Pueblo chieftain., 1921-03-20

But the costliest sorrow is all our
For on the summit we bleed alone
over the greater part of, Europe ono
finds wayside crosses. Eastern Chri
tians maintain the emblem of Calvary
with their lives, marking it on their
doorways and even tattooing II ON
their faces. In Japan, as in Moslem
lands, the old faiths used to test tho
remuneration Of Christians by asking
them to trample or to spit upon tn"
cross. This perception of the central
place of the symbol and truth of the
crucifixion in Christian life is we'll
nigh universal.
To disciples of all creeds tho cross
has embodied their lofticst spiritual
thought. In the eleventh century Bcr-
nard Of ClairvauN pcnned his deathlcsS
| 20 Sacred Head once wounded.'
Isaac Watts set myriads to singing:
when | survey the wondrous cross
| on which the Prince of glory died,
My richest gain l count but loss,
| And. pour contempt on all my pride
A century later Sir John Bowrins
write:-
I'm the cross of Christ l glory
| Towering DER the wrecks of time;
| All the light Of sacred story
Gathers round its head sublime.
When the woes of life o'ertake me.
| Hopes deceive, and fears annoy.
Never shall the cross forcsake me:
Lo! 1t glows with peace and joy
A Crowded stage.
The Greatest Story in the World, ell
making in the Cross. has only one
Hero. but many incidental characters.
| The trial and death OF Jesus, which
began according to the forms of JUS
ticc and ended in an exhibition of mob
law. reveal all grades OF human M
turc-for even in His Atonement tho
Saviour was touched by the varied in
firmities of man. How the characters
troop across the stage set for crsa-
tons supreme drama on "A gray hill
outside of old Jcrusalcm's Nllll
First there were tho enemies OF
Jesus. cunning, rcsourceful. unscrupu-
lous and rcsentful Wounded cccics-
lastical pride. aESrcivcd commercial
power. branded wickedness in high
places, had shrcwdly plotted and con-
trived together until they had got this
New Teacher into tho hand OF the
Roman law.
Next was PLATE tho politician gov
crnor. who was as Just as his own fear
and ambition would let him be. ilc
acquitted Jesus by Roman law and
convicted Him by lynch law. For lack
Of common. courageous manhood. Pill
ate is ctcrrally pilloricd in the worlds
hall OF infamy.
Then there was the throaty rabblo.
which shortly before had cried. "Cruc-
ify HIM" In the presence OF this VIOLA
tile mob. tools of shrcwd schcmrrs in
the background. who will say that al
ways "NoN populi. voN Der
True friends, mostly women. clus-
ter near the cross. amid tho black
shadows that miraculously yelled tho
face of tho sky. Judas had gone off
to n suicides grave, but faithful com
radcs remained near
Rcmc's soldiers, impcrsonllly doing
one OF the days tasks of militnrtsin.
by their very Indifference, callousrcss
and gambling triviaiity, thrown into
high relief the sublimity OF the cross.
The thieves on either side Of tho Re-
dcemcr better understood than these
,crucifixiop.
Last of all, as first Of all. was tho
Majestic Prisoner, dcgnificd amid tor
turc and agony. and Captain Of con-
ditions even when nailed to the cross.
His personality overtorpcd all else,
even as Els cross-the Crowning touch
of cruelty was that Carpenter should
died by the handiwork OF His craft
overlooked the multitude. Literature
and history have no parallel for THIS
Figure
We cannot speak of Him in any
terms Mt our command. This was tho
supreme transaction and mystery OF
eternity Somehow, on this hill of OK
ccution, God and man were rcconctled
by the shed blood of the Crucined
Christ. His death secured mans life.
1t is the un,cilablc love story of the
ages.
II have not much TO give Thee. Lord
For that great love which made
Thee mine
/ have not much to give Thee. Lord,
Bu, all | have is Thine"