the desire of ages-第42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！



〃I　am　come　in　My　Father's　name；　and　ye　receive　Me　not：　if　another　shall　come　in　his　own　name；　him　ye　will　receive。〃　Jesus　came　by　the　authority　of　God；　bearing　His　image；　fulfilling　His　word；　and　seeking　His　glory；　yet　He　was　not　accepted　by　the　leaders　in　Israel；　but　when　others　should　come；　assuming　the　character　of　Christ；　but　actuated　by　their　own　will　and　seeking　their　own　glory；　they　would　be　received。　And　why？　Because　he　who　is　seeking　his　own　glory　appeals　to　the　desire　for　self…exaltation　in　others。　To　such　appeals　the　Jews　could　respond。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　213

They　would　receive　the　false　teacher　because　he　flattered　their　pride　by　sanctioning　their　cherished　opinions　and　traditions。　But　the　teaching　of　Christ　did　not　coincide　with　their　ideas。　It　was　spiritual；　and　demanded　the　sacrifice　of　self；　therefore　they　would　not　receive　it。　They　were　not　acquainted　with　God；　and　to　them　His　voice　through　Christ　was　the　voice　of　a　stranger。

Is　not　the　same　thing　repeated　in　our　day？　Are　there　not　many；　even　religious　leaders；　who　are　hardening　their　hearts　against　the　Holy　Spirit；　making　it　impossible　for　them　to　recognize　the　voice　of　God？　Are　they　not　rejecting　the　word　of　God；　that　they　may　keep　their　own　traditions？

〃Had　ye　believed　Moses；〃　said　Jesus；　〃ye　would　have　believed　Me：　for　he　wrote　of　Me。　But　if　ye　believe　not　his　writings；　how　shall　ye　believe　My　words？〃　It　was　Christ　who　had　spoken　to　Israel　through　Moses。　If　they　had　listened　to　the　divine　voice　that　spoke　through　their　great　leader；　they　would　have　recognized　it　in　the　teachings　of　Christ。　Had　they　believed　Moses；　they　would　have　believed　Him　of　whom　Moses　wrote。

Jesus　knew　that　the　priests　and　rabbis　were　determined　to　take　His　life；　yet　He　clearly　explained　to　them　His　unity　with　the　Father；　and　His　relation　to　the　world。　They　saw　that　their　opposition　to　Him　was　without　excuse；　yet　their　murderous　hatred　was　not　quenched。　Fear　seized　them　as　they　witnessed　the　convincing　power　that　attended　His　ministry；　but　they　resisted　His　appeals；　and　locked　themselves　in　darkness。

They　had　signally　failed　to　subvert　the　authority　of　Jesus　or　to　alienate　the　respect　and　attention　of　the　people；　many　of　whom　were　convicted　by　His　words。　The　rulers　themselves　had　felt　deep　condemnation　as　He　had　pressed　their　guilt　home　upon　their　consciences；　yet　this　only　made　them　the　more　bitter　against　Him。　They　were　determined　to　take　His　life。　They　sent　messengers　all　over　the　country　to　warn　the　people　against　Jesus　as　an　impostor。　Spies　were　sent　to　watch　Him；　and　report　what　He　said　and　did。　The　precious　Saviour　was　now　most　surely　standing　under　the　shadow　of　the　cross。




（214）

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Chapter　22

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Imprisonment　and　Death　of　John


John　the　Baptist　had　been　first　in　heralding　Christ's　kingdom；　and　he　was　first　also　in　suffering。　From　the　free　air　of　the　wilderness　and　the　vast　throngs　that　had　hung　upon　his　words；　he　was　now　shut　in　by　the　walls　of　a　dungeon　cell。　He　had　become　a　prisoner　in　the　fortress　of　Herod　Antipas。　In　the　territory　east　of　Jordan；　which　was　under　the　dominion　of　Antipas；　much　of　John's　ministry　had　been　spent。　Herod　himself　had　listened　to　the　preaching　of　the　Baptist。　The　dissolute　king　had　trembled　under　the　call　to　repentance。　〃Herod　feared　John；　knowing　that　he　was　a　just　man　and　an　holy；　。　。　。　and　when　he　heard　him；　he　did　many　things；　and　heard　him　gladly。〃　John　dealt　with　him　faithfully；　denouncing　his　iniquitous　alliance　with　Herodias；　his　brother's　wife。　For　a　time　Herod　feebly　sought　to　break　the　chain　of　lust　that　bound　him；　but　Herodias　fastened　him　the　more　firmly　in　her　toils；　and　found　revenge　upon　the　Baptist　by　inducing　Herod　to　cast　him　into　prison。

The　life　of　John　had　been　one　of　active　labor；　and　the　gloom　and　inaction　of　his　prison　life　weighed　heavily　upon　him。　As　week　after　week　passed；　bringing　no　change；　despondency　and　doubt　crept　over　him。　His　disciples　did　not　forsake　him。　They　were　allowed　access　to　the　prison；　and　they　brought　him　tidings　of　the　works　of　Jesus；　and　told　how　the　people　were　flocking　to　Him。　But　they　questioned　why；　if　this

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　215

new　teacher　was　the　Messiah；　He　did　nothing　to　effect　John's　release。　How　could　He　permit　His　faithful　herald　to　be　deprived　of　liberty　and　perhaps　of　life？

These　questions　were　not　without　effect。　Doubts　which　otherwise　would　never　have　arisen　were　suggested　to　John。　Satan　rejoiced　to　hear　the　words　of　these　disciples；　and　to　see　how　they　bruised　the　soul　of　the　Lord's　messenger。　Oh；　how　often　those　who　think　themselves　the　friends　of　a　good　man；　and　who　are　eager　to　show　their　fidelity　to　him；　prove　to　be　his　most　dangerous　enemies！　How　often；　instead　of　strengthening　his　faith；　their　words　depress　and　dishearten！

Like　the　Saviour's　disciples；　John　the　Baptist　did　not　understand　the　nature　of　Christ's　kingdom。　He　expected　Jesus　to　take　the　throne　of　David；　and　as　time　passed；　and　the　Saviour　made　no　claim　to　kingly　authority；　John　became　perplexed　and　troubled。　He　had　declared　to　the　people　that　in　order　for　the　way　to　be　prepared　before　the　Lord；　the　prophecy　of　Isaiah　must　be　fulfilled；　the　mountains　and　hills　must　be　brought　low；　the　crooked　made　straight；　and　the　rough　places　plain。　He　had　looked　for　the　high　places　of　human　pride　and　power　to　be　cast　down。　He　had　pointed　to　the　Messiah　as　the　One　whose　fan　was　in　His　hand；　and　who　would　thoroughly　purge　His　floor；　who　would　gather　the　wheat　into　His　garner；　and　burn　up　the　chaff　with　unquenchable　fire。　Like　the　prophet　Elijah；　in　whose　spirit　and　power　he　had　come　to　Israel；　he　looked　for　the　Lord　to　reveal　Himself　as　a　God　that　answereth　by　fire。

In　his　mission　the　Baptist　had　stood　as　a　fearless　reprover　of　iniquity；　both　in　high　places　and　in　low。　He　had　dared　to　face　King　Herod　with　the　plain　rebuke　of　sin。　He　had　not　counted　his　life　dear　unto　himself；　that　he　might　fulfill　his　appointed　work。　And　now　from　his　dungeon　he　watched　for　the　Lion　of　the　tribe　of　Judah　to　cast　down　the　pride　of　the　oppressor；　and　to　deliver　the　poor　and　him　that　cried。　But　Jesus　seemed　to　content　Himself　with　gathering　disciples　about　Him；　and　healing　and　teaching　the　people。　He　was　eating　at　the　tables　of　the　publicans；　while　every　day　the　Roman　yoke　rested　more　heavily　upon　Israel；　while　King　Herod　and　his　vile　paramour　worked　their　will；　and　the　cries　of　the　poor　and　suffering　went　up　to　heaven。

216


To　the　desert　prophet　all　this　seemed　a　mystery　beyond　his　fathoming。　There　were　hours　when　the　whisperings　of　demons　tortured　his　spirit；　and　the　shadow　of　a　terrible　fear　crept　over　him。　Could　it　be　that　the　long…hoped…for　Deliverer　had　not　yet　appeared？　Then　what　meant　the　message　that　he　himself　had　been　impelled　to　bear？　John　had　been　bitterly　disappointed　in　the　result　of　his　mission。　He　had　expected　that　the　message　from　God　would　have　the　same　effect　as　when　the　law　was　read　in　the　days　of　Josiah　and　of　Ezra　（2　Chronicles　34；　Nehemiah　8；　9）；　that　there　would　follow　a　deep…seated　work　of　repentance　and　returning　unto　the　Lord。　For　the　success　of　this　mission　his　whole　life　had　been　sacrificed。　Had　it　been　in　vain？

John　was　troubled　to　see　that　through　love　for　him；　his　own　disciples　were　cherishing　unbelief　in　regard　to　Jesus。　Had　his　work　for　them　been　fruitless？　Had　he　been　unfaithful　in　his　mission；　that　he　was　now　cut　off　from　labor？　If　the　promised　Deliverer　had　appeared；　and　John　had　been　found　true　to　his　calling；　would　not　Jesus　now　overthrow　the　oppressor's　power；　and　set　free　His　herald？

But　the　Baptist　did　not　surrender　his　faith　in　Christ。　The　memory　of　the　voice　from　heaven　and　the　descending　dove；　the　spotless　purity　of　Jesus；　the　power　of　the　Holy　Spirit　that　had　rested　upon　John　as　he　came　into　the　Saviour's　presence；　and　the　testimony　of　the　prophetic　scriptures；all　witnessed　that　Jesus　of　Nazareth　was　the　Promised　One。

John　would　not　discuss　his　doubts　and　anxieties　with　his　companions。　He　determined　to　send　a　message　of　inquiry　to　Jesus。　This　he　entrusted　to　two　of　his　disciples；　hoping　that　an　interview　with　the　Saviour　would　confirm　their　faith；　and　bring　assurance　to　their　brethren。　And　he　longed　for　some　word　from　Christ　spoken　directly　for　himself。

The　disciples　came　to　Jesus　with　their　message；　〃Art　Thou　He　that　should　come；　or　do　we　look　for　another？〃

How　short　the　time　since　the　Baptist　had　pointed　to　Jesus；　and　proclaimed；　〃Behold　the　Lamb　of　God；　which　taketh　away　the　sin　of　the　world。〃　〃He　it　is；　who　coming　after　me　is　preferred　before　me。〃　John　1：29；　27。　And　now　the　question；　〃Art　Thou　He　that　should　come？〃　It　was　keenly　bitter　and　disappointing　to　human　nature。　If　John；　the　faithful　forerunner；　failed　to　discern　Christ's　mission；　what　could　be　expected　from　the　self…seeking　multitude？

The　Saviour　did　not　at　once　answer　the　disciples'　question。　As　they　stood　wondering　at　His　silence；　the　sick　and　afflicted　were　coming　to　Him　to　be　healed。　The　blind　were　groping　their　way　through　the　crowd；

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　217

disea