the desire of ages-第38章
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increased。〃 〃The wicked shall do wickedly： and none of the wicked shall understand； but the wise shall understand。〃 Dan。 12：4； 10。 The Saviour Himself has given signs of His coming； and He says； 〃When ye see these things come to pass； know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand。〃 〃And take heed to yourselves； lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting； and drunkenness； and cares of this life； and so that day come upon you unawares。〃 〃Watch ye therefore； and pray always； that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass； and to stand before the Son of man。〃 Luke 21：31； 34； 36。
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We have reached the period foretold in these scriptures。 The time of the end is come； the visions of the prophets are unsealed； and their solemn warnings point us to our Lord's coming in glory as near at hand。
The Jews misinterpreted and misapplied the word of God； and they knew not the time of their visitation。 The years of the ministry of Christ and His apostles；the precious last years of grace to the chosen people；they spent in plotting the destruction of the Lord's messengers。 Earthly ambitions absorbed them； and the offer of the spiritual kingdom came to them in vain。 So today the kingdom of this world absorbs men's thoughts； and they take no note of the rapidly fulfilling prophecies and the tokens of the swift…coming kingdom of God。
〃But ye； brethren； are not in darkness； that that day should overtake you as a thief。 Ye are all the children of light； and the children of the day： we are not of the night； nor of darkness。〃 While we are not to know the hour of our Lord's return； we may know when it is near。 〃Therefore let us not sleep； as do others； but let us watch and be sober。〃 1 Thess。 5：4…6。
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Chapter 24
〃Is Not This the Carpenter's Son？〃
Across the bright days of Christ's ministry in Galilee； one shadow lay。 The people of Nazareth rejected Him。 〃Is not this the carpenter's son？〃 they said。
During His childhood and youth； Jesus had worshiped among His brethren in the synagogue at Nazareth。 Since the opening of His ministry He had been absent from them； but they had not been ignorant of what had befallen Him。 As He again appeared among them； their interest and expectation were excited to the highest pitch。 Here were the familiar forms and faces of those whom He had known from infancy。 Here were His mother； His brothers and sisters； and all eyes were turned upon Him as He entered the synagogue upon the Sabbath day； and took His place among the worshipers。
In the regular service for the day； the elder read from the prophets； and exhorted the people still to hope for the Coming One； who would bring in a glorious reign； and banish all oppression。 He sought to encourage his hearers by rehearsing the evidence that the Messiah's coming was near。 He described the glory of His advent； keeping prominent the thought that He would appear at the head of armies to deliver Israel。
When a rabbi was present at the synagogue； he was expected to deliver the sermon； and any Israelite might give the reading from the prophets。 Upon this Sabbath Jesus was requested to take part in the service。 He 〃stood up to read。 And there was delivered unto Him a roll of the prophet Isaiah。〃 Luke 4：16； 17； R。 V。； margin。 The scripture which He read was one that was understood as referring to the Messiah：
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〃The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me； Because He hath anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor； He hath sent Me to heal the brokenhearted； To preach deliverance to the captives； And recovering of sight to the blind； To set at liberty them that are bruised； To preach the acceptable year of the Lord。〃
〃And He closed the roll； and gave it back to the attendant： 。 。 。 and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fastened on Him。 。 。 。 And all bare Him witness； and wondered at the words of grace which proceeded out of His mouth。〃 Luke 4：20…22； R。 V。； margin。
Jesus stood before the people as a living expositor of the prophecies concerning Himself。 Explaining the words He had read； He spoke of the Messiah as a reliever of the oppressed； a liberator of captives； a healer of the afflicted； restoring sight to the blind； and revealing to the world the light of truth。 His impressive manner and the wonderful import of His words thrilled the hearers with a power they had never felt before。 The tide of divine influence broke every barrier down； like Moses； they beheld the Invisible。 As their hearts were moved upon by the Holy Spirit； they responded with fervent amens and praises to the Lord。
But when Jesus announced； 〃This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears；〃 they were suddenly recalled to think of themselves； and of the claims of Him who had been addressing them。 They； Israelites； children of Abraham； had been represented as in bondage。 They had been addressed as prisoners to be delivered from the power of evil； as in darkness； and needing the light of truth。 Their pride was offended； and their fears were roused。 The words of Jesus indicated that His work for them was to be altogether different from what they desired。 Their deeds might be investigated too closely。 Notwithstanding their exactness in outward ceremonies； they shrank from inspection by those clear； searching eyes。
Who is this Jesus？ they questioned。 He who had claimed for Himself the glory of the Messiah was the son of a carpenter； and had worked at His trade with His father Joseph。 They had seen Him toiling up and down the hills； they were acquainted with His brothers and sisters； and knew His life and labors。 They had seen Him develop from childhood to youth； and from youth to manhood。 Although His life had been spotless； they would not believe that He was the Promised One。
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What a contrast between His teaching in regard to the new kingdom and that which they had heard from their elder！ Jesus had said nothing of delivering them from the Romans。 They had heard of His miracles； and had hoped that His power would be exercised for their advantage； but they had seen no indication of such purpose。
As they opened the door to doubt； their hearts became so much the harder for having been momentarily softened。 Satan was determined that blind eyes should not that day be opened； nor souls bound in slavery be set at liberty。 With intense energy he worked to fasten them in unbelief。 They made no account of the sign already given； when they had been stirred by the conviction that it was their Redeemer who addressed them。
But Jesus now gave them an evidence of His divinity by revealing their secret thoughts。 〃He said unto them； Doubtless ye will say unto Me this parable； Physician； heal thyself： whatsoever we have heard done at Capernaum； do also here in Thine own country。 And He said； Verily I say unto you； No prophet is acceptable in his own country。 But of a truth I say unto you； There were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah； when the heaven was shut up three years and six months； when there came a great famine over all the land； and unto none of them was Elijah sent； but only to Zarephath； in the land of Sidon； unto a woman that was a widow。 And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet； and none of them was cleansed； but only Naaman； the Syrian。〃 Luke 4：23…27； R。 V。
By this relation of events in the lives of the prophets； Jesus met the questionings of His hearers。 The servants whom God had chosen for a special work were not allowed to labor for a hardhearted and unbelieving people。 But those who had hearts to feel and faith to believe were especially favored with evidences of His power through the prophets。 In the days of Elijah； Israel had departed from God。 They clung to their sins； and rejected the warnings of the Spirit through the Lord's messengers。 Thus they cut themselves off from the channel by which God's blessing could come to them。 The Lord passed by the homes of Israel； and found a refuge for His servant in a heathen land； with a woman who did not belong to the chosen people。 But this woman was favored because she had followed the light she had received； and her heart was open to the greater light that God sent her through His prophet。
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It was for the same reason that in Elisha's time the lepers of Israel were passed by。 But Naaman； a heathen nobleman； had been faithful to his convictions of right； and had felt his great need of help。 He was in a condition to receive the gifts of God's grace。 He was not only cleansed from his leprosy； but blessed with a knowledge of the true God。
Our standing before God depends； not upon the amount of light we have received； but upon the use we make of what we have。 Thus even the heathen who choose the right as far as they can distinguish it are in a more favorable condition than are those who have had great light； and profess to serve God； but who disregard the light； and by their daily life contradict their profession。
The words of Jesus to His hearers in the synagogue struck at the root of their self…righteousness； pressing home upon them the bitter truth that they had departed from God and forfeited their claim to be His people。 Every word cut like a knife as their real condition was set before them。 They now scorned the faith with which Jesus had at first inspired them。 They would not admit that He who had sprung from poverty and lowliness was other than a common man。
Their unbelief bred malice。 Satan controlled them； and in wrath they cried out against the Saviour。 They had turned from Him whose mission
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it was to heal and restore； now they manifested the attributes of the destroyer。
When Jesus referred to the blessings given to the Gentiles； the fierce national pride of His hearers was aroused； and His words were drowned in a tumult of voices。 These people had prided themselves on keeping the law； but now that their prejudices were offended； they were ready to commit murder。 The assembly broke up； and laying hands upon Jesus； they thrust Him from the synagogue； and out of the city。 All seemed eager for His destruction。 They hurried Him to the brow of a precipice； intending to cast Him down headlong。 Shouts and maledictions filled the air。 Some were casting stones at Him； when suddenly He disappeared from among them。 The heavenly messengers who had been by His side in the synagogue were with Him in the midst of that maddened throng。 They shut Him in from His enemies； and conducted Him to a place of safety。
So angels protected Lot； and led him out safely from the midst of Sodom。 So they protected Elisha in the little mountain city。 When the encircling hills were filled with the horses and chariots of the king of Syria； and the great host of his armed men； Elisha beheld the nearer hill slopes covered with the armies of God；horses and chariots of fire round about the servant of the Lord。
So； in all ages； angels have been near to Christ's faithful followers。 The vast
