The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1924-07-24

Matt. ALL; Mark lip, Is; Luke
Alb.
In that he himself was tempted. he is
able to succOr them that are tempt
ed.-Hebrews 2:1S.
THE ASSAULTED SAVIOR.
"a crisis comes in every redeemed
mans life inside of the first twenty
four hours" is the word of Sam Had
ley, and its truth has been proven in
case after case. And Christ had His
Immediately after that wonderful
experience at the Jordan where heav-
en- had touched earth and Spirit has
kissed Flesh. With soul elate He
passed out of the throng toward His
loved solitude among the hills. They
had always been His haunt in the old
days of Nazareth and habit as well as
Spirit drove Him into his accustomed
refuge He must think this unexpect-
ed experience thru without Interrupt
ton. He must guard the limitless
wealth that was His for it is the rich
man or the rich state that catches the
assault. So intent was He upon the
mental problems that the wild beasts
were in the place He never felt fear
or paid any attention to their pres
ence. He had gotten His call. Fa-
miliar with the ideas of the day He
must determine what He would do
with the Messiahship that He was
now conscious of possessing.
1t is interesting to think how the
story became the possession of the
Twelve for it must have been told
them by their Lord and it may be that
the hour when Peter would have
turned Him from the Cross offers an
occasion upon which He made this
explanation of His linking the Apos-
tie with the Tempter. Certainly it
would have been an appropriate time
for him to express some Of the causes
for His determination. And it clears
the smoke from mans temptations in
Kidding him of the idea Of sin. Many
a person has felt, Il must be an aw-
full sinner to have such temptations"
Jesus had them till they hurt for He
suffered being tempted" yet there
was no sin. 1t shakes one free from
the thought that there will ever come
such holiness of life that they will
no longer attack for in the most real
fashion He endured them not only
thru forty racking days but on many
another occasion. One does not climb
heights to get out of the wind.
THE STRUGGLER.
With mind intent upon the question
that were being raised He forgot all
need of food until there began to en-
erge some order out of the chaos and
hunger leaped upon Him like beast
and demanded satisfaction. And it
immeditely lighted up way of de-
termining the goal toward which He
should move. Should matter or spirit
come first in His thinking? Com
merce, factories, business, banks and
barns are necessary things-shall
they be the first things? what an op-
portunity to create world with
bread enough for all! To so manipu-
late natures forces that abundance
should take the place of privation.
could l do that?" He was sure
that He could. "Should He break
private road thru to its store?" He
might but He refused to build
world upon the bread basis only.
There are other things as vital as
bread. And He would have no mon
opoly of its store but would give
every man a chance to share in it.
There was a battle for the method
of reaching His end Should he en-
ploy spectacular appeal or take the
slow road of thorough preparation
that converted the whole man in
stead of simply winning his wonder.
Religion may run circus or use a
school. The circus will catch the
crowd while the school will change q
world but we haven't discarded the
religious circus. Should Jesus do
stunts or teach truth? Should He
exploit a shallow experience or the
deep conviction that would serve as
foundation in any storm? Should He
ply to the gallery or lose Himself in
the team? He refused the leap and
chose the stair.
There was the fight for the spirit
that should control the Kingdom.
How should He seek its dominion?
There was no question of the good
He could do if He swayed the scepter
of power in Rome and the world for
He could make the laws and enforce
them also and men would be the
benefciaries. What world He could
create! There is no question Of the
fascination of such picture to the
lover of men. Just to control their
destiny and provide houses, play
\ grounds and ali the comforts the
y business will bear has led many a
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