The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1922-04-10
REV. DIMON URGES
DEEP THOUGHT ON
MYSTERY OF CROSS
Rector of st. Andrews
Church Describes Vic
tory at Edom.
MESSIAH RETURNS
Cost Of Redemption in Suffer.
ing, Torment and Death
Related.
MESSIAH RETURNS
By REV. J. J. DIMON,


Rector Of st. Andrews Church.
who II this that cometh from
Edom. with dyed garments from
Besrahf-Isaiah 63i1.
It Is a wonderful and curious
picture which the Seer of Israel
gives us in this passage. We think
Of him standing upon one Of the
hillsides Of Judah. looking OF to-
ward the east, where a long denle
leads to the Jordon Valley and be-
yond to the hills of Edom, where
had dwelt for centuries that peo-
pie Of alien and yet kindred blood
the Edomites. Unconquered, re-
vengeful, spiteful. they had always
been to Israel a thorn in the flesh
From the shadows that lie en-
shrouding the hills of Edom, the
prophet sees a figure emerge. 1t
draws nearer. and as he watches,
the figure assumes Importance and
significance. At hrS 1t is noticed
that he who approaches is no usual
man. His garments are pure white.
He carries his head high. He seems,
and indeed must be. the long
looked-for Savior. the Messiah, who
has been promised to the nation as
q deliverer and king. And this is
still further apparent when 1t is
seen that his garments are spotted
with blood.
The Conqueror Comes:
This then is how the Conqueror
comes! He has had to deal with
the enemy. There has been no
easy vlctory-and IT. has BEEN won
alone. There was no one to help
him.
One hardly needs to draw the
parallel between this fine figure of
the Old Testament and Christ, the
Savior of mankind. during the last
days OF His earthly life. 1t Is the
high privilege OF Christian people
to commemorate during Holy
Week the hnal events in their
SaVior's life and many earnest
hearts are convinced that this
story somehow embodies the eff
fectual emancipation Of human
nature from the bondage of sin and
death.
II this is true. them IL is the
mightiest truth ever enunciated, the
most glorious revelation which God
has ever vouchsafed to His children.
And the demonstration of II, like
many OF the deep things Of life.
hes not within the sphere of logical
or sclentlnc processes. but in the in
tuitive response Of the human heart
to its appeal.
Ponder Mystery Of Cross.
But the earnest Christian will not
only accept the story of the Cross
and think about It, He will nom
der the deep mystery Of what II all
involved in the way OF suffering
He will think of this Conqueror who
passed the way OF mans life and
met on every side hatred and abuse
He will think OF that matchless 10y
atty to God mistaken under every
possible temptation. He will con-
slider this King among men wearing
crown Of thorns He will recall
now this pure. strong spirit battled
against the powers OF evil until they
finally brought about His death.
AS he welcomes once more the Mes
siah who came to Jerusalem that
hrst Palm Sunday, lowly and riding
upon an ass. he will not take the
gift Of Gods redemption lightly. He
viii remember what that redemption
has cost in the way of suffering.
torment and death. and he will hum
bly, seek thai blessed gift with the
h"pe and prayer that he may be-
come worthy to follow in the foot
steps of that Savior who has died
for him.