Evening star., 1925-01-10

It was after Jesus had spoken His
last word to HIS opponents and TO
the multitude in Jerusalem that He
withdrew with His disciples to the
Mount Of olives Looking upon the
imposing city from His favorlte re-
treat, It was natural for the disciples.
who had noted the changed attitude
of-thc masses. TO ask the Master to
tell them when the catastrophe should
come. to which during the day He had
made repeated references.
HIS discourse to His Disciples fur
nishes one of the most difficult prob
lens for solution to the students ct
Christs career. He taught them q
lesson of patience and expectancy III
a group OF parallels, preserved for ua
In the chapter of our lesson. which
has been taken from the remarkable
picture of the last Judgments de-
scription In itself not altogether new.
Numerous writers and thinkers had
portrayed the scene, and the broad
outlines OF the picture were naturally
common property: yet 1t is largely
due to the almost exclusive attention
given to the details Of the picture
that has furnished the expositors
with their problem that too frequent
ly has prevented the consideration of
the note Of warning sounded by the
Lord in His famous description of
the final judgment, when all nations
VIII appear before Him. 1t was a new
conception that He gave when, three
days before His crucifixion, He pre-
dicted that He would return in glory
to pass judgment upon all nations
Bishop Mcconnell has called our
attention TO the fact that biblical
students tell us that the framework
OF this Judgment scene Is taken from
passage in the book OF Enoch. The
book Of Enoch was q book almost as
sacred In the eyes of the Jews as the
scriptures themselves 1t was patri-
otto throughout. 1t deals with an as
semblage Of the nations before the
Messianic King for judgment A grea.
reward is TO be bestowed. The test
or Judgment, however, is loyalty to
the aims of Israel as a group" In
view of the fact that we must all ap-
Pear before Him, when ito every man
according to His deeds" Jesus will
render His verdict, we ougth to care
fully consider the basis of Christ's
Judgment and the irrevocable issue of
HIS decisions as presented in His pic
ture OF the last judgment
Basis of Christ's Decision.
In the book Of Enoch the test of
judgment was loyalty TO Israel but
the Lord clearly states that the basis
OF his decisions is service. This
soiection does not contain all of
Chrlsts teachings upon the jude-
ment, but without question the basis
spoken Of here is along the lines
or social service. The final separa-
ton will not be based ION national
or racial relationships. nor on intel
lectual beliefs nor even on moral
deeds. but on the spirit OF compass
sion as the evidence of its possessor's
love OF God" The life that Jesus ap-
proves is not one of profession OF
His name. but the possession Of His
spirit, revealed in service. The social
side OF salvation was never more
strongly stated than by the Master
In this lesson.
The humanitarianism that Christ
commended is one that is born out Of
our Fellowship with Him. 1t is the
spirit that we reveal in our attitude
and relation with others that will be
the decisive factor in His judgment
or our lives. The fact is that un-