Article August 1, 1953 Issue

LOVED AND ACCEPTED OF MEN

HERBERT E. RIEKE

One of the great desires in the hearts of most individuals is to be loved and appreciated by others. No one enjoys being misrepresented, misjudged, misunderstood, despised, and rejected of his fellow men. A careful study of the four Gospels reveals that Christ Jesus yearned to be loved and appreciated for what he was and what he stood for. He would not compromise his understanding and application of divine Principle to gain this love, but he longed for others to comprehend the law of God and its application to the solution of all human problems.

Isaiah had prophesied that when the Messiah came he would be "despised and rejected of men" (53:3). Jesus prayed that such a cup of bitter experience might not be his. He labored to prove that the people did love the truth and that they wanted the better way of Life which a true knowledge of God would bring. At one time four thousand sought him, and they loved the truth so much that they abode with him for three days. On another occasion there were five thousand. More than once a multitude thronged him, so eager were they for that which he had to give. A few days before his crucifixion multitudes went before him singing psalms and laying palms in his pathway.

But the mesmeric suggestion that the world is peopled with carnally-minded men and women who hate and reject the truth seemed momentarily to succeed. Jesus was crucified. But three days later he was back with his disciples, helping them to see that the kingdom of heaven is always at hand and encouraging them to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.

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