the desire of ages-第35章

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ority；　John　became　perplexed　and　troubled。　He　had　declared　to　the　people　that　in　order　for　the　way　to　be　prepared　before　the　Lord；　the　prophecy　of　Isaiah　must　be　fulfilled；　the　mountains　and　hills　must　be　brought　low；　the　crooked　made　straight；　and　the　rough　places　plain。　He　had　looked　for　the　high　places　of　human　pride　and　power　to　be　cast　down。　He　had　pointed　to　the　Messiah　as　the　One　whose　fan　was　in　His　hand；　and　who　would　thoroughly　purge　His　floor；　who　would　gather　the　wheat　into　His　garner；　and　burn　up　the　chaff　with　unquenchable　fire。　Like　the　prophet　Elijah；　in　whose　spirit　and　power　he　had　come　to　Israel；　he　looked　for　the　Lord　to　reveal　Himself　as　a　God　that　answereth　by　fire。

In　his　mission　the　Baptist　had　stood　as　a　fearless　reprover　of　iniquity；　both　in　high　places　and　in　low。　He　had　dared　to　face　King　Herod　with　the　plain　rebuke　of　sin。　He　had　not　counted　his　life　dear　unto　himself；　that　he　might　fulfill　his　appointed　work。　And　now　from　his　dungeon　he　watched　for　the　Lion　of　the　tribe　of　Judah　to　cast　down　the　pride　of　the　oppressor；　and　to　deliver　the　poor　and　him　that　cried。　But　Jesus　seemed　to　content　Himself　with　gathering　disciples　about　Him；　and　healing　and　teaching　the　people。　He　was　eating　at　the　tables　of　the　publicans；　while　every　day　the　Roman　yoke　rested　more　heavily　upon　Israel；　while　King　Herod　and　his　vile　paramour　worked　their　will；　and　the　cries　of　the　poor　and　suffering　went　up　to　heaven。

216


To　the　desert　prophet　all　this　seemed　a　mystery　beyond　his　fathoming。　There　were　hours　when　the　whisperings　of　demons　tortured　his　spirit；　and　the　shadow　of　a　terrible　fear　crept　over　him。　Could　it　be　that　the　long…hoped…for　Deliverer　had　not　yet　appeared？　Then　what　meant　the　message　that　he　himself　had　been　impelled　to　bear？　John　had　been　bitterly　disappointed　in　the　result　of　his　mission。　He　had　expected　that　the　message　from　God　would　have　the　same　effect　as　when　the　law　was　read　in　the　days　of　Josiah　and　of　Ezra　（2　Chronicles　34；　Nehemiah　8；　9）；　that　there　would　follow　a　deep…seated　work　of　repentance　and　returning　unto　the　Lord。　For　the　success　of　this　mission　his　whole　life　had　been　sacrificed。　Had　it　been　in　vain？

John　was　troubled　to　see　that　through　love　for　him；　his　own　disciples　were　cherishing　unbelief　in　regard　to　Jesus。　Had　his　work　for　them　been　fruitless？　Had　he　been　unfaithful　in　his　mission；　that　he　was　now　cut　off　from　labor？　If　the　promised　Deliverer　had　appeared；　and　John　had　been　found　true　to　his　calling；　would　not　Jesus　now　overthrow　the　oppressor's　power；　and　set　free　His　herald？

But　the　Baptist　did　not　surrender　his　faith　in　Christ。　The　memory　of　the　voice　from　heaven　and　the　descending　dove；　the　spotless　purity　of　Jesus；　the　power　of　the　Holy　Spirit　that　had　rested　upon　John　as　he　came　into　the　Saviour's　presence；　and　the　testimony　of　the　prophetic　scriptures；all　witnessed　that　Jesus　of　Nazareth　was　the　Promised　One。

John　would　not　discuss　his　doubts　and　anxieties　with　his　companions。　He　determined　to　send　a　message　of　inquiry　to　Jesus。　This　he　entrusted　to　two　of　his　disciples；　hoping　that　an　interview　with　the　Saviour　would　confirm　their　faith；　and　bring　assurance　to　their　brethren。　And　he　longed　for　some　word　from　Christ　spoken　directly　for　himself。

The　disciples　came　to　Jesus　with　their　message；　〃Art　Thou　He　that　should　come；　or　do　we　look　for　another？〃

How　short　the　time　since　the　Baptist　had　pointed　to　Jesus；　and　proclaimed；　〃Behold　the　Lamb　of　God；　which　taketh　away　the　sin　of　the　world。〃　〃He　it　is；　who　coming　after　me　is　preferred　before　me。〃　John　1：29；　27。　And　now　the　question；　〃Art　Thou　He　that　should　come？〃　It　was　keenly　bitter　and　disappointing　to　human　nature。　If　John；　the　faithful　forerunner；　failed　to　discern　Christ's　mission；　what　could　be　expected　from　the　self…seeking　multitude？

The　Saviour　did　not　at　once　answer　the　disciples'　question。　As　they　stood　wondering　at　His　silence；　the　sick　and　afflicted　were　coming　to　Him　to　be　healed。　The　blind　were　groping　their　way　through　the　crowd；

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diseased　ones　of　all　classes；　some　urging　their　own　way；　some　borne　by　their　friends；　were　eagerly　pressing　into　the　presence　of　Jesus。　The　voice　of　the　mighty　Healer　penetrated　the　deaf　ear。　A　word；　a　touch　of　His　hand；　opened　the　blind　eyes　to　behold　the　light　of　day；　the　scenes　of　nature；　the　faces　of　friends；　and　the　face　of　the　Deliverer。　Jesus　rebuked　disease　and　banished　fever。　His　voice　reached　the　ears　of　the　dying；　and　they　arose　in　health　and　vigor。　Paralyzed　demoniacs　obeyed　His　word；　their　madness　left　them；　and　they　worshiped　Him。　While　He　healed　their　diseases；　He　taught　the　people。　The　poor　peasants　and　laborers；　who　were　shunned　by　the　rabbis　as　unclean；　gathered　close　about　Him；　and　He　spoke　to　them　the　words　of　eternal　life。

Thus　the　day　wore　away；　the　disciples　of　John　seeing　and　hearing　all。　At　last　Jesus　called　them　to　Him；　and　bade　them　go　and　tell　John　what　they　had　witnessed；　adding；　〃Blessed　is　he；　whosoever　shall　find　none　occasion　of　stumbling　in　Me。〃　Luke　7：23；　R。　V。　The　evidence　of　His　divinity　was　seen　in　its　adaptation　to　the　needs　of　suffering　humanity。　His　glory　was　shown　in　His　condescension　to　our　low　estate。

The　disciples　bore　the　message；　and　it　was　enough。　John　recalled　the　prophecy　concerning　the　Messiah；　〃The　Lord　hath　anointed　Me　to　preach　good　tidings　unto　the　meek；　He　hath　sent　Me　to　bind　up　the　brokenhearted；　to　proclaim　liberty　to　the　captives；　and　the　opening　of　the　prison　to　them　that　are　bound；　to　proclaim　the　acceptable　year　of　the　Lord。〃　Isa。　61：1；　2。　The　works　of　Christ　not　only　declared　Him　to　be　the　Messiah；　but　showed　in　what　manner　His　kingdom　was　to　be　established。　To　John　was　opened　the　same　truth　that　had　come　to　Elijah　in　the　desert；　when　〃a　great　and　strong　wind　rent　the　mountains；　and　brake　in　pieces　the　rocks　before　the　Lord；　but　the　Lord　was　not　in　the　wind：　and　after　the　wind　an　earthquake；　but　the　Lord　was　not　in　the　earthquake：　and　after　the　earthquake　a　fire；　but　the　Lord　was　not　in　the　fire：〃　and　after　the　fire；　God　spoke　to　the　prophet　by　〃a　still　small　voice。〃　1　Kings　19：11；　12。　So　Jesus　was　to　do　His　work；　not　with　the　clash　of　arms　and　the　overturning　of　thrones　and　kingdoms；　but　through　speaking　to　the　hearts　of　men　by　a　life　of　mercy　and　self…sacrifice。

218


The　principle　of　the　Baptist's　own　life　of　self…abnegation　was　the　principle　of　the　Messiah's　kingdom。　John　well　knew　how　foreign　all　this　was　to　the　principles　and　hopes　of　the　leaders　in　Israel。　That　which　was　to　him　convincing　evidence　of　Christ's　divinity　would　be　no　evidence　to　them。　They　were　looking　for　a　Messiah　who　had　not　been　promised。　John　saw　that　the　Saviour's　mission　could　win　from　them　only　hatred　and　condemnation。　He；　the　forerunner；　was　but　drinking　of　the　cup　which　Christ　Himself　must　drain　to　its　dregs。

The　Saviour's　words；　〃Blessed　is　he；　whosoever　shall　find　none　occasion　of　stumbling　in　Me；〃　were　a　gentle　reproof　to　John。　It　was　not　lost　upon　him。　Understanding　more　clearly　now　the　nature　of　Christ's　mission；　he　yielded　himself　to　God　for　life　or　for　death；　as　should　best　serve　the　interests　of　the　cause　he　loved。

After　the　messengers　had　departed；　Jesus　spoke　to　the　people　concerning　John。　The　Saviour's　heart　went　out　in　sympathy　to　the　faithful　witness　now　buried　in　Herod's　dungeon。　He　would　not　leave　the　people　to　conclude　that　God　had　forsaken　John；　or　that　his　faith　had　failed　in　the　day　of　trial。　〃What　went　ye　out　into　the　wilderness　to　see？〃　He　said。　〃A　reed　shaken　with　the　wind？〃

The　tall　reeds　that　grew　beside　the　Jordan；　bending　before　every　breeze；　were　fitting　representatives　of　the　rabbis　who　had　stood　as　critics　and　judges　of　the　Baptist's　mission。　They　were　swayed　this　way　and　that　by　the　winds　of　popular　opinion。　They　would　not　humble　themselves　to　receive　the　heart…searching　message　of　the　Baptist；　yet　for　fear　of　the　people　they　dared　not　openly　oppose　his　work。　But　God's　messenger　was　of　no　such　craven　spirit。　The　multitudes　who　were　gathered　about　Christ　had　been　witnesses　to　the　work　of　John。　They　had　heard　his　fearless　rebuke　of　sin。　To　the　self…righteous　Pharisees；　the　priestly　Sadducees；　King　Herod　and　his　court；　princes　and　soldiers；　publicans　and　peasants；　John　had　spoken　with　equal　plainness。　He　was　no　trembling　reed；　swayed　by　the　winds　of　human　praise　or　prejudice。　In　the　prison　he　was　the　same　in　his　loyalty　to　God　and　his　zeal　for　righteousness　as　when　he　preached　God's　message　in　the　wilderness。　In　his　faithfulness　to　principle　he　was　as　firm　as　a　rock。

Jesus　continued；　〃But　what　went　ye　out　for　to　see？　A　man　clothed　in　soft　raiment？　Behold；　they　which　are　gorgeously　appareled；　and　live　delicately；　are　in　kings'　courts。〃　John　had　been　called　to　reprove　the　sins　and　excesses　of　his　time；　and　his　plain　dress　and　self…denying　life

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were　in　harmony　with　the　character　of　his　mission。　Rich　apparel　and　the　luxuries　of　this　life　are　not　the　portion　of　God's　servants；　but　of　those　who　live　〃in　kings'　courts；〃　the　rulers　of　this　world；　to　whom　pertain　its　power　and　its　riches。　Jesus　wished　to　direct　attention　to　the　contrast　between　the　clothing　of　John；　and　that　worn　by　the　priests　and　rulers。　These　officials　arrayed　themselves　in　rich　robes　and　costly　ornaments。　They　loved　display；　and　hoped　to　dazzle　the　people；　and　thus　command　greater　consideration。　They　were　more　anxious　to　gain　the　admiration　of　men　than　to　obtain　the　purity　of　heart　which　would　win　the　approval　of　God。　Thus　they　revealed　that　their　allegiance　was　not　given　to　God；　but　to　the　kingdom　of　this　world。

〃But　what；〃　said　Jesus；　〃went　ye　out　for　to　see？　A　prophet？　yea；　I　say　unto　you；　and　more　than　a　prophet。　For　this　is　he；　of　whom　it　is　written；

　　　　　　　　　　〃Behold；　I　send　My　messenger　before　Thy　face；　　　　　　　　　　　　Which　shall　prepare　Thy　way　before　Thee。

〃Verily　I　say　unto　you；　Among　them　that　are　born　of　women　there　hath　not　risen　a　greater　than　John　the　Baptist。〃　In　the　announcement　to　Zacharias　before　the　birth　of　John；　the　angel　had　declared；　〃He　shall　be　great　in　the　sight　of　the　Lord。〃　Luke　1：15。　In　the　estimation　of　Heaven；　what　is　it　that　constitutes　greatness？　Not　that　which　the　world　accounts　greatness；　not　wealth；　or　rank；　or　noble　descent；　or　intellectual　gifts；　in　themselves　considered。　If　intellectual　greatness；　apart　from　any　higher　consideration；　is　worthy　of　honor；　then　our　homage　is　due　to　Satan；　whose　intellectual　power　no　man　has　ever　equaled。　But　when　perverted　to　self…serving；　the　greater　the　gift；　the　greater　curse　it　becomes。　It　is　moral　worth　that　God　values。　Love　and　purity　are　the　attributes　He　prizes　most。　John　was　great　in　the　sight　of　the　Lord；　when；　before　the　messengers　from　the　Sanhedrin；　before　the　people；　and　before　his　own　disciples；　he　refrained　from　seeking　honor　for　himself；　but　pointed　all　to　Jesus　as　the　Promised　One。　His　unselfish　joy　in　the　ministry　of　Christ　presents　the　highest　type　of　nobility　ever　revealed　in　man。

The　witness　borne　of　him　after　his　death；　by　those　who　had　heard　his　testimony　to　Jesus；　was；　〃John　did　no　miracle：　but　all　things　that　John　spake　of　this　Man　were　true。〃　John　10：41。　It　wa