Jewish Hopes For An Earthly King Day Four

Jewish Hopes For An Earthly King

Day Four

The Illegal Trial Of Jesus Christ

Location:

People's Court

Shekinah Fellowship

Room 101

Ms Suzy, Jurist in this court room:

For several hundred years before the birth of Christ, and the advent of His ministry, the priest and scribes had openly taught the Jews to look forward to the coming of a Messiah who would not only restore them to a position of power and prosperity, but would immediately re-establish the earthy kingdom of David, and thus relieve them of the heavy burdens of taxation so ruthlessly imposed upon them by their Roman conquerors. And they believed this with all their hearts, and looked foreward, each day, to the arrival of their earthly king.

By now, they had lost all pride as a captive people, and this Messisnic expectation remained foremost in their hearts and minds. Indeed, it served as their one consolation- something to look forward to- as they bemoaned the hardships and privations to which they had been for so long subjected. Deprived of an earthly king, or a ruler of any kind, for that matter, their hearts seemed to long for the great day when He would arrive. And their eagerness, at times, reached such a high pitch that they were often misled into the belief that their long expected Messiah had, in fact, come among them. Still, they maintained the great hopes and high expectations that, ere long, he would redeem them from the bonds of slavery and give each a life of ease and splendor.

It will be recalled that when John the Baptist began his crusade for repentance and spoke so fervently of the coming day of judgement, the Jews, their hopes aflame within them, began to whisper to each other that this man was none other than the long-awaited Messiah. But, when they made inquiry of John as to this, he quickly and firmly refuted their speculations, adding that he was merely a voice in the wilderness, preparing the way for the coming of the real Messiah! Then, to add a note of encouragement, John said to them:

"I baptise with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not; He it is, who is coming after me, whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to unloose."

Again, when Jesus had miraculously fed the five thousand men with five barley loafs and two small fishes, they crowed about Him and virtually demanded, then and there, that He be crowned their king. But again He told them that His kingdom was not of this earth, and He bade them depart for their homes, as He went again, and alone, into the mountains to pray.
It may be said that the resistance of Jesus to such a plan and purpose- that of being their earthly king- had the definite effect of weakening the great miracle of the feeding which they had just witnessed; and was, no doubt, the first turning of the tide of popular enthusiasm for Him. They felt that, if He were really the expected Messiah, He certainly should have let them, then and there, proclaim Him to be their earthly king!

The lot of the Jews was certainly not very happy. Though the darkest hours of their humdrum existance there were ever present a full alotment of prophets and other religious leaders to constantly remind them that hope was not lost, and that, in the near future, God would take better care of them, and relieve them of their misery and constant disappointments.
What the Jews had hoped and prayed for was a Kingdom of God- not in righteousness and joy and peace in the Holy Ghost- but in meat and drink! They cherished the thought of and insisted upon a kingdom on earth which would, beyond doubt, rival all others; and one which would also produce a miraculous triumph over their despised Roman rulers.

Therefor, on the morning after the day when their efforts to make Jesus their earthly king, we see the vast majority of His followers either remaining in their homes or going toward Jerusalem to celebrate the great Feast of the Passover. They simply could not understand the refusal of the Christ to share their wild enthusiasm and thus be the means of fulfilling their highest hopes and fondest dreams.

Although Jesus repeatedly sought to explain to them that His kingdom was not of this earth, and that they should not labor for the meat which would perish, and should be more concerned about the meat which endureth unto everlasting, which the Son of God was able to give unto them, they turned away from Him by the uncounted thousands, and refused to believe that which He so plainly taught and preached. This was a totally diffrent Messiah and Messianic Kingdom from that which they conceived and had wished for.

One can easily imagine the great joy of the hearts of those Jews when they thought there was a chance to proclaim a miracle-man as their earthly king. This kind of a king, they reasoned, would cure all who suffered with physical ailments, and even bring the dead back to life! With such a king there would be no death among the Jews; no pain, no suffering, no disappointments. Life, in such circumstances, would be perfect for them! The trouble with their reasoning and plans came from the fact that their only concern was for the carnal rather than the spiritual factors involved.

Jesus had assured them, upon more than one occasion:
"I am the bread of life",

and to share in that food was to have everlasting life; but they, somehow, did not have the faith to believe what His words had said. That, to them, would have had the effect of completely upturning all of their Messisnic thoughts. It was more than they were willing to accept.

This, then, was the regrettable partings of the ways between Jesus and a vast majority of His followers- and they were, by now, fast turning into His bitterest enemies; all because they failed to understand the logic and truth of His wonderful words. And it may be added that the disappointment, upon that occasion, was mutual, because their complete lack of faith and their desertion of Him in a great hour of His ministry well served to break the Heart of the Son of God!

Scripture tells the story in a few words:

"From that time many of His disciples went back, and walked no more with Him."
Yes, the crucial hour of decision was past, and the hand upon the silent dial of destiny was plainly seen pointing to the hour of His death!

When consideration is given to the great turmoil and stress of the days to follow, it will be well to keep in mind that most of the trouble came from this hope of the Jews for an earthly king. To the very last hours of His life on this earth, His closest followers-His disciples- still thought that He would consent to be their earthly king!

Pre-Trial Days in Judea Day Three

Pre-Trial Days in Judea

Day Three

The Illegal Trial Of Jesus Christ

Location:

People's Court

Shekinah Fellowship

Room 101

Ms Suzy, Jurist in this court room:

In order that one might more fully appreciate the reasons for the brutal treatment of Jesus, it would be well to set forth a brief sketch of the tumultuous conditions which existed at that time in Judea.

A glance at the political scene will reveal that the Jews had gone through a process of slow successions and were completely dominated by the Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, Greeks and finally the Romans. And it was while the Jews were under the domination of the Romans that Herod the Great, a real criminal and murderer, ascended to the throne in Judea. This arch scalawag disgraced his high office until his unwept death occurred in 4 B. C. And then the country was divided into three districts, known as tetrarchies, with each being under the command of a tetrarch. They later became known as procurators. In the year 6 A. D. all Judea became a Roman province, and was then governed by procurators who had been sent out from Rome.

It may well be appreciated that the political situation in Judea, at the time of Christ, was quite complicated and anomalous in many respects, having undergone frequent changes, but retaining through them all certain peculiarities which made the country somewhat unique among the other dependencies of Rome. They were allowed, for a short time only, to maintain a certain degree of semi-independence. Almost always, however, there arose serious disputes as to the limitations which had been imposed, since there does not appear to have been any specific treaty defining the mutual rights and obligations existing between the two powers.

Judea, being a subject state, was subject to the whims and caprices of Rome, and to be sure the Roman authorities not only could, but did, frequently interfere in matters of legislation and administration whenever Roman interests required.

Since the Romans were the conquerors and the Jews were the conquered, there soon developed a total destruction of their religious and political freedoms. Indeed, the Jews soon found that their beliefs and creeds had become completely degenerated into burdensome observances which were strictly imposed by their high priests, scribes and rulers.

Tiberius Caesar, as the Roman Emperor, became the political master of both Herod and Pontius Pilate. And although Caesar was the real procurator, or Governor, of Judea, it will be noted that Pilate served in that capacity during the time of the trial of Jesus, as a political substitute for the Emperor in that particular area. It should be further kept in mind that every word and deed of Pilate was subject to the express approval of Caesar whose displeasure Pilate was always keen to avoid. Then, too, because of the comparative short terms allowed those political appointees, together with the frivolous reasons assigned for their summary dismissal, we can readily account for the cowardice and vacillating attitude of Pilate in time of great need for a show of moral courage and independent action.

One of the loftiest positions to be held by a Jew in Palestine was that of high priest. By reason of his office, he became the presiding judge of the Jewish court, known as the Sanhedrin, which consisted of seventy-one members of the Jewish society. Caiaphas served as high priest when Jesus was tried. And we shall elaborate upon his character and his functions in the future, because of the important role played by him when so many cruelties were inflicted upon the Christ by the Sanhedrin as well as the high preist.

There were two principal religious groups in Judea: The Sadducees and the Pharisees.

The Sadducees were under the complete domination of a man by the name of Annas, the deposed high preist, whose son-in-law was, as stated, the appointed high preist. This group did not believe in the resurrection, nor rewards or punishment in a life beyond the grave. With them, all ended in death. All of their beliefs and teachings, therefore, ran counter to the things which Jesus was teaching and practicing in Judea.

The Pharisees were an arrogant group, filled with hypocracy, who seemed pleased to advise and give free counsel in their "better-than-thou" attitudes of false piety. Tradition and custom was everything with them.

The Sadducees were able to win the confidence, in a measure, of those in power, and thus recieved from the Romans the highest positions within the Sanhedrin, with the result that almost ninety per cent of the membership of the Sanhedrin were made up of Sadducees.

Petty jealousies, suspicions and lust for more power and greater prominence seemed rampant among these two religious groups. Almost everywhere one could observe the grim evidence of selfishness written upon the countenences of even the humblest Jews. Also, it was a well known fact that both the Sadducees and the Pharisees maintained an inward and secret contempt for their Roman rulers. No wonder, then, that there was general confusion, distrust and hatred in the bewildered Judean air!

It was Paul of Tarsus, the great convert, who described the two Jewish religious groups in this manner:

"Being filled with unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debase, deciet, malignity; whisperers, back-biters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, covenant-breakers, without natural affection, implacable and unmerciful!"

What a stinging and yet truthful indictment against the so-called religious groups and leaders in Judea in the time of Christ! And Paul knew whereof he spoke, for he lived among and preached to them for several years. Yes, Paul had seen the evidence of that with which they stood accused by him.

In the future it will be shown, conclusively, that the bitterest enemies of Jesus were these same two sects; that they were never able to see eye to eye with nor to understand the simple teachings of Christ; and that they never lost an opportunity to give full vent to their hatred of Him, as they sought, ever so often, to humiliate and embarass the Lowly Nazarene- but always to no avail.

Therefore, it was into this highly discordant, wicked and turbulent state of affairs within the Jewish society, in the year A. D. 27, that Jesus of Nazareth, the sinless, humble and meek son of an unknown carpenter, appeared upon the scene- bringing His great messages of forgiveness of sins and the promise of eternal life to all mankind.

What a wonderful, peacful world this would be today if those early Jewish leaders had only accepted Him, and had followed His great advice to "Love one another as I have loved you!" But, when one's heart is already packed to full capacity with hatred, ill-will, backbiting, prejudices, spleen, and unrighteousness, there hardly is any room left for love, sympathy, kindness, unselfishness or any other worthy attribute! Maybe someday, before He returns, the world will have changed- and men and women will accept Him and His teachings as the true rule and guide for human conduct and human relations; and thus banish all strife and needless misunderstandings in an already troubled world.

Surfer dude

Surfer dude

This just in from my friend Suzy. Can any of you Daniel types interpret her dream for her?...

"I had a weird dream. I don't know if I told you about the recurring dream I had in the past. It was always in this house with three levels, the first one was very familiar and we hung out there always. The second level we would venture into once in a while and was even more wonderful than the first level, more comfortable, but not as "familiar" as the first. The third level we would just peek into and was really quite scary.

There is always an urge in me to explore the third level but because of fear I stayed away. The house is unlike any I have been into before and has a lot of trees surrounding it. Sometimes the house is pristine and orderly, other times the house is trashed. Always the same house, but usually I dream about different people in the house, sometimes my mom and dad, sometimes my kids, sometimes my friends.

A couple of years ago, the Lord gave me the interpretation of the dream. He said that the house represents my life. When I dream the house is trashed, my real life is usually disorganized, I'm behind in my duties and I'm stressed out. When the house is pristine, things in my real life are going smoothly.The levels of the house represent my spirit man. I live on the first level alot, which represents the "I'm saved, a child of God, I know Jesus". The second level is my the deeper level of my soul where I really communicate with the Lord. I don't go there as often but it's where I really find my peace.The third level represents that deep deep portion of my soul that God speaks to once in a while. It is the prophetic level. I'm scared of it, although I've had glimpses into it.

So the dream I had last nite was about the house. It was a wreck. Instead of having a third level, it had a guest house in the back. And this guest house had it's own three levels. The guest house was clearly not being used, but had all the furnishings, along with cobwebs, and dust, and was a wreck, but you could see it had great potential. The electricity was on, and the water wason, but was waiting for someone to occupy it.

I kept thinking in my dream that we had to fix it up and rent it out, but then someone suggested that we use it for Andy. I commented that it was "too scary" for Andy, but that I would ask him. I asked Andy, and he thought it would be so cool to live there after we fixed it up a bit.So I'm wondering how this is to be interpreted. Is it cutting those apron strings? Does my lack of venturing into the thrid level mean that it was taken away from me and set aside for Andy? weird dream....

Suzy"

Jesus Christ, The Son Of God Day Two

Jesus Christ, The Son Of God

Day Two

The Illegal Trial Of Jesus Christ

Location:

People's Court

Shekinah Fellowship

Room 101

Ms Suzy, Jurist in this court room:

By reference to the second chapter of Luke, from the first through the fourteenth verses, we find this beautiful story of the humble birth of Christ the Lord:

"And it came to pass in the days that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. And all went to be taxed, everyone into his own City.

And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the City of David, which is called Bethlehem (because he was of the house and lineage of David), to be taxed with Mary, his espoused wife, being great with child.

And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

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 it shall be a sign unto you: Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the Heavenly praising God, and saying: Glory to God in the highest, and peace, good will toward men."

(The Jurist seemed to be deep in thought before continuing)

The birth of Jesus, in a borrowed stable in the little village of Bethlehem, was also the birth of Christianity. And the humble surroundings of His nativity were typical of His manner of living thereafter; for He had no desire whatever for earthly possessions. And this accounts for His having been buried in a borrowed tomb through the thoughtfulness and kindness of Joseph of Aramathea.

C.P.J. Mooney, on December 22, 1912, in a beautiful editorial appearing in the Memphis, Tennessee Commercial Appeal, under the caption: "Jesus, The Perfect Man," concluded with this inspiring appraisal of Him:

"Jesus spoke the truth; He lived the truth., and truth is eternal."

"The human experiences of 2,000 years show that Jesus never made a mistake.

"History has no record of any other man leading a perfect life or doing everything in logical order. Jesus is the only person whose every action and whose every utterance strike a true note in the heart and mind of every man born of woman.

"No poet, no dreamer, no philosopher loved humanity with the love that Jesus bore toward all men.

"Who, then, was Jesus?

"He could not have been merely a man, for there never was a man who had two consecutive thoughts absolutely in true perfection.

"Jesus must have been what Christiandom proclaims Him to be- a Divine Being- or He could not have been what He was. No mind but an infinite mind could have left behind those things which Jesus gave to the world as a heritage!"

(The Jurist hones in on her point)

One of the most saddening revelations of the human heart is found in the base and cruel attitude of those early Jewish religious leaders toward Jesus. In all His life on this earth He had never done them a single wrong.

Repeatedly, they sought to entrap, humiliate and embarrass Him- and finally, with equal determination, to destroy Him- for no reason, except complete misunderstanding of His teachings, and the real purpose of His ministry upon this earth. Their hearts were as cold as their heads were hard.

Certainly it would be a great truth to say that the life, character and personality of the Lowly Nazarene transcends every person of all ages. He yet stands alone against the entire background of human experiences as reflected in transitory, human history. No one can possibly be compared to Him. Even the greatest of men appear in pitiful contrast with the Christ. And this will, of course, remain true to the very end of time.

One may easily appreciate the unquestioned greatness of Jesus by reading the things which He taught, and the manner in which He taught upon all occasions. Down through the unfolding centuries He has been truthfully called "The Great Teacher."

The confession of Simon Peter was the affirmation of the New Testament when he said: "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God!" Moreover, it explained the life of Jesus and His reign in the hearts of Christian men and women since the advent of His great ministry which culminated upon the cross at Calvary.

Further confirmation of His Divine nature came from the voice of God. When Jesus was baptized by John, God spoke up and said: "This is my beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased." Then, again, at the transfiguration, the same voice of God said: "This is My beloved Son, hear Him!"

And what about His absolute dominance over the forces which produce death? This, alone, is ample proof of His Divinity and His being truly the Son of God. Yes, His command to Lazarus to "Come forth," alive, from a four-day-old grave, was something far more than mere magic- it was the revelation of the power of God!

In considering the life of Jesus, and considering His great character and personality, we must never overlook the fact that, while He was truly Divine, He was also human. There reposed in the heart of Jesus a deep and abiding love for a lost world. And He shared His Father's redemptive purpose. His willingness to openly and publicly identify Himself with known sinners and publicans, and to share their shame of iniquity, shows the unmeasured compassion which He always bore towards all of them. On no occasion was He ever known to turn a deaf ear to some plea for relief of distress, pain or anguish.

As we read of His willing sacrifice on the rugged cross of Calvary, for the sins of mankind, we there find the world's most beautiful example of unswerving devotion to the Father's will. And it was positive evidence of heroic, sustained courage and triumphant faith. With Him there was never a thought of turning back from the bitter ordeal of inhuman torture, suffering and anguish to which He well knew He would be subjected. Obedience to the will of His Father was His only concern and His only desire!

While Jesus was upon this earth, He plainly enumerated the high cost of discipleship. When someone glibly offered to follow Him, Jesus meekly reminded him: "Foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of God hath nowhere to lay His head." This, then, was certainly no elaborate promise of a life of ease, but rather, one of great sacrificing and privation in a spirit of unselfishness and abiding humility.

As may be expected, uncounted thousands were so closely wedded to the duties and relationships of the world that they were unwilling to renounce those ties and follow Him. Others found His words to hard to accept. And they, like the rich, young ruler of Biblical days, refused to give up his earthly accumulations, and turned from His majestic leadership to finally drift back into the ways of common-place existence- soon to be forever forgotten, and lost amid the hurley-burley of sinful men.

The great love which Jesus bore for all humanity was truly without parallel; and His eternal compassion for the lame and sick and blind, and even the wretched sinner, knew no bounds. His hands were ever ready to heal, and His heart ever ready to forgive.

This, then, was the Christ whom the Jews, in the year A. D. 30, spat upon, ridiculed, slapped, scourged, crowned with thorns, and then brutally nailed to a cross, to die alone!

After experiencing the untold agonies of inhuman brutalites, and while conscious that life would last but a short while longer, this same Jesus, with blood-filled eyes and parched lips, raised His precious head in the direction of His Heavenly Father and uttered a fervent prayer of pardon for His brutal murderers by saying:

"Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do."

Shortly afterwards, all was silent. Then the Master drooped His weary head, and was heard to whisper:

"It is finished, Father. Into Thy hands I commend My Spirit."

Even in the fleeting, last moments of life, Jesus was not unmindful of great compassion, nor for His unfailing sense of forgiveness.

The Illegal Trial Of Jesus Christ Day One

The Illegal Trial Of Jesus Christ
Day One

Location:

People's Court

Shekinah Fellowship

Room 101

Legal Argument:

Jesus was tried and condemned to death for treason and blasphemy in direct and specific violation of the laws of His own time- both religious and civil.

Ms Suzy, Jurist in this court room, opening statement:

A close study will establish, beyond question of doubt, that Jesus of Nazareth was not given even the remotest semblance of a legal trial; but on the contrary, was made the victim of an unholy, mob-rule persecution which resulted in murdering their victim!

(Jurist walks back and forth slowly as she pauses before continuing to speak while putting the tips of her fingers together)

Many of us are familiar with some of the outstanding, famous trials of civilization, involving people of international prominence- or those who were placed into the international spotlight of fame because of the atrociousness of the crime with which they were charged. We immediately think of such personages as Socrates, Aron Burr, Mary Stuart, Queen of Scotland, Warren Hastings etc...

While some of us may not agree as to the justice of the ultimate results of some or all of those important trials, or the degree of punishment thereafter imposed, we must admit that, in each instance, they were all accorded the full benefit of the legal rules of orderly procedure, and the application of existing, beneficial laws of that day and time. None were denied the substancial rights guranteed the accused. More-over...

(Jurist adjusts her glasses)

positive proof of guilt had to be first established by competent evidence from reliable witnesses. To have done less would have been to encourage a state of barbarity.

Nothing could possibly be more revolting to one's sense of justice than to behold any court denying the accused his well-defined rights, either through ignorance, prejudice or corruption!

It is well known that, according to many judicial decisions of a large number of the courts, quite a few individuals, entirely innocent of crime, have been convicted and sentenced to die, only to later learn that a serious error was committed- when it was too late to rectify the wrong done, And such a spectacle is always heart-rending and sad to contemplate.

Mob-rule is universally condemned as being uncivilized. Blood-thirsty, frenzied men have no sense of justice, as they carry forward their deeds of cowardice against helpless, pityful victims!

But what about the "Trials" of Jesus?

From the viewpoint of this Jurist, now engaged in her thirty-second, consecutive year as an active practitioner in a great many of the criminal courts of this section of the net, I can say, without reservations, that, except for the trials of Jesus, there has never been, nor shall there ever be, in the annals of criminal jurisprudence, a more tragic and deliberate disregard for existing laws and rules of equitable procedure. Indeed, there was never a trial so filled with conspiracies, animosities and base corruption as the one which involved Him!

(Low murmur sounds through-out the court room, order is commanded)

Many years ago, after having unreservedly accepted Jesus Christ as my personal Saviour, I began an intensive study of the conditions which obtained in Judea, during the life of Jesus, with a view of trying to understand the motives which prompted the early Jewish religious groups, and the members of the Roman society, to maintain such an apparent hatred of the Christ. And now, having become familiar with the history of their back ground, character and teachings, I feel that others should have a truthful insight to those teachings in order that they, too, might better understand the cause for so much unrest which definitely permeated the Judean air when Jesus was placed on trial before the Sanhedrin, or ecclesiastical court, and also before Pontius Pilate, the Roman Governor.

Some may adopt the charitable view of lending excuse to the early Jewish leaders upon the premise that the treatment accorded Jesus was in keeping with the prophesies, and that it was His will that they be fullfilled. This, however, is something which God, alone, shall decide.

This much is unquestionably true: The inspired Word of God, set forth in the New Testament, relates how Jesus was subjected to two separate "trials." That He was condemned to die and later crucified upon a rugged cross on Calvary's hill.

There is raised this inquiry: Were the Jews without blame for this ordeal?

Certainly. according to the Gospel narratives, the Jews made a charge of Blasphemy in the first trial before the Sanhedrin, which was the Jewish court; and they later carried Him before Pilate, the Roman Governor, where they charged Him with sedition, and sought to prove it by their witnesses; that they, the Jews, undertook to have Pilate approve of their condemnation and sentence of death; and that they, the Jews, demanded that Jesus be crucified.

It may be added, however, that the final act of crucifying Jesus was done by the Romans. But, then, one may further inquire: Upon whom should the greater blame be charged, the Jews or the Romans?

When Jesus was before Pilate, and Pilate reminded the Master that he, Pilate, had power to order Him crucified, Jesus replied:

"Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above; therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin."

There can be no doubt that Jesus was referring to none other than the high priest, Caiaphas, who held the loftiest position in the Jewish society. It was this same high priest who personally led Jesus and the mob to the court of the Roman Governor, Pontius Pilate.

A careful study and analysis of all of the Jewish laws in existence when Jesus was tried brings one to the definite conclusion that the entire proceedings were no more than a mockery and a farce. Every protective law was ignored when dealing with Jesus. And there shall be pointed out, in this review of the progressive steps of the ordeal, from the time of the illegal arrest to the unlawful crucifixion, the many wrongs committed with deliberation, hatred and spleen by the brutal enemies of the Man of Galilee.

It is the hope of this jurist that many who shall hear of this story of His indescribable suffering and humilations, will come to the full realization that, after all, the one and only hope remaining for a restless, war-ridden, sin-cursed humanity can be found in Him as their Redeemer and Savior.

This I believe with all my heart:

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

And I desire to add that this belief of mine has been the source of lasting consolations; bringing to me a rich experience, and countless blessings which were certainly undeserved.

Jesus measured the scope of His Supreme Sacrifice upon Calvary's Cross when He said:

"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."
John, 15:13.

"He came unto His own, and His own recieved Him not."
John, 1:11.