the desire of ages-第94节

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　perversion。

The　Feast　of　Tabernacles　was　the　closing　gathering　of　the　year。　It　was　God's　design　that　at　this　time　the　people　should　reflect　on　His　goodness　and　mercy。　The　whole　land　had　been　under　His　guidance；　receiving　His　blessing。　Day　and　night　His　watchcare　had　continued。　The　sun　and　rain　had　caused　the　earth　to　produce　her　fruits。　From　the　valleys　and　plains　of　Palestine　the　harvest　had　been　gathered。　The　olive　berries　had　been　picked；　and　the　precious　oil　stored　in　bottles。　The　palm　had　yielded　her　store。　The　purple　clusters　of　the　vine　had　been　trodden　in　the　wine　press。

448


The　feast　continued　for　seven　days；　and　for　its　celebration　the　inhabitants　of　Palestine；　with　many　from　other　lands；　left　their　homes；　and　came　to　Jerusalem。　From　far　and　near　the　people　came；　bringing　in　their　hands　a　token　of　rejoicing。　Old　and　young；　rich　and　poor；　all　brought　some　gift　as　a　tribute　of　thanksgiving　to　Him　who　had　crowned　the　year　with　His　goodness；　and　made　His　paths　drop　fatness。　Everything　that　could　please　the　eye；　and　give　expression　to　the　universal　joy；　was　brought　from　the　woods；　the　city　bore　the　appearance　of　a　beautiful　forest。

This　feast　was　not　only　the　harvest　thanksgiving；　but　the　memorial　of　God's　protecting　care　over　Israel　in　the　wilderness。　In　commemoration　of　their　tent　life；　the　Israelites　during　the　feast　dwelt　in　booths　or　tabernacles　of　green　boughs。　These　were　erected　in　the　streets；　in　the　courts　of　the　temple；　or　on　the　housetops。　The　hills　and　valleys　surrounding　Jerusalem　were　also　dotted　with　these　leafy　dwellings；　and　seemed　to　be　alive　with　people。

With　sacred　song　and　thanksgiving　the　worshipers　celebrated　this　occasion。　A　little　before　the　feast　was　the　Day　of　Atonement；　when；　after　confession　of　their　sins；　the　people　were　declared　to　be　at　peace　with　Heaven。　Thus　the　way　was　prepared　for　the　rejoicing　of　the　feast。　〃O　give　thanks　unto　the　Lord；　for　He　is　good：　for　His　mercy　endureth　forever〃　（Ps。　106：1）　rose　triumphantly；　while　all　kinds　of　music；　mingled　with　shouts　of　hosanna；　accompanied　the　united　singing。　The　temple　was　the　center　of　the　universal　joy。　Here　was　the　pomp　of　the　sacrificial　ceremonies。　Here；　ranged　on　either　side　of　the　white　marble　steps　of　the　sacred　building；　the　choir　of　Levites　led　the　service　of　song。　The　multitude　of　worshipers；　waving　their　branches　of　palm　and　myrtle；　took　up　the　strain；　and　echoed　the　chorus；　and　again　the　melody　was　caught　up　by　voices　near　and　afar　off；　till　the　encircling　hills　were　vocal　with　praise。

At　night　the　temple　and　its　court　blazed　with　artificial　light。　The　music；　the　waving　of　palm　branches；　the　glad　hosannas；　the　great　concourse　of　people；　over　whom　the　light　streamed　from　the　hanging　lamps；　the　array　of　the　priests；　and　the　majesty　of　the　ceremonies；　combined　to　make　a　scene　that　deeply　impressed　the　beholders。　But　the　most　impressive　ceremony　of　the　feast；　one　that　called　forth　greatest　rejoicing；　was　one　commemorating　an　event　in　the　wilderness　sojourn。

At　the　first　dawn　of　day；　the　priests　sounded　a　long；　shrill　blast　upon　their　silver　trumpets；　and　the　answering　trumpets；　and　the　glad　shouts　of　the　people　from　their　booths；　echoing　over　hill　and　valley；　welcomed

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the　festal　day。　Then　the　priest　dipped　from　the　flowing　waters　of　the　Kedron　a　flagon　of　water；　and；　lifting　it　on　high；　while　the　trumpets　were　sounding；　he　ascended　the　broad　steps　of　the　temple；　keeping　time　with　the　music　with　slow　and　measured　tread；　chanting　meanwhile；　〃Our　feet　shall　stand　within　thy　gates；　O　Jerusalem。〃　Ps。　122：2。

He　bore　the　flagon　to　the　altar；　which　occupied　a　central　position　in　the　court　of　the　priests。　Here　were　two　silver　basins；　with　a　priest　standing　at　each　one。　The　flagon　of　water　was　poured　into　one；　and　a　flagon　of　wine　into　the　other；　and　the　contents　of　both　flowed　into　a　pipe　which　communicated　with　the　Kedron；　and　was　conducted　to　the　Dead　Sea。　This　display　of　the　consecrated　water　represented　the　fountain　that　at　the　command　of　God　had　gushed　from　the　rock　to　quench　the　thirst　of　the　children　of　Israel。　Then　the　jubilant　strains　rang　forth；　〃The　Lord　Jehovah　is　my　strength　and　my　song；〃　〃therefore　with　joy　shall　ye　draw　water　out　of　the　wells　of　salvation。〃　Isa。　12：2；　3。

450


As　the　sons　of　Joseph　made　preparation　to　attend　the　Feast　of　Tabernacles；　they　saw　that　Christ　made　no　movement　signifying　His　intention　of　attending。　They　watched　Him　with　anxiety。　Since　the　healing　at　Bethesda　He　had　not　attended　the　national　gatherings。　To　avoid　useless　conflict　with　the　leaders　at　Jerusalem；　He　had　restricted　His　labors　to　Galilee。　His　apparent　neglect　of　the　great　religious　assemblies；　and　the　enmity　manifested　toward　Him　by　the　priests　and　rabbis；　were　a　cause　of　perplexity　to　the　people　about　Him；　and　even　to　His　own　disciples　and　His　kindred。　In　His　teachings　He　had　dwelt　upon　the　blessings　of　obedience　to　the　law　of　God；　and　yet　He　Himself　seemed　to　be　indifferent　to　the　service　which　had　been　divinely　established。　His　mingling　with　publicans　and　others　of　ill　repute；　His　disregard　of　the　rabbinical　observances；　and　the　freedom　with　which　He　set　aside　the　traditional　requirements　concerning　the　Sabbath；　all　seeming　to　place　Him　in　antagonism　to　the　religious　authorities；　excited　much　questioning。　His　brothers　thought　it　a　mistake　for　Him　to　alienate　the　great　and　learned　men　of　the　nation。　They　felt　that　these　men　must　be　in　the　right；　and　that　Jesus　was　at　fault　in　placing　Himself　in　antagonism　to　them。　But　they　had　witnessed　His　blameless　life；　and　though　they　did　not　rank　themselves　with　His　disciples；　they　had　been　deeply　impressed　by　His　works。　His　popularity　in　Galilee　was　gratifying　to　their　ambition；　they　still　hoped　that　He　would　give　an　evidence　of　His　power　which　would　lead　the　Pharisees　to　see　that　He　was　what　He　claimed　to　be。　What　if　He　were　the　Messiah；　the　Prince　of　Israel！　They　cherished　this　thought　with　proud　satisfaction。

So　anxious　were　they　about　this　that　they　urged　Christ　to　go　to　Jerusalem。　〃Depart　hence；〃　they　said；　〃and　go　into　Judea；　that　Thy　disciples　also　may　see　the　works　that　Thou　doest。　For　there　is　no　man　that　doeth　anything　in　secret；　and　he　himself　seeketh　to　be　known　openly。　If　Thou　do　these　things；　show　Thyself　to　the　world。〃　The　〃if〃　expressed　doubt　and　unbelief。　They　attributed　cowardice　and　weakness　to　Him。　If　He　knew　that　He　was　the　Messiah；　why　this　strange　reserve　and　inaction？　If　He　really　possessed　such　power；　why　not　go　boldly　to　Jerusalem；　and　assert　His　claims？　Why　not　perform　in　Jerusalem　the　wonderful　works　reported　of　Him　in　Galilee？　Do　not　hide　in　secluded　provinces；　they　said；　and　perform　your　mighty　works　for　the　benefit　of　ignorant　peasants　and　fishermen。　Present　yourself　at　the　capital；　win　the　support　of　the　priests　and　rulers；　and　unite　the　nation　in　establishing　the　new　kingdom。

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These　brothers　of　Jesus　reasoned　from　the　selfish　motive　so　often　found　in　the　hearts　of　those　ambitious　for　display。　This　spirit　was　the　ruling　spirit　of　the　world。　They　were　offended　because；　instead　of　seeking　a　temporal　throne；　Christ　had　declared　Himself　to　be　the　bread　of　life。　They　were　greatly　disappointed　when　so　many　of　His　disciples　forsook　Him。　They　themselves　turned　from　Him　to　escape　the　cross　of　acknowledging　what　His　works　revealedthat　He　was　the　Sent　of　God。

〃Then　Jesus　said　unto　them；　My　time　is　not　yet　come：　but　your　time　is　alway　ready。　The　world　cannot　hate　you；　but　Me　it　hateth；　because　I　testify　of　it；　that　the　works　thereof　are　evil。　Go　ye　up　unto　this　feast：　I　go　not　up　yet　unto　this　feast；　for　My　time　is　not　yet　full　come。　When　He　had　said　these　words　unto　them；　He　abode　still　in　Galilee。〃　His　brothers　had　spoken　to　Him　in　a　tone　of　authority；　prescribing　the　course　He　should　pursue。　He　cast　their　rebuke　back　to　them；　classing　them　not　with　His　self…denying　disciples；　but　with　the　world。　〃The　world　cannot　hate　you；〃　He　said；　〃but　Me　it　hateth；　because　I　testify　of　it；　that　the　works　thereof　are　evil。〃　The　world　does　not　hate　those　who　are　like　it　in　spirit；　it　loves　them　as　its　own。

The　world　for　Christ　was　not　a　place　of　ease　and　self…aggrandizement。　He　was　not　watching　for　an　opportunity　to　seize　its　power　and　its　glory。　It　held　out　no　such　prize　for　Him。　It　was　the　place　into　which　His　Father　had　sent　Him。　He　had　been　given　for　the　life　of　the　world；　to　work　out　the　great　plan　of　redemption。　He　was　accomplishing　His　work　for　the　fallen　race。　But　He　was　not　to　be　presumptuous；　not　to　rush　into　danger；　not　to　hasten　a　crisis。　Each　event　in　His　work　had　its　appointed　hour。　He　must　wait　patiently。　He　knew　that　He　was　to　receive　the　world's　hatred；　He　knew　that　His　work　would　result　in　His　death；　but　to　prematurely　expose　Himself　would　not　be　the　will　of　His　Father。

From　Jerusalem　the　report　of　Christ's　miracles　had　spread　wherever　the　Jews　were　dispersed；　and　although　for　many　months　He　had　been　absent　from　the　feasts；　the　interest　in　Him　had　not　abated。　Many　from　all　parts　of　the　world　had　come　up　to　the　Feast　of　Tabernacles　in　the　hope　of　seeing　Him。　At　the　beginning　of　the　fe