the desire of ages-第20章

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r　sanction　for　his　work；　and

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he　had　reproved　rulers　and　people；　Pharisees　and　Sadducees　alike。　Yet　the　people　followed　him　eagerly。　The　interest　in　his　work　seemed　to　be　continually　increasing。　Though　he　had　not　deferred　to　them；　the　Sanhedrin　accounted　that；　as　a　public　teacher；　he　was　under　their　jurisdiction。

This　body　was　made　up　of　members　chosen　from　the　priesthood；　and　from　the　chief　rulers　and　teachers　of　the　nation。　The　high　priest　was　usually　the　president。　All　its　members　were　to　be　men　advanced　in　years；　though　not　aged；　men　of　learning；　not　only　versed　in　Jewish　religion　and　history；　but　in　general　knowledge。　They　were　to　be　without　physical　blemish；　and　must　be　married　men；　and　fathers；　as　being　more　likely　than　others　to　be　humane　and　considerate。　Their　place　of　meeting　was　an　apartment　connected　with　the　temple　at　Jerusalem。　In　the　days　of　Jewish　independence　the　Sanhedrin　was　the　supreme　court　of　the　nation；　possessing　secular　as　well　as　ecclesiastical　authority。　Though　now　subordinated　by　the　Roman　governors；　it　still　exercised　a　strong　influence　in　civil　as　well　as　religious　matters。

The　Sanhedrin　could　not　well　defer　an　investigation　of　John's　work。　There　were　some　who　recalled　the　revelation　made　to　Zacharias　in　the　temple；　and　the　father's　prophecy；　that　had　pointed　to　his　child　as　the　Messiah's　herald。　In　the　tumults　and　changes　of　thirty　years；　these　things　had　in　a　great　measure　been　lost　sight　of。　They　were　now　called　to　mind　by　the　excitement　concerning　the　ministry　of　John。

It　was　long　since　Israel　had　had　a　prophet；　long　since　such　a　reformation　as　was　now　in　progress　had　been　witnessed。　The　demand　for　confession　of　sin　seemed　new　and　startling。　Many　among　the　leaders　would　not　go　to　hear　John's　appeals　and　denunciations；　lest　they　should　be　led　to　disclose　the　secrets　of　their　own　lives。　Yet　his　preaching　was　a　direct　announcement　of　the　Messiah。　It　was　well　known　that　the　seventy　weeks　of　Daniel's　prophecy；　covering　the　Messiah's　advent；　were　nearly　ended；　and　all　were　eager　to　share　in　that　era　of　national　glory　which　was　then　expected。　Such　was　the　popular　enthusiasm　that　the　Sanhedrin　would　soon　be　forced　either　to　sanction　or　to　reject　John's　work。　Already　their　power　over　the　people　was　waning。　It　was　becoming　a　serious　question　how　to　maintain　their　position。　In　the　hope　of　arriving　at　some　conclusion；　they　dispatched　to　the　Jordan　a　deputation　of　priests　and　Levites　to　confer　with　the　new　teacher。

A　multitude　were　gathered；　listening　to　his　words；　when　the　delegates　approached。　With　an　air　of　authority　designed　to　impress　the　people

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and　to　command　the　deference　of　the　prophet　the　haughty　rabbis　came。　With　a　movement　of　respect；　almost　of　fear；　the　crowd　opened　to　let　them　pass。　The　great　men；　in　their　rich　robes；　in　the　pride　of　rank　and　power；　stood　before　the　prophet　of　the　wilderness。

〃Who　art　thou？〃　they　demanded。

Knowing　what　was　in　their　thoughts；　John　answered；　〃I　am　not　the　Christ。〃

〃What　then？　Art　thou　Elias？〃

〃I　am　not。〃

〃Art　thou　that　prophet？〃

〃No。〃

〃Who　art　thou？　that　we　may　give　an　answer　to　them　that　sent　us。　What　sayest　thou　of　thyself？〃

〃I　am　the　voice　of　one　crying　in　the　wilderness；　Make　straight　the　way　of　the　Lord；　as　said　the　prophet　Esaias。〃

The　scripture　to　which　John　referred　is　that　beautiful　prophecy　of　Isaiah：　〃Comfort　ye；　comfort　ye　My　people；　saith　your　God。　Speak

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ye　comfortably　to　Jerusalem；　and　cry　unto　her；　that　her　appointed　time　is　accomplished；　that　her　iniquity　is　pardoned。　。　。　。　The　voice　of　him　that　crieth　in　the　wilderness；　Prepare　ye　the　way　of　the　Lord；　make　straight　in　the　desert　a　highway　for　our　God。　Every　valley　shall　be　exalted；　and　every　mountain　and　hill　shall　be　made　low：　and　the　crooked　shall　be　made　straight；　and　the　rough　places　plain：　and　the　glory　of　the　Lord　shall　be　revealed；　and　all　flesh　shall　see　it　together。〃　Isa。　40：1…5；　margin。

Anciently；　when　a　king　journeyed　through　the　less　frequented　parts　of　his　dominion；　a　company　of　men　was　sent　ahead　of　the　royal　chariot　to　level　the　steep　places　and　to　fill　up　the　hollows；　that　the　king　might　travel　in　safety　and　without　hindrance。　This　custom　is　employed　by　the　prophet　to　illustrate　the　work　of　the　gospel。　〃Every　valley　shall　be　exalted；　and　every　mountain　and　hill　shall　be　made　low。〃　When　the　Spirit　of　God；　with　its　marvelous　awakening　power；　touches　the　soul；　it　abases　human　pride。　Worldly　pleasure　and　position　and　power　are　seen　to　be　worthless。　〃Imaginations；　and　every　high　thing　that　exalteth　itself　against　the　knowledge　of　God〃　are　cast　down；　every　thought　is　brought　into　captivity　〃to　the　obedience　of　Christ。〃　2　Cor。　10：5。　Then　humility　and　self…sacrificing　love；　so　little　valued　among　men；　are　exalted　as　alone　of　worth。　This　is　the　work　of　the　gospel；　of　which　John's　message　was　a　part。

The　rabbis　continued　their　questioning：　〃Why　baptizest　thou　then；　if　thou　be　not　that　Christ；　nor　Elias；　neither　that　prophet？〃　The　words　〃that　prophet〃　had　reference　to　Moses。　The　Jews　had　been　inclined　to　the　belief　that　Moses　would　be　raised　from　the　dead；　and　taken　to　heaven。　They　did　not　know　that　he　had　already　been　raised。　When　the　Baptist　began　his　ministry；　many　thought　that　he　might　be　the　prophet　Moses　risen　from　the　dead；　for　he　seemed　to　have　a　thorough　knowledge　of　the　prophecies　and　of　the　history　of　Israel。

It　was　believed　also　that　before　the　Messiah's　advent；　Elijah　would　personally　appear。　This　expectation　John　met　in　his　denial；　but　his　words　had　a　deeper　meaning。　Jesus　afterward　said；　referring　to　John；　〃If　ye　are　willing　to　receive　it；　this　is　Elijah；　which　is　to　come。〃　Matt。　11：14；　R。　V。　John　came　in　the　spirit　and　power　of　Elijah；　to　do　such　a　work　as　Elijah　did。　If　the　Jews　had　received　him；　it　would　have　been　accomplished　for　them。　But　they　did　not　receive　his　message。　To　them　he　was　not　Elijah。　He　could　not　fulfill　for　them　the　mission　he　came　to　accomplish。

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Many　of　those　gathered　at　the　Jordan　had　been　present　at　the　baptism　of　Jesus；　but　the　sign　then　given　had　been　manifest　to　but　few　among　them。　During　the　preceding　months　of　the　Baptist's　ministry；　many　had　refused　to　heed　the　call　to　repentance。　Thus　they　had　hardened　their　hearts　and　darkened　their　understanding。　When　Heaven　bore　testimony　to　Jesus　at　His　baptism；　they　perceived　it　not。　Eyes　that　had　never　been　turned　in　faith　to　Him　that　is　invisible　beheld　not　the　revelation　of　the　glory　of　God；　ears　that　had　never　listened　to　His　voice　heard　not　the　words　of　witness。　So　it　is　now。　Often　the　presence　of　Christ　and　the　ministering　angels　is　manifest　in　the　assemblies　of　the　people；　and　yet　there　are　many　who　know　it　not。　They　discern　nothing　unusual。　But　to　some　the　Saviour's　presence　is　revealed。　Peace　and　joy　animate　their　hearts。　They　are　comforted；　encouraged；　and　blessed。

The　deputies　from　Jerusalem　had　demanded　of　John；　〃Why　baptizest　thou？〃　and　they　were　awaiting　his　answer。　Suddenly；　as　his　glance　swept　over　the　throng；　his　eye　kindled；　his　face　was　lighted　up；　his　whole　being　was　stirred　with　deep　emotion。　With　outstretched　hands　he　cried；　〃I　baptize　in　water：　in　the　midst　of　you　standeth　One　whom　ye　know　not；　even　He　that　cometh　after　me；　the　latchet　of　whose　shoe　I　am　not　worthy　to　unloose。〃　John　1：27；　R。　V。；　margin。

The　message　was　distinct　and　unequivocal；　to　be　carried　back　to　the　Sanhedrin。　The　words　of　John　could　apply　to　no　other　than　the　long…promised　One。　The　Messiah　was　among　them！　In　amazement　priests　and　rulers　gazed　about　them；　hoping　to　discover　Him　of　whom　John　had　spoken。　But　He　was　not　distinguishable　among　the　throng。

When　at　the　baptism　of　Jesus；　John　pointed　to　Him　as　the　Lamb　of　God；　a　new　light　was　shed　upon　the　Messiah's　work。　The　prophet's　mind　was　directed　to　the　words　of　Isaiah；　〃He　is　brought　as　a　lamb　to　the　slaughter。〃　Isa。　53：7。　During　the　weeks　that　followed；　John　with　new　interest　studied　the　prophecies　and　the　teaching　of　the　sacrificial　service。　He　did　not　distinguish　clearly　the　two　phases　of　Christ's　work；as　a　suffering　sacrifice　and　a　conquering　king；but　he　saw　that　His

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coming　had　a　deeper　significance　than　priests　or　people　had　discerned。　When　he　beheld　Jesus　among　the　throng　on　His　return　from　the　desert；　he　confidently　looked　for　Him　to　give　the　people　some　sign　of　His　true　character。　Almost　impatiently　he　waited　to　hear　the　Saviour　declare　His　mission；　but　no　word　was　spoken；　no　sign　given。　Jesus　did　not　respond　to　the　Baptist's　announcement　of　Him；　but　mingled　with　the　disciples　of　John；　giving　no　outward　evidence　of　His　special　work；　and　taking　no　measures　to　bring　Himself　to　notice。

The　next　day　John　sees　Jesus　coming。　With　the　light　of　the　glory　of　God　resting　upon　him；　the　prophet　stretches　out　his　hands；　declaring；　〃Behold　the　Lamb　of　God；　which　taketh　away　the　sin　of　the　world！　This　is　He　of　whom　I　said；　After　me　cometh　a　man　which　is　become　before　me。　。　。　。　And　I　knew　Him　not；　but　that　He　should　be　made　manifest　to　Israel；　for　this　cause　came　I　baptizing　in　water。　。　。　。　I　have　beheld　the　Spirit　descending　as　a　dove　out　of　heaven；　and　it　abode　upon　Him。　And　I　knew　Him　not：　but　He　that　sent　me　to　baptize　in　water；　He　said　unto　me；　Upon　whomsoever　thou　shalt　see　the　Spirit　descending；　and　abiding　upon　Him；　the　same　is　He　that　baptizeth　with　the　Holy　Spirit。　And　I　have　seen；　and　have　borne　witness　that　this　is　the　Son　of　God。〃　John　1：29…34；　R。　V。；　margin。

Was　this　the　Christ？　With　awe　and　wonder　the　people　looked　upon　the　One　just　declared　to　be　the　Son　of　God。　They　had　been　deeply　moved　by　the　words　of　John。　He　had　spoken　to　them　in　the　name　of　God。　They　had　listened　to　him　day　after　day　as　he　reproved　their　sins；　and　daily　the　conviction　that　he　was　sent　of　Heaven　had　strengthened。　But　who　was　this　One　greater　than　John　the　Baptist？　In　His　dress　and　bearing　there　was　nothing　that　betokened　rank。　He　was　apparently　a　simple　personage；　clad　like　themselves　in　the　humble　garments　of　the　poor。

There　were　in　the　throng　some　who　at　Christ's　baptism　had　beheld　the　divine　glory；　and　had　heard　the　voice　of　God。　But　since　that　time　the　Saviour's　appearance　had　greatly　changed。　At　His　baptism　they　had　seen　His　countenance　transfigured　in　the　light　of　heaven；　now；　pale；　worn；　and　emaciated；　He　had　been　recognized　only　by　the　prophet　John。

But　as　the　people　looked　upon　Him；　they　saw　a　face　where　divine　compassion　was　blended　with　conscious　power。　Every　glance　of　the　eye；　every　feature　of　the　countenance；　was　marked　with　humility；　and　expressive　of　unutterable　love。　He　seemed　to　be　surrounded　by　an

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atmosphere　of　spiritual　influence。　While　His　manners　were　gentle　and　unassuming；　He　impressed　men　with　a　sense　of　power　that　was　hidden；　yet　could　not　be　wholly　concealed。　Was　this　the　One　for　whom　Israel　had　so　long　waited？

Jesus　came　in　poverty　and　humiliation；　that　He　might　be　our　example　as　well　as　our　Redeemer。　If　He　had　appeared　with　kingly　pomp；　how　could　He　have　taught　humility？　how　could　He　have　presented　such　cutting　truths　as　in　the　Sermon　on　the