The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-08-10

was 12 years of age, the time when lie made if known that there was spe- ciol responsibility upon Him concern ing the temple, his Fathers house. ! Only n few days ago He had ln- augnrated His ministry. He had come os A young carpenter among the last of those who had asked John the Bap- fist to baptize them in the River Jor- dan. He had just finished the 40 days in the wilderness, where He had been completing His preparation for Ills mission He has just gathered around Him His first six disciples; He had Just attended the marriage feast in the httie | town of Cana, where He performed Ills | first miracle to demonstrate His attl- tude toward the social customs of his people, and at the same time to fur- nish a "sign" or symbol of His Dlvlne power among men.
 Today He is back at the temple 'ln attendance upon the feast of the Pass over. Now that He has begun His ministry and has already been publicly announced as the promised Messiah His responsibility concerning the tenn ple must assume a new aspect.
 Here was an issue.
 Here were Christ's ideals on the one hand, and the corrupt, lntrenched power of the Jewish rulers on the other. Here was the throwing down | of the gauge of battle, and the warfare between Christ and the enemies ot Christianity waxed hotter and fiercer, until these same Jewish rulers three years afterward succeeded in having Him crucified.
 This first public conflict between the authority of the Messiah and the en- trenched forces of Journalistic Judaism was strikingly dramatic. As prophet and king He was concerned with dls- charging His full duty. This impelled Him to rebuke the evil which was stand ing in the way of the religious life of the people and as hindrance to the true worship of Jehovah.
 It was significant that at the very beginning of His ministry, He con demned the profaning of the court ot the Gentiles which was looked upon so lightly by the exclusiveness of the Jewish leaders.
 Who shall say that the challenge is- sued that day must not be answered by the present-day church. Perhaps the answer to that challenge is the answer to the question, whether the Christians Of thlS generator use tue CuuICh AOk tine furthering of interests which are distinct from the interest of the king. dom which the Master came to set up
 It is easy to imagine the cOnsterna- ton that prevailed in the temple that day when the Messiah first asserted His supreme authofity. The privileged class naturally looked upon the mat ter as a species of Outlawry, even anarchy. They said He had no priest ly or other right to interfere, so far as official authority was concerned.
 There were the cattle dealers with their oxen and their sheep; there were the poultrymen with their pigeons and doves, standing in long lines by their GOODS; there were the bird sellers, whose customers were from the mendicant class, who were unable to afford even a pigeon for sacrifice; there were the benches upon which were lined the money-changers with coin hung from their ears as a sort of trade mark of l their business!
 Of course, this was not the first time the Master had drowned upon this spectacle. He had seen it on many Oc- casions before. but today everything