the desire of ages-第34节

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　persecuted　by　those　who　had　paid　him　reverence　in　other　days。　He　became　poor　in　this　world's　goods；　yet　he　faltered　not　in　the　faith　which　had　its　beginning　in　that　night　conference　with　Jesus。

Nicodemus　related　to　John　the　story　of　that　interview；　and　by　his　pen　it　was　recorded　for　the　instruction　of　millions。　The　truths　there　taught　are　as　important　today　as　they　were　on　that　solemn　night　in　the　shadowy　mountain；　when　the　Jewish　ruler　came　to　learn　the　way　of　life　from　the　lowly　Teacher　of　Galilee。




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　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Chapter　18

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃He　Must　Increase〃


For　a　time　the　Baptist's　influence　over　the　nation　had　been　greater　than　that　of　its　rulers；　priests；　or　princes。　If　he　had　announced　himself　as　the　Messiah；　and　raised　a　revolt　against　Rome；　priests　and　people　would　have　flocked　to　his　standard。　Every　consideration　that　appeals　to　the　ambition　of　the　world's　conquerors　Satan　had　stood　ready　to　urge　upon　John　the　Baptist。　But　with　the　evidence　before　him　of　his　power；　he　had　steadfastly　refused　the　splendid　bribe。　The　attention　which　was　fixed　upon　him　he　had　directed　to　Another。

Now　he　saw　the　tide　of　popularity　turning　away　from　himself　to　the　Saviour。　Day　by　day　the　crowds　about　him　lessened。　When　Jesus　came　from　Jerusalem　to　the　region　about　Jordan；　the　people　flocked　to　hear　Him。　The　number　of　His　disciples　increased　daily。　Many　came　for　baptism；　and　while　Christ　Himself　did　not　baptize；　He　sanctioned　the　administration　of　the　ordinance　by　His　disciples。　Thus　He　set　His　seal　upon　the　mission　of　His　forerunner。　But　the　disciples　of　John　looked　with　jealousy　upon　the　growing　popularity　of　Jesus。　They　stood　ready　to　criticize　His　work；　and　it　was　not　long　before　they　found　occasion。　A　question　arose　between　them　and　the　Jews　as　to　whether　baptism　availed　to　cleanse　the　soul　from　sin；　they　maintained　that　the　baptism　of　Jesus　differed　essentially　from　that　of　John。　Soon　they　were　in　dispute　with　Christ's　disciples　in　regard　to　the　form　of　words　proper　to　use　at　baptism；　and　finally　as　to　the　right　of　the　latter　to　baptize　at　all。

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The　disciples　of　John　came　to　him　with　their　grievances；　saying；　〃Rabbi；　He　that　was　with　thee　beyond　Jordan；　to　whom　thou　bearest　witness；　behold；　the　same　baptizeth；　and　all　men　come　to　Him。〃　Through　these　words；　Satan　brought　temptation　upon　John。　Though　John's　mission　seemed　about　to　close；　it　was　still　possible　for　him　to　hinder　the　work　of　Christ。　If　he　had　sympathized　with　himself；　and　expressed　grief　or　disappointment　at　being　superseded；　he　would　have　sown　the　seeds　of　dissension；　would　have　encouraged　envy　and　jealousy；　and　would　seriously　have　impeded　the　progress　of　the　gospel。

John　had　by　nature　the　faults　and　weaknesses　common　to　humanity；　but　the　touch　of　divine　love　had　transformed　him。　He　dwelt　in　an　atmosphere　uncontaminated　with　selfishness　and　ambition；　and　far　above　the　miasma　of　jealousy。　He　manifested　no　sympathy　with　the　dissatisfaction　of　his　disciples；　but　showed　how　clearly　he　understood　his　relation　to　the　Messiah；　and　how　gladly　he　welcomed　the　One　for　whom　he　had　prepared　the　way。

He　said；　〃A　man　can　receive　nothing；　except　it　be　given　him　from　heaven。　Ye　yourselves　bear　me　witness；　that　I　said；　I　am　not　the　Christ；　but　that　I　am　sent　before　Him。　He　that　hath　the　bride　is　the　bridegroom：　but　the　friend　of　the　bridegroom；　which　standeth　and　heareth　him；　rejoiceth　greatly　because　of　the　bridegroom's　voice。〃　John　represented　himself　as　the　friend　who　acted　as　a　messenger　between　the　betrothed　parties；　preparing　the　way　for　the　marriage。　When　the　bridegroom　had　received　his　bride；　the　mission　of　the　friend　was　fulfilled。　He　rejoiced　in　the　happiness　of　those　whose　union　he　had　promoted。　So　John　had　been　called　to　direct　the　people　to　Jesus；　and　it　was　his　joy　to　witness　the　success　of　the　Saviour's　work。　He　said；　〃This　my　joy　therefore　is　fulfilled。　He　must　increase；　but　I　must　decrease。〃

Looking　in　faith　to　the　Redeemer；　John　had　risen　to　the　height　of　self…abnegation。　He　sought　not　to　attract　men　to　himself；　but　to　lift　their　thoughts　higher　and　still　higher；　until　they　should　rest　upon　the　Lamb　of　God。　He　himself　had　been　only　a　voice；　a　cry　in　the　wilderness。　Now　with　joy　he　accepted　silence　and　obscurity；　that　the　eyes　of　all　might　be　turned　to　the　Light　of　life。

Those　who　are　true　to　their　calling　as　messengers　for　God　will　not　seek　honor　for　themselves。　Love　for　self　will　be　swallowed　up　in　love　for　Christ。　No　rivalry　will　mar　the　precious　cause　of　the　gospel。　They　will　recognize　that　it　is　their　work　to　proclaim；　as　did　John　the　Baptist；

180

〃Behold　the　Lamb　of　God；　which　taketh　away　the　sin　of　the　world。〃　John　1：29。　They　will　lift　up　Jesus；　and　with　Him　humanity　will　be　lifted　up。　〃Thus　saith　the　high　and　lofty　One　that　inhabiteth　eternity；　whose　name　is　Holy；　I　dwell　in　the　high　and　holy　place；　with　him　also　that　is　of　a　contrite　and　humble　spirit；　to　revive　the　spirit　of　the　humble；　and　to　revive　the　heart　of　the　contrite　ones。〃　Isa。　57：15。

The　soul　of　the　prophet；　emptied　of　self；　was　filled　with　the　light　of　the　divine。　As　he　witnessed　to　the　Saviour's　glory；　his　words　were　almost　a　counterpart　of　those　that　Christ　Himself　had　spoken　in　His　interview　with　Nicodemus。　John　said；　〃He　that　cometh　from　above　is　above　all：　he　that　is　of　the　earth　is　earthly；　and　speaketh　of　the　earth：　He　that　cometh　from　heaven　is　above　all。　。　。　。　For　He　whom　God　hath　sent　speaketh　the　words　of　God：　for　God　giveth　not　the　Spirit　by　measure　unto　Him。〃　Christ　could　say；　〃I　seek　not　Mine　own　will；　but　the　will　of　the　Father　which　hath　sent　Me。〃　John　5：30。　To　Him　it　is　declared；　〃Thou　hast　loved　righteousness；　and　hated　iniquity；　therefore　God；　even　Thy　God；　hath　anointed　Thee　with　the　oil　of　gladness　above　Thy　fellows。〃　Heb。　1：9。　The　Father　〃giveth　not　the　Spirit　by　measure　unto　Him。〃

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So　with　the　followers　of　Christ。　We　can　receive　of　heaven's　light　only　as　we　are　willing　to　be　emptied　of　self。　We　cannot　discern　the　character　of　God；　or　accept　Christ　by　faith；　unless　we　consent　to　the　bringing　into　captivity　of　every　thought　to　the　obedience　of　Christ。　To　all　who　do　this　the　Holy　Spirit　is　given　without　measure。　In　Christ　〃dwelleth　all　the　fullness　of　the　Godhead　bodily；　and　in　Him　ye　are　made　full。〃　Col。　2：9；　10；　R。　V。

The　disciples　of　John　had　declared　that　all　men　were　coming　to　Christ；　but　with　clearer　insight；　John　said；　〃No　man　receiveth　His　witness；〃　so　few　were　ready　to　accept　Him　as　the　Saviour　from　sin。　But　〃he　that　hath　received　His　witness　hath　set　his　seal　to　this；　that　God　is　true。〃　John　3：33；　R。　V。　〃He　that　believeth　on　the　Son　hath　everlasting　life。〃　No　need　of　disputation　as　to　whether　Christ's　baptism　or　John's　purified　from　sin。　It　is　the　grace　of　Christ　that　gives　life　to　the　soul。　Apart　from　Christ；　baptism；　like　any　other　service；　is　a　worthless　form。　〃He　that　believeth　not　the　Son　shall　not　see　life。〃

The　success　of　Christ's　work；　which　the　Baptist　had　received　with　such　joy；　was　reported　also　to　the　authorities　at　Jerusalem。　The　priests　and　rabbis　had　been　jealous　of　John's　influence　as　they　saw　the　people　leaving　the　synagogues　and　flocking　to　the　wilderness；　but　here　was　One　who　had　still　greater　power　to　attract　the　multitudes。　Those　leaders　in　Israel　were　not　willing　to　say　with　John；　〃He　must　increase；　but　I　must　decrease。〃　They　arose　with　a　new　determination　to　put　an　end　to　the　work　that　was　drawing　the　people　away　from　them。

Jesus　knew　that　they　would　spare　no　effort　to　create　a　division　between　His　own　disciples　and　those　of　John。　He　knew　that　the　storm　was　gathering　which　would　sweep　away　one　of　the　greatest　prophets　ever　given　to　the　world。　Wishing　to　avoid　all　occasion　for　misunderstanding　or　dissension；　He　quietly　ceased　His　labors；　and　withdrew　to　Galilee。　We　also；　while　loyal　to　truth；　should　try　to　avoid　all　that　may　lead　to　discord　and　misapprehension。　For　whenever　these　arise；　they　result　in　the　loss　of　souls。　Whenever　circumstances　occur　that　threaten　to　cause　division；　we　should　follow　the　example　of　Jesus　and　of　John　the　Baptist。

John　had　been　called　to　lead　out　as　a　reformer。　Because　of　this；　his　disciples　were　in　danger　of　fixing　their　attention　upon　him；　feeling　that　the　success　of　the　work　depended　upon　his　labors；　and　losing　sight　of　the　fact　that　he　was　only　an　instrument　through　which　God　had　wrought。　But　the　work　of　John　was　not　sufficient　to　lay　the　foundation　of　the

182

Christian　church。　When　he　had　fulfilled　his　mission；　another　work　was　to　be　done；　which　his　testimony　could　not　accomplish。　His　disciples　did　not　understand　this。　When　they　saw　Christ　coming　in　to　take　the　work；　they　were　jealous　and　dissatisfied。

The　same　dangers　still　exist。　God　calls　a　man　to　do　a　certain　work；　and　when　he　has　carried　it　as　far　as　he　is　qualified　to　take　it；　the　Lord　brings　in　others；　to　carry　it　still　farther。　But；　like　John's　disciples；　many　feel　that　the　success　of　the　work　depends　on　the　first　laborer。　Attention　is　fixed　upon　the　human　instead　of　the　divine；　jealousy　comes　in；　and　the　wo