the desire of ages-第86节

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led　the　real　tendency　of　their　doctrines；　and　improved　every　occasion　to　instill　them　artfully　into　the　minds　of　their　hearers。　These　false　principles；　when　once　accepted；　worked　like　leaven　in　the　meal；　permeating　and　transforming　the　character。　It　was　this　deceptive　teaching　that　made　it　so　hard　for　the　people　to　receive　the　words　of　Christ。

The　same　influences　are　working　today　through　those　who　try　to　explain　the　law　of　God　in　such　a　way　as　to　make　it　conform　to　their　practices。　This　class　do　not　attack　the　law　openly；　but　put　forward

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speculative　theories　that　undermine　its　principles。　They　explain　it　so　as　to　destroy　its　force。

The　hypocrisy　of　the　Pharisees　was　the　product　of　self…seeking。　The　glorification　of　themselves　was　the　object　of　their　lives。　It　was　this　that　led　them　to　pervert　and　misapply　the　Scriptures；　and　blinded　them　to　the　purpose　of　Christ's　mission。　This　subtle　evil　even　the　disciples　of　Christ　were　in　danger　of　cherishing。　Those　who　classed　themselves　with　the　followers　of　Jesus；　but　who　had　not　left　all　in　order　to　become　His　disciples；　were　influenced　in　a　great　degree　by　the　reasoning　of　the　Pharisees。　They　were　often　vacillating　between　faith　and　unbelief；　and　they　did　not　discern　the　treasures　of　wisdom　hidden　in　Christ。　Even　the　disciples；　though　outwardly　they　had　left　all　for　Jesus'　sake；　had　not　in　heart　ceased　to　seek　great　things　for　themselves。　It　was　this　spirit　that　prompted　the　strife　as　to　who　should　be　greatest。　It　was　this　that　came　between　them　and　Christ；　making　them　so　little　in　sympathy　with　His　mission　of　self…sacrifice；　so　slow　to　comprehend　the　mystery　of　redemption。　As　leaven；　if　left　to　complete　its　work；　will　cause　corruption　and　decay；　so　does　the　self…seeking　spirit；　cherished；　work　the　defilement　and　ruin　of　the　soul。

Among　the　followers　of　our　Lord　today；　as　of　old；　how　widespread　is　this　subtle；　deceptive　sin！　How　often　our　service　to　Christ；　our　communion　with　one　another；　is　marred　by　the　secret　desire　to　exalt　self！　How　ready　the　thought　of　self…gratulation；　and　the　longing　for　human　approval！　It　is　the　love　of　self；　the　desire　for　an　easier　way　than　God　has　appointed　that　leads　to　the　substitution　of　human　theories　and　traditions　for　the　divine　precepts。　To　His　own　disciples　the　warning　words　of　Christ　are　spoken；　〃Take　heed　and　beware　of　the　leaven　of　the　Pharisees。〃

The　religion　of　Christ　is　sincerity　itself。　Zeal　for　God's　glory　is　the　motive　implanted　by　the　Holy　Spirit；　and　only　the　effectual　working　of　the　Spirit　can　implant　this　motive。　Only　the　power　of　God　can　banish　self…seeking　and　hypocrisy。　This　change　is　the　sign　of　His　working。　When　the　faith　we　accept　destroys　selfishness　and　pretense；　when　it　leads　us　to　seek　God's　glory　and　not　our　own；　we　may　know　that　it　is　of　the　right　order。　〃Father；　glorify　Thy　name〃　（John　12：28）；　was　the　keynote　of　Christ's　life；　and　if　we　follow　Him；　this　will　be　the　keynote　of　our　life。　He　commands　us　to　〃walk；　even　as　He　walked；〃　and　〃hereby　we　do　know　that　we　know　Him；　if　we　keep　His　commandments。〃1　John　2：6；　3。




（410）

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Chapter　45

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　The　Foreshadowing　of　the　Cross


The　work　of　Christ　on　earth　was　hastening　to　a　close。　Before　Him；　in　vivid　outline；　lay　the　scenes　whither　His　feet　were　tending。　Even　before　He　took　humanity　upon　Him；　He　saw　the　whole　length　of　the　path　He　must　travel　in　order　to　save　that　which　was　lost。　Every　pang　that　rent　His　heart；　every　insult　that　was　heaped　upon　His　head；　every　privation　that　He　was　called　to　endure；　was　open　to　His　view　before　He　laid　aside　His　crown　and　royal　robe；　and　stepped　down　from　the　throne；　to　clothe　His　divinity　with　humanity。　The　path　from　the　manger　to　Calvary　was　all　before　His　eyes。　He　knew　the　anguish　that　would　come　upon　Him。　He　knew　it　all；　and　yet　He　said；　〃Lo；　I　come：　in　the　volume　of　the　Book　it　is　written　of　Me；　I　delight　to　do　Thy　will；　O　My　God：　yea；　Thy　law　is　within　My　heart。〃　Ps。　40：7；　8。

Ever　before　Him　He　saw　the　result　of　His　mission。　His　earthly　life；　so　full　of　toil　and　self…sacrifice；　was　cheered　by　the　prospect　that　He　would　not　have　all　this　travail　for　nought。　By　giving　His　life　for　the　life　of　men；　He　would　win　back　the　world　to　its　loyalty　to　God。　Although　the　baptism　of　blood　must　first　be　received；　although　the　sins　of　the　world　were　to　weigh　upon　His　innocent　soul；　although　the　shadow　of　an　unspeakable　woe　was　upon　Him；　yet　for　the　joy　that　was　set　before　Him；　He　chose　to　endure　the　cross；　and　despised　the　shame。

From　the　chosen　companions　of　His　ministry　the　scenes　that　lay　before　Him　were　as　yet　hidden；　but　the　time　was　near　when　they　must

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behold　His　agony。　They　must　see　Him　whom　they　had　loved　and　trusted；　delivered　into　the　hands　of　His　enemies；　and　hung　upon　the　cross　of　Calvary。　Soon　He　must　leave　them　to　face　the　world　without　the　comfort　of　His　visible　presence。　He　knew　how　bitter　hate　and　unbelief　would　persecute　them；　and　He　desired　to　prepare　them　for　their　trials。

Jesus　and　His　disciples　had　now　come　into　one　of　the　towns　about　Caesarea　Philippi。　They　were　beyond　the　limits　of　Galilee；　in　a　region　where　idolatry　prevailed。　Here　the　disciples　were　withdrawn　from　the　controlling　influence　of　Judaism；　and　brought　into　closer　contact　with　the　heathen　worship。　Around　them　were　represented　forms　of　superstition　that　existed　in　all　parts　of　the　world。　Jesus　desired　that　a　view　of　these　things　might　lead　them　to　feel　their　responsibility　to　the　heathen。　During　His　stay　in　this　region；　He　endeavored　to　withdraw　from　teaching　the　people；　and　to　devote　Himself　more　fully　to　His　disciples。

He　was　about　to　tell　them　of　the　suffering　that　awaited　Him。　But　first　He　went　away　alone；　and　prayed　that　their　hearts　might　be　prepared　to　receive　His　words。　Upon　joining　them；　He　did　not　at　once　communicate　that　which　He　desired　to　impart。　Before　doing　this；　He　gave　them　an　opportunity　of　confessing　their　faith　in　Him　that　they　might　be　strengthened　for　the　coming　trial。　He　asked；　〃Whom　do　men　say　that　I　the　Son　of　man　am？〃

Sadly　the　disciples　were　forced　to　acknowledge　that　Israel　had　failed　to　recognize　their　Messiah。　Some　indeed；　when　they　saw　His　miracles；　had　declared　Him　to　be　the　Son　of　David。　The　multitudes　that　had　been　fed　at　Bethsaida　had　desired　to　proclaim　Him　king　of　Israel。　Many　were　ready　to　accept　Him　as　a　prophet；　but　they　did　not　believe　Him　to　be　the　Messiah。

Jesus　now　put　a　second　question；　relating　to　the　disciples　themselves：　〃But　whom　say　ye　that　I　am？〃　Peter　answered；　〃Thou　art　the　Christ；　the　Son　of　the　living　God。〃

From　the　first；　Peter　had　believed　Jesus　to　be　the　Messiah。　Many　others　who　had　been　convicted　by　the　preaching　of　John　the　Baptist；　and　had　accepted　Christ；　began　to　doubt　as　to　John's　mission　when　he　was　imprisoned　and　put　to　death；　and　they　now　doubted　that　Jesus　was　the　Messiah；　for　whom　they　had　looked　so　long。　Many　of　the　disciples　who　had　ardently　expected　Jesus　to　take　His　place　on　David's　throne　left　Him　when　they　perceived　that　He　had　no　such　intention。　But　Peter　and　his

412

companions　turned　not　from　their　allegiance。　The　vacillating　course　of　those　who　praised　yesterday　and　condemned　today　did　not　destroy　the　faith　of　the　true　follower　of　the　Saviour。　Peter　declared；　〃Thou　art　the　Christ；　the　Son　of　the　living　God。〃　He　waited　not　for　kingly　honors　to　crown　his　Lord；　but　accepted　Him　in　His　humiliation。

Peter　had　expressed　the　faith　of　the　twelve。　Yet　the　disciples　were　still　far　from　understanding　Christ's　mission。　The　opposition　and　misrepresentation　of　the　priests　and　rulers；　while　it　could　not　turn　them　away　from　Christ；　still　caused　them　great　perplexity。　They　did　not　see　their　way　clearly。　The　influence　of　their　early　training；　the　teaching　of　the　rabbis；　the　power　of　tradition；　still　intercepted　their　view　of　truth。　From　time　to　time　precious　rays　of　light　from　Jesus　shone　upon　them；　yet　often　they　were　like　men　groping　among　shadows。　But　on　this　day；　before　they　were　brought　face　to　face　with　the　great　trial　of　their　faith；　the　Holy　Spirit　rested　upon　them　in　power。　For　a　little　time　their　eyes　were　turned　away　from　〃the　things　which　are　seen；〃　to　behold　〃the　things　which　are　not　seen。〃　2　Cor。　4：18。　Beneath　the　guise　of　humanity　they　discerned　the　glory　of　the　Son　of　God。

Jesus　answered　Peter；　saying；　〃Blessed　art　thou；　Simon　Bar…jona：　for　flesh　and　blood　hath　not　revealed　it　unto　thee；　but　My　Father　which　is　in　heaven。〃

The　truth　which　Peter　had　confessed　is　the　foundation　of　the　believer's　faith。　It　is　that　which　Christ　Himself　has　declared　to　be　eternal　life。　But　the　possession　of　this　knowledge　was　no　ground　for　self…glorification。　Through　no　wisdom　or　goodness　of　his　own　had　it　been　revealed　to　Peter。　Never　can　humanity；　of　itself；　attain　to　a　knowledge　of　the　divine。　〃It　is　as　high　as　heaven；　what　canst　thou　do？　deeper　than　hell；　what　canst　thou　know？〃　Job　11：8。　Only　the　spirit　of　adoption　can　reveal　to　us　the　deep　things　of　God；　which　〃eye　hath　not　seen；　nor　ear　heard；　neither　have　entered　into　the　heart　of　man。〃　〃God　hath　reve