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Show Christ's Ministry Stands As Inspiration To The Entire Christian World Editor's Note: The following is the text of a radio talk delivered by J. Stanley Stan-ley Peters, over station KOVO, on the Alpine stake program, Sunday, December 17. In little more than a week, we shall observe Christmas. Upon that day, a spirit of generosity will be expressed by each of us in gifts tokens of friendship and love which we shall present to our friends and loved ones. And undoubtedly un-doubtedly our own hearts will be made to glow and our homes will be brightened by like tokens from those who hold us in esteem. However, true Christian Christmas is not complete with the giving of gifts, the decorating of homes and business busi-ness houses, the exchange of greetings greet-ings and the show of pageantry, all of which are rightfully a part of the Yuletide season. The Christian feels impelled to pause and reflect upon the birth, life and character of Jesus, the inspiration of Christmas, and upon the effect of His teachings on the human race. To him the season would be empty without reading once again the pages of the New Testament wherein is delineated delineat-ed circumstances surrou n d i n g Christ's birth and the wonderful story of His ministry among men, culminating in his mock trial, sacrificial sacri-ficial death, and glorious resurrection. resurrec-tion. Let us contemplate briefly some of these events. According to the story of Luke, Joseph and Mary, who resided in Nazareth, went to Bethlehem, their ancestral home, to be taxed in accordance ac-cordance with a decree of Augustus Caeser. Upon reaching the city, they found hotels and inns crowded with people who were there for the same reason they had come, making it impossible for the two weary travelers to secure the most desirable desir-able lodgings. Joseph finally took his wife to a small grotto, formerly used as a stable, and there amid the humblest of circumstances the Christ was born and cradled in a manger. The birth of One destined to be the Saviour of the World did not occur unannounced. Bethlehem being a city of people engaged in pastoral and agricultural pursuits, there were shepherds on the nearby hillsides tending to their flocks, and it was to them the message of the Christ child's birth first came. "And, lo, the Angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. "And the angel said unto them, Fear not: For, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. "For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. "And this shall be a sign unto you: Ye shall find the babe wrapped wrap-ped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. "And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of heavenly host praising God, and saying: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. (Luke 2:9-14). Recovering from their fright the humble shepherds hurried to verify the angelic story, and upon finding the Child bowed in worshipful tribute. tri-bute. Meanwhile, far to the east, wise men had beheld a new star in the: heavens which they had been informed, in-formed, probably by angelic visitation, visita-tion, would lead them to the "King of the Jews", and had come bringing bring-ing gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh, which they lavished upon the Child. Herod, Jewish ruler under the Roman kings, troubled at reports reaching his ears that a new King was born, and fearing that his own crown might be in danger, issued a decree that all children under two years of age in Bethlehem and its environs be slain. But Joseph being warned in a dream of the impending danger, fled with his wife and the young child into Egypt where they remained remain-ed until the murderous Herod died. ! And all this that the Old Testament Testa-ment prediction of Hosea be fulfilled, fulfill-ed, "Out of Egypt have I called my Son." (Matt. 2:15) Following the family's return from the land of Egypt they dwelt in Nazareth, Joseph's native home, where Jesus probably assisted his foster-father in the carpenter's trade. Of Christ's boyhood and early manhood, we have only a glimpse or two prior to the beginning of His ministry. Aside from the instance in-stance of the discussion with the learned doctors and lawyers in the temple at Jerusalem, the scriptures are silent, except to say, "And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man". (Luke 2:52) The Lord Jesus ministered as a man among men for only three years, yet in that short ministry He introduced by precept and example a religion a code of living that has revolutionized the thought and action of countless millions. An example ex-ample of the powerful influence wrought by the great Teacher is summed up in an eloquent tribute which I copied a number of years ago from an easel standing in front of the Young Men's Christian association as-sociation home in Tampa, Florida: "Here is a man who was born In an ohscure village, the child of a peasant woman. He grew up in another an-other village. He worked in a carpenter car-penter shop until He was thirty, and then for three years, He was an itinerant preacher. He never wrote a book. He never held an office. He never owned a home. He never had a family. He never went to college. He never put His feet inside in-side a big city. He never traveled two hundred miles from the place where He was born. He never did one of the things that usually accompanies ac-companies greatness. He had no credentials but Himself. While still a young man the tide of popular opinion turned against Him. His friends ran away. One of them denied de-nied Him. He was turned over to His enemies. He went through the mockery of a trial. He was nailed upon a cross between two thieves. His executioners gambled for the only piece of property He had on earth while He was dying, and that was his coat. When He was dead He was taken down and laid in a borrowed grave through the pity of a friend. 1 "Nineteen wide centuries have come and gone, and today He is the centerpiece of the human race and the Leader of the column of progress. pro-gress. "I am far within the mark when I say that all the armies that ever marched, and all the navies that ever were built, and all the parliaments parlia-ments that ever sat, and all the kings that ever reigned, put together have not affected the life of man upon this earth as that One Solitary Life." How much more poignant would be the grief of sorrowing persons weeping over the death of a loved one, and how much darker and foreboding fore-boding would be the beckoning door of death,, were it not for the hope that Jesus gives us of something brighter beyond, as demonstrated in His resurrection from the dead. The story is told of two people, in a city of 2,000 population, who died one day, a man and a woman. The man bore a deserved reputation for remarkable bravery. As an individ- ual and as a Confederate soldier he proved on numerous occasions that he was absolutely without fear. He didn't believe in Jesus. The woman was terribly afraid of mice and spiders spi-ders and all the things that scare timid women. She believed in Jesus. Both knew that the end was drawing draw-ing near for them. The man shuddered shud-dered and said: "I am going out in the dark, and I am afraid." The woman smiled assuringly and said, "I am going now, but it's all right. Jesus is beckoning' for me." ,hat a difference there is without Jesus! As a leader, Jesus stands unparalleled unpar-alleled in the annals of world history. his-tory. Qualities of leadership which include knowledge, courage, energy and character were perfectly exemplified ex-emplified in His life's ministry. An example of His broad understanding under-standing of human nature, and of the capabilities of men is found in the accomplishments of the men whom He chose for apostles. These men were called from the humbler positions of life. They were individuals indi-viduals who ordinarily would not have been chosen by another. Yet after three years learning at the Master's feet, they were given the leadership of His church and almost within the span of a generation carried His message to the bounds of, the civilized world. A remarkable remark-able indication of Christ's knowledge of human nature and of its ability to respond to proper leadership. We find typified in Christ the highest form of courage moral courage. He taught a people indoctrinated indoct-rinated with the age-old "eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth" idea: and He planted the seed of equality among men in a nation of aristocrats. aristo-crats. Even the soldier who faces death with every new battle can find in Christ's life an inspiration for courage. cour-age. Picture the Saviour in the Garden of Gethsemane with soldiers on every side come to take Him to His doom. Peter smites off a guard's ear only to hear the Master's calm injunction: "Put up thy sword. He that taketh by the sword shall perish per-ish by the sword." And earlier, Christ dared to incur the wrath of the wealthy when He drove them out of the temple. We who sometimes weary of tasks assigned to us and feel inclined to rest upon our oars can look to the remarkable energy of Christ. His three years' public life was devoted to the service of others. Nowhere is found any refusal to help the needy. He came at the call of Mary and Martha; in His travels from place to place He stopped here and there to heal the sick, make the blind to see and the lame to walk: He supplied food for trie hungry multitudes and wine for the wedding wed-ding feast; and tirelessly worked for His "Father's Kingdom". When little children came for a blessing and His disciples suggested a rest, His reply was "Suffer little children to come unto me." A lesson in consecration con-secration to duty. All that need be said of Christ's character is that every Lesson He ever taught, He exemplified. The great commandment is: "Thou shalt love the Lord Thy God and thy neighbor as thyself. Both were exemplified by Jesus. His dying prayer concerned his executioners: "Father, forgive the, for they know not what they do." Truly, Jesus died as He lived, a God. Permit me, in closing, touse the words of the late Dr. James E. Tal-mage, Tal-mage, "May we bow our heads in worshipful reverence of the Babe of Bethelehem, the Prince of Peace, our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, and find in Him and His life solace to our life's problems and cares. May our Christmas festivities of joy and pleasure be such that the angels would share them. May a Happy New Year bring blessings suited to our individual needs. Amen". |