The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1923-03-28
''HE is RISEN''

Sunday again brings to the Christian world the
commemoration of that day over two thousand
years ago, when the visit of Mary to the tomb
of Jesus disclosed the fulfillment of almost the
last of the prophecies. But a few days later the
last act of the greatest drama the world has ever
known occurred when Christ assembled on high
from the mountain where he had gathered his
thousands of disciples for the last sermon. Through
all these years the religion which he taught has
spread throughout the world until today hardly
a place can be found where it is not practiced.
During this week, religious services are being
carried on in all churches. Beginning with Palm
Sunday through to Maundy Thursday, Good Fri
day and then Easter Sunday, special services of
rejoicing will continue. There is in this service,
in the celebration of the communion, in the OBJ
s~ervation of religious rites, the continuation of
the forms in use during and before the time of
Christ, adapted from the ancient pagenism, to
render worship and glory to One who taught
brOtherly love.
Many there are who do not credit Jesus of Naz-
areth with being anything more than a mortal
man. They do not believe He was divine, a part
of God, the Father of all. They contend that he
was but one of many teachers who during the
early history of this world appeared from time
to time. His great works of healing, are consid-
cred to have been wrought through the ~fanatical
mania of those who professed to have been healed.
Yet there is no record of any healed by Jesus,
having reverted to their former condition. Laza-
rus, and others, raised from the dead are not
chronicled sto have passed away again after the
Nazarine had departed.
Permitting the dougting Thomases to hold their
belief that there was nothing divine about Jesus
Christ, it must be admitted by them that the
teachings were such as had never before or since
been equaed. None, not even the prophets were
able to carry the message of love which He taught
to the people as He did and bring the people to
accept it. If it is true that Jesus was but a mortal
"a great teacher, it must be admitted, He taught
a religion the like of which had never been told.
1t is a religion that, if lived by the people will
bring happiness and peace to the whole world.
1t is a religion that all humans can adopt and prac-
tice with good grace.
1t seems impossible to conceive that a mortal
man could do the many things, preach the gospel,
teach and practice the religion which Jesus did.
Inundated, harrassed, opposed by those who were
at the time leaders of all life's activities, He car
ried His message to the people. Every question
of His hecklers received its proper reply; each
attempt to confuse or trap Him into error was
met in calm reproof to the discomfort of those
who tantalized Him.
He was ready to meet the fate destined for Him
when the time came, and met it with that same
calm displayed throughout His life. Those who
conspired to rid the country of Him that the
teachings might be stopped, performed the very
act that gave it the final impetus, carrying il
through the world for thousands of years. In
stead of destroying they had strengthened the
believers faith.
In a book, Religious Optimism, recently issued
written by Rev. R.. P. Smith of Bozeman, h
shows the tremendous growth of the religion o.
Jesus Christ throughout the world, in opposition
TO the contention that the world is becoming I'm
religious. In this book it is pointed out that il
the first century there were 500, 900 followers O.
Christ. In 1920 a census shows there are 600. 900.
900 who are confessors of this faith. Each sue
ceeding year, it is pointed out, the religion O
Christ gains more converts than the precedin,
year.
So there is rejoicing throughout the land. Chris
Is Risen, and He who came not seeking tn
righteous but to save Sinners will see from Hi
throne on high, a world filled with believers low
fully observing that great day. And it will be bu
a few centuries until that other prophecy wi
be fulfilled, when every knee shall bend an,
every tongue confess" in Him the Master.