dead." The Jews soon found out
they had made a mistake in crucifying Jesus; for the risen Christ was
mightier than the teaching Jesus. They had crushed a seed to the earth
which sprang forth in renewed beauty and grace; whose death was life and
whose loss was gain. In common parlance they had been outwitted. They
slew a man and He rose a God. They in wrath offered a sacrifice once and
for all, even for the very sin in which they were then indulging. They
unknowingly abolished death, and brought life and immortality to light.
The critical and unbelieving Sadducees, who denied another life than
this, gave aid in proving another and a better; for Christ risen
condemned their unbelief. The proud and ritualistic Pharisee, who loved
the temple and its gorgeous ceremony, destroyed one and made the other of
none avail, for in the planted death of Jesus they laid the foundation of
another and grander temple--one composed of living stones--and made the
temple service meaningless; for the anti-type had swallowed up the type;
the real, the ideal. In all this they had reasoned on a human plan,
which is not high enough to wholly overlook and explore the kingdom of
God. Paul, in 1 Cor. ii. 7, makes this matter plain: "But we speak the
wisdom of God in a mystery; even the hidden wisdom which God ordained
before the world unto our glory, which none of the princes of this world
knew; for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of
glory." Jesus committed His life to the wave-tide of their rage, and was
floated to death and victory. On the man side there was purpose and
hate, and for this they were responsible; and on the Divine side we have
wisdom and love working out the salvation of a lost race.

Jesus came to His own and they did not receive Him. Who were His own?
We answer, the Jews; for He was of Judah. But if His own did not receive
Him, we ask, who did? The answer is, that Israel received Him. The
Israelites in the land at that time were the Tribe of Benjamin. They had
been providentially selected for this work nearly a thousand years
before. This one Tribe of Benjamin has a very peculiar history; and it
you will study it over, it will greatly serve to confirm your faith in
the Divine inspiration of the Bible and the unity and forethought of
Providence. The original theocracy of Israel consisted of Twelve Tribes.
This theocracy was divided under Rehoboam, Solomon's son and successor.
Ten Tribes se