the desire of ages-第29节
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We should all become witnesses for Jesus。 Social power； sanctified by the grace of Christ； must be improved in winning souls to the Saviour。 Let the world see that we are not selfishly absorbed in our own interests； but that we desire others to share our blessings and privileges。 Let them see that our religion does not make us unsympathetic or exacting。 Let all who profess to have found Christ； minister as He did for the benefit of men。
We should never give to the world the false impression that Christians are a gloomy； unhappy people。 If our eyes are fixed on Jesus； we shall
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see a compassionate Redeemer； and shall catch light from His countenance。 Wherever His Spirit reigns； there peace abides。 And there will be joy also； for there is a calm； holy trust in God。
Christ is pleased with His followers when they show that； though human； they are partakers of the divine nature。 They are not statues； but living men and women。 Their hearts； refreshed by the dews of divine grace； open and expand to the Sun of Righteousness。 The light that shines upon them they reflect upon others in works that are luminous with the love of Christ。
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Chapter 16
In His Temple
〃After this He went down to Capernaum； He； and His mother； and His brethren； and His disciples： and they continued there not many days。 And the Jews' Passover was at hand； and Jesus went up to Jerusalem。〃
In this journey； Jesus joined one of the large companies that were making their way to the capital。 He had not yet publicly announced His mission； and He mingled unnoticed with the throng。 Upon these occasions； the coming of the Messiah； to which such prominence had been given by the ministry of John； was often the theme of conversation。 The hope of national greatness was dwelt upon with kindling enthusiasm。 Jesus knew that this hope was to be disappointed； for it was founded on a misinterpretation of the Scriptures。 With deep earnestness He explained the prophecies； and tried to arouse the people to a closer study of God's word。
The Jewish leaders had instructed the people that at Jerusalem they were to be taught to worship God。 Here during the Passover week large numbers assembled； coming from all parts of Palestine； and even from distant lands。 The temple courts were filled with a promiscuous throng。 Many were unable to bring with them the sacrifices that were to be
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offered up as typifying the one great Sacrifice。 For the convenience of these； animals were bought and sold in the outer court of the temple。 Here all classes of people assembled to purchase their offerings。 Here all foreign money was exchanged for the coin of the sanctuary。
Every Jew was required to pay yearly a half shekel as 〃a ransom for his soul；〃 and the money thus collected was used for the support of the temple。 Ex。 30：12…16。 Besides this； large sums were brought as freewill offerings； to be deposited in the temple treasury。 And it was required that all foreign coin should be changed for a coin called the temple shekel； which was accepted for the service of the sanctuary。 The money changing gave opportunity for fraud and extortion； and it had grown into a disgraceful traffic； which was a source of revenue to the priests。
The dealers demanded exorbitant prices for the animals sold； and they shared their profits with the priests and rulers； who thus enriched themselves at the expense of the people。 The worshipers had been taught to believe that if they did not offer sacrifice； the blessing of God would not rest on their children or their lands。 Thus a high price for the animals could be secured； for after coming so far； the people would not return to their homes without performing the act of devotion for which they had come。
A great number of sacrifices were offered at the time of the Passover； and the sales at the temple were very large。 The consequent confusion indicated a noisy cattle market rather than the sacred temple of God。 There could be heard sharp bargaining； the lowing of cattle； the bleating of sheep； the cooing of doves； mingled with the chinking of coin and angry disputation。 So great was the confusion that the worshipers were disturbed； and the words addressed to the Most High were drowned in the uproar that invaded the temple。 The Jews were exceedingly proud of their piety。 They rejoiced over their temple； and regarded a word spoken in its disfavor as blasphemy； they were very rigorous in the performance of ceremonies connected with it； but the love of money had overruled their scruples。 They were scarcely aware how far they had wandered from the original purpose of the service instituted by God Himself。
When the Lord descended upon Mount Sinai； the place was consecrated by His presence。 Moses was commanded to put bounds around the mount and sanctify it； and the word of the Lord was heard in
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warning： 〃Take heed to yourselves； that ye go not up into the mount； or touch the border of it： whosoever toucheth the mount shall be surely put to death： there shall not an hand touch it； but he shall surely be stoned； or shot through； whether it be beast or man； it shall not live。〃 Ex。 19：12； 13。 Thus was taught the lesson that wherever God manifests His presence； the place is holy。 The precincts of God's temple should have been regarded as sacred。 But in the strife for gain； all this was lost sight of。
The priests and rulers were called to be the representatives of God to the nation； they should have corrected the abuses of the temple
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court。 They should have given to the people an example of integrity and compassion。 Instead of studying their own profit； they should have considered the situation and needs of the worshipers； and should have been ready to assist those who were not able to buy the required sacrifices。 But this they did not do。 Avarice had hardened their hearts。
There came to this feast those who were suffering； those who were in want and distress。 The blind； the lame； the deaf； were there。 Some were brought on beds。 Many came who were too poor to purchase the humblest offering for the Lord； too poor even to buy food with which to satisfy their own hunger。 These were greatly distressed by the statements of the priests。 The priests boasted of their piety； they claimed to be the guardians of the people； but they were without sympathy or compassion。 The poor； the sick； the dying； made their vain plea for favor。 Their suffering awakened no pity in the hearts of the priests。
As Jesus came into the temple； He took in the whole scene。 He saw the unfair transactions。 He saw the distress of the poor； who thought that without shedding of blood there would be no forgiveness for their sins。 He saw the outer court of His temple converted into a place of unholy traffic。 The sacred enclosure had become one vast exchange。
Christ saw that something must be done。 Numerous ceremonies were enjoined upon the people without the proper instruction as to their import。 The worshipers offered their sacrifices without understanding that they were typical of the only perfect Sacrifice。 And among them； unrecognized and unhonored； stood the One symbolized by all their service。 He had given directions in regard to the offerings。 He understood their symbolical value； and He saw that they were now perverted and misunderstood。 Spiritual worship was fast disappearing。 No link bound the priests and rulers to their God。 Christ's work was to establish an altogether different worship。
With searching glance； Christ takes in the scene before Him as He stands upon the steps of the temple court。 With prophetic eye He looks into futurity； and sees not only years； but centuries and ages。 He sees how priests and rulers will turn the needy from their right； and forbid that the gospel shall be preached to the poor。 He sees how the love of God will be concealed from sinners； and men will make merchandise of His grace。 As He beholds the scene； indignation； authority； and power are expressed in His countenance。 The attention of the people is attracted to Him。 The eyes of those engaged in their unholy traffic
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are riveted upon His face。 They cannot withdraw their gaze。 They feel that this Man reads their inmost thoughts； and discovers their hidden motives。 Some attempt to conceal their faces； as if their evil deeds were written upon their countenances； to be scanned by those searching eyes。
The confusion is hushed。 The sound of traffic and bargaining has ceased。 The silence becomes painful。 A sense of awe overpowers the assembly。 It is as if they were arraigned before the tribunal of God to answer for their deeds。 Looking upon Christ； they behold divinity flash through the garb of humanity。 The Majesty of heaven stands as the Judge will stand at the last day；not now encircled with the glory that will then attend Him； but with the same power to read the soul。 His eye sweeps over the multitude； taking in every individual。 His form seems to rise above them in commanding dignit
