the desire of ages-第24章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


the　dews　of　divine　grace；　open　and　expand　to　the　Sun　of　Righteousness。　The　light　that　shines　upon　them　they　reflect　upon　others　in　works　that　are　luminous　with　the　love　of　Christ。




（154）

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Chapter　16

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　In　His　Temple


〃After　this　He　went　down　to　Capernaum；　He；　and　His　mother；　and　His　brethren；　and　His　disciples：　and　they　continued　there　not　many　days。　And　the　Jews'　Passover　was　at　hand；　and　Jesus　went　up　to　Jerusalem。〃

In　this　journey；　Jesus　joined　one　of　the　large　companies　that　were　making　their　way　to　the　capital。　He　had　not　yet　publicly　announced　His　mission；　and　He　mingled　unnoticed　with　the　throng。　Upon　these　occasions；　the　coming　of　the　Messiah；　to　which　such　prominence　had　been　given　by　the　ministry　of　John；　was　often　the　theme　of　conversation。　The　hope　of　national　greatness　was　dwelt　upon　with　kindling　enthusiasm。　Jesus　knew　that　this　hope　was　to　be　disappointed；　for　it　was　founded　on　a　misinterpretation　of　the　Scriptures。　With　deep　earnestness　He　explained　the　prophecies；　and　tried　to　arouse　the　people　to　a　closer　study　of　God's　word。

The　Jewish　leaders　had　instructed　the　people　that　at　Jerusalem　they　were　to　be　taught　to　worship　God。　Here　during　the　Passover　week　large　numbers　assembled；　coming　from　all　parts　of　Palestine；　and　even　from　distant　lands。　The　temple　courts　were　filled　with　a　promiscuous　throng。　Many　were　unable　to　bring　with　them　the　sacrifices　that　were　to　be

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　155

offered　up　as　typifying　the　one　great　Sacrifice。　For　the　convenience　of　these；　animals　were　bought　and　sold　in　the　outer　court　of　the　temple。　Here　all　classes　of　people　assembled　to　purchase　their　offerings。　Here　all　foreign　money　was　exchanged　for　the　coin　of　the　sanctuary。

Every　Jew　was　required　to　pay　yearly　a　half　shekel　as　〃a　ransom　for　his　soul；〃　and　the　money　thus　collected　was　used　for　the　support　of　the　temple。　Ex。　30：12…16。　Besides　this；　large　sums　were　brought　as　freewill　offerings；　to　be　deposited　in　the　temple　treasury。　And　it　was　required　that　all　foreign　coin　should　be　changed　for　a　coin　called　the　temple　shekel；　which　was　accepted　for　the　service　of　the　sanctuary。　The　money　changing　gave　opportunity　for　fraud　and　extortion；　and　it　had　grown　into　a　disgraceful　traffic；　which　was　a　source　of　revenue　to　the　priests。

The　dealers　demanded　exorbitant　prices　for　the　animals　sold；　and　they　shared　their　profits　with　the　priests　and　rulers；　who　thus　enriched　themselves　at　the　expense　of　the　people。　The　worshipers　had　been　taught　to　believe　that　if　they　did　not　offer　sacrifice；　the　blessing　of　God　would　not　rest　on　their　children　or　their　lands。　Thus　a　high　price　for　the　animals　could　be　secured；　for　after　coming　so　far；　the　people　would　not　return　to　their　homes　without　performing　the　act　of　devotion　for　which　they　had　come。

A　great　number　of　sacrifices　were　offered　at　the　time　of　the　Passover；　and　the　sales　at　the　temple　were　very　large。　The　consequent　confusion　indicated　a　noisy　cattle　market　rather　than　the　sacred　temple　of　God。　There　could　be　heard　sharp　bargaining；　the　lowing　of　cattle；　the　bleating　of　sheep；　the　cooing　of　doves；　mingled　with　the　chinking　of　coin　and　angry　disputation。　So　great　was　the　confusion　that　the　worshipers　were　disturbed；　and　the　words　addressed　to　the　Most　High　were　drowned　in　the　uproar　that　invaded　the　temple。　The　Jews　were　exceedingly　proud　of　their　piety。　They　rejoiced　over　their　temple；　and　regarded　a　word　spoken　in　its　disfavor　as　blasphemy；　they　were　very　rigorous　in　the　performance　of　ceremonies　connected　with　it；　but　the　love　of　money　had　overruled　their　scruples。　They　were　scarcely　aware　how　far　they　had　wandered　from　the　original　purpose　of　the　service　instituted　by　God　Himself。

When　the　Lord　descended　upon　Mount　Sinai；　the　place　was　consecrated　by　His　presence。　Moses　was　commanded　to　put　bounds　around　the　mount　and　sanctify　it；　and　the　word　of　the　Lord　was　heard　in

156

warning：　〃Take　heed　to　yourselves；　that　ye　go　not　up　into　the　mount；　or　touch　the　border　of　it：　whosoever　toucheth　the　mount　shall　be　surely　put　to　death：　there　shall　not　an　hand　touch　it；　but　he　shall　surely　be　stoned；　or　shot　through；　whether　it　be　beast　or　man；　it　shall　not　live。〃　Ex。　19：12；　13。　Thus　was　taught　the　lesson　that　wherever　God　manifests　His　presence；　the　place　is　holy。　The　precincts　of　God's　temple　should　have　been　regarded　as　sacred。　But　in　the　strife　for　gain；　all　this　was　lost　sight　of。

The　priests　and　rulers　were　called　to　be　the　representatives　of　God　to　the　nation；　they　should　have　corrected　the　abuses　of　the　temple

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　157

court。　They　should　have　given　to　the　people　an　example　of　integrity　and　compassion。　Instead　of　studying　their　own　profit；　they　should　have　considered　the　situation　and　needs　of　the　worshipers；　and　should　have　been　ready　to　assist　those　who　were　not　able　to　buy　the　required　sacrifices。　But　this　they　did　not　do。　Avarice　had　hardened　their　hearts。

There　came　to　this　feast　those　who　were　suffering；　those　who　were　in　want　and　distress。　The　blind；　the　lame；　the　deaf；　were　there。　Some　were　brought　on　beds。　Many　came　who　were　too　poor　to　purchase　the　humblest　offering　for　the　Lord；　too　poor　even　to　buy　food　with　which　to　satisfy　their　own　hunger。　These　were　greatly　distressed　by　the　statements　of　the　priests。　The　priests　boasted　of　their　piety；　they　claimed　to　be　the　guardians　of　the　people；　but　they　were　without　sympathy　or　compassion。　The　poor；　the　sick；　the　dying；　made　their　vain　plea　for　favor。　Their　suffering　awakened　no　pity　in　the　hearts　of　the　priests。

As　Jesus　came　into　the　temple；　He　took　in　the　whole　scene。　He　saw　the　unfair　transactions。　He　saw　the　distress　of　the　poor；　who　thought　that　without　shedding　of　blood　there　would　be　no　forgiveness　for　their　sins。　He　saw　the　outer　court　of　His　temple　converted　into　a　place　of　unholy　traffic。　The　sacred　enclosure　had　become　one　vast　exchange。

Christ　saw　that　something　must　be　done。　Numerous　ceremonies　were　enjoined　upon　the　people　without　the　proper　instruction　as　to　their　import。　The　worshipers　offered　their　sacrifices　without　understanding　that　they　were　typical　of　the　only　perfect　Sacrifice。　And　among　them；　unrecognized　and　unhonored；　stood　the　One　symbolized　by　all　their　service。　He　had　given　directions　in　regard　to　the　offerings。　He　understood　their　symbolical　value；　and　He　saw　that　they　were　now　perverted　and　misunderstood。　Spiritual　worship　was　fast　disappearing。　No　link　bound　the　priests　and　rulers　to　their　God。　Christ's　work　was　to　establish　an　altogether　different　worship。

With　searching　glance；　Christ　takes　in　the　scene　before　Him　as　He　stands　upon　the　steps　of　the　temple　court。　With　prophetic　eye　He　looks　into　futurity；　and　sees　not　only　years；　but　centuries　and　ages。　He　sees　how　priests　and　rulers　will　turn　the　needy　from　their　right；　and　forbid　that　the　gospel　shall　be　preached　to　the　poor。　He　sees　how　the　love　of　God　will　be　concealed　from　sinners；　and　men　will　make　merchandise　of　His　grace。　As　He　beholds　the　scene；　indignation；　authority；　and　power　are　expressed　in　His　countenance。　The　attention　of　the　people　is　attracted　to　Him。　The　eyes　of　those　engaged　in　their　unholy　traffic

158

are　riveted　upon　His　face。　They　cannot　withdraw　their　gaze。　They　feel　that　this　Man　reads　their　inmost　thoughts；　and　discovers　their　hidden　motives。　Some　attempt　to　conceal　their　faces；　as　if　their　evil　deeds　were　written　upon　their　countenances；　to　be　scanned　by　those　searching　eyes。

The　confusion　is　hushed。　The　sound　of　traffic　and　bargaining　has　ceased。　The　silence　becomes　painful。　A　sense　of　awe　overpowers　the　assembly。　It　is　as　if　they　were　arraigned　before　the　tribunal　of　God　to　answer　for　their　deeds。　Looking　upon　Christ；　they　behold　divinity　flash　through　the　garb　of　humanity。　The　Majesty　of　heaven　stands　as　the　Judge　will　stand　at　the　last　day；not　now　encircled　with　the　glory　that　will　then　attend　Him；　but　with　the　same　power　to　read　the　soul。　His　eye　sweeps　over　the　multitude；　taking　in　every　individual。　His　form　seems　to　rise　above　them　in　commanding　dignity；　and　a　divine　light　illuminates　His　countenance。　He　speaks；　and　His　clear；　ringing　voicethe　same　that　upon　Mount　Sinai　proclaimed　the　law　that　priests　and　rulers　are　transgressingis　heard　echoing　through　the　arches　of　the　temple：　〃Take　these　things　hence；　make　not　My　Father's　house　an　house　of　merchandise。〃

Slowly　descending　the　steps；　and　raising　the　scourge　of　cords　gathered　up　on　entering　the　enclosure；　He　bids　the　bargaining　company　depart　from　the　precincts　of　the　temple。　With　a　zeal　and　severity　He　has　never　before　manifested；　He　overthrows　the　tables　of　the　money…changers。　The　coin　falls；　ringing　sharply　upon　the　marble　pavement。　None　presume　to　question　His　authority。　None　dare　stop　to　gather　up　their　ill…gotten　gain。　Jesus　does　not　smite　them　with　the　whip　of　cords；　but　in　His　hand　that　simple　scourge　seems　terrible　as　a　flaming　sword。　Officers　of　the　temple；　speculating　priests；　brokers　and　cattle　traders；　with　their　sheep　and　oxen；　rush　from　the　place；　with　the　one　thought　of　escaping　from　the　condemnation　of　His　presence。

A　panic　sweeps　over　the　multitude；　who　feel　the　overshadowing　of　His　divinity。　Cries　of　terror　escape　from　hundreds　of　blanched　lips。　Even　the　disciples　tremble。　They　are　awestruck　by　the　words　and　manner　of　Jesus；　so　unlike　His　usual　demeanor。　They　remember　that　it　is　written　of　Him；　〃The　zeal　of　Thine　house　hath　eaten　Me　up。〃　Ps。　69：9。　Soon　the　tumultuous　throng　with　their　merchandise　are　far　removed　from　the　temple　of　the　Lord。　The　courts　are　free　from　unholy　traffic；　and　a　deep　silence　and　solemnity　settles　upon　the　scene　of　confusion。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　161

The　presence　of　the　Lord；　that　of　old　sanctified　the　mount；　has　now　made　sacred　the　temple　reared　in　His　honor。

In　the　cleansing　of　the　temple；　Jesus　was　announcing　His　mission　as　the　Messiah；　and　entering　upon　His　work。　That　temple；　erected　for　the　abode　of　the　divine　Presence；　was　designed　to　be　an　object　lesson　for　Israel　and　for　the　world。　From　eternal　ages　it　was　God's　purpose　that　every　created　being；　from　the　bright　and　holy　seraph　to　man；　should　be　a　temple　for　the　indwelling　of　the　Creator。　Because　of　sin；　humanity　ceased　to　be　a　temple　for　God。　Darkened　and　defiled　by　evil；　the　heart　of　man　no　longer　revealed　the　glory　of　the　Divine　One。　But　by　the　incarnation　of　the　Son　of　God；　the　purpose　of　Heaven　is　fulfilled。　God　dwells　in　humanity；　and　through　saving　grace　the　heart　of　man　becomes　again　His　temple。　God　designed　that　the　temple　at　Jerusalem　should　be　a　continual　witness　to　the　high　destiny　open　to　every　soul。　But　the　Jews　had　not　understood　the　significance　of　the　building　they　regarded　with　so　much　pride。　They　did　not　yield　themselves　as　holy　temples　for　the　Divine　Spirit。　The　courts　of　the　temple　at　Jerusalem；　filled　with　the　tumult　of　unholy　traffic；　represented　all　too　truly　the　temple　of　the　heart；　defiled　by　the　presence　of　sensual　passion　and　unholy　thoughts。　In　cleansing　the　temple　from　the　world's　buyers　and　sellers；　Jesus　announced　His　mission　to　cleanse　the　hear