AS THEY SAW HIM

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22368, 15 September 1934, Page 23

AS THEY SAW HIM

Written for the Otago Daily Times, By the Rev. I). Gardner Miller.

If Jesus' Christ were back again on earth, living, as He once did, the ordinary life of an ordinary man, how many would recognise Him and what would be the signs of recognition? Allowing for the differences in dress, habits, and customs, 1 believe there would be certain things about Him, certain attitudes of mind and speech, that would mark Him out from all other men. And these distinguishing features would be, I honestly believe, just the features that made Him so lovable a companion, so great a teacher, so divine, to those followers ot His in the days of long ago. That is to say, I do not think that the experience of death, the experience of heaven and the lapse of time would, < in the slightest, have altered His principles and His attitudes to men and manners. It anyone else came back from the dead, after a long absence, We would naturally expect to see signs of advancement and betterment. But, with Christ, I cannot imagine any difference. He is “the same, yesterday, to-day, and for ever. Millions would flock round Him and His name would be on everyone’s lips. But, as the great features and challenges ot His teaching became apparent, I think the multitudes would reject Hie moral authority. I-don’t think they would put Him to death again; they would simply leave Him alone as an amiable visionary. But upon tlie minds of those who hunger and thirst for God and for the Goa-ht life, then would dawn the truth that the quality of life that Christ showed m His living was the quality of life He demanded from them. In _ short, they would see Him as the disciples of old saw Him.

I think the first thing noticeable about Him —as it was the first thing James and John and Peter and the others noticed—would be that He has no sword in His hand. . , The disciples of old lived in the atmosphere of an intense nationalism, which is always a breeder of war; the disciples of to-day live in an atmosphere impregnated with the fear of war. But Jesus would have nothing to do with the swbrd. There was nothing martial about Him. And if He were moving about our world to-day His presence would be a rebuke to those whose fears goad them to believe that safety is to be found in arms. Not only would Ho have no sword, but ,He would to-day, as of old, refuse to harbour any racial biaf. Proud of His country, proud that He was a J*v, He always refused to be used as a pawn moved about by subtle official fingers for the furtherance of racial supremacy. And so it would be to-day, howbeit His heart would be sore as He saw the treatment meted out to His countrymen in Germany. With Christ, the individual as such ranks higher than the place Ha was born in, or the colour of skin which Nature has given him. Racial antagonism would be abhorrent to Him and He would expect His followers to follow His example. Christ does not deal with problems, but with persons. The disciples of old knew He was a religious genious. Yet he am not live his religion in the usual, conventional way. Indeed, it was religion of a certain type that put. Him on the Cross. And—do you know?—l thimc that if He were on earth to-day, as a man, many religious people would be disappointed in Him. He would not come up to their doctrinal standards. V l6 churches, I think, would welcome Him, but He would not be a member of any one in particular. ~ „ , The stated times of worship would lino Him in some- sanctuary, but He would love to roam the streets and meet and talk with those who are infferent to religion, and to the many who have - cast off all sentiments, save that of suicide. His indignation would flare out as of yore. Anything hurtful to little children would feel the lash of Hia _ beltinterest in all its forms would Wilt in His presence. Shams, religious shams as well as secular shams (if shams can be so divided, which I doubt) would still merit His stinging reproaches. The wounds of the world would touch His sympathies and no one hurt in body or mind would leave His company unhealed. The great advances made in medicine, surgery, and nursing would delight His heart though He would still tell men and women that suffering was not the worst thing that could befall them. . , _. , Upon those who recognised Him—and those would be many—there would cpme the wonder and the awe thaj; would lead them to say, is agai n amongst us.

I do not doubt that if we could see Him ifi person, the evidences,-and more, that I have mentioned would be apparent. And though He is not here, in person, yet I will never think of Him as absent from this wbrld of struggling men and women. To do so would be traitorous to the New Testament. Christ is here. These eyes of ours do not see Him, but our spirits are aware of His presence. And if we would true disciples be, then those creat characteristics of His, by which His early disciples recognised His divinity and His claim on their lives, should so claim our homage that we should follow in His steps. _ As I said before, it is a. dangerous thing to be a Christian.