the desire of ages-第65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！


　as　in　utter　self…distrust　he　should　rely　upon　the　Saviour。　It　was　on　the　point　where　he　thought　himself　strong　that　Peter　was　weak；　and　not　until　he　discerned　his　weakness　could　he　realize　his　need　of　dependence　upon　Christ。　Had　he　learned　the　lesson　that　Jesus　sought　to　teach　him　in　that　experience　on　the　sea；　he　would　not　have　failed　when　the　great　test　came　upon　him。

Day　by　day　God　instructs　His　children。　By　the　circumstances　of　the　daily　life　He　is　preparing　them　to　act　their　part　upon　that　wider　stage　to　which　His　providence　has　appointed　them。　It　is　the　issue　of　the　daily　test　that　determines　their　victory　or　defeat　in　life's　great　crisis。

Those　who　fail　to　realize　their　constant　dependence　upon　God　will　be　overcome　by　temptation。　We　may　now　suppose　that　our　feet　stand　secure；　and　that　we　shall　never　be　moved。　We　may　say　with　confidence；　〃I　know　in　whom　I　have　believed；　nothing　can　shake　my　faith　in　God　and　in　His　word。〃　But　Satan　is　planning　to　take　advantage　of　our　hereditary　and　cultivated　traits　of　character；　and　to　blind　our　eyes　to　our　own　necessities　and　defects。　Only　through　realizing　our　own　weakness　and　looking　steadfastly　unto　Jesus　can　we　walk　securely。

No　sooner　had　Jesus　taken　His　place　in　the　boat　than　the　wind　ceased；　〃and　immediately　the　ship　was　at　the　land　whither　they　went。〃　The　night　of　horror　was　succeeded　by　the　light　of　dawn。　The　disciples；　and　others　who　also　were　on　board；　bowed　at　the　feet　of　Jesus　with　thankful　hearts；　saying；　〃Of　a　truth　Thou　art　the　Son　of　God！〃




　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　（383）

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Chapter　41

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　The　Crisis　in　Galilee


When　Christ　forbade　the　people　to　declare　Him　king；　He　knew　that　a　turning　point　in　His　history　was　reached。　Multitudes　who　desired　to　exalt　Him　to　the　throne　today　would　turn　from　Him　tomorrow。　The　disappointment　of　their　selfish　ambition　would　turn　their　love　to　hatred；　and　their　praise　to　curses。　Yet　knowing　this；　He　took　no　measures　to　avert　the　crisis。　From　the　first　He　had　held　out　to　His　followers　no　hope　of　earthly　rewards。　To　one　who　came　desiring　to　become　His　disciple　He　had　said；　〃The　foxes　have　holes；　and　the　birds　of　the　air　have　nests；　but　the　Son　of　man　hath　not　where　to　lay　His　head。〃　Matt。　8：20。　If　men　could　have　had　the　world　with　Christ；　multitudes　would　have　proffered　Him　their　allegiance；　but　such　service　He　could　not　accept。　Of　those　now　connected　with　Him　there　were　many　who　had　been　attracted　by　the　hope　of　a　worldly　kingdom。　These　must　be　undeceived。　The　deep　spiritual　teaching　in　the　miracle　of　the　loaves　had　not　been　comprehended。　This　was　to　be　made　plain。　And　this　new　revelation　would　bring　with　it　a　closer　test。

The　miracle　of　the　loaves　was　reported　far　and　near；　and　very　early　next　morning　the　people　flocked　to　Bethsaida　to　see　Jesus。　They　came　in　great　numbers；　by　land　and　sea。　Those　who　had　left　Him　the　preceding　night　returned；　expecting　to　find　Him　still　there；　for　there　had　been　no　boat　by　which　He　could　pass　to　the　other　side。　But　their　search　was　fruitless；　and　many　repaired　to　Capernaum；　still　seeking　Him。

384


Meanwhile　He　had　arrived　at　Gennesaret；　after　an　absence　of　but　one　day。　As　soon　as　it　was　known　that　He　had　landed；　the　people　〃ran　through　that　whole　region　round　about；　and　began　to　carry　about　in　beds　those　that　were　sick；　where　they　heard　He　was。〃　Mark　6：55。

After　a　time　He　went　to　the　synagogue；　and　there　those　who　had　come　from　Bethsaida　found　Him。　They　learned　from　His　disciples　how　He　had　crossed　the　sea。　The　fury　of　the　storm；　and　the　many　hours　of　fruitless　rowing　against　adverse　winds；　the　appearance　of　Christ　walking　upon　the　water；　the　fears　thus　aroused；　His　reassuring　words；　the　adventure　of　Peter　and　its　result；　with　the　sudden　stilling　of　the　tempest　and　landing　of　the　boat；　were　all　faithfully　recounted　to　the　wondering　crowd。　Not　content　with　this；　however；　many　gathered　about　Jesus；　questioning；　〃Rabbi；　when　camest　Thou　hither？〃　They　hoped　to　receive　from　His　own　lips　a　further　account　of　the　miracle。

Jesus　did　not　gratify　their　curiosity。　He　sadly　said；　〃Ye　seek　Me；　not　because　ye　saw　the　miracles；　but　because　ye　did　eat　of　the　loaves；　and　were　filled。〃　They　did　not　seek　Him　from　any　worthy　motive；　but　as　they　had　been　fed　with　the　loaves；　they　hoped　still　to　receive　temporal　benefit　by　attaching　themselves　to　Him。　The　Saviour　bade　them；　〃Labor　not　for　the　meat　which　perisheth；　but　for　that　meat　which　endureth　unto

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　385

everlasting　life。〃　Seek　not　merely　for　material　benefit。　Let　it　not　be　the　chief　effort　to　provide　for　the　life　that　now　is；　but　seek　for　spiritual　food；　even　that　wisdom　which　will　endure　unto　everlasting　life。　This　the　Son　of　God　alone　can　give；　〃for　Him　hath　God　the　Father　sealed。〃

For　the　moment　the　interest　of　the　hearers　was　awakened。　They　exclaimed；　〃What　shall　we　do；　that　we　might　work　the　works　of　God？〃　They　had　been　performing　many　and　burdensome　works　in　order　to　recommend　themselves　to　God；　and　they　were　ready　to　hear　of　any　new　observance　by　which　they　could　secure　greater　merit。　Their　question　meant；　What　shall　we　do　that　we　may　deserve　heaven？　What　is　the　price　we　are　required　to　pay　in　order　to　obtain　the　life　to　come？

〃Jesus　answered　and　said　unto　them；　This　is　the　work　of　God；　that　ye　believe　on　Him　whom　He　hath　sent。〃　The　price　of　heaven　is　Jesus。　The　way　to　heaven　is　through　faith　in　〃the　Lamb　of　God；　which　taketh　away　the　sin　of　the　world。〃　John　1：29。

But　the　people　did　not　choose　to　receive　this　statement　of　divine　truth。　Jesus　had　done　the　very　work　which　prophecy　had　foretold　that　the　Messiah　would　do；　but　they　had　not　witnessed　what　their　selfish　hopes　had　pictured　as　His　work。　Christ　had　indeed　once　fed　the　multitude　with　barley　loaves；　but　in　the　days　of　Moses　Israel　had　been　fed　with　manna　forty　years；　and　far　greater　blessings　were　expected　from　the　Messiah。　Their　dissatisfied　hearts　queried　why；　if　Jesus　could　perform　so　many　wondrous　works　as　they　had　witnessed；　could　He　not　give　health；　strength；　and　riches　to　all　His　people；　free　them　from　their　oppressors；　and　exalt　them　to　power　and　honor？　The　fact　that　He　claimed　to　be　the　Sent　of　God；　and　yet　refused　to　be　Israel's　king；　was　a　mystery　which　they　could　not　fathom。　His　refusal　was　misinterpreted。　Many　concluded　that　He　dared　not　assert　His　claims　because　He　Himself　doubted　as　to　the　divine　character　of　His　mission。　Thus　they　opened　their　hearts　to　unbelief；　and　the　seed　which　Satan　had　sown　bore　fruit　of　its　kind；　in　misunderstanding　and　defection。

Now；　half　mockingly；　a　rabbi　questioned；　〃What　sign　showest　Thou　then；　that　we　may　see；　and　believe　Thee？　what　dost　Thou　work？　Our　fathers　did　eat　manna　in　the　desert；　as　it　is　written；　He　gave　them　bread　from　heaven　to　eat。〃

The　Jews　honored　Moses　as　the　giver　of　the　manna；　ascribing　praise　to　the　instrument；　and　losing　sight　of　Him　by　whom　the　work　had　been　accomplished。　Their　fathers　had　murmured　against　Moses；　and　had　doubted　and　denied　his　divine　mission。　Now　in　the　same　spirit　the

386

children　rejected　the　One　who　bore　the　message　of　God　to　themselves。　〃Then　said　Jesus　unto　them；　Verily；　verily；　I　say　unto　you；　Moses　gave　you　not　that　bread　from　heaven。〃　The　giver　of　the　manna　was　standing　among　them。　It　was　Christ　Himself　who　had　led　the　Hebrews　through　the　wilderness；　and　had　daily　fed　them　with　the　bread　from　heaven。　That　food　was　a　type　of　the　real　bread　from　heaven。　The　life…giving　Spirit；　flowing　from　the　infinite　fullness　of　God；　is　the　true　manna。　Jesus　said；　〃The　bread　of　God　is　that　which　cometh　down　out　of　heaven；　and　giveth　life　unto　the　world。〃　John　6：33；　R。　V。

Still　thinking　that　it　was　temporal　food　to　which　Jesus　referred；　some　of　His　hearers　exclaimed；　〃Lord；　evermore　give　us　this　bread。〃　Jesus　then　spoke　plainly：　〃I　am　the　bread　of　life。〃

The　figure　which　Christ　used　was　a　familiar　one　to　the　Jews。　Moses；　by　the　inspiration　of　the　Holy　Spirit；　had　said；　〃Man　doth　not　live　by　bread　only；　but　by　every　word　that　proceedeth　out　of　the　mouth　of　the　Lord。〃　And　the　prophet　Jeremiah　had　written；　〃Thy　words　were　found；　and　I　did　eat　them；　and　Thy　word　was　unto　me　the　joy　and　rejoicing　of　mine　heart。〃　Deut。　8：3；　Jer。　15：16。　The　rabbis　themselves　had　a　saying；　that　the　eating　of　bread；　in　its　spiritual　significance；　was　the　study　of　the　law　and　the　practice　of　good　works；　and　it　was　often　said　that　at　the　Messiah's　coming　all　Israel　would　be　fed。　The　teaching　of　the　prophets　made　plain　the　deep　spiritual　lesson　in　the　miracle　of　the　loaves。　This　lesson　Christ　was　seeking　to　open　to　His　hearers　in　the　synagogue。　Had　they　understood　the　Scriptures；　they　would　have　understood　His　words　when　He　said；　〃I　am　the　bread　of　life。〃　Only　the　day　before；　the　great　multitude；　when　faint　and　weary；　had　been　fed　by　the　bread　which　He　had　given。　As　from　that　bread　they　had　received　physical　strength　and　refreshment；　so　from　Christ　they　might　receive　spiritual　strength　unto　eternal　life。　〃He　that　cometh　to　Me；〃　He　said；　〃shall　never　hunger；　and　he　that　believeth　on　Me　shall　never　thirst。〃　But　He　added；　〃Ye　also　have　seen　Me；　and　believe　not。〃

They　had　seen　Christ　by　the　witness　of　the　Holy　Spirit；　by　the　revelation　of　God　to　their　souls。　The　living　evidences　of　His　power　had　been　before　them　day　after　day；　yet　they　asked　for　still　another　sign。　Had　this　been　given；　they　would　have　remained　as　unbelieving　as　before。　If　they　were　not　convinced　by　what　they　had　seen　and　heard；　it　was　useless　to　show　them　more　marvelous　works。　Unbelief　will　ever　find　excuse　for　doubt；　and　will　reason　away　the　most　positive　proof。

Again　Christ　appealed　to　those　stubborn　hearts。　〃Him　that　cometh

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　387

to　Me　I　will　in　nowise　cast　out。〃　All　who　received　Him　in　faith；　He　said；　should　have　eternal　life。　Not　one　could　be　lost。　No　need　for　Pharisees　and　Sadducees　to　dispute　concerning　the　future　life。　No　longer　need　men　mourn　in　hopeless　grief　over　their　dead。　〃This　is　the　will　of　Him　that　sent　Me；　that　everyone　which　seeth　the　Son；　and　believeth　on　Him；　may　have　everlasting　life：　and　I　will　raise　him　up　at　the　last　day。〃

But　the　leaders　of　the　people　were　offended；　〃and　they　said；　Is　not　this　Jesus；　the　son　of　Joseph；　whose　father　and　mother　we　know？　how　is　it　then　that　He　saith；　I　came　down　from　heaven？〃　They　tried　to　arouse　prejudice　by　referring　scornfully　to　the　lowly　origin　of　Jesus。　They　contemptuously　alluded　to　His　life　as　a　Galilean　laborer；　and　to　His　family　as　being　poor　and　lowly。　The　claims　of　this　uneducated　carpenter；　they　said；　were　unworthy　of　their　attention。　And　on　account　of　His　mysterious　birth　they　insinuated　that　He　was　of　doubtful　parentage；　thus　representing　the　human　circumstances　of　His　birth　as　a　blot　upon　His　history。

Jesus　did　not　attempt　to　explain　the　mystery　of　His　birth。　He　made　no　answer　to　the　questionings　in　regard　to　His　having　come　down　from　heaven；　as　He　had　made　none　to　the　questions　concerning　His　crossing　the　sea。　He　did　not　call　attention　to　the　miracles　that　marked　His　life。　Voluntarily　He　had　made　Himself　of　no　reputation；　and　take