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Show This Time, This Day, This Age By Valene Lee Triumph The day Jesus was hung on he cross between two thieves (we all know the story) the most outstanding words He spoke that awful day was, "Father, forgive them, they know not what they do." He knew they could not hurt Him for they could not separate Him from His Father whom He had served for thirty-three years. He knew that He would be alright for His Father had all authority, but His compassion was for them, for He knew they were separating themselves from love, mercy, God, the very foundation of mercy, by the cruelty in their hearts. Jesus was tempted forty days and nights, then He was offered a kingdom if He would concede that evil was good, or in other words "fall down and worship" evil. But He did not wish a kingdom for Himself. His work was to expound the scripture so that all might enjoy the kingdom of love. Besides, what should He do with the kingdoms of the material world if He closed His eyes to the requirements of the kingdom within. Jesus had more to sacrifice than anyone else. He sacrificed the kingdom that was offered Him. He had more to give than anyone else; He received a spiritual kingdom and angels ministered to Him. The learned men of Jesus's time persecuted Him with slander in an effort to set aside His teachings. If they had know they had much to give spiritually, and much more to receive they would have become as humble children willing to learn, but they felt a sense of insecurity and fear so they slandered Him, their best friend. Slander is indulged in by some politicians to help win an election and is generally called mudslinging. Our learned men of today are not so different from the learned men of yesteryear. yester-year. They were referred to then as publicans, pharisees find chief priests. Not many of us stoop tp mudslinging. It is a dangerous and subtle weapon in the hands of those who are willing to use it. I'd pity any girl who unwittingly came upon something' that if told,- would ruin a group of politicians. She would have no defense, no one could bring her to trial. Each move she made to rise above it would be attended by fresh slander and police investigations which, although without results, could be kept up indefinitely. Today we know we can triumph over slender without ending up on the cross. Jesus went there for us and we can rejoice in justice with understanding. |