the desire of ages-第50节

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ence。　On　the　Sabbath　the　people　crowded　the　synagogue　until　great　numbers　had　to　turn　away；　unable　to　find　entrance。

All　who　heard　the　Saviour　〃were　astonished　at　His　doctrine：　for　His　word　was　with　power。〃　〃He　taught　them　as　one　having　authority；　and　not　as　the　scribes。〃　Luke　4：32；　Matt。　7：29。　The　teaching　of　the　scribes　and　elders　was　cold　and　formal；　like　a　lesson　learned　by　rote。　To　them　the　word　of　God　possessed　no　vital　power。　Their　own　ideas　and　traditions　were　substituted　for　its　teaching。　In　the　accustomed　round　of　service　they　professed　to　explain　the　law；　but　no　inspiration　from　God　stirred　their　own　hearts　or　the　hearts　of　their　hearers。

Jesus　had　nothing　to　do　with　the　various　subjects　of　dissension　among　the　Jews。　It　was　His　work　to　present　the　truth。　His　words　shed　a　flood　of　light　upon　the　teachings　of　patriarchs　and　prophets；　and　the　Scriptures　came　to　men　as　a　new　revelation。　Never　before　had　His　hearers　perceived　such　a　depth　of　meaning　in　the　word　of　God。

Jesus　met　the　people　on　their　own　ground；　as　one　who　was　acquainted　with　their　perplexities。　He　made　truth　beautiful　by　presenting　it　in　the　most　direct　and　simple　way。　His　language　was　pure；　refined；　and　clear　as　a　running　stream。　His　voice　was　as　music　to　those　who　had　listened　to　the　monotonous　tones　of　the　rabbis。　But　while　His　teaching　was　simple；　He　spoke　as　one　having　authority。　This　characteristic　set　His　teaching　in　contrast　with　that　of　all　others。　The　rabbis　spoke　with　doubt　and　hesitancy；　as　if　the　Scriptures　might　be　interpreted　to　mean　one　thing　or　exactly　the　opposite。　The　hearers　were　daily　involved　in　greater　uncertainty。　But　Jesus　taught　the　Scriptures　as　of　unquestionable　authority。　Whatever　His　subject；　it　was　presented　with　power；　as　if　His　words　could　not　be　controverted。

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Yet　He　was　earnest；　rather　than　vehement。　He　spoke　as　one　who　had　a　definite　purpose　to　fulfill。　He　was　bringing　to　view　the　realities　of　the　eternal　world。　In　every　theme　God　was　revealed。　Jesus　sought　to　break　the　spell　of　infatuation　which　keeps　men　absorbed　in　earthly　things。　He　placed　the　things　of　this　life　in　their　true　relation；　as　subordinate　to　those　of　eternal　interest；　but　He　did　not　ignore　their　importance。　He　taught　that　heaven　and　earth　are　linked　together；　and　that　a　knowledge　of　divine　truth　prepares　men　better　to　perform　the　duties　of　everyday　life。　He　spoke　as　one　familiar　with　heaven；　conscious　of　His　relationship　to　God；　yet　recognizing　His　unity　with　every　member　of　the　human　family。

His　messages　of　mercy　were　varied　to　suit　His　audience。　He　knew　〃how　to　speak　a　word　in　season　to　him　that　is　weary〃　（Isa。　50：4）；　for　grace　was　poured　upon　His　lips；　that　He　might　convey　to　men　in　the　most　attractive　way　the　treasures　of　truth。　He　had　tact　to　meet　the　prejudiced　minds；　and　surprise　them　with　illustrations　that　won　their　attention。Through　the　imagination　He　reached　the　heart。　His　illustrations　were　taken　from　the　things　of　daily　life；　and　although　they　were　simple；　they　had　in　them　a　wonderful　depth　of　meaning。　The　birds　of　the　air；　the　lilies　of　the　field；　the　seed；　the　shepherd　and　the　sheep；with　these　objects　Christ　illustrated　immortal　truth；　and　ever　afterward；　when　His　hearers　chanced　to　see　these　things　of　nature；　they　recalled　His　words。　Christ's　illustrations　constantly　repeated　His　lessons。

Christ　never　flattered　men。　He　never　spoke　that　which　would　exalt　their　fancies　and　imaginations；　nor　did　He　praise　them　for　their　clever　inventions；　but　deep；　unprejudiced　thinkers　received　His　teaching；　and　found　that　it　tested　their　wisdom。　They　marveled　at　the　spiritual　truth　expressed　in　the　simplest　language。　The　most　highly　educated　were　charmed　with　His　words；　and　the　uneducated　were　always　profited。　He　had　a　message　for　the　illiterate；　and　He　made　even　the　heathen　to　understand　that　He　had　a　message　for　them。

His　tender　compassion　fell　with　a　touch　of　healing　upon　weary　and　troubled　hearts。　Even　amid　the　turbulence　of　angry　enemies　He　was　surrounded　with　an　atmosphere　of　peace。　The　beauty　of　His　countenance；　the　loveliness　of　His　character；　above　all；　the　love　expressed　in　look　and　tone；　drew　to　Him　all　who　were　not　hardened　in　unbelief。　Had　it　not　been　for　the　sweet；　sympathetic　spirit　that　shone　out　in　every　look　and　word；　He　would　not　have　attracted　the　large　congregations　that　He　did。　The　afflicted　ones　who　came　to　Him　felt　that　He　linked　His

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interest　with　theirs　as　a　faithful　and　tender　friend；　and　they　desired　to　know　more　of　the　truths　He　taught。　Heaven　was　brought　near。　They　longed　to　abide　in　His　presence；　that　the　comfort　of　His　love　might　be　with　them　continually。

Jesus　watched　with　deep　earnestness　the　changing　countenances　of　His　hearers。　The　faces　that　expressed　interest　and　pleasure　gave　Him　great　satisfaction。　As　the　arrows　of　truth　pierced　to　the　soul；　breaking　through　the　barriers　of　selfishness；　and　working　contrition；　and　finally　gratitude；　the　Saviour　was　made　glad。　When　His　eye　swept　over　the　throng　of　listeners；　and　He　recognized　among　them　the　faces　He　had　before　seen；　His　countenance　lighted　up　with　joy。　He　saw　in　them　hopeful　subjects　for　His　kingdom。　When　the　truth；　plainly　spoken；　touched　some　cherished　idol；　He　marked　the　change　of　countenance；　the　cold；　forbidding　look；　which　told　that　the　light　was　unwelcome。　When　He　saw　men　refuse　the　message　of　peace；　His　heart　was　pierced　to　the　very　depths。

Jesus　in　the　synagogue　spoke　of　the　kingdom　He　had　come　to　establish；　and　of　His　mission　to　set　free　the　captives　of　Satan。　He　was　interrupted　by　a　shriek　of　terror。　A　madman　rushed　forward　from　among　the　people；　crying　out；　〃Let　us　alone；　what　have　we　to　do　with　Thee；　Thou　Jesus　of　Nazareth？　art　Thou　come　to　destroy　us？　I　know　Thee　who　Thou　art；　the　Holy　One　of　God。〃

All　was　now　confusion　and　alarm。　The　attention　of　the　people　was　diverted　from　Christ；　and　His　words　were　unheeded。　This　was　Satan's　purpose　in　leading　his　victim　to　the　synagogue。　But　Jesus　rebuked　the　demon；　saying；　〃Hold　thy　peace；　and　come　out　of　him。　And　when　the　devil　had　thrown　him　in　the　midst；　he　came　out　of　him；　and　hurt　him　not。〃

The　mind　of　this　wretched　sufferer　had　been　darkened　by　Satan；　but　in　the　Saviour's　presence　a　ray　of　light　had　pierced　the　gloom。　He　was　roused　to　long　for　freedom　from　Satan's　control；　but　the　demon　resisted　the　power　of　Christ。　When　the　man　tried　to　appeal　to　Jesus　for　help；　the　evil　spirit　put　words　into　his　mouth；　and　he　cried　out　in　an　agony　of　fear。　The　demoniac　partially　comprehended　that　he　was　in　the　presence　of　One　who　could　set　him　free；　but　when　he　tried　to　come　within　reach　of　that　mighty　hand；　another's　will　held　him；　another's　words　found　utterance　through　him。　The　conflict　between　the　power　of　Satan　and　his　own　desire　for　freedom　was　terrible。

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He　who　had　conquered　Satan　in　the　wilderness　of　temptation　was　again　brought　face　to　face　with　His　enemy。　The　demon　exerted　all　his　power　to　retain　control　of　his　victim。　To　lose　ground　here　would　be　to　give　Jesus　a　victory。　It　seemed　that　the　tortured　man　must　lose　his　life　in　the　struggle　with　the　foe　that　had　been　the　ruin　of　his　manhood。　But　the　Saviour　spoke　with　authority；　and　set　the　captive　free。　The　man　who　had　been　possessed　stood　before　the　wondering　people　happy　in　the　freedom　of　self…possession。　Even　the　demon　had　testified　to　the　divine　power　of　the　Saviour。

The　man　praised　God　for　his　deliverance。　The　eye　that　had　so　lately　glared　with　the　fire　of　insanity；　now　beamed　with　intelligence；　and　overflowed　with　grateful　tears。　The　people　were　dumb　with　amazement。　As　soon　as　they　recovered　speech　they　exclaimed；　one　to　another；　〃What　is　this？　a　new　teaching！　with　authority　He　commandeth　even　the　unclean　spirits；　and　they　obey　Him。〃　Mark　1：27；　R。　V。

The　secret　cause　of　the　affliction　that　had　made　this　man　a　fearful　spectacle　to　his　friends　and　a　burden　to　himself　was　in　his　own　life。　He　had　been　fascinated　by　the　pleasures　of　sin；　and　had　thought　to　make　life　a　grand　carnival。　He　did　not　dream　of　becoming　a　terror　to　the　world　and　the　reproach　of　his　family。　He　thought　his　time　could　be　spent　in　innocent　folly。　But　once　in　the　downward　path；　his　feet　rapidly　descended。　Intemperance　and　frivolity　perverted　the　noble　attributes　of　his　nature；　and　Satan　took　absolute　control　of　him。

Remorse　came　too　late。　When　he　would　have　sacrificed　wealth　and　pleasure　to　regain　his　lost　manhood；　he　had　become　helpless　in　the　grasp　of　the　evil　one。　He　had　placed　himself　on　the　enemy's　ground；　and　Satan　had　taken　possession　of　all　his　faculties。　The　tempter　had　allured　him　with　many　charming　presentations；　but　when　once　the　wretched　man　was　in　his　power；　the　fiend　became　relentless　in　his　cruelty；　and　terrible　in　his　angry　visitations。　So　it　will　be　with　all　who　yield　to　evil；　the　fascinating　pleasure　of　their　early　career　ends　in　the　darkness　of　despair　or　the　madness　of　a　ruined　soul。

The　same　evil　spirit　that　tempted　Christ　in　the　wilderness；　and　that　possessed　the　maniac　of　Capernaum；　controlled　the　unbelieving　Jews。　But　with　them　he　assumed　an　air　of　piety；　seeking　to　deceive　them　as　to　their　motives　in　rejecting　the　Saviour。　Their　condition