church, but his influence on religious philosophy has far transcended that of the greatest of ancient philosophers, and his name is mingled with that of his Father in the prayers and praises of the great liturgies of Christendom, and scores of ecclesiastical organizations claim the authority of his name. More than all, his influence has almost created the virtues of meekness, gentleness, and forbearance, and taught the world how to unite them with those of sturdiness, courage, and energy. If he is not the prophet whom Moses foretold, he has done more than all other prophets to interpret the divine nature to man; if he is not the king whom the unknown author of the Seventy-second Psalm anticipated, his spirit has done more than that of all other lawgivers combined to imbue law with a new and humane spirit; if he is not the shepherd whom Ezekiel foresaw, he has done more than all other shepherds to protect and enrich the life of man; if he is not the princely priest whom Zechariah saw, he has done more than all other priests to bring humanity back to God; if he is not the suffering servant of whom the Great Unknown had a mystical vision, his life and death have given to suffering a new and glorious significance. This is not the place to answer the questions here barely suggested. Yet I cannot close this volume in the life and literature of the ancient Hebrews without saying that I do not see how any one can accept the general interpretation of that life and literature here given, and not see in Jesus of Nazareth the fulfillment of Israel's aspirations; not see, at least, that he more than any other of the sons of men, more, I will say, than all the other sons of men, gives answer to the four great questions of religion: his god-like character answers the question, Who is God; his simple, spontaneous, earnest and radiant life answers the question, What should man be; his unity with the Father interprets that ideal comradeship between the spirit of man and the spirit of God which should be the goal of all life; his passion tells us what we who possess any measure of that comradeship are to do that we may impart the divine life to others. |