the desire of ages-第31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！


　timidity。　They　looked　with　amazement　on　the　works　of　Jesus；　and　were　convicted　that　in　Him　the　prophecies　concerning　the　Messiah　were　fulfilled。　The　sin　of　the　desecration　of　the　temple　rested；　in　a　great　degree；　upon　the　priests。　It

164

was　by　their　arrangement　that　the　court　had　been　turned　into　a　market　place。　The　people　were　comparatively　innocent。　They　were　impressed　by　the　divine　authority　of　Jesus；　but　with　them　the　influence　of　the　priests　and　rulers　was　paramount。　They　regarded　Christ's　mission　as　an　innovation；　and　questioned　His　right　to　interfere　with　what　was　permitted　by　the　authorities　of　the　temple。　They　were　offended　because　the　traffic　had　been　interrupted；　and　they　stifled　the　convictions　of　the　Holy　Spirit。

Above　all　others　the　priests　and　rulers　should　have　seen　in　Jesus　the　anointed　of　the　Lord；　for　in　their　hands　were　the　sacred　scrolls　that　described　His　mission；　and　they　knew　that　the　cleansing　of　the　temple　was　a　manifestation　of　more　than　human　power。　Much　as　they　hated　Jesus；　they　could　not　free　themselves　from　the　thought　that　He　might　be　a　prophet　sent　by　God　to　restore　the　sanctity　of　the　temple。　With　a　deference　born　of　this　fear；　they　went　to　Him　with　the　inquiry；　〃What　sign　showest　Thou　unto　us；　seeing　that　Thou　doest　these　things？〃

Jesus　had　shown　them　a　sign。　In　flashing　light　into　their　hearts；　and　in　doing　before　them　the　works　which　the　Messiah　was　to　do；　He　had　given　convincing　evidence　of　His　character。　Now　when　they　asked　for　a　sign；　He　answered　them　by　a　parable；　showing　that　He　read　their　malice；　and　saw　to　what　lengths　it　would　lead　them。　〃Destroy　this　temple；〃　He　said；　〃and　in　three　days　I　will　raise　it　up。〃

In　these　words　His　meaning　was　twofold。　He　referred　not　only　to　the　destruction　of　the　Jewish　temple　and　worship；　but　to　His　own　death；the　destruction　of　the　temple　of　His　body。　This　the　Jews　were　already　plotting。　As　the　priests　and　rulers　returned　to　the　temple；　they　had　proposed　to　kill　Jesus；　and　thus　rid　themselves　of　the　troubler。　Yet　when　He　set　before　them　their　purpose；　they　did　not　understand　Him。　They　took　His　words　as　applying　only　to　the　temple　at　Jerusalem；　and　with　indignation　exclaimed；　〃Forty　and　six　years　was　this　temple　in　building；　and　wilt　Thou　rear　it　up　in　three　days？〃　Now　they　felt　that　Jesus　had　justified　their　unbelief；　and　they　were　confirmed　in　their　rejection　of　Him。

Christ　did　not　design　that　His　words　should　be　understood　by　the　unbelieving　Jews；　nor　even　by　His　disciples　at　this　time。　He　knew　that　they　would　be　misconstrued　by　His　enemies；　and　would　be　turned　against　Him。　At　His　trial　they　would　be　brought　as　an　accusation；　and　on　Calvary　they　would　be　flung　at　Him　as　a　taunt。　But　to　explain　them　now　would　give　His　disciples　a　knowledge　of　His　sufferings；　and　bring

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　165

upon　them　sorrow　which　as　yet　they　were　not　able　to　bear。　And　an　explanation　would　prematurely　disclose　to　the　Jews　the　result　of　their　prejudice　and　unbelief。　Already　they　had　entered　upon　a　path　which　they　would　steadily　pursue　until　He　should　be　led　as　a　lamb　to　the　slaughter。

It　was　for　the　sake　of　those　who　should　believe　on　Him　that　these　words　of　Christ　were　spoken。　He　knew　that　they　would　be　repeated。　Being　spoken　at　the　Passover；　they　would　come　to　the　ears　of　thousands；　and　be　carried　to　all　parts　of　the　world。　After　He　had　risen　from　the　dead；　their　meaning　would　be　made　plain。　To　many　they　would　be　conclusive　evidence　of　His　divinity。

Because　of　their　spiritual　darkness；　even　the　disciples　of　Jesus　often　failed　of　comprehending　His　lessons。　But　many　of　these　lessons　were　made　plain　to　them　by　subsequent　events。　When　He　walked　no　more　with　them；　His　words　were　a　stay　to　their　hearts。

As　referring　to　the　temple　at　Jerusalem；　the　Saviour's　words；　〃Destroy　this　temple；　and　in　three　days　I　will　raise　it　up；〃　had　a　deeper　meaning　than　the　hearers　perceived。　Christ　was　the　foundation　and　life　of　the　temple。　Its　services　were　typical　of　the　sacrifice　of　the　Son　of　God。　The　priesthood　was　established　to　represent　the　mediatorial　character　and　work　of　Christ。　The　entire　plan　of　sacrificial　worship　was　a　foreshadowing　of　the　Saviour's　death　to　redeem　the　world。　There　would　be　no　efficacy　in　these　offerings　when　the　great　event　toward　which　they　had　pointed　for　ages　was　consummated。

Since　the　whole　ritual　economy　was　symbolical　of　Christ；　it　had　no　value　apart　from　Him。　When　the　Jews　sealed　their　rejection　of　Christ　by　delivering　Him　to　death；　they　rejected　all　that　gave　significance　to　the　temple　and　its　services。　Its　sacredness　had　departed。　It　was　doomed　to　destruction。　From　that　day　sacrificial　offerings　and　the　service　connected　with　them　were　meaningless。　Like　the　offering　of　Cain；　they　did　not　express　faith　in　the　Saviour。　In　putting　Christ　to　death；　the　Jews　virtually　destroyed　their　temple。　When　Christ　was　crucified；　the　inner　veil　of　the　temple　was　rent　in　twain　from　top　to　bottom；　signifying　that　the　great　final　sacrifice　had　been　made；　and　that　the　system　of　sacrificial　offerings　was　forever　at　an　end。

〃In　three　days　I　will　raise　it　up。〃　In　the　Saviour's　death　the　powers　of　darkness　seemed　to　prevail；　and　they　exulted　in　their　victory。　But　from　the　rent　sepulcher　of　Joseph；　Jesus　came　forth　a　conqueror。　〃Having　spoiled　principalities　and　powers；　He　made　a　show　of　them　openly；　triumphing　over　them。〃　Col。2：15。　By　virtue　of　His　death　and　resurrection

166

He　became　the　minister　of　the　〃true　tabernacle；　which　the　Lord　pitched；　and　not　man。〃　Heb。　8：2。　Men　reared　the　Jewish　tabernacle；　men　builded　the　Jewish　temple；　but　the　sanctuary　above；　of　which　the　earthly　was　a　type；　was　built　by　no　human　architect。　〃Behold　the　Man　whose　name　is　The　Branch；　。　。　。　He　shall　build　the　temple　of　the　Lord；　and　He　shall　bear　the　glory；　and　shall　sit　and　rule　upon　His　throne；　and　He　shall　be　a　priest　upon　His　throne。〃　Zech。　6：12；　13。

The　sacrificial　service　that　had　pointed　to　Christ　passed　away；　but　the　eyes　of　men　were　turned　to　the　true　sacrifice　for　the　sins　of　the　world。　The　earthly　priesthood　ceased；　but　we　look　to　Jesus；　the　minister　of　the　new　covenant；　and　〃to　the　blood　of　sprinkling；　that　speaketh　better　things　than　that　of　Abel。〃　〃The　way　into　the　holiest　of　all　was　not　yet　made　manifest；　while　as　the　first　tabernacle　was　yet　standing：　。　。　。　but　Christ　being　come　an　high　priest　of　good　things　to　come；　by　a　greater　and　more　perfect　tabernacle；　not　made　with　hands；　。　。　。　by　His　own　blood　He　entered　in　once　into　the　holy　place；　having　obtained　eternal　redemption　for　us。〃　Heb。　12：24；　9：8…12。

〃Wherefore　He　is　able　also　to　save　them　to　the　uttermost　that　come　unto　God　by　Him；　seeing　He　ever　liveth　to　make　intercession　for　them。〃　Heb。　7：25。　Though　the　ministration　was　to　be　removed　from　the　earthly　to　the　heavenly　temple；　though　the　sanctuary　and　our　great　high　priest　would　be　invisible　to　human　sight；　yet　the　disciples　were　to　suffer　no　loss　thereby。　They　would　realize　no　break　in　their　communion；　and　no　diminution　of　power　because　of　the　Saviour's　absence。　While　Jesus　ministers　in　the　sanctuary　above；　He　is　still　by　His　Spirit　the　minister　of　the　church　on　earth。　He　is　withdrawn　from　the　eye　of　sense；　but　His　parting　promise　is　fulfilled；　〃Lo；　I　am　with　you　alway；　even　unto　the　end　of　the　world。〃　Matt。　28：20。　While　He　delegates　His　power　to　inferior　ministers；　His　energizing　presence　is　still　with　His　church。

〃Seeing　then　that　we　have　a　great　high　priest；　。　。　。　Jesus；　the　Son　of　God；　let　us　hold　fast　our　profession。　For　we　have　not　an　high　priest　which　cannot　be　touched　with　the　feeling　of　our　infirmities；　but　was　in　all　points　tempted　like　as　we　are；　yet　without　sin。　Let　us　therefore　come　boldly　unto　the　throne　of　grace；　that　we　may　obtain　mercy；　and　find　grace　to　help　in　time　of　need。〃　Heb　4：14…16。




　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　（167）

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Chapter　17

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Nicodemus


Nicodemus　held　a　high　position　of　trust　in　the　Jewish　nation。　He　was　highly　educated；　and　possessed　talents　of　no　ordinary　character；　and　he　was　an　honored　member　of　the　national　council。　With　others；　he　had　been　stirred　by　the　teaching　of　Jesus。　Though　rich；　learned；　and　honored；　he　had　been　strangely　attracted　by　the　humble　Nazarene。　The　lessons　that　had　fallen　from　the　Saviour's　lips　had　greatly　impressed　him；　and　he　desired　to　learn　more　of　these　wonderful　truths。

Christ's　exercise　of　authority　in　the　cleansing　of　the　temple　had　roused　the　determined　hatred　of　the　priests　and　rulers。　They　feared　the　power　of　this　stranger。　Such　boldness　on　the　part　of　an　obscure　Galilean　was　not　to　be　tolerated。　They　were　bent　on　putting　an　end　to　His　work。　But　not　all　were　agreed　in　this　purpose。　There　were　some　that　feared　to　oppose　One　who　was　so　evidently　moved　upon　by　the　Spirit　of　God。　They　remembered　how　prophets　had　been　slain　for　rebuking　the　sins　of　the　leaders　in　Israel。　They　knew　that　the　bondage　of　the　Jews　to　a　heathen　nation　was　the　result　of　their　stubbornness　in　rejecting　reproofs　from　God。　They　feared　that　in　plotting　against　Jesus　the　priests　and　rulers　were　following　in　the　steps　of　their　fathers；