the desire of ages-第166节

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h　the　courts　of　the　temple　were　filled　with　worshipers。　The　high　priest　from　Golgotha　was　there；　splendidly　robed　in　his　sacerdotal　garments。　White…turbaned　priests；　full　of　activity；　performed　their　duties。　But　some　present　were　not　at　rest　as　the　blood　of　bulls　and　goats　was　offered　for　sin。　They　were　not　conscious　that　type　had　met　antitype；　that　an　infinite　sacrifice　had　been　made　for　the　sins　of　the　world。　They　knew　not　that　there　was　no　further　value　in　the　performance　of　the　ritual　service。　But　never　before　had　that　service　been　witnessed　with　such　conflicting　feelings。　The　trumpets　and　musical　instruments　and　the　voices　of　the　singers　were　as　loud　and　clear　as　usual。　But　a　sense　of　strangeness　pervaded　everything。

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One　after　another　inquired　about　a　strange　event　that　had　taken　place。　Hitherto　the　most　holy　place　had　been　sacredly　guarded　from　intrusion。　But　now　it　was　open　to　all　eyes。　The　heavy　veil　of　tapestry；　made　of　pure　linen；　and　beautifully　wrought　with　gold；　scarlet；　and　purple；　was　rent　from　top　to　bottom。　The　place　where　Jehovah　had　met　with　the　high　priest；　to　communicate　His　glory；　the　place　that　had　been　God's　sacred　audience　chamber；　lay　open　to　every　eye；a　place　no　longer　recognized　by　the　Lord。　With　gloomy　presentiments　the　priests　ministered　before　the　altar。　The　uncovering　of　the　sacred　mystery　of　the　most　holy　place　filled　them　with　dread　of　coming　calamity。

Many　minds　were　busy　with　thoughts　started　by　the　scenes　of　Calvary。　From　the　crucifixion　to　the　resurrection　many　sleepless　eyes　were　constantly　searching　the　prophecies；　some　to　learn　the　full　meaning　of　the　feast　they　were　then　celebrating；　some　to　find　evidence　that　Jesus　was　not　what　He　claimed　to　be；　and　others　with　sorrowful　hearts　were　searching　for　proofs　that　He　was　the　true　Messiah。　Though　searching　with　different　objects　in　view；　all　were　convicted　of　the　same　truth；that　prophecy　had　been　fulfilled　in　the　events　of　the　past　few　days；　and　that　the　Crucified　One　was　the　world's　Redeemer。　Many　who　at　that　time　united　in　the　service　never　again　took　part　in　the　paschal　rites。　Many　even　of　the　priests　were　convicted　of　the　true　character　of　Jesus。　Their　searching　of　the　prophecies　had　not　been　in　vain；　and　after　His　resurrection　they　acknowledged　Him　as　the　Son　of　God。

Nicodemus；　when　he　saw　Jesus　lifted　up　on　the　cross；　remembered　His　words　spoken　by　night　in　the　Mount　of　Olives：　〃As　Moses　lifted　up　the　serpent　in　the　wilderness；　even　so　must　the　Son　of　man　be　lifted　up：　that　whosoever　believeth　in　Him　should　not　perish；　but　have　eternal　life。〃　John　3：14；　15。　On　that　Sabbath；　when　Christ　lay　in　the　grave；　Nicodemus　had　opportunity　for　reflection。　A　clearer　light　now　illuminated　his　mind；　and　the　words　which　Jesus　had　spoken　to　him　were　no　longer　mysterious。　He　felt　that　he　had　lost　much　by　not　connecting　himself　with　the　Saviour　during　His　life。　Now　he　recalled　the　events　of　Calvary。　The　prayer　of　Christ　for　His　murderers　and　His　answer　to　the　petition　of　the　dying　thief　spoke　to　the　heart　of　the　learned　councilor。　Again　he　looked　upon　the　Saviour　in　His　agony；　again　he　heard　that　last　cry；　〃It　is　finished；〃　spoken　like　the　words　of　a　conqueror。　Again　he　beheld　the　reeling　earth；　the　darkened　heavens；　the　rent　veil；　the　shivered　rocks；　and　his　faith　was　forever　established。　The　very　event　that　destroyed

776

the　hopes　of　the　disciples　convinced　Joseph　and　Nicodemus　of　the　divinity　of　Jesus。　Their　fears　were　overcome　by　the　courage　of　a　firm　and　unwavering　faith。

Never　had　Christ　attracted　the　attention　of　the　multitude　as　now　that　He　was　laid　in　the　tomb。　According　to　their　practice；　the　people　brought　their　sick　and　suffering　ones　to　the　temple　courts；　inquiring；　Who　can　tell　us　of　Jesus　of　Nazareth？　Many　had　come　from　far　to　find　Him　who　had　healed　the　sick　and　raised　the　dead。　On　every　side　was　heard　the　cry；　We　want　Christ　the　Healer！　Upon　this　occasion　those　who　were　thought　to　show　indications　of　the　leprosy　were　examined　by　the　priests。　Many　were　forced　to　hear　their　husbands；　wives；　or　children　pronounced　leprous；　and　doomed　to　go　forth　from　the　shelter　of　their　homes　and　the　care　of　their　friends；　to　warn　off　the　stranger　with　the　mournful　cry；　〃Unclean；　unclean！〃　The　friendly　hands　of　Jesus　of　Nazareth；　that　never　refused　to　touch　with　healing　the　loathsome　leper；　were　folded　on　His　breast。　The　lips　that　had　answered　his　petition　with　the　comforting　words；　〃I　will；　be　thou　clean〃　（Matt。　8：3）；　were　now　silent。　Many　appealed　to　the　chief　priests　and　rulers　for　sympathy　and　relief；　but　in　vain。　Apparently　they　were　determined　to　have　the　living　Christ　among　them　again。　With　persistent　earnestness　they　asked　for　Him。　They　would　not　be　turned　away。　But　they　were　driven　from　the　temple　courts；　and　soldiers　were　stationed　at　the　gates　to　keep　back　the　multitude　that　came　with　their　sick　and　dying；　demanding　entrance。

The　sufferers　who　had　come　to　be　healed　by　the　Saviour　sank　under　their　disappointment。　The　streets　were　filled　with　mourning。　The　sick　were　dying　for　want　of　the　healing　touch　of　Jesus。　Physicians　were　consulted　in　vain；　there　was　no　skill　like　that　of　Him　who　lay　in　Joseph's　tomb。

The　mourning　cries　of　the　suffering　ones　brought　home　to　thousands　of　minds　the　conviction　that　a　great　light　had　gone　out　of　the　world。　Without　Christ；　the　earth　was　blackness　and　darkness。　Many　whose　voices　had　swelled　the　cry　of　〃Crucify　Him；　crucify　Him；〃　now　realized　the　calamity　that　had　fallen　upon　them；　and　would　as　eagerly　have　cried；　Give　us　Jesus！　had　He　still　been　alive。

When　the　people　learned　that　Jesus　had　been　put　to　death　by　the　priests；　inquiries　were　made　regarding　His　death。　The　particulars　of　His　trial　were　kept　as　private　as　possible；　but　during　the　time　when　He　was　in　the　grave；　His　name　was　on　thousands　of　lips；　and　reports　of

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His　mock　trial；　and　of　the　inhumanity　of　the　priests　and　rulers；　were　circulated　everywhere。　By　men　of　intellect　these　priests　and　rulers　were　called　upon　to　explain　the　prophecies　of　the　Old　Testament　concerning　the　Messiah；　and　while　trying　to　frame　some　falsehood　in　reply；　they　became　like　men　insane。　The　prophecies　that　pointed　to　Christ's　sufferings　and　death　they　could　not　explain；　and　many　inquirers　were　convinced　that　the　Scriptures　had　been　fulfilled。

The　revenge　which　the　priests　had　thought　would　be　so　sweet　was　already　bitterness　to　them。　They　knew　that　they　were　meeting　the　severe　censure　of　the　people；　they　knew　that　the　very　ones　whom　they　had　influenced　against　Jesus　were　now　horrified　by　their　own　shameful　work。　These　priests　had　tried　to　believe　Jesus　a　deceiver；　but　it　was　in　vain。　Some　of　them　had　stood　by　the　grave　of　Lazarus；　and　had　seen　the　dead　brought　back　to　life。　They　trembled　for　fear　that　Christ　would　Himself　rise　from　the　dead；　and　again　appear　before　them。　They　had　heard　Him　declare　that　He　had　power　to　lay　down　His　life　and　to　take　it　again。　They　remembered　that　He　had　said；　〃Destroy　this　temple；　and　in　three　days　I　will　raise　it　up。〃　John　2：19。　Judas　had　told　them　the　words　spoken　by　Jesus　to　the　disciples　while　on　the　last　journey　to　Jerusalem：　〃Behold；　we　go　up　to　Jerusalem；　and　the　Son　of　man　shall　be　betrayed　unto　the　chief　priests　and　unto　the　scribes；　and　they　shall　condemn　Him　to　death；　and　shall　deliver　Him　to　the　Gentiles　to　mock；　and　to　scourge；　and　to　crucify　Him：　and　the　third　day　He　shall　rise　again。〃　Matt。　20：18；　19。　When　they　heard　these　words；　they　had　mocked　and　ridiculed。　But　now　they　remembered　that　Christ's　predictions　had　so　far　been　fulfilled。　He　had　said　that　He　would　rise　again　the　third　day；　and　who　could　say　that　this　also　would　not　come　to　pass？　They　longed　to　shut　out　these　thoughts；　but　they　could　not。　Like　their　father；　the　devil；　they　believed　and　trembled。

Now　that　the　frenzy　of　excitement　was　past；　the　image　of　Christ　would　intrude　upon　their　minds。　They　beheld　Him　as　He　stood　serene　and　uncomplaining　before　His　enemies；　suffering　without　a　murmur　their　taunts　and　abuse。　All　the　events　of　His　trial　and　crucifixion　came　back　to　them　with　an　overpowering　conviction　that　He　was　the　Son　of　God。　They　felt　that　He　might　at　any　time　stand　before　them；　the　accused　to　become　the　accuser；　the　condemned　to　condemn；　the　slain　to　demand　justice　in　the　death　of　His　murderers。

They　could　rest　little　upon　the　Sabbath。　Though　they　would　not　step

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over　a　Gentile's　threshold　for　fear　of　defilement；　yet　they　held　a　council　concerning　the　body　of　Christ。　Death　and　the　grave　must　hold　Him　whom　they　had　crucified。　〃The　chief　priests　and　Pharisees　came　together　unto　Pilate；　saying；　Sir；　we　remember　that　that　deceiver　said；　while　He　was　yet　alive；　After　three　days　I　will　rise　again。　Command　therefore　that　the　sepulcher　be　made　sure　until　the　third　day；　lest　His　disciples　come　by　night；　and　steal　Him　away；　and　say　unto　the　people；　He　is　risen　from　the　dead：　so　the　last　error　shall　be　worse　than　the　first。　Pilate　said　unto　them；　Ye　have　a　watch：　go　your　way；　make　it　as　sure　as　ye　can。〃　Matt。　27：62…65。

The　priests　gave　directions　for　securing　the　sepulcher。　A　great　stone