The Lexington advertiser., 1949-01-06

sayings of his havt
been preserved IL
papyrus fragment
in Egypt. But the
- ASzl4 main source of oul
n- ro-..n historical knowI
edge of Jesus is ir
these four Gospels. All put to
gether they do not make big
book; but any one Of them by it
self Is gre;t book.
Who Remembered Him?
1T BOTHERS some people to dis.
L cover what scholars have always
known, that our Gospels as we
have them are based on earlier
writings and spoken traditions. But
this gives us an even better reason
for trusting the reliability of these
records. They were not made ur
for the first time q generation or
more after Jesus resurrection,
They 60 back to the lifetime Oh
thousands who personally knew
Jesus.
The farther back scholars
can trace the origins of the
Gospels, the more historically
reliable they are proved to be.
Some of the infor m a tion
worked into our Gospels came
from personal "reminiscences;
this Is the case with large
parts of Matthew and John. In
the case Of Mark, the early
story in the church was that
as q young companion of
Peter ON missionary journeys.
Mark jOtted down the stories
which Peter told about Jesus.
At any rate the Gospel Of Mark
contains just the sort Of things
that q man like Peter would be
likely to remember. Luke himself,
a missionary doctor and great
friend of Paul. never knew Jesus
personally, but lived for two years
In Palestine and gathered the ma
terials for his Gospel while there
were still hundreds OF people there
who remembered Jesus well.
What They Remembered
TOHN tells us that it would be
- impossible to write down all
that was then known of Jesus
life. Out of the 400 days Cat leas)
during which Jesus public min
istry lasted, not over 40 are re-
corded, even in part.
Yet what these men did re-
call and record is enough to
reveal a matchless Person. A
fifth Gospel might enlarge our
knowledge of Jesus; but il
would not greatly change 1t.
Jesus never wrote a book, not
even letter so far as we know;
yet such words of his as were
remembered have Influenced
the world.
Jesus entire public ministry
lasted a shorter time than it takes
to go through college; yet what
he did has had a deeper effect or
the world than the work of any
university graduate in history
Jesus started no corporation, ne
formal organization; yet out of his
fellowship have grown the Creates
institutions in the world.
Why They Remembered
THE STORY of Jesus was re
L mernbered and recorded by hi!
followers partly because they coulc
not help it. They could not forge
him and did not want to forge
him. One thing is true Of all thoss
who lovingly cherished these mem
ories of the Master: they loved ans
adored him.
No unbeliever ever wrote .
Gospel. PLATE wrote NO life Of
Christ. Even II Judas had lived,
he could mot have written one.
Our Gospels were written by
men Of faith. for the purpose Of
calling out faith In others.
These things were written
that ye may believe that Jesus
Is the Som Of God" tJohn 20:
81.
In one sense of the word w
could write a better Gospel now
for today l9 centuries of Christian
experience are behind us. and thos
centuries are full of the doings Q
Christ through his church. Tn
four Gospels tell us of what Jesu
did in Galilee. But now We can tel
the story OF what Christ has don
in Africa and Greenland and Aus
tralia and America. Reading tn
Gospels is interesting. 1t is i'm
portant; but the reading has nc
hit the bull's-eye if it leave you, tn
reader, merely better informe
than you were.
(copyfighs by the international conne
OF Religious Education on behalf Of
Protestant denominations. Released D
WNU Festures.)
DR.. and Mrs. P. B. BrImby
Pat and Bing, spent few day
in Mer,nhic racaptlxy