The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-04-08
THE FACTS
m OUR NEWS
Dv HORACE A. WHITE

CRUcIFIXION OF OUR LORD
This event In the history OF western
civilization Is news this week to the
Christian world. Jesus was a man
who had arrived at the point In his
thinking and feeling. that he could
look upon all men as brothers, and
that they were the children of one
God. This the bigots In his day
could not take. The Jews who pro-
duced Jesus could not take II. The
Roman government certainly could
not stand for such a concept to take
hold OF the PEOPLE. and the va. 80
religious sects sought to discredit
the belief that all men were BROTH
ers. 1t might not have been so bad
for Jesus to insist upon the idea
that all men were brothers, but the
thing that really got him into
trouble. was, the insistence that his
ideas were workable, in the every
day life Of the community.
When Jesus talked about the love
OF ones neighbor, he was not utter
ing just mystical phrase or
pious sentiment he was thinking
very concretely about Individual
lives. He believed that people
ought to have the opportunity to
earn enough bread TO eat at all
times. He knew what it was to
suffer for the lack of enough food.
His Father was a poor struggling
carpenter who had a difficult time
to provide enough food for his fam
lily. Jesus had lived all OF his youth
in a little stone house in which
there were no windows. He knew
how stiffling and stagnating such
surroundings could be TO human
life. II almost carried Him under"
and it did carry under" many OF
the young people in his day. He saw
the workers Of his day manipulated
by the holders Of property, and the
economic processes. Thus He could
say with profound understanding
and passion, "A worker Is worthy of
his hire. Jesus knew that EXCEPT a
man could earn decent living
when he worked, and could be guar
anteed security in relationship TO
his jobIheymade poor =nefghbers..
Such feelings about ones neigh
Dor as Jesus had were dangerous.
Jesus held these feelings neverthe-
less. He wouldn't compromise
them. He wouldn't compromise
them by just talking about them. A
lot OF people nowaday. compromise
their feelings about right and wrong
in our society by just talking about
it. One never gets into trouble be-
cause he talks about something, but
one is apt to get into trouble and
very serious trouble, il he begins to
act on what he says, especially il
what he says and acts on is in be-
half Of his neighbor.
Jesus looked upon all people as
being His neighbor. He went to the
cross for this. His death on the
cross at the time it took place was
not an unusual thing Thousands OF
men had died on similar crosses be-
fore Him, and even after His death.
But, no man had ever before made
the accepted method OF executive so
| meaningful as did Jesus. Preachers.
and the practitioners OF the Chris
tian religion have removed the real
significance Of Jesus death on the
cross from the common people.
Therefore the people rather than
being challenged and exhilrated for
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look upon the anniversary Of Jesus
death as just another festive occa-
sion with meaningless sentimental
ity.
Jesus death on The cross repre-
sented consummate struggle
against the powers that would de-
stroy the soul OF man. Jesus sought
to objectify this struggle in his own
life. He did it with such magnifi-
cence. and never felt that he was
sticking his neck out" as so many
people do today when they mad
vertently make a statement for the
people.
Jesus knew that His neck was
made Ito be stuck OUT in behalf OF
the people He didn't feel that when
his own followers criticized him
that that made him a martyr. He
/ knew that il was for their benefit.
and his own personal salvation. that
he did what he did. What difference
did it make to him il men didn't un-
derstand? He knew that they didn't
know what they were doing when
they talked against him and helped
some Of their own oppressors to kill
\ Him. So. Jesus could say Father.
forgive them for they know Rot
what they do" This statement by
Jesus was not uttered in contempt
for the ignorance OF the people. nor
for their lack OF understanding
Jesus. uttered this statement in a
prayer to God that He would keep
ever in His mind, that the people
seek liberty and equality. one with
the other. even though in the process
they make many errors.
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