the desire of ages-第36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！


raven　images。

When　the　temple　at　Jerusalem　was　rebuilt　in　the　days　of　Ezra；　the　Samaritans　wished　to　join　the　Jews　in　its　erection。　This　privilege　was　refused　them；　and　a　bitter　animosity　sprang　up　between　the　two　peoples。　The　Samaritans　built　a　rival　temple　on　Mount　Gerizim。　Here　they　worshiped　in　accordance　with　the　Mosaic　ritual；　though　they　did　not　wholly　renounce　idolatry。　But　disasters　attended　them；　their　temple　was　destroyed　by　their　enemies；　and　they　seemed　to　be　under　a　curse；　yet　they　still　clung　to　their　traditions　and　their　forms　of　worship。　They　would　not　acknowledge　the　temple　at　Jerusalem　as　the　house　of　God；　nor　admit　that　the　religion　of　the　Jews　was　superior　to　their　own。

In　answer　to　the　woman；　Jesus　said；　〃Believe　Me；　the　hour　cometh；　when　ye　shall　neither　in　this　mountain；　nor　yet　at　Jerusalem；　worship　the　Father。　Ye　worship　ye　know　not　what：　we　know　what　we　worship：　for　salvation　is　of　the　Jews。〃　Jesus　had　shown　that　He　was　free　from　Jewish　prejudice　against　the　Samaritans。　Now　He　sought　to　break　down

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　189

the　prejudice　of　this　Samaritan　against　the　Jews。　While　referring　to　the　fact　that　the　faith　of　the　Samaritans　was　corrupted　with　idolatry；　He　declared　that　the　great　truths　of　redemption　had　been　committed　to　the　Jews；　and　that　from　among　them　the　Messiah　was　to　appear。　In　the　Sacred　Writings　they　had　a　clear　presentation　of　the　character　of　God　and　the　principles　of　His　government。　Jesus　classed　Himself　with　the　Jews　as　those　to　whom　God　had　given　a　knowledge　of　Himself。

He　desired　to　lift　the　thoughts　of　His　hearer　above　matters　of　form　and　ceremony；　and　questions　of　controversy。　〃The　hour　cometh；〃　He　said；　〃and　now　is；　when　the　true　worshipers　shall　worship　the　Father　in　spirit　and　in　truth：　for　the　Father　seeketh　such　to　worship　Him。　God　is　a　Spirit：　and　they　that　worship　Him　must　worship　Him　in　spirit　and　in　truth。〃

Here　is　declared　the　same　truth　that　Jesus　had　revealed　to　Nicodemus　when　He　said；　〃Except　a　man　be　born　from　above；　he　cannot　see　the　kingdom　of　God。〃　John　3：3；　margin。　Not　by　seeking　a　holy　mountain　or　a　sacred　temple　are　men　brought　into　communion　with　heaven。　Religion　is　not　to　be　confined　to　external　forms　and　ceremonies。　The　religion　that　comes　from　God　is　the　only　religion　that　will　lead　to　God。　In　order　to　serve　Him　aright；　we　must　be　born　of　the　divine　Spirit。　This　will　purify　the　heart　and　renew　the　mind；　giving　us　a　new　capacity　for　knowing　and　loving　God。　It　will　give　us　a　willing　obedience　to　all　His　requirements。　This　is　true　worship。　It　is　the　fruit　of　the　working　of　the　Holy　Spirit。　By　the　Spirit　every　sincere　prayer　is　indited；　and　such　prayer　is　acceptable　to　God。　Wherever　a　soul　reaches　out　after　God；　there　the　Spirit's　working　is　manifest；　and　God　will　reveal　Himself　to　that　soul。　For　such　worshipers　He　is　seeking。　He　waits　to　receive　them；　and　to　make　them　His　sons　and　daughters。

As　the　woman　talked　with　Jesus；　she　was　impressed　with　His　words。　Never　had　she　heard　such　sentiments　from　the　priests　of　her　own　people　or　from　the　Jews。　As　the　past　of　her　life　had　been　spread　out　before　her；　she　had　been　made　sensible　of　her　great　want。　She　realized　her　soul　thirst；　which　the　waters　of　the　well　of　Sychar　could　never　satisfy。　Nothing　that　had　hitherto　come　in　contact　with　her　had　so　awakened　her　to　a　higher　need。　Jesus　had　convinced　her　that　He　read　the　secrets　of　her　life；　yet　she　felt　that　He　was　her　friend；　pitying　and　loving　her。　While　the　very　purity　of　His　presence　condemned　her　sin；　He　had　spoken　no　word　of　denunciation；　but　had　told　her　of　His　grace；　that　could　renew

190

the　soul。　She　began　to　have　some　conviction　of　His　character。　The　question　arose　in　her　mind；　Might　not　this　be　the　long…looked…for　Messiah？　She　said　to　Him；　〃I　know　that　Messias　cometh；　which　is　called　Christ：　when　He　is　come；　He　will　tell　us　all　things。〃　Jesus　answered；　〃I　that　speak　unto　thee　am　He。〃

As　the　woman　heard　these　words；　faith　sprang　up　in　her　heart。　She　accepted　the　wonderful　announcement　from　the　lips　of　the　divine　Teacher。

This　woman　was　in　an　appreciative　state　of　mind。　She　was　ready　to　receive　the　noblest　revelation；　for　she　was　interested　in　the　Scriptures；　and　the　Holy　Spirit　had　been　preparing　her　mind　to　receive　more　light。　She　had　studied　the　Old　Testament　promise；　〃The　Lord　thy　God　will　raise　up　unto　thee　a　Prophet　from　the　midst　of　thee；　of　thy　brethren；　like　unto　me；　unto　Him　ye　shall　hearken。〃　Deut。　18：15。　She　longed　to　understand　this　prophecy。　Light　was　already　flashing　into　her　mind。　The　water　of　life；　the　spiritual　life　which　Christ　gives　to　every　thirsty　soul；　had　begun　to　spring　up　in　her　heart。　The　Spirit　of　the　Lord　was　working　with　her。

The　plain　statement　made　by　Christ　to　this　woman　could　not　have　been　made　to　the　self…righteous　Jews。　Christ　was　far　more　reserved　when　He　spoke　to　them。　That　which　had　been　withheld　from　the　Jews；　and　which　the　disciples　were　afterward　enjoined　to　keep　secret；　was　revealed　to　her。　Jesus　saw　that　she　would　make　use　of　her　knowledge　in　bringing　others　to　share　His　grace。

When　the　disciples　returned　from　their　errand；　they　were　surprised　to　find　their　Master　speaking　with　the　woman。　He　had　not　taken　the　refreshing　draught　that　He　desired；　and　He　did　not　stop　to　eat　the　food　His　disciples　had　brought。　When　the　woman　had　gone；　the　disciples　entreated　Him　to　eat。　They　saw　Him　silent；　absorbed；　as　in　rapt　meditation。　His　face　was　beaming　with　light；　and　they　feared　to　interrupt　His　communion　with　heaven。　But　they　knew　that　He　was　faint　and　weary；　and　thought　it　their　duty　to　remind　Him　of　His　physical　necessities。　Jesus　recognized　their　loving　interest；　and　He　said；　〃I　have　meat　to　eat　that　ye　know　not　of。〃

The　disciples　wondered　who　could　have　brought　Him　food；　but　He　explained；　〃My　meat　is　to　do　the　will　of　Him　that　sent　Me；　and　to　accomplish　His　work。〃　John　4：34；　R。　V。　As　His　words　to　the　woman　had　aroused　her　conscience；　Jesus　rejoiced。　He　saw　her　drinking　of　the　water

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　191

of　life；　and　His　own　hunger　and　thirst　were　satisfied。　The　accomplishment　of　the　mission　which　He　had　left　heaven　to　perform　strengthened　the　Saviour　for　His　labor；　and　lifted　Him　above　the　necessities　of　humanity。　To　minister　to　a　soul　hungering　and　thirsting　for　the　truth　was　more　grateful　to　Him　than　eating　or　drinking。　It　was　a　comfort；　a　refreshment；　to　Him。　Benevolence　was　the　life　of　His　soul。

Our　Redeemer　thirsts　for　recognition。　He　hungers　for　the　sympathy　and　love　of　those　whom　He　has　purchased　with　His　own　blood。　He　longs　with　inexpressible　desire　that　they　should　come　to　Him　and　have　life。　As　the　mother　watches　for　the　smile　of　recognition　from　her　little　child；　which　tells　of　the　dawning　of　intelligence；　so　does　Christ　watch　for　the　expression　of　grateful　love；　which　shows　that　spiritual　life　is　begun　in　the　soul。

The　woman　had　been　filled　with　joy　as　she　listened　to　Christ's　words。　The　wonderful　revelation　was　almost　overpowering。　Leaving　her　waterpot；　she　returned　to　the　city；　to　carry　the　message　to　others。　Jesus　knew　why　she　had　gone。　Leaving　her　waterpot　spoke　unmistakably　as　to　the　effect　of　His　words。　It　was　the　earnest　desire　of　her　soul　to　obtain　the　living　water；　and　she　forgot　her　errand　to　the　well；　she　forgot　the　Saviour's　thirst；　which　she　had　purposed　to　supply。　With　heart　overflowing　with　gladness；　she　hastened　on　her　way；　to　impart　to　others　the　precious　light　she　had　received。

〃Come；　see　a　man；　which　told　me　all　things　that　ever　I　did；〃　she　said　to　the　men　of　the　city。　〃Is　not　this　the　Christ？〃　Her　words　touched　their　hearts。　There　was　a　new　expression　on　her　face；　a　change　in　her　whole　appearance。　They　were　interested　to　see　Jesus。　〃Then　they　went　out　of　the　city；　and　came　unto　Him。〃

As　Jesus　still　sat　at　the　well　side；　He　looked　over　the　fields　of　grain　that　were　spread　out　before　Him；　their　tender　green　touched　by　the　golden　sunlight。　Pointing　His　disciples　to　the　scene；　He　employed　it　as　a　symbol：　〃Say　not　ye；　There　are　yet　four　months；　and　then　cometh　harvest？　behold；　I　say　unto　you；　Lift　up　your　eyes；　and　look　on　the　fields；　for　they　are　white　already　to　harvest。〃　And　as　He　spoke；　He　looked　on　the　groups　that　were　coming　to　the　well。　It　was　four　months　to　the　time　for　harvesting　the　grain；　but　here　was　a　harvest　ready　for　the　reaper。

〃He　that　reapeth；〃　He　said；　〃receiveth　wages；　and　gathereth　fruit　unto　life　eternal：　that　both　he　that　soweth　and　he　that　reapeth　may　rejoice

192

together。　And　herein　is　that　saying　true；　One　soweth；　and　another　reapeth。〃　Here　Christ　points　out　the　sacred　service　owed　to　God　by　those　who　receive　the　gospel。　They　are　to　be　His　living　agencies。　He　requires　their　individual　service。　And　whether　we　sow　or　reap；　we　are　working　for　God。　One　scatters　the　seed；　another　gathers　in　the　harvest；　and　both　the　sower　and　the　reaper　receive　wages。　They　rejoice　together　in　the　reward　of　their　labor。

Jesus　said　to　the　disciples；　〃I　sent　you　to　reap　that　whereon　ye　bestowed　no　labor：　other　men　labored；　and　ye　are　entered　into　their　labors。〃　The　Saviour　was　here　looking　forward　to　the　great　ingathering　on　the　day　of　P