the desire of ages-第97节

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titudes　estimate　it　by　the　numbers　who　accept　it；　and　the　question　is　still　asked；　〃Have　any　of　the　learned　men　or　religious　leaders　believed？〃　Men　are　no　more　favorable　to　real　godliness　now　than　in　the　days　of　Christ。　They　are　just　as　intently　seeking　earthly　good；　to　the　neglect　of　eternal　riches；　and　it　is　not　an

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argument　against　the　truth；　that　large　numbers　are　not　ready　to　accept　it；　or　that　it　is　not　received　by　the　world's　great　men；　or　even　by　the　religious　leaders。

Again　the　priests　and　rulers　proceeded　to　lay　plans　for　arresting　Jesus。　It　was　urged　that　if　He　were　longer　left　at　liberty；　He　would　draw　the　people　away　from　the　established　leaders；　and　the　only　safe　course　was　to　silence　Him　without　delay。　In　the　full　tide　of　their　discussion；　they　were　suddenly　checked。　Nicodemus　questioned；　〃Doth　our　law　judge　any　man；　before　it　hear　him；　and　know　what　he　doeth？〃　Silence　fell　on　the　assembly。　The　words　of　Nicodemus　came　home　to　their　consciences。　They　could　not　condemn　a　man　unheard。　But　it　was　not　for　this　reason　alone　that　the　haughty　rulers　remained　silent；　gazing　at　him　who　had　dared　to　speak　in　favor　of　justice。　They　were　startled　and　chagrined　that　one　of　their　own　number　had　been　so　far　impressed　by　the　character　of　Jesus　as　to　speak　a　word　in　His　defense。　Recovering　from　their　astonishment；　they　addressed　Nicodemus　with　cutting　sarcasm；　〃Art　thou　also　of　Galilee？　Search　and　look：　for　out　of　Galilee　ariseth　no　prophet。〃

Yet　the　protest　resulted　in　staying　the　proceedings　of　the　council。　The　rulers　were　unable　to　carry　out　their　purpose　and　condemn　Jesus　without　a　hearing。　Defeated　for　the　time；　〃every　man　went　unto　his　own　house。　Jesus　went　unto　the　Mount　of　Olives。〃

From　the　excitement　and　confusion　of　the　city；　from　the　eager　crowds　and　the　treacherous　rabbis；　Jesus　turned　away　to　the　quiet　of　the　olive　groves；　where　He　could　be　alone　with　God。　But　in　the　early　morning　He　returned　to　the　temple；　and　as　the　people　gathered　about　Him；　He　sat　down　and　taught　them。

He　was　soon　interrupted。　A　group　of　Pharisees　and　scribes　approached　Him；　dragging　with　them　a　terror…stricken　woman；　whom　with　hard；　eager　voices　they　accused　of　having　violated　the　seventh　commandment。　Having　pushed　her　into　the　presence　of　Jesus；　they　said　to　Him；　with　a　hypocritical　show　of　respect；　〃Moses　in　the　law　commanded　us；　that　such　should　be　stoned：　but　what　sayest　Thou？〃

Their　pretended　reverence　veiled　a　deep…laid　plot　for　His　ruin。　They　had　seized　upon　this　opportunity　to　secure　His　condemnation；　thinking　that　whatever　decision　He　might　make；　they　would　find　occasion　to　accuse　Him。　Should　He　acquit　the　woman；　He　might　be　charged　with　despising　the　law　of　Moses。　Should　He　declare　her　worthy　of　death；

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He　could　be　accused　to　the　Romans　as　one　who　was　assuming　authority　that　belonged　only　to　them。

Jesus　looked　for　a　moment　upon　the　scene；the　trembling　victim　in　her　shame；　the　hard…faced　dignitaries；　devoid　of　even　human　pity。　His　spirit　of　stainless　purity　shrank　from　the　spectacle。　Well　He　knew　for　what　purpose　this　case　had　been　brought　to　Him。　He　read　the　heart；　and　knew　the　character　and　life　history　of　everyone　in　His　presence。　These　would…be　guardians　of　justice　had　themselves　led　their　victim　into　sin；　that　they　might　lay　a　snare　for　Jesus。　Giving　no　sign　that　He　had　heard　their　question；　He　stooped；　and　fixing　His　eyes　upon　the　ground；　began　to　write　in　the　dust。

Impatient　at　His　delay　and　apparent　indifference；　the　accusers　drew　nearer；　urging　the　matter　upon　His　attention。　But　as　their　eyes；　following　those　of　Jesus；　fell　upon　the　pavement　at　His　feet；　their　countenances　changed。　There；　traced　before　them；　were　the　guilty　secrets　of　their　own　lives。　The　people；　looking　on；　saw　the　sudden　change　of　expression；　and　pressed　forward　to　discover　what　it　was　that　they　were　regarding　with　such　astonishment　and　shame。

With　all　their　professions　of　reverence　for　the　law；　these　rabbis；　in　bringing　the　charge　against　the　woman；　were　disregarding　its　provisions。　It　was　the　husband's　duty　to　take　action　against　her；　and　the　guilty　parties　were　to　be　punished　equally。　The　action　of　the　accusers　was　wholly　unauthorized。　Jesus；　however；　met　them　on　their　own　ground。　The　law　specified　that　in　punishment　by　stoning；　the　witnesses　in　the　case　should　be　the　first　to　cast　a　stone。　Now　rising；　and　fixing　His　eyes　upon　the　plotting　elders；　Jesus　said；　〃He　that　is　without　sin　among　you；　let　him　first　cast　a　stone　at　her。〃　And　stooping　down；　He　continued　writing　on　the　ground。

He　had　not　set　aside　the　law　given　through　Moses；　nor　infringed　upon　the　authority　of　Rome。　The　accusers　had　been　defeated。　Now；　their　robe　of　pretended　holiness　torn　from　them；　they　stood；　guilty　and　condemned；　in　the　presence　of　Infinite　Purity。　They　trembled　lest　the　hidden　iniquity　of　their　lives　should　be　laid　open　to　the　multitude；　and　one　by　one；　with　bowed　heads　and　downcast　eyes；　they　stole　away；　leaving　their　victim　with　the　pitying　Saviour。

Jesus　arose；　and　looking　at　the　woman　said；　〃Woman；　where　are　those　thine　accusers？　hath　no　man　condemned　thee？　She　said；　No　man；　Lord。　And　Jesus　said　unto　her；　Neither　do　I　condemn　thee：　go；　and　sin　no　more。〃

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The　woman　had　stood　before　Jesus；　cowering　with　fear。　His　words；　〃He　that　is　without　sin　among　you；　let　him　first　cast　a　stone；〃　had　come　to　her　as　a　death　sentence。　She　dared　not　lift　her　eyes　to　the　Saviour's　face；　but　silently　awaited　her　doom。　In　astonishment　she　saw　her　accusers　depart　speechless　and　confounded；　then　those　words　of　hope　fell　upon　her　ear；　〃Neither　do　I　condemn　thee：　go；　and　sin　no　more。〃　Her　heart　was　melted；　and　she　cast　herself　at　the　feet　of　Jesus；　sobbing　out　her　grateful　love；　and　with　bitter　tears　confessing　her　sins。

This　was　to　her　the　beginning　of　a　new　life；　a　life　of　purity　and　peace；　devoted　to　the　service　of　God。　In　the　uplifting　of　this　fallen　soul；　Jesus　performed　a　greater　miracle　than　in　healing　the　most　grievous　physical　disease；　He　cured　the　spiritual　malady　which　is　unto　death　everlasting。　This　penitent　woman　became　one　of　His　most　steadfast　followers。　With　self…sacrificing　love　and　devotion　she　repaid　His　forgiving　mercy。

In　His　act　of　pardoning　this　woman　and　encouraging　her　to　live　a　better　life；　the　character　of　Jesus　shines　forth　in　the　beauty　of　perfect　righteousness。　While　He　does　not　palliate　sin；　nor　lessen　the　sense　of　guilt；　He　seeks　not　to　condemn；　but　to　save。　The　world　had　for　this　erring　woman　only　contempt　and　scorn；　but　Jesus　speaks　words　of　comfort　and　hope。　The　Sinless　One　pities　the　weakness　of　the　sinner；　and　reaches　to　her　a　helping　hand。　While　the　hypocritical　Pharisees　denounce；　Jesus　bids　her；　〃Go；　and　sin　no　more。〃

It　is　not　Christ's　follower　that；　with　averted　eyes；　turns　from　the　erring；　leaving　them　unhindered　to　pursue　their　downward　course。　Those　who　are　forward　in　accusing　others；　and　zealous　in　bringing　them　to　justice；　are　often　in　their　own　lives　more　guilty　than　they。　Men　hate　the　sinner；　while　they　love　the　sin。　Christ　hates　the　sin；　but　loves　the　sinner。　This　will　be　the　spirit　of　all　who　follow　Him。　Christian　love　is　slow　to　censure；　quick　to　discern　penitence；　ready　to　forgive；　to　encourage；　to　set　the　wanderer　in　the　path　of　holiness；　and　to　stay　his　feet　therein。




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　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Chapter　51

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃The　Light　of　Life〃


Then　spake　Jesus　again　unto　them；　saying；　I　am　the　light　of　the　world：　he　that　followeth　Me　shall　not　walk　in　darkness；　but　shall　have　the　light　of　life。〃

When　He　spoke　these　words；　Jesus　was　in　the　court　of　the　temple　specially　connected　with　the　services　of　the　Feast　of　Tabernacles。　In　the　center　of　this　court　rose　two　lofty　standards；　supporting　lampstands　of　great　size。　After　the　evening　sacrifice；　all　the　lamps　were　kindled；　shedding　their　light　over　Jerusalem。　This　ceremony　was　in　commemoration　of　the　pillar　of　light　that　guided　Israel　in　the　desert；　and　was　also　regarded　as　pointing　to　the　coming　of　the　Messiah。　At　evening　when　the　lamps　were　lighted；　the　court　was　a　scene　of　great　rejoicing。　Gray…haired　men；　the　priests　of　the　temple　and　the　rulers　of　the　people；　united　in　the　festive　dances　to　the　sound　of　instrumental　music　and　the　chants　of　the　Levites。

In　the　illumination　of　Jerusalem；　the　people　expressed　their　hope　of　the　Messiah's　coming　to　shed　His　light　upon　Israel。　But　to　Jesus　the　scene　had　a　wider　meaning。　As　the　radiant　lamps　of　the　temple　lighted　up　all　about　them；　so　Christ；　the　source　of　spiritual　light；　illumines　the　darkness　of　the　world。　Yet　the　symbol　was　imperfect。　That　great　light　which　His　own　hand　had　set　in　the　heavens　was　a　truer　representation　of　the　glory　of　His　mission。

It　was　morning；　the　sun　had　just　risen　above　the　Mount　of　Olives；　and　its　rays　fell　with　dazzling　brightness　on　the　marble　palaces；　and

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lighted　up　the　gold　of　the　temple　walls；　when　Jesus；　pointing　to　it；　said；　〃I　am　the　light　of　the　world。〃

By　one　who　listened　to　these　words；　they　were　long　afterward　re…echoed　in　that　sublime　passage；　〃In　Him　was　life