tionary
"shedding of burdens," such as Solon brought about at Athens. At any rate,
social and religious emancipation are woven together in these phrases.
Plainly Jesus saw his mission in raising to free and full life those whom
life had held down and hurt.

"As thou didst send me into the world, even so sent I them." Must the
platform of Jesus be our platform and program?

Second Day: The Social Test of the Messiah

And the disciples of John told him of all these things. And John
calling unto him two of his disciples sent them to the Lord,
saying, Art thou he that cometh, or look we for another? And when
the men were come unto him, they said, John the Baptist hath sent
us unto thee, saying, Art thou he that cometh, or look we for
another? In that hour he cured many of diseases and plagues and
evil spirits; and on many that were blind he bestowed sight. And
he answered and said unto them, Go and tell John the things which
ye have seen and heard; the blind receive their sight, the lame
walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are
raised up, the poor have good tidings preached to them. And
blessed is he, whosoever shall find no occasion of stumbling in
me. Luke 7:18-23.

Was Jesus the Coming One? He did not quite measure up to John's
expectations. The Messiah was to purge the people of evil elements,
winnowing the chaff from the wheat and burning it. His symbol was the axe.
Jesus was manifesting no such spirit. Was he then the Messiah?

Jesus shifted the test to another field. Human suffering was being
relieved and the poor were having glad news proclaimed to them. Sympathy
for the people was the assured common ground between Jesus and John. Jesus
felt that John would recognize the dawn of the reign of God by the
evidence which he offered him.

What, then, would be proper evidence that the reign of God is gaining
ground in our intellect and feeling?

Third Day: The Church, a Product of Social Feeling

And Jesus went about all the cities and the villages, teaching in
their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and
healing all manner of disease and all manner of sickness. But when
he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion for them,
because they were distressed and scattered, as sheep not having a
shepherd. Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest indeed is
plenteous, but the