Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 164, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 July 1916 — HE CAME TO SAVE [ARTICLE]

HE CAME TO SAVE

All Should Remember That Christ’s Mission Was Not to Destroy. The face of Jesus of Nazareth must have been a striking face. People never mistook any of the disciples for Christ, and I do not think that anyone who had ever seen his face forgot IL Surely, -people who looked into his countenance while he did some miracle, never forgot it. And people who had been the objects of his miraculous touch never forgot his look of love and pity and power. Simon, who walked by Jesus’ side within the cordon of Roman soldiery, and bore his cross for him on the way to Calvary, never forgot the look of his face. Caiaphas, the high priest, who had plotted against Christ, and at last succeeded in having him brought In one night for trial, never forgot it. Pilate, who had sent many to the cross without compunction, but never one like Jesus, and who in his cowardly way tried to set him free, never forgot it The centurion who sat immovable on his horse and looked up at Jesus through the hours of the crucifixion, never forgot IL

A man cannot keep out of his countenance the dominant spirit of his life. The sin of life is stamped upon the face; the purity of the heart is stamped upon the face. The finer the nature, the more easily it is read in the countenance. Perhaps that is the reason why woman’s faces reveal the inner spirit more readily than men’s faces.

If the face is the dial of the soul, then what of the face of Christ? The inner spirit of Jesus must have made his face beautiful. It was a face that drew people with the wonder of it. It was a face that defied description, for no authentic record describes it, and, one feels that no artist’s brush has done it justice. As his was tljp purest soul, so his was the perfect face. . Rebuffs Frequently Met. On his journey south Jesus passed through Samaria, and at a certain Samaritan village he was denied hospitality, “because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem.” The true follower of Christ often meets with the same rebuff. The world extends few courtesies to the man who turns his back on its follies, and sets his face steadfastly toward the city of God. There is no need to suppose that James and John were themselves the messengers who met with this repulse. The two sons of Zebedee were more probably with their Lord at the time when others brought back the news that the village refused to receive him. Upon this provocation all their suppressed and smoldering indignation against the heretics through whose territory they were journeying, breaks forth. At this instance of contempt shown to their Lord, and to themselves, for there is no doubt that personal feeling mingled with their indignation, the sons of thunder forgot their Gospel teaching and would apply Old Testament methods: “Shall we call down fire from heaven to destroy them, as did Ellas?”

Jesus rebuked them. It is well for us to recall the love and generosity of Jesus toward those who were alien or hostile to him, for the spirit of retribution, gnd even of hatred, is so apt to creep th among us Christians. Hostility between his nation and the Samaritans was both ancient and bitter. Among the later proverbs of the Jew* was one which said, "To eat the bread of a Samaritan is as eating swine’s flesh.” The Jews despised those who worshiped at the rival temple on Mount Gerizim. The hostility endures to this day. Yet all Christ’s conduct toward the Samaritans was marked by special kindness. He chose a Samaritan to typify the spirit of Christian charity, and made the name of the “Good Samaritan” a title of honor forever. Jesus Always Loving. Consistency and truth often compelled Jesus to say things which unavoidably gave offense. And let us note that he never pared down the truth, nor minimized it, nor adjusted it in such a way that it might be more palatable. Truth and right met falsehood and wrong wherever Jesus happened to be. Between them there is eternal war. This conflict Jesus never tried to avoid, but In it one never hears in his voice the threatening note of wrath, but always the persuading note of love. Jesus had come, not to destroy men’s Ilves, but to save them. He might have said to James and John as he said to Philip on another occasion: “Have I been so long time with yon and have ye not known me?” Though they loved him and were zealous for his honor, they still lacked his spirit. The final prayer of St Peter for the people of the churches was that they might “grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” The grace of God in the heart of man soon betrays its presence. It is the imparting to the soul of the mind of Christ which desires to save life, not to destroy It More knowledge of Jesus is more knowledge of God.