On the eve of the Christmas season, the thought of Christendom turns with joy and thanksgiving to consider anew the life and mission of him who founded Christianity and gave a name to the present era of the world's history. Few can deeply contemplate the life and works of the Founder of Christianity without the welling up in the heart of a profound sense of gratitude and holy reverence for the Prophet of Nazareth, far too deep for expression in words. It is a mingling of deep-seated emotions, felt more than voiced—a universal sentiment of gratitude and thanksgiving for the unselfish nature of the tremendous sacrifices which Jesus made in order to show mankind the way out of the troubles and distresses with which it seemed to have become so inextricably bound.
None other than Jesus has ever traversed so hard a road with such forbearance, and with such full forgiveness of those who vented upon him the extremes of hatred and cruelty. Yet under no provocation did he manifest resentment, or retort in kind. He, the mightiest of men, when he chose to exercise the divine power at his command, submitted to the extremes of cruelty without even an effort to defend himself against his fate. His example is without precedent and without parallel. Search the pages of history as one may, there will be found no degree of self-sacrifice comparable with that of Jesus. Yet we are assured by his own words that had he so desired he could have called to his rescue divine aid in such form as was necessary to withstand the utmost force of his enemies. "Thinkest thou," he inquired of the soldiers sent out at the instigation of the chief priests and elders to apprehend him, "that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?"
How sure was the Nazarene that divine aid was ever at hand to meet his need! Yet how resolutely he turned from the temptation—and temptation it manifestly was—to resist, setting forth his purpose in these words: "But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?" And he submitted to arrest without protest or offer of resistance, even though he foreknew the rugged course he was to pursue in the fulfillment of his sacred mission as the Way-shower to mankind of the means whereby escape could be had from its torment and restrictions. And he took the course which led to the high priest, to Pilate, and to the cross in the fulfillment of his holy purpose that the Scriptures might be fulfilled. The final triumph of the Master was commensurate with the depths of his suffering. The resurrection crowned his sacrifice as could no other experience.
