the desire of ages-第30节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


in　every　individual。　His　form　seems　to　rise　above　them　in　commanding　dignity；　and　a　divine　light　illuminates　His　countenance。　He　speaks；　and　His　clear；　ringing　voicethe　same　that　upon　Mount　Sinai　proclaimed　the　law　that　priests　and　rulers　are　transgressingis　heard　echoing　through　the　arches　of　the　temple：　〃Take　these　things　hence；　make　not　My　Father's　house　an　house　of　merchandise。〃

Slowly　descending　the　steps；　and　raising　the　scourge　of　cords　gathered　up　on　entering　the　enclosure；　He　bids　the　bargaining　company　depart　from　the　precincts　of　the　temple。　With　a　zeal　and　severity　He　has　never　before　manifested；　He　overthrows　the　tables　of　the　money…changers。　The　coin　falls；　ringing　sharply　upon　the　marble　pavement。　None　presume　to　question　His　authority。　None　dare　stop　to　gather　up　their　ill…gotten　gain。　Jesus　does　not　smite　them　with　the　whip　of　cords；　but　in　His　hand　that　simple　scourge　seems　terrible　as　a　flaming　sword。　Officers　of　the　temple；　speculating　priests；　brokers　and　cattle　traders；　with　their　sheep　and　oxen；　rush　from　the　place；　with　the　one　thought　of　escaping　from　the　condemnation　of　His　presence。

A　panic　sweeps　over　the　multitude；　who　feel　the　overshadowing　of　His　divinity。　Cries　of　terror　escape　from　hundreds　of　blanched　lips。　Even　the　disciples　tremble。　They　are　awestruck　by　the　words　and　manner　of　Jesus；　so　unlike　His　usual　demeanor。　They　remember　that　it　is　written　of　Him；　〃The　zeal　of　Thine　house　hath　eaten　Me　up。〃　Ps。　69：9。　Soon　the　tumultuous　throng　with　their　merchandise　are　far　removed　from　the　temple　of　the　Lord。　The　courts　are　free　from　unholy　traffic；　and　a　deep　silence　and　solemnity　settles　upon　the　scene　of　confusion。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　161

The　presence　of　the　Lord；　that　of　old　sanctified　the　mount；　has　now　made　sacred　the　temple　reared　in　His　honor。

In　the　cleansing　of　the　temple；　Jesus　was　announcing　His　mission　as　the　Messiah；　and　entering　upon　His　work。　That　temple；　erected　for　the　abode　of　the　divine　Presence；　was　designed　to　be　an　object　lesson　for　Israel　and　for　the　world。　From　eternal　ages　it　was　God's　purpose　that　every　created　being；　from　the　bright　and　holy　seraph　to　man；　should　be　a　temple　for　the　indwelling　of　the　Creator。　Because　of　sin；　humanity　ceased　to　be　a　temple　for　God。　Darkened　and　defiled　by　evil；　the　heart　of　man　no　longer　revealed　the　glory　of　the　Divine　One。　But　by　the　incarnation　of　the　Son　of　God；　the　purpose　of　Heaven　is　fulfilled。　God　dwells　in　humanity；　and　through　saving　grace　the　heart　of　man　becomes　again　His　temple。　God　designed　that　the　temple　at　Jerusalem　should　be　a　continual　witness　to　the　high　destiny　open　to　every　soul。　But　the　Jews　had　not　understood　the　significance　of　the　building　they　regarded　with　so　much　pride。　They　did　not　yield　themselves　as　holy　temples　for　the　Divine　Spirit。　The　courts　of　the　temple　at　Jerusalem；　filled　with　the　tumult　of　unholy　traffic；　represented　all　too　truly　the　temple　of　the　heart；　defiled　by　the　presence　of　sensual　passion　and　unholy　thoughts。　In　cleansing　the　temple　from　the　world's　buyers　and　sellers；　Jesus　announced　His　mission　to　cleanse　the　heart　from　the　defilement　of　sin；from　the　earthly　desires；　the　selfish　lusts；　the　evil　habits；　that　corrupt　the　soul。　〃The　Lord；　whom　ye　seek；　shall　suddenly　come　to　His　temple；　even　the　Messenger　of　the　covenant；　whom　ye　delight　in：　behold；　He　shall　come；　saith　the　Lord　of　hosts。　But　who　may　abide　the　day　of　His　coming？　and　who　shall　stand　when　He　appeareth？　for　He　is　like　a　refiner's　fire；　and　like　fullers'　soap：　and　He　shall　sit　as　a　refiner　and　purifier　of　silver：　and　He　shall　purify　the　sons　of　Levi；　and　purge　them　as　gold　and　silver。〃　Mal。　3：1…3。

〃Know　ye　not　that　ye　are　the　temple　of　God；　and　that　the　Spirit　of　God　dwelleth　in　you？　If　any　man　defile　the　temple　of　God；　him　shall　God　destroy；　for　the　temple　of　God　is　holy；　which　temple　ye　are。〃　1　Cor。　3：16；　17。　No　man　can　of　himself　cast　out　the　evil　throng　that　have　taken　possession　of　the　heart。　Only　Christ　can　cleanse　the　soul　temple。　But　He　will　not　force　an　entrance。　He　comes　not　into　the　heart　as　to　the　temple　of　old；　but　He　says；　〃Behold；　I　stand　at　the　door；　and　knock：　if　any　man　hear　My　voice；　and　open　the　door；　I　will　come　in　to　him。〃　Rev。　3：20。　He　will　come；　not　for　one　day　merely；　for　He　says；　〃I　will　dwell　in　them；　and　walk　in　them；　。　。　。　and　they　shall

162

be　My　people。〃　〃He　will　subdue　our　iniquities；　and　Thou　wilt　cast　all　their　sins　into　the　depths　of　the　sea。〃　2　Cor。　6：16；　Micah　7：19。　His　presence　will　cleanse　and　sanctify　the　soul；　so　that　it　may　be　a　holy　temple　unto　the　Lord；　and　〃an　habitation　of　God　through　the　Spirit。〃　Eph。　2：21；　22。

Overpowered　with　terror；　the　priests　and　rulers　had　fled　from　the　temple　court；　and　from　the　searching　glance　that　read　their　hearts。　In　their　flight　they　met　others　on　their　way　to　the　temple；　and　bade　them　turn　back；　telling　them　what　they　had　seen　and　heard。　Christ　looked　upon　the　fleeing　men　with　yearning　pity　for　their　fear；　and　their　ignorance　of　what　constituted　true　worship。　In　this　scene　He　saw　symbolized　the　dispersion　of　the　whole　Jewish　nation　for　their　wickedness　and　impenitence。

And　why　did　the　priests　flee　from　the　temple？　Why　did　they　not　stand　their　ground？　He　who　commanded　them　to　go　was　a　carpenter's　son；　a　poor　Galilean；　without　earthly　rank　or　power。　Why　did　they　not　resist　Him？　Why　did　they　leave　the　gain　so　ill　acquired；　and　flee　at　the　command　of　One　whose　outward　appearance　was　so　humble？

Christ　spoke　with　the　authority　of　a　king；　and　in　His　appearance；　and　in　the　tones　of　His　voice；　there　was　that　which　they　had　no　power　to　resist。　At　the　word　of　command　they　realized；　as　they　had　never　realized　before；　their　true　position　as　hypocrites　and　robbers。　When　divinity　flashed　through　humanity；　not　only　did　they　see　indignation　on　Christ's　countenance；　they　realized　the　import　of　His　words。　They　felt　as　if　before　the　throne　of　the　eternal　Judge；　with　their　sentence　passed　on　them　for　time　and　for　eternity。　For　a　time　they　were　convinced　that　Christ　was　a　prophet；　and　many　believed　Him　to　be　the　Messiah。　The　Holy　Spirit　flashed　into　their　minds　the　utterances　of　the　prophets　concerning　Christ。　Would　they　yield　to　this　conviction？

Repent　they　would　not。　They　knew　that　Christ's　sympathy　for　the　poor　had　been　aroused。　They　knew　that　they　had　been　guilty　of　extortion　in　their　dealings　with　the　people。　Because　Christ　discerned　their　thoughts　they　hated　Him。　His　public　rebuke　was　humiliating　to　their　pride；　and　they　were　jealous　of　His　growing　influence　with　the　people。　They　determined　to　challenge　Him　as　to　the　power　by　which　He　had　driven　them　forth；　and　who　gave　Him　this　power。

Slowly　and　thoughtfully；　but　with　hate　in　their　hearts；　they　returned　to　the　temple。　But　what　a　change　had　taken　place　during　their　absence！

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　163

When　they　fled；　the　poor　remained　behind；　and　these　were　now　looking　to　Jesus；　whose　countenance　expressed　His　love　and　sympathy。　With　tears　in　His　eyes；　He　said　to　the　trembling　ones　around　Him：　Fear　not；　I　will　deliver　thee；　and　thou　shalt　glorify　Me。　For　this　cause　came　I　into　the　world。

The　people　pressed　into　Christ's　presence　with　urgent；　pitiful　appeals：　Master；　bless　me。　His　ear　heard　every　cry。　With　pity　exceeding　that　of　a　tender　mother　He　bent　over　the　suffering　little　ones。　All　received　attention。　Everyone　was　healed　of　whatever　disease　he　had。　The　dumb　opened　their　lips　in　praise；　the　blind　beheld　the　face　of　their　Restorer。　The　hearts　of　the　sufferers　were　made　glad。

As　the　priests　and　temple　officials　witnessed　this　great　work；　what　a　revelation　to　them　were　the　sounds　that　fell　on　their　ears！　The　people　were　relating　the　story　of　the　pain　they　had　suffered；　of　their　disappointed　hopes；　of　painful　days　and　sleepless　nights。　When　the　last　spark　of　hope　seemed　to　be　dead；　Christ　had　healed　them。　The　burden　was　so　heavy；　one　said；　but　I　have　found　a　helper。　He　is　the　Christ　of　God；　and　I　will　devote　my　life　to　His　service。　Parents　said　to　their　children；　He　has　saved　your　life；　lift　up　your　voice　and　praise　Him。　The　voices　of　children　and　youth；　fathers　and　mothers；　friends　and　spectators；　blended　in　thanksgiving　and　praise。　Hope　and　gladness　filled　their　hearts。　Peace　came　to　their　minds。　They　were　restored　soul　and　body；　and　they　returned　home；　proclaiming　everywhere　the　matchless　love　of　Jesus。

At　the　crucifixion　of　Christ；　those　who　had　thus　been　healed　did　not　join　with　the　rabble　throng　in　crying；　〃Crucify　Him；　crucify　Him。〃　Their　sympathies　were　with　Jesus；　for　they　had　felt　His　great　sympathy　and　wonderful　power。　They　knew　Him　to　be　their　Saviour；　for　He　had　given　them　health　of　body　and　soul。　They　listened　to　the　preaching　of　the　apostles；　and　the　entrance　of　God's　word　into　their　hearts　gave　them　understanding。　They　became　agents　of　God's　mercy；　and　instruments　of　His　salvation。

The　crowd　that　had　fled　from　the　temple　court　after　a　time　slowly　drifted　back。　They　had　partially　recovered　from　the　panic　that　had　seized　them；　but　their　faces　expressed　irresolution　and　timidity。　They　looked　with　amazement　on　the　works　of　Jesus；　and　were　convicted　that　in　Him　the　prop