Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1919-03-24
WORDS FROM CROSS
ARE SUNDAY TEXT
OF BAPTIST PASTOR.
CHRlST'S FAMOUS UTTERANcE
WHILE NAILED TO CRUCiEIx
PROVES FAITH MUST BE ETER.
NAL, SAYS REV. c. w. CHESS
MAN.

Al the Baptist Church Sunday nigh
Miss Emily Palmer sang a solo witt
violin obligato by Louis Kastler Til,
old hymns were sung by the congre
CATION, John Hon leading. The an
them by the choir was keenly appre
ciated. Rev. Chessman preached
on The First Word from the Cross.
Text, Luke 1924, Father, forgive
them, for they know not what they
do" The pastor said:
Some of us here tonight who have
mad the experience of hearing last
words from the lips OF loved ones in
the death chamber can testify that
they are very impressive Dyiug
words are never forgotten We al
tach special significance to the last
words OF Jesus as He hung upOn the
cross. There are seven such word 3
recorded in the gospel narratives. The
reputed first word is my tet
After the first shock OF the driven
nails Jesus opened his lips and spoks
not imprecations on those responsible
Tor Ills intense suffering, not wild *
pressions Of pain and pleas for re-.
lease from the torture such as char
acterized criminals paying the penalty
for their crimes by crucifxion; Jesus
first word was Father that meant.
He had not lost faith as result of t1e
srilling experiences attendant upon
His arrest, trial, sCourging and cruc,
fixion. God was still His Father; HI
faith was implicit. When right is on
the scaitold and wrong on the throne
is surely time when faith is tempted
TO ASK If there is really a God of Jus
tice directing all Why do the goo |
suffer? 1t was the question of job
and is humanity's question. Some fl
you here tonight know people Who'll
nave experienced the tragic; Loss of
property, health or dear ones an |
have spoken words skep,ical of tho |
truth that there is a God of love owe
all.
But here was the sinless son o.
God experiencing the tragic. but ut
tering no word of complaint. TO tho
disciples pessimism and giant despair
obtained when Jesus was nailed tc
the tree. But Jesus maintained H
peace and poise Could any good
come out of it? Was it not calamity.
fo I
S No The salvation of the world
'esuted from the tragedy of the eros.
}od was in Christ reconciling the
world to Himself The owe Of God
lowhere evidenced so Wonderfully
n Jesus dying on the cross for the
exemption of sorrowing, sufferine
inning humanity. The cross is the Z
angth to which the suffering love # {
iod will go to WOO man back to his
eavenly Father.
What an example for the ChrstiaI i
Jesus on the cross saying Father n
Vhen we experience hours of black I
loom and despair; when evidence
eem overwhelming that evil is win
ing out over good; when vice and l
rime and Grass selfishneSs thrive =.
nd good Is crucified--we need no; -.
lpltulate to dependency Faith lik
lat Jesus manfests on the eros
hen He says Father may be our.
'e may have the vital assurance tina
Cd lives and has not surrendered .
'ntrol in His universe to evil. Go oI
at the helm and all things work 1
gether for good to them that love Z
3D. Only vital faith in God can ga NJ
ather when chaos seems to reign.
It'll goodness crucified. IN
"A short time ago heard John Tim II
ny Stone relate how sometimes n If
lrit OF giant depression tries to
stem on him. He sees the great civ Il
its sin, vice and iniquity RAMPANT da
q In that hour he drops on his
ees in prayer that there might be -,
Vived in his soul the vita lconvic. -
N that Gods at the helm and in Hi =
rid working out His gracious mr.. -,
SEES. We all need to maintain a vita
TN In this regard. God help us I,
it. Nearness of Jesus. the cruci. III
d One, generates and nurtures the Oh
tn" tel