The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1937-02-27

ferer Chapter l2). As Sovereign
he received the personal tribute o.
affection in the amounting at Beth
any, the municipal tribute Of ad
miration in the interest OF thu
common people, and the nationa
tribute Of alteration in the tri
umphal entry. AS Sufferer ht
anticipated the cross for as he left
the Temple he encountered ambi
tion in the request Of the Greeks
assurance in the voice Of the Fa
Their, fulfilment of the prophecy OF
Isaiah, and antagonism in the at
titude of the Pharisees. Yet the
Sovereign-Sufferer was truly the
Son Of God.
Jesus himself kept the New
Commandment which he gave tc
his disciples Chapter 49,. After
making the highest claims, that OF
identity with the Father, he en-
gagged in the lowliest service, that
of washing the disciples feet. Marx
also his attitude to two OF his
Apostles-Judas betraying Christ
while feigning discipleship, his
falsity contrasting with true faith
and Peter denying Christ under q
sudden test Of discipleship, his
LOYALTY wavering momentarily
during the eclipse Of his love.
AMBITION WITHOUT LOVE
(John l2)
The Request of the Greeks APP
pears TO have been animated by
ambition. The Greeks were resi-
dents Of neighmoring cities or per-
haps natives of Greece itself
Their anxiety to see Jesus gre"
out of an interest which was more
than curiosity, yet les than devo-
ton. Most likely their precise
motive was to have Jesus now SO
manifestly rejected in his own ma
ton to try his fortune among, the
Greeks. Philip and Andrew hav-
ing Greek names were doubtless
conversant in that language and
probably acquainted with some OF
the inquirers. These two disciples
therefore were chosen to bear the
message of the Greeks from the
court Of the Gentiles to Jesus still
seated as we suppose in the Court
of the Women within the Temple
enclosure.
ACHIEVEMENT THROUGH
LOVE (John l2)
The Reply of Jesus unveiled the
supreme achievement, through
love. The inquirers had thoughs
him ambitious of establishing q
glorious earthly kingdom and
hereby implied that they would
consider the question Of carrying
out his designs. But he aspired to
a far different glory and the con-
summation Of it was just at hand
The method of attaining that glory
was not by swaying a worldwide
scepter but by dying a lonely and
ighominious death. Think of thu
wheat.grai ntaken from security
In the Igranaryj cast out int othc
damp earth. soaked by the rains
and chilled by frosts; lNngyin its
loneliness to decay and die; but
out of its death there emerges.a
New, a multiplied, more ,perma'
nent and more glorious life. Thus
in the mind Of Jesus the. vision OF
empire sinks out Of sight before
the vision of the wheat-grain. BY
diving he could accomplish more
than by living; for life would
make him only a Jewish philoso-
pher while death made him the
worlds Saviour. In material things
gaining is so soon followed by
losing that such life is to- be
hated and lost in our eager grasp
of the life which is eternal. They
who serve and folio wChrist. will
not be without their rich. reward,
first in the companionship of
Jesus, and then in the approval
of the Father. -
ASSURANCE FOR LOVE
John l2) a..
The Voice of the Father gave
assurance and approval to the
highest act of love. Indeed, d.
vine approval rang out Of heaven
in thunder tone. Rejected by his
own nation, misunderstood by 9TH
ers, mt yet fully comprehended by
his most loyal disciples, and fac
ing q most dreadful death, surely
Jesus could say in saddest accents
that his soul was troubled. His
agitation could relieve itself only
in the burning utterance Of q
prayer which expected no answer
Father, save me from this hour.'
But in an instant the purpose OF
his life again held him in its
strong grasp as he realized that
for this cause he had reached this
moment. Then in loftier strain
than before he cried: Father
glorify thy name" And back
came the swift reply in the voice
from heaven. Both his life in the
past and his death Just ahead were
for the Fathers glory. The assur.
ance of it was for his own
strengthening and for the good OF
the auditors. Everybody heard
the voice which rang out above
the din ofSthe multitude. { But
some declared it TO be thunder
though the skies were not threat,
ening. Others Thought it the voice
OF an.angel addressing Jesus. Per.
haps only a few of the disciple,
recognized the voice and caught
its message. And it was more Fol
their sakes than for his, for they
needed Authorization of his min.
istry even more than he needed
appreciation in one of his darkest
hours. So Jesus was comforted
he was ready for the worst--the
forsaking, the blasphemy, the
cross, the shame, the grave. Two
thoughts We're dominant. The first
was the conquest of Satan. There
was crisis in tba ,,o,.,l O.. ~ :