The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1926-02-25

HOW Ile ~Stl nave dppealSu " 'tHo
imagination of the throng composed
largely of young pilgrims to the an
nual feast, many of them in the preg
nant teen ages. For they knew he
was an outlaw. They had discussed
the price set upon information lead
ing to His arrest. He was young,
strong, draing to the point of audac-
ity and challenging the authorities to
carry out their threat. Moreover, He
was so keen-witted that He turned
to laughter all attempts to entangle
Him in word battles. Youth would
fling itself at His feet and this was
just the fear of the ecclesiastical
political group within the temple
counselling upon the course to take.
Their prestige and position were at
stake among the crowd, but their
money was also. They were no longer
capable of judging, for their minds
were couded by prejudice and befool-
ed witt the passion of personal adj
vantage. They would serve them
selves, Jesus would serve the capable,
coming youth.
EXPLOITED YOUTH.
These shrewd tricksters masquer-
aiding as guileless leaders who would
save their land from such disastrous
policies as Jesus proposed called a
group of young people about them
and with keen understanding of their
disciples mind offered them the posi-
ton of honor in the conflict. So they
poured into their ears the story of the
nations peril, the danger to its in
situations if the program of Jesus
should be adopted by the people, and
the wonderful service they could rem
der by entangling Him and discredit-
ing Him before the throng. So they
rehearsed the question to be proposed
and sent them out to try their luck
with the man who had a passion for
youth. 1t was high compliment and
good understanding of Jesus that they
took young folks to do their task. 1t
was for them he lived and it was htru
them then that they could most sure
ly work His downfall. The tragedy
of it was that they fell for it all and
were duped into a struggle against
their best friend. 1t has not been the
50 oitb to,,
proclaim their late exploiting by war
lords, and the peril today is that they
do battle for the crafty group whose
interests and gains lie in the sale of
brewery stock and product.
So into the expectant crowd they
thrust themselves and with their fine
young faces surround Jesus and ask
for His judgment. They are perplexed
over whatthey ought to do, will He
help them He is true and they can
trust Him. Ought they to pay taxes
to the hated Romans? Of course they
were forced to do it by the legions but
wasn't it right toevade it if they
could? Wasn't it justifable to break
the law in this case? They were be-
levers in the laws and all that, but
this one had been over on them;
wasn't it right to show their contempt
for it when they had a chance ?Wasn't
it rather being a good sport? Jesus
looked clear thru them with His deep
eyes and saw beyond them their send
RS and understood what it all meant.
'ring Me one of the coins," He said.
melody produced one and Jesus
ed at it and asked again, "Whose
re and superscription is this p
ar's," they said. There was a
e in His eye as He replied, eff
so eager to get rid of the law
it be well to send Caesars
ok to him and get rid of the