.
:. right the wrongs of his life. AS h
: stands in the presence of the Maste
he says: "Behold, Lord. the half of m
: goods give to the poor; and if hav
b taken anything from any man by falls
accusation, I restore him fourfold.
<Lukc 10 :1-1O)
p These are only two of the wonde
works of Jesus. The record is full {
them. If you would find the right al
e"CA " Jul quSSllol, tueiI lila
velous record as given in the gospels
And the record is not vet compile,
- and will not be till grace is no NOR
=. tor today Jesus transforms men WI
. obey him as marvelously as he did 1
~ the case of any Of whom we read
~ Holy Writ. Your own life may be
4. witness to his work in you. "Ye," sa!
a. the apostle, speaking of believers, "a
II his living epistles known and read
% NIL men," And if you would answ
n the Masters question Alright read the
living letters that speak of his work
~ grace. MS well as those recorded in Il
m Scriptures. You will find them in hal
~ let. town and city, in stores and Office
behind the pillow and the throttle,
busy martS OF trade and on bloc
III stained battlefelds; wherever men a
there you will find among them l
ed living epistles. Read them! A
when You have read them ask 70,
self, Who is this Jesus who b
wrought such marvellous work
oh, these lives, that they show forth I
Va love and humility and power of h
tn who died for them?"
'ed Listen not to human voices Il
up would defect your faith, but to ,
lie inner voice Of your soul. Does it ,
ac' say with Peter: ''Thou art the Chr
Id" the Son Of the living GodY"