The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1954-02-13
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON


phet Some still think that. He re-
celved from them faint praise.
Then there were others who
thought that he might be the pro
missed Christ. These were imme-
diately called down and feared 10
show or express their belief. They
had forgotten where Jesus was
born.
II might be possible from the De-
Wis point Of view TO vaccinate
man with 4 mild case of Christian
ity and so protect him from the
real thing. Many people are anes-
thetized with membership in the
church and are so soundly put 10
sleep that they have only a mild
ease Of faith in Christ. They ere
not sure whether he came from
GaIilee or Bethlehem and never
bother to investigate. Their atten-
dance at church would indicate that
they are little concerned about the
matter, never take it seriously
Lukewarm followers Of Christ may
be worse than no followers at all
for little is accomplished with half
faith. While you will never be
so alarmed as TO cruelty the Christ,
neither will you be any more help
than half an atheist. The half way
Christian is only kidding himself.
Jesus stated bluntly that he was
1.-The light of the world. That is
more than any other teacher dared
say. Buddha was a great teacher
but he admitted that he taught old,
rediScOvered truths and urged his
followers not to put all their faith in
him. ConfuciuS also was great
teacher but admitted more than
once that others could teach him.
Mohammed stated that unless God
cast his cloak of mercy on him
that there was no hope for him at
all. When Jesus appeared on the
scene, he did not turn to the con-.
ventionS and ritual of the Temple,
but declared boldly, II am the
light of the world. 1t is through
that light that men find God.
The other group that opposed
Jesus was the PhariSees. They
said, "You are bearing witness to-
yourself; your testimony is. not
true" This group loked upon this
man from Nazareth as a GalileanI
peasant, a carpenter from Nazar-
eth who even .slurred the speech
of Galilee. The speech and Naz-
areth were standing jokes in Pales-
tine. How could any god come
out Of such a place? Here was
man as they saw him, an uncouth
pretender, blasphemer ObseSsed
with His own Importance and an
intruder in their own sacred and
cultured circles.
What troubled the PhariSees
most was that the people went
after Jesus. The people recognized
and accepted the light because t
brought them hope and peace which
they failed to find in the leader
ship of the Pharisees. Jesus was
successful and this irritated the
ecclesiastical group. 1t is true that
he did bear witness of himself but
he said. MY testimony is true"
1t was the truth and came from
the Father and God himself bears
witness to that. John 8:17,18)
Then they asked a stupid question,
where is your Father" The an
swer was that if they really knew
the Father they would also know
Him for they could see the Father
in the Son. The question then as
now is often asked, Can this be
the Christi"
The PariSees were great fault
ltliutlS. AHSS SGIuOIu lOuHu ldulI
in themselves but they could tell
others when they broke the Law.
1t is said that there was a man in
the Temple who felt called by the
Lord to be critic. 1t is strange
that the tribe still exists. This man
picked the hymns and prayers to i
pieces and found flaws in the tea
cherS, students. officers and pas
tors. If the sermon happened 10
hit on his own failing he consider
ed it a dig He passed the, word
along to others arousing distrust
and doubt by saying, Isn't it ter L
rible that we have to listen to