the desire of ages-第28节

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soul。

At　the　first　feast　He　attended　with　His　disciples；　Jesus　gave　them　the　cup　that　symbolized　His　work　for　their　salvation。　At　the　last　supper　He　gave　it　again；　in　the　institution　of　that　sacred　rite　by　which　His　death　was　to　be　shown　forth　〃till　He　come。〃　1　Cor。　11：26。　And　the　sorrow　of　the　disciples　at　parting　from　their　Lord　was　comforted　with　the　promise　of　reunion；　as　He　said；　〃I　will　not　drink　henceforth　of　this　fruit　of　the　vine；　until　that　day　when　I　drink　it　new　with　you　in　My　Father's　kingdom。〃　Matt。　26：29。

The　wine　which　Christ　provided　for　the　feast；　and　that　which　He　gave　to　the　disciples　as　a　symbol　of　His　own　blood；　was　the　pure　juice　of　the　grape。　To　this　the　prophet　Isaiah　refers　when　he　speaks　of　the　new　wine　〃in　the　cluster；〃　and　says；　〃Destroy　it　not；　for　a　blessing　is　in　it。〃　Isa。　65：8。

It　was　Christ　who　in　the　Old　Testament　gave　the　warning　to　Israel；　〃Wine　is　a　mocker；　strong　drink　is　raging：　and　whosoever　is　deceived　thereby　is　not　wise。〃　Prov。　20：1。　And　He　Himself　provided　no　such　beverage。　Satan　tempts　men　to　indulgence　that　will　becloud　reason　and　benumb　the　spiritual　perceptions；　but　Christ　teaches　us　to　bring　the　lower　nature　into　subjection。　His　whole　life　was　an　example　of　self…denial。　In　order　to　break　the　power　of　appetite；　He　suffered　in　our　behalf　the　severest　test　that　humanity　could　endure。　It　was　Christ　who　directed　that　John　the　Baptist　should　drink　neither　wine　nor　strong　drink。　It　was　He　who　enjoined　similar　abstinence　upon　the　wife　of　Manoah。　And　He　pronounced　a　curse　upon　the　man　who　should　put　the　bottle　to　his　neighbor's　lips。　Christ　did　not　contradict　His　own　teaching。　The　unfermented　wine　which　He　provided　for　the　wedding　guests　was　a　wholesome　and　refreshing　drink。　Its　effect　was　to　bring　the　taste　into　harmony　with　a　healthful　appetite。

As　the　guests　at　the　feast　remarked　upon　the　quality　of　the　wine；　inquiries　were　made　that　drew　from　the　servants　an　account　of　the

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miracle。　The　company　were　for　a　time　too　much　amazed　to　think　of　Him　who　had　performed　the　wonderful　work。　When　at　length　they　looked　for　Him；　it　was　found　that　He　had　withdrawn　so　quietly　as　to　be　unnoticed　even　by　His　disciples。

The　attention　of　the　company　was　now　turned　to　the　disciples。　For　the　first　time　they　had　the　opportunity　of　acknowledging　their　faith　in　Jesus。　They　told　what　they　had　seen　and　heard　at　the　Jordan；　and　there　was　kindled　in　many　hearts　the　hope　that　God　had　raised　up　a　deliverer　for　His　people。　The　news　of　the　miracle　spread　through　all　that　region；　and　was　carried　to　Jerusalem。　With　new　interest　the　priests　and　elders　searched　the　prophecies　pointing　to　Christ's　coming。　There　was　eager　desire　to　learn　the　mission　of　this　new　teacher；　who　appeared　among　the　people　in　so　unassuming　a　manner。

The　ministry　of　Christ　was　in　marked　contrast　to　that　of　the　Jewish　elders。　Their　regard　for　tradition　and　formalism　had　destroyed　all　real　freedom　of　thought　or　action。　They　lived　in　continual　dread　of　defilement。　To　avoid　contact　with　the　〃unclean；〃　they　kept　aloof；　not　only　from　the　Gentiles；　but　from　the　majority　of　their　own　people；　seeking　neither　to　benefit　them　nor　to　win　their　friendship。　By　dwelling　constantly　on　these　matters；　they　had　dwarfed　their　minds　and　narrowed　the　orbit　of　their　lives。　Their　example　encouraged　egotism　and　intolerance　among　all　classes　of　the　people。

Jesus　began　the　work　of　reformation　by　coming　into　close　sympathy　with　humanity。　While　He　showed　the　greatest　reverence　for　the　law　of　God；　He　rebuked　the　pretentious　piety　of　the　Pharisees；　and　tried　to　free　the　people　from　the　senseless　rules　that　bound　them。　He　was　seeking　to　break　down　the　barriers　which　separated　the　different　classes　of　society；　that　He　might　bring　men　together　as　children　of　one　family。　His　attendance　at　the　marriage　feast　was　designed　to　be　a　step　toward　effecting　this。

God　had　directed　John　the　Baptist　to　dwell　in　the　wilderness；　that　he　might　be　shielded　from　the　influence　of　the　priests　and　rabbis；　and　be　prepared　for　a　special　mission。　But　the　austerity　and　isolation　of　his　life　were　not　an　example　for　the　people。　John　himself　had　not　directed　his　hearers　to　forsake　their　former　duties。　He　bade　them　give　evidence　of　their　repentance　by　faithfulness　to　God　in　the　place　where　He　had　called　them。

Jesus　reproved　self…indulgence　in　all　its　forms；　yet　He　was　social　in　His　nature。　He　accepted　the　hospitality　of　all　classes；　visiting　the　homes

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of　the　rich　and　the　poor；　the　learned　and　the　ignorant；　and　seeking　to　elevate　their　thoughts　from　questions　of　commonplace　life　to　those　things　that　are　spiritual　and　eternal。　He　gave　no　license　to　dissipation；　and　no　shadow　of　worldly　levity　marred　His　conduct；　yet　He　found　pleasure　in　scenes　of　innocent　happiness；　and　by　His　presence　sanctioned　the　social　gathering。　A　Jewish　marriage　was　an　impressive　occasion；　and　its　joy　was　not　displeasing　to　the　Son　of　man。　By　attending　this　feast；　Jesus　honored　marriage　as　a　divine　institution。

In　both　the　Old　and　the　New　Testament；　the　marriage　relation　is　employed　to　represent　the　tender　and　sacred　union　that　exists　between　Christ　and　His　people。　To　the　mind　of　Jesus　the　gladness　of　the　wedding　festivities　pointed　forward　to　the　rejoicing　of　that　day　when　He　shall　bring　home　His　bride　to　the　Father's　house；　and　the　redeemed　with　the　Redeemer　shall　sit　down　to　the　marriage　supper　of　the　Lamb。　He　says；　〃As　the　bridegroom　rejoiceth　over　the　bride；　so　shall　thy　God　rejoice　over　thee。〃　〃Thou　shalt　no　more　be　termed　Forsaken；　。　。　。　but　thou　shalt　be　called　My　Delight；　。　。　。　for　the　Lord　delighteth　in　thee。〃　〃He　will　rejoice　over　thee　with　joy；　He　will　rest　in　His　love；　He　will　joy　over　thee　with　singing。〃　Isa。　62：5；　4；　margin；　Zeph。　3：17。　When　the　vision　of　heavenly　things　was　granted　to　John　the　apostle；　he　wrote：　〃I　heard　as　it　were　the　voice　of　a　great　multitude；　and　as　the　voice　of　many　waters；　and　as　the　voice　of　mighty　thunderings；　saying；　Alleluia：　for　the　Lord　God　omnipotent　reigneth。　Let　us　be　glad　and　rejoice；　and　give　honor　to　Him：　for　the　marriage　of　the　Lamb　is　come；　and　His　wife　hath　made　herself　ready。〃　〃Blessed　are　they　which　are　called　unto　the　marriage　supper　of　the　Lamb。〃　Rev。　19：6；　7；　9。

Jesus　saw　in　every　soul　one　to　whom　must　be　given　the　call　to　His　kingdom。　He　reached　the　hearts　of　the　people　by　going　among　them　as　one　who　desired　their　good。　He　sought　them　in　the　public　streets；　in　private　houses；　on　the　boats；　in　the　synagogue；　by　the　shores　of　the　lake；　and　at　the　marriage　feast。　He　met　them　at　their　daily　vocations；　and　manifested　an　interest　in　their　secular　affairs。　He　carried　His　instruction　into　the　household；　bringing　families　in　their　own　homes　under　the　influence　of　His　divine　presence。　His　strong　personal　sympathy　helped　to　win　hearts。　He　often　repaired　to　the　mountains　for　solitary　prayer；　but　this　was　a　preparation　for　His　labor　among　men　in　active　life。　From　these　seasons　He　came　forth　to　relieve　the　sick；　to　instruct　the　ignorant；　and　to　break　the　chains　from　the　captives　of　Satan。

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It　was　by　personal　contact　and　association　that　Jesus　trained　His　disciples。　Sometimes　He　taught　them；　sitting　among　them　on　the　mountainside；　sometimes　beside　the　sea；　or　walking　with　them　by　the　way；　He　revealed　the　mysteries　of　the　kingdom　of　God。　He　did　not　sermonize　as　men　do　today。　Wherever　hearts　were　open　to　receive　the　divine　message；　He　unfolded　the　truths　of　the　way　of　salvation。　He　did　not　command　His　disciples　to　do　this　or　that；　but　said；　〃Follow　Me。〃　On　His　journeys　through　country　and　cities　He　took　them　with　Him；　that　they　might　see　how　He　taught　the　people。　He　linked　their　interest　with　His；　and　they　united　with　Him　in　the　work。

The　example　of　Christ　in　linking　Himself　with　the　interests　of　humanity　should　be　followed　by　all　who　preach　His　word；　and　by　all　who　have　received　the　gospel　of　His　grace。　We　are　not　to　renounce　social　communion。　We　should　not　seclude　ourselves　from　others。　In　order　to　reach　all　classes；　we　must　meet　them　where　they　are。　They　will　seldom　seek　us　of　their　own　accord。　Not　alone　from　the　pulpit　are　the　hearts　of　men　touched　by　divine　truth。　There　is　another　field　of　labor；　humbler；　it　may　be；　but　fully　as　promising。　It　is　found　in　the　home　of　the　lowly；　and　in　the　mansion　of　the　great；　at　the　hospitable　board；　and　in　gatherings　for　innocent　social　enjoyment。

As　disciples　of　Christ　we　shall　not　mingle　with　the　world　from　a　mere　love　of　pleasure；　to　unite　with　them　in　folly。　Such　associations　can　result　only　in　harm。　We　should　never　give　sanction　to　sin　by　our　words　or　our　deeds；　our　silence　or　our　presence。　Wherever　we　go；　we　are　to　carry　Jesus　with　us；　and　to　reveal　to　others　the　preciousness　of　our　Saviour。　But　those　who　try　to　preserve　their　religion　by　hiding　it　within　stone　walls　lose　precious　opportunities　of　doing　good。　Through　the　social　relations；　Christianity　comes　in　contact　with　the　world。　Everyone　who　has　received　the　divine　illumination　is　to　brighten　the　pathway　of　those　who　know　not　the　Light　of　life。

We　should　all　become　witnesses　for　Jesus。　Social　power；　sanctified　by　the　grace　of　Christ；　must　be　improved　in　winning　soul