the desire of ages-第43节

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diseased　ones　of　all　classes；　some　urging　their　own　way；　some　borne　by　their　friends；　were　eagerly　pressing　into　the　presence　of　Jesus。　The　voice　of　the　mighty　Healer　penetrated　the　deaf　ear。　A　word；　a　touch　of　His　hand；　opened　the　blind　eyes　to　behold　the　light　of　day；　the　scenes　of　nature；　the　faces　of　friends；　and　the　face　of　the　Deliverer。　Jesus　rebuked　disease　and　banished　fever。　His　voice　reached　the　ears　of　the　dying；　and　they　arose　in　health　and　vigor。　Paralyzed　demoniacs　obeyed　His　word；　their　madness　left　them；　and　they　worshiped　Him。　While　He　healed　their　diseases；　He　taught　the　people。　The　poor　peasants　and　laborers；　who　were　shunned　by　the　rabbis　as　unclean；　gathered　close　about　Him；　and　He　spoke　to　them　the　words　of　eternal　life。

Thus　the　day　wore　away；　the　disciples　of　John　seeing　and　hearing　all。　At　last　Jesus　called　them　to　Him；　and　bade　them　go　and　tell　John　what　they　had　witnessed；　adding；　〃Blessed　is　he；　whosoever　shall　find　none　occasion　of　stumbling　in　Me。〃　Luke　7：23；　R。　V。　The　evidence　of　His　divinity　was　seen　in　its　adaptation　to　the　needs　of　suffering　humanity。　His　glory　was　shown　in　His　condescension　to　our　low　estate。

The　disciples　bore　the　message；　and　it　was　enough。　John　recalled　the　prophecy　concerning　the　Messiah；　〃The　Lord　hath　anointed　Me　to　preach　good　tidings　unto　the　meek；　He　hath　sent　Me　to　bind　up　the　brokenhearted；　to　proclaim　liberty　to　the　captives；　and　the　opening　of　the　prison　to　them　that　are　bound；　to　proclaim　the　acceptable　year　of　the　Lord。〃　Isa。　61：1；　2。　The　works　of　Christ　not　only　declared　Him　to　be　the　Messiah；　but　showed　in　what　manner　His　kingdom　was　to　be　established。　To　John　was　opened　the　same　truth　that　had　come　to　Elijah　in　the　desert；　when　〃a　great　and　strong　wind　rent　the　mountains；　and　brake　in　pieces　the　rocks　before　the　Lord；　but　the　Lord　was　not　in　the　wind：　and　after　the　wind　an　earthquake；　but　the　Lord　was　not　in　the　earthquake：　and　after　the　earthquake　a　fire；　but　the　Lord　was　not　in　the　fire：〃　and　after　the　fire；　God　spoke　to　the　prophet　by　〃a　still　small　voice。〃　1　Kings　19：11；　12。　So　Jesus　was　to　do　His　work；　not　with　the　clash　of　arms　and　the　overturning　of　thrones　and　kingdoms；　but　through　speaking　to　the　hearts　of　men　by　a　life　of　mercy　and　self…sacrifice。

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The　principle　of　the　Baptist's　own　life　of　self…abnegation　was　the　principle　of　the　Messiah's　kingdom。　John　well　knew　how　foreign　all　this　was　to　the　principles　and　hopes　of　the　leaders　in　Israel。　That　which　was　to　him　convincing　evidence　of　Christ's　divinity　would　be　no　evidence　to　them。　They　were　looking　for　a　Messiah　who　had　not　been　promised。　John　saw　that　the　Saviour's　mission　could　win　from　them　only　hatred　and　condemnation。　He；　the　forerunner；　was　but　drinking　of　the　cup　which　Christ　Himself　must　drain　to　its　dregs。

The　Saviour's　words；　〃Blessed　is　he；　whosoever　shall　find　none　occasion　of　stumbling　in　Me；〃　were　a　gentle　reproof　to　John。　It　was　not　lost　upon　him。　Understanding　more　clearly　now　the　nature　of　Christ's　mission；　he　yielded　himself　to　God　for　life　or　for　death；　as　should　best　serve　the　interests　of　the　cause　he　loved。

After　the　messengers　had　departed；　Jesus　spoke　to　the　people　concerning　John。　The　Saviour's　heart　went　out　in　sympathy　to　the　faithful　witness　now　buried　in　Herod's　dungeon。　He　would　not　leave　the　people　to　conclude　that　God　had　forsaken　John；　or　that　his　faith　had　failed　in　the　day　of　trial。　〃What　went　ye　out　into　the　wilderness　to　see？〃　He　said。　〃A　reed　shaken　with　the　wind？〃

The　tall　reeds　that　grew　beside　the　Jordan；　bending　before　every　breeze；　were　fitting　representatives　of　the　rabbis　who　had　stood　as　critics　and　judges　of　the　Baptist's　mission。　They　were　swayed　this　way　and　that　by　the　winds　of　popular　opinion。　They　would　not　humble　themselves　to　receive　the　heart…searching　message　of　the　Baptist；　yet　for　fear　of　the　people　they　dared　not　openly　oppose　his　work。　But　God's　messenger　was　of　no　such　craven　spirit。　The　multitudes　who　were　gathered　about　Christ　had　been　witnesses　to　the　work　of　John。　They　had　heard　his　fearless　rebuke　of　sin。　To　the　self…righteous　Pharisees；　the　priestly　Sadducees；　King　Herod　and　his　court；　princes　and　soldiers；　publicans　and　peasants；　John　had　spoken　with　equal　plainness。　He　was　no　trembling　reed；　swayed　by　the　winds　of　human　praise　or　prejudice。　In　the　prison　he　was　the　same　in　his　loyalty　to　God　and　his　zeal　for　righteousness　as　when　he　preached　God's　message　in　the　wilderness。　In　his　faithfulness　to　principle　he　was　as　firm　as　a　rock。

Jesus　continued；　〃But　what　went　ye　out　for　to　see？　A　man　clothed　in　soft　raiment？　Behold；　they　which　are　gorgeously　appareled；　and　live　delicately；　are　in　kings'　courts。〃　John　had　been　called　to　reprove　the　sins　and　excesses　of　his　time；　and　his　plain　dress　and　self…denying　life

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were　in　harmony　with　the　character　of　his　mission。　Rich　apparel　and　the　luxuries　of　this　life　are　not　the　portion　of　God's　servants；　but　of　those　who　live　〃in　kings'　courts；〃　the　rulers　of　this　world；　to　whom　pertain　its　power　and　its　riches。　Jesus　wished　to　direct　attention　to　the　contrast　between　the　clothing　of　John；　and　that　worn　by　the　priests　and　rulers。　These　officials　arrayed　themselves　in　rich　robes　and　costly　ornaments。　They　loved　display；　and　hoped　to　dazzle　the　people；　and　thus　command　greater　consideration。　They　were　more　anxious　to　gain　the　admiration　of　men　than　to　obtain　the　purity　of　heart　which　would　win　the　approval　of　God。　Thus　they　revealed　that　their　allegiance　was　not　given　to　God；　but　to　the　kingdom　of　this　world。

〃But　what；〃　said　Jesus；　〃went　ye　out　for　to　see？　A　prophet？　yea；　I　say　unto　you；　and　more　than　a　prophet。　For　this　is　he；　of　whom　it　is　written；

　　　　　　　　　　〃Behold；　I　send　My　messenger　before　Thy　face；　　　　　　　　　　　　Which　shall　prepare　Thy　way　before　Thee。

〃Verily　I　say　unto　you；　Among　them　that　are　born　of　women　there　hath　not　risen　a　greater　than　John　the　Baptist。〃　In　the　announcement　to　Zacharias　before　the　birth　of　John；　the　angel　had　declared；　〃He　shall　be　great　in　the　sight　of　the　Lord。〃　Luke　1：15。　In　the　estimation　of　Heaven；　what　is　it　that　constitutes　greatness？　Not　that　which　the　world　accounts　greatness；　not　wealth；　or　rank；　or　noble　descent；　or　intellectual　gifts；　in　themselves　considered。　If　intellectual　greatness；　apart　from　any　higher　consideration；　is　worthy　of　honor；　then　our　homage　is　due　to　Satan；　whose　intellectual　power　no　man　has　ever　equaled。　But　when　perverted　to　self…serving；　the　greater　the　gift；　the　greater　curse　it　becomes。　It　is　moral　worth　that　God　values。　Love　and　purity　are　the　attributes　He　prizes　most。　John　was　great　in　the　sight　of　the　Lord；　when；　before　the　messengers　from　the　Sanhedrin；　before　the　people；　and　before　his　own　disciples；　he　refrained　from　seeking　honor　for　himself；　but　pointed　all　to　Jesus　as　the　Promised　One。　His　unselfish　joy　in　the　ministry　of　Christ　presents　the　highest　type　of　nobility　ever　revealed　in　man。

The　witness　borne　of　him　after　his　death；　by　those　who　had　heard　his　testimony　to　Jesus；　was；　〃John　did　no　miracle：　but　all　things　that　John　spake　of　this　Man　were　true。〃　John　10：41。　It　was　not　given　to　John　to　call　down　fire　from　heaven；　or　to　raise　the　dead；　as　Elijah　did；　nor

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to　wield　Moses'　rod　of　power　in　the　name　of　God。　He　was　sent　to　herald　the　Saviour's　advent；　and　to　call　upon　the　people　to　prepare　for　His　coming。　So　faithfully　did　he　fulfill　his　mission；　that　as　the　people　recalled　what　he　had　taught　them　of　Jesus；　they　could　say；　〃All　things　that　John　spake　of　this　Man　were　true。〃　Such　witness　to　Christ　every　disciple　of　the　Master　is　called　upon　to　bear。

As　the　Messiah's　herald；　John　was　〃much　more　than　a　prophet。〃　For　while　prophets　had　seen　from　afar　Christ's　advent；　to　John　it　was　given　to　behold　Him；　to　hear　the　testimony　from　heaven　to　His　Messiahship；　and　to　present　Him　to　Israel　as　the　Sent　of　God。　Yet　Jesus　said；　〃He　that　is　least　in　the　kingdom　of　heaven　is　greater　than　he。〃

The　prophet　John　was　the　connecting　link　between　the　two　dispensations。　As　God's　representative　he　stood　forth　to　show　the　relation　of　the　law　and　the　prophets　to　the　Christian　dispensation。　He　was　the　lesser　light；　which　was　to　be　followed　by　a　greater。　The　mind　of　John　was　illuminated　by　the　Holy　Spirit；　that　he　might　shed　light　upon　his　people；　but　no　other　light　ever　has　shone　or　ever　will　shine　so　clearly　upon　fallen　man　as　that　which　emanated　from　the　teaching　and　example　of　Jesus。　Christ　and　His　mission　had　been　but　dimly　understood　as　typified　in　the　shadowy　sacrifices。　Even　John　had　not　fully　comprehended　the　future；　immortal　life　through　the　Saviour。

Aside　from　the　joy　that　John　found　in　his　mission；　his　life　had　been　one　of　sorrow。　His　voice　had　been　seldom　heard　except　in　the　wilderness。　His　was　a　lonely　lot。　And　he　was　not　permitted　to　see　the　result　of　his　own　labors。　It　was　not　his　privilege　to　be　with　Christ　and　witness　the　manifestation　of　divine　power　attending　the　greater　light。　It　was　not　for　him　to　see　the　blind　restored　to　sight；　the　sick　healed；　and　the　dead　raised　to　life。　He　did　not　behold　the　light　that　shone　through