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going about as an itinerant teacher and preacher, having no ecclesiastical authority from the chief priests and scribes. Thus, instead of being a " plant of renown," He appeared as a " root out of a dry ground," never likely to come to anything.
2. And as they were disappointed in regard to His birth, so they were in regard to His manner of life. There was no splendid pomp or lordly retinue. But, coming as He did, a poor man, of humble rank and lowly surroundings, notwithstanding the wisdom and grace of* His words, the power of His miracles, and the unapproachable beauty of His character, the Jews found in Him no form or comeliness. They were ashamed to own Him, and even the disciples, at the last, all " forsook Him and fled." Thus He was an object of contempt and scorn to the proud Pharisee, the sceptical Sadducee, and haughty. Imperial Koman. He lived a suffering life, constantly subject to evil-speaking, lying, and slander, and He was finally rejected and crucified as an impostor and deceiver.
IF It seems odd to us, because we read centuries of experience into the story of the past, and confound the Ideal Christ with the Historic Jesus. We think of Jesus as going about with a halo of glory about His head, as they represent Him in the pictures : and, of course, that is all a mistaken notion from beginning to end. A halo of glory about His head ! Why, He hadn't even a roof to cover it. But still, it does seem odd that He was despised. I can understand that a great many people hated Jesus. He was so pure and so true that impure and untrue and hypocritical natures naturally would hate Him. And then those ecclesiastics at Jerusalem, with their idea that religion consisted in formal outward observance: washing the hands, and cleansing platters, and saying formal prayers — of course they would hate a teacher who said that aU that kind of thing was worthless, and that religion consisted merely in being one with the Father and loving one's fellow-men. Oh, I can understand their hating Him. But despising Him — looking down on Him with con- tempt— that is the strange thing.^
IF There is a well-known short story by Anatole France where Pontius Pilate is represented in retirement near the end of his life talking over old times with a pleasure-loving friend who had known him in Judsea. During supper the talk falls upon the qualities of the Jewish women, and the friend speaks of Mary of Magdala whom he had known during her unrepentant days in
1 R. C. Fillingham.
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Jerusalem. He recounts the rnanuer of his parting from Mary, who left him to join the band of a young miracle-worker from Galilee. " His name was Jesus ; He came from Nazareth, and was crucified at last for some crime or other. Pontius, do you remember the man ? " The old procurator frowned and raised a hand to his forehead as one who searches through his memory. Then, after some moments of silence, " Jesus," he muttered, " Jesus of Nazareth ? No, I don't remember Him." ^
ii. How He is rejected still.
He is despised and rejected of men still, both Jews and Gentiles, and the words of that hymn are no less plain than sadly true, which says —
Our Lord is now rejected, and by the world disowned ; By the many still neglected, but by the few enthroned. But soon Hell come in glory, the hour is drawing nigh ; Oh, the crowning day is coming by and by.
1. We reject Christ when we fear unpopularity.
It is a lesson sorely needed in these days, that unpopularity is not the worst evil, nor popularity the chief aim in life. As we look about us, we see that men's habits and behaviour and ideals are constantly governed by the mere desire to stand high in the good opinion of others. There is the statesman who never dares adopt a policy, however just, which he fancies may put him out of favour with the multitude. There is the author or the artist who works with his eye upon the public purse, and sells his soul for the reputation of an hour. There is the lover of society who is perfectly happy so long as other men think well of him. There is the teacher or the preacher who cuts his message to suit the taste of his hearers ; who will never ruffle their complacency or disturb their peace ; who, if they are rich, will never speak to them of the dangers of wealth, and, if they are needy, never of the temptations of the poor ; who is ready to barter his birthright of truth for the pottage of the world's worship and applause. These are the men who, by their very presence, lower the standard of life for us all.^
1 H. Sturt, The Idea of a Free Church, 224. ' S. A. Alexander, The Mind of Clirist, p. 47.
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IF I heard a sermon a short time ago preached in a seaside church which deeply moved me ; a sermon I was thankful to have heard, and the like of which I would walk a long way to hear again. As I stood outside the building waiting for a friend the congregation came out, and I heard the usual interchange of verbal nothings. The only reference I did hear to the service was from a well- dressed young man to a girl by his side, and this is what he said, "A long-winded fellow, that; let us go on the parade." The remark did not unduly surprise me. " I wonder," said a man to me lately, " why some people go to a place of worship at all ; they appear to be as indifferent to what is said, sung, or prayed, as the dog that barks is indifferent about the dog-star." ^