The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1921-01-13
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON.

SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON.
Especially Prepared for The Republic
can BY DR.. U. s. Wright.
Sunday, January 16, 1921.
OUR ALL FOR THE KINGDOM
Matt. 19:16-3O.
Read Mark 1O:17-31; Luke 1880.
Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thy
self.-Matt. 1919.
U. S. Wright.
THE COURAGE OF CONVICTION
Jesus stood beneath the shadow of
the cross. Lazarus had been raised
and the rulers had placed price upon
the head of this meddler with tradi-
ton and custom. In less than month
the great tragedy would be over and
Jesus was fully aware of it as He
approached the Jordan on the way to
Jerusalem. Suddenly there came to
Him with all the enthusiasm of splen-
did youth one of the influential men of
the day who was willing to dare the
wrath of his comrades-for he too was
a ruler among the Jews-that he
might acquire the friendship of the
outcast. The very synagogue over
which he welded authority might
close its doors to him, but he brooked
nothing of it. Perhaps he felt so sure
in his position that he knew they
would not dare to thwart his will.
Likely both were part of the mental
process that went On under his rich
head-covering. Perhaps his was an
offer of personal service to this
Teacher he admired with full power
to shake the grim determination of
the Sanhedrin to be satisfied only with
blood. Certainly his adherence would
have had startling effect in these last
days. Jesus could not but know all
this and yet in the face of it He held
to His convictions and dared to leave
all corners untrimmed to gain a fol-
lower. When the aged father of the
captain of the Cumberland read in
the paper of the sinking of the ship
with her colors flying, he said: "My
boy is dead; he would never surren-
der" Jesus would go down with His
flag still afoat, realizing that defeat
ed conviction is supremest victory.
But an opinion will modify itself
where a conviction will die. The Pill
grims were men of conviction and
every great soul has held some truth
without wavering as Jesus did.
THE LOVE THAT DARED.
Jesus could not help loving this
splendid, clean young fellow who ran
in his eagerness and cast himself in
the dust in his desire. Coming in such
manner asking for high task, it is
small wonder that the soul of the
Master was moved with sudden emo
ton. Questions probed down into the
heart of the mans life. What had
he been doing already in his relations
with others. His attitude toward God
seemed correct, for it wa sunchallen-
ged by the Lord. Evidently this youth
had run to individualism and was ut
terly oblivious of his neighbor. The
grosser things were quickly repudi-
ated, for he had not wronged the So
ciety in which he lived. That he was
satisfied with surface interpretations
is beside the point for the full teach
ing had been obeyed and yet there was
dissatisfaction and unrest that proved
the futility of mere doing. Yet even
here he was entirely selfish in his de-
sire, for it was eternal life for himself
alone and unshared that he sought.
Number one was the greatest of them
all in his own eyes. Yet the tender
love of Jesus saw clearly that unless
this selfish individualism was de-
stroyed it would destroy him, and love
dared the heroic if there could be rem
edy of the condition. He would open
his eyes to the life Of others. Seeing
only himself there must be real sur
gerry if recovery could be made "Sell
all and give up every position you
hold that you may become sharer of
the common life" was the startling
word that fell upon his eager ears. Is
it strange that he hesitated? Would
we with all our larger knowledge of
Jesus do differently if that demand
were made of US? The size of the
man may be measured by the demand
of the Christ who knew what he was
capable of becoming. That he refused
is nothing aginst the judgement of
Jesus as to his capacity. Our difficulty
is with an unfinished story and the
permission of this moment closing the
case. How do we know he did not