Evening star., 1922-10-14

Johns dramatic entrance upon his
, emergency. The minute exactness with
| which Luke fixes the commencement OF
the prophets work indicates its histori-
cal Importance. He came forth from
the school of the desert in response to
| "the word Of Cod to break the silence
of the centuries at an hour OF absolute
moral and religious degeneracy." The
rulers links up the beginning Of John S
ministry with the history of that hour
of darkness. The Jewish people were
becoming impatient under the Roman
yoke. that curtailed their liberties and
deliberately violated their sacred Gus
toms. The Roman authorities profaned
the holy places by a debauched priest
hood. They usurped the appointment
of the high priest. Annas managed to
keep the control Of the office in his fam
lily. The morals OF the pagan world
were appalling. Vice had reached the
limits so that all men, who took time
to consider conditions. looked for the
outpouring Of judgment and fiery indig-
nation.
1t was into such an atmosphere, cleo
trio with the coming storm. the divine
spark flashed forth in the person and
preaching of the aptist. He appeared
suddenly in the Jordan valley and
erected his pulpit in the wilderness near
its forsls. He Immediately attracted the
attention Of the caravans of commerce
and worshippers en- route to jerusalem
by his personality and preaching. His
striking appearance revealed that he was
Nazarite. whose long and unkempt hair
revealed that he had sought TO subdus
his appetites and cultivate an unwnrld!y
life in fellowship with God. His features
had been tanned by the sun and the air
Of the desert. There was something In
his clothing and manner of entrance
unon his, ministry that recalled III"
spirit and power Of Elijah.
After the nearly four centuries Of
prophetic silence the Baptist quickly
aroused the nation by his concentrating
all the previous voices Of God In his
preaching the baptism of repentance
unto remission Of sins His message
of sin and judgment. repentance and
forgiveness drew the people of the
cities as well as from the farms into the
Jordan Valley to hear the courageous
champion of social Righteousness.
Repent WAS Johns great word 1t does
not can to be sorry and sorry agair
for sin. which may produce repentance
He demanded a change of mind and
lie. lie assured his hearers that this
would result in the forgiveness Of their
through change OF his mind. then his
sins are sent away from him through
divine grace Our Father sends them
away out of sight and mind th-ouE!,
the Lamb Of God which taketh away
the sins Of the world.
The men who accepted Johns mes
sage We're required in accordance with
he Mosaic law to publicly confess their
Sins when they wer" baptized in the
Jordan. True repentance The prophet
required to he demonstrated by refor-
nation in their lives. Ever convert was
expected TO bring forth fruits worthy
Ct repentance. John demanded a socisi
service as IA proof Of spiritual life. H
called for il from all classes alike. He
waS 10 resnec.or OF position. He reroe-
nized no class distinctions. One mans
soul was as precious 70 him as another
He coIragenusly Condemned the courts
immortality and the iniquity Of the lead
ers Of the nation He warned his coun-
Unless they confnrmAd their lives to
Gods will and dN His will. The axe
vas even then at the roots Of the tree
ready 70 cut it down unless they re-
pented and proved their new life by
deeds of social Justice.
our Lord called John the creates:
man ever born of woman The two
outlines of the sermons that he de';v-
cred reveal some of the elements of his
crea mss. He manifested his character
Pharisees and Sadducees who found
their way 10 tire front places in ONE Of
his revival meetings These religion
isis were as a rule great hypocri;es
intensely selfish. formal and self-suffi-
cient. The Pharisees were the more
numerous and religious. and arroga led
10 themselves greater sanctity. They
daspised the common people. and would
rot allow even their garments TO touch
one whom they deemed 10 be a sinner
The Sadducees were smaller sect
more cultivated Intellectually than ihe
PhariSeeS, occupving a higher social mo-
sition. and were far more worldly They
clung. indeed. to the ceremonials of re-
ligion. hut denied all spiritual signia-
cance IN them. They affected religion
'"r s".fsh purposes. either thai they
might ;'old on to the mower and emolu-
II lal.E Ef he Gfficn r.:a.., .ha Lid