the desire of ages-第75章

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esus　would　pay　the　tribute；　he　had　virtually　sanctioned　the　false　conception　of　Him　to　which　the　priests　and　rulers　were　trying　to　give　currency。

When　Peter　entered　the　house；　the　Saviour　made　no　reference　to　what　had　taken　place；　but　inquired；　〃What　thinkest　thou；　Simon？　of　whom　do　the　kings　of　the　earth　take　custom　or　tribute？　of　their　own　children；　or　of　strangers？〃　Peter　answered；　〃Of　strangers。〃　And　Jesus　said；　〃Then　are　the　children　free。〃　While　the　people　of　a　country　are　taxed　for　the　maintenance　of　their　king；　the　monarch's　own　children　are　exempt。　So　Israel；　the　professed　people　of　God；　were　required　to

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maintain　His　service；　but　Jesus；　the　Son　of　God；　was　under　no　such　obligation。　If　priests　and　Levites　were　exempt　because　of　their　connection　with　the　temple；　how　much　more　He　to　whom　the　temple　was　His　Father's　house。

If　Jesus　had　paid　the　tribute　without　a　protest；　He　would　virtually　have　acknowledged　the　justice　of　the　claim；　and　would　thus　have　denied　His　divinity。　But　while　He　saw　good　to　meet　the　demand；　He　denied　the　claim　upon　which　it　was　based。　In　providing　for　the　payment　of　the　tribute　He　gave　evidence　of　His　divine　character。　It　was　made　manifest　that　He　was　one　with　God；　and　therefore　was　not　under　tribute　as　a　mere　subject　of　the　kingdom。

〃Go　thou　to　the　sea；〃　He　directed　Peter；　〃and　cast　an　hook；　and　take　up　the　fish　that　first　cometh　up；　and　when　thou　hast　opened　his　mouth；　thou　shalt　find　a　piece　of　money：　that　take；　and　give　unto　them　for　Me　and　thee。〃

Though　He　had　clothed　His　divinity　with　humanity；　in　this　miracle　He　revealed　His　glory。　It　was　evident　that　this　was　He　who　through　David　had　declared；　〃Every　beast　of　the　forest　is　Mine；　and　the　cattle　upon　a　thousand　hills。　I　know　all　the　fowls　of　the　mountains；　and　the　wild　beasts　of　the　field　are　Mine。　If　I　were　hungry；　I　would　not　tell　thee：　for　the　world　is　Mine；　and　the　fullness　thereof。〃　Ps。　50：10…12。

While　Jesus　made　it　plain　that　He　was　under　no　obligation　to　pay　the　tribute；　He　entered　into　no　controversy　with　the　Jews　in　regard　to　the　matter；　for　they　would　have　misinterpreted　His　words；　and　turned　them　against　Him。　Lest　He　should　give　offense　by　withholding　the　tribute；　He　did　that　which　He　could　not　justly　be　required　to　do。　This　lesson　would　be　of　great　value　to　His　disciples。　Marked　changes　were　soon　to　take　place　in　their　relation　to　the　temple　service；　and　Christ　taught　them　not　to　place　themselves　needlessly　in　antagonism　to　established　order。　So　far　as　possible；　they　were　to　avoid　giving　occasion　for　misinterpretation　of　their　faith。　While　Christians　are　not　to　sacrifice　one　principle　of　truth；　they　should　avoid　controversy　whenever　it　is　possible　to　do　so。

When　Christ　and　the　disciples　were　alone　in　the　house；　while　Peter　was　gone　to　the　sea；　Jesus　called　the　others　to　Him；　and　asked；　〃What　was　it　that　ye　disputed　among　yourselves　by　the　way？〃　The　presence　of　Jesus；　and　His　question；　put　the　matter　in　an　entirely　different　light　from　that　in　which　it　had　appeared　to　them　while　they　were　contending

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by　the　way。　Shame　and　self…condemnation　kept　them　silent。　Jesus　had　told　them　that　He　was　to　die　for　their　sake；　and　their　selfish　ambition　was　in　painful　contrast　to　His　unselfish　love。

When　Jesus　told　them　that　He　was　to　be　put　to　death　and　to　rise　again；　He　was　trying　to　draw　them　into　conversation　in　regard　to　the　great　test　of　their　faith。　Had　they　been　ready　to　receive　what　He　desired　to　make　known　to　them；　they　would　have　been　saved　bitter　anguish　and　despair。　His　words　would　have　brought　consolation　in　the　hour　of　bereavement　and　disappointment。　But　although　He　had　spoken　so　plainly　of　what　awaited　Him；　His　mention　of　the　fact　that　He　was　soon　to　go　to　Jerusalem　again　kindled　their　hope　that　the　kingdom　was　about　to　be　set　up。　This　had　led　to　questioning　as　to　who　should　fill　the　highest　offices。　On　Peter's　return　from　the　sea；　the　disciples　told　him　of　the　Saviour's　question；　and　at　last　one　ventured　to　ask　Jesus；　〃Who　is　the　greatest　in　the　kingdom　of　heaven？〃

The　Saviour　gathered　His　disciples　about　Him；　and　said　to　them；　〃If　any　man　desire　to　be　first；　the　same　shall　be　last　of　all；　and　servant　of　all。〃　There　was　in　these　words　a　solemnity　and　impressiveness　which　the　disciples　were　far　from　comprehending。　That　which　Christ　discerned　they　could　not　see。　They　did　not　understand　the　nature　of　Christ's　kingdom；　and　this　ignorance　was　the　apparent　cause　of　their　contention。　But　the　real　cause　lay　deeper。　By　explaining　the　nature　of　the　kingdom；　Christ　might　for　the　time　have　quelled　their　strife；　but　this　would　not　have　touched　the　underlying　cause。　Even　after　they　had　received　the　fullest　knowledge；　any　question　of　precedence　might　have　renewed　the　trouble。　Thus　disaster　would　have　been　brought　to　the　church　after　Christ's　departure。　The　strife　for　the　highest　place　was　the　outworking　of　that　same　spirit　which　was　the　beginning　of　the　great　controversy　in　the　worlds　above；　and　which　had　brought　Christ　from　heaven　to　die。　There　rose　up　before　Him　a　vision　of　Lucifer；　the　〃son　of　the　morning；〃　in　glory　surpassing　all　the　angels　that　surround　the　throne；　and　united　in　closest　ties　to　the　Son　of　God。　Lucifer　had　said；　〃I　will　be　like　the　Most　High〃　（Isa。　14：12；　14）；　and　the　desire　for　self…exaltation　had　brought　strife　into　the　heavenly　courts；　and　had　banished　a　multitude　of　the　hosts　of　God。　Had　Lucifer　really　desired　to　be　like　the　Most　High；　he　would　never　have　deserted　his　appointed　place　in　heaven；　for　the　spirit　of　the　Most　High　is　manifested　in　unselfish　ministry。　Lucifer　desired　God's　power；　but　not　His　character。　He　sought　for　himself　the　highest

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place；　and　every　being　who　is　actuated　by　his　spirit　will　do　the　same。　Thus　alienation；　discord；　and　strife　will　be　inevitable。　Dominion　becomes　the　prize　of　the　strongest。　The　kingdom　of　Satan　is　a　kingdom　of　force；　every　individual　regards　every　other　as　an　obstacle　in　the　way　of　his　own　advancement；　or　a　steppingstone　on　which　he　himself　may　climb　to　a　higher　place。

While　Lucifer　counted　it　a　thing　to　be　grasped　to　be　equal　with　God；　Christ；　the　Exalted　One；　〃made　Himself　of　no　reputation；　and　took　upon　Him　the　form　of　a　servant；　and　was　made　in　the　likeness　of　men：　and　being　found　in　fashion　as　a　man；　He　humbled　Himself；　and　became　obedient　unto　death；　even　the　death　of　the　cross。〃　Phil。　2：7；　8。　Now　the　cross　was　just　before　Him；　and　His　own　disciples　were　so　filled　with　self…seekingthe　very　principle　of　Satan's　kingdomthat　they　could　not　enter　into　sympathy　with　their　Lord；　or　even　understand　Him　as　He　spoke　of　His　humiliation　for　them。

Very　tenderly；　yet　with　solemn　emphasis；　Jesus　tried　to　correct　the　evil。　He　showed　what　is　the　principle　that　bears　sway　in　the　kingdom　of　heaven；　and　in　what　true　greatness　consists；　as　estimated　by　the　standard　of　the　courts　above。　Those　who　were　actuated　by　pride　and　love　of　distinction　were　thinking　of　themselves；　and　of　the　rewards　they　were　to　have；　rather　than　how　they　were　to　render　back　to　God　the　gifts　they　had　received。　They　would　have　no　place　in　the　kingdom　of　heaven；　for　they　were　identified　with　the　ranks　of　Satan。

Before　honor　is　humility。　To　fill　a　high　place　before　men；　Heaven　chooses　the　worker　who；　like　John　the　Baptist；　takes　a　lowly　place　before　God。　The　most　childlike　disciple　is　the　most　efficient　in　labor　for　God。　The　heavenly　intelligences　can　co…operate　with　him　who　is　seeking；　not　to　exalt　self；　but　to　save　souls。　He　who　feels　most　deeply　his　need　of　divine　aid　will　plead　for　it；　and　the　Holy　Spirit　will　give　unto　him　glimpses　of　Jesus　that　will　strengthen　and　uplift　the　soul。　From　communion　with　Christ　he　will　go　forth　to　work　for　those　who　are　perishing　in　their　sins。　He　is　anointed　for　his　mission；　and　he　succeeds　where　many　of　the　learned　and　intellectually　wise　would　fail。

But　when　men　exalt　themselves；　feeling　that　they　are　a　necessity　for　the　success　of　God's　great　plan；　the　Lord　causes　them　to　be　set　aside。　It　is　made　evident　that　the　Lord　is　not　dependent　upon　them。　The　work　does　not　stop　because　of　their　removal　from　it；　but　goes　forward　with　greater　power。

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It　was　not　enough　for　the　disciples　of　Jesus　to　be　instructed　as　to　the　nature　of　His　kingdom。　What　they　needed　was　a　change　of　heart　that　would　bring　them　into　harmony　with　its　principles。　Calling　a　little　child　to　Him；　Jesus　set　him　in　the　midst　of　them；　then　tenderly　folding　the　little　one　in　His　arms　He　said；　〃Except　ye　be　converted；　and　become　as　little　children；　ye　shall　not　enter　into　the　kingdom　of　heaven。〃　The　simplicity；　the　self…forgetfulness；　and　the　confiding　love　of　a　little　child　are　the　attributes　that　Heaven　values。　These　are　the　characteristics　of　real　greatness。

Again　Jesus　explained　to　the　disciples　that　His　kingdom　is　not　characterized　by　earthly　dignity　and　display。　At　the　feet　of　Jesus　all　these　distinctions　are　forgotten。　The　rich　and　the　poor；　the　learned　and　the　ignorant；　meet　together；　with　no　thought　of　caste　or　worldly　preeminence。　All　meet　as　blood…bought　souls；　alike　dependent　upon　One　who　has　redeemed　them　to　God。

The　sincere；　contrite　soul　is　precious　in　the　sight　of　God。　He　places　His　own　signet　upon　men；　not　by　their　rank；　not　by　their　wealth；　not　by　their　intellectual　greatness；　but　by　their　oneness　with　Christ。　The　Lord　of　glory　is　satisfied　with　those　who　are　meek　and　lowly　in　heart。　〃Thou　hast　also　given　me；〃　said　David；　〃the　shield　of　Thy　salvation：　。　。　。　and　Thy　gentleness〃as　an　element　in　the　human　character〃hath　made　me　great。〃　Ps。　18：35。

〃Whosoever　shall　receive　one　of　such　children　in　My　name；〃　said　Jesus；　〃receiveth　Me：　and　whosoever　shall　receive　Me；　receiveth　not　Me；　but　Him　that　sent　Me。〃　〃Thus　saith　the　Lord；　The　heaven　is　My　throne；　and　the　earth　is　My　footstool：　。　。　。　but　to　this　man　will　I　look；　even　to　him　that　is　poor　and　of　a　contrite　spirit；　and　trembleth　at　My　word。〃　Isa。　66：1；　2。

The　Saviour's　words　awakened　in　the　disciples　a　feeling　of　self…distrust。　No　one　had　been　specially　pointed　out　in　the　reply；　but　John　was　led　to　question　whether　in　one　case　his　action　had　been　right。　With　the　spirit　of　a　child　he　laid　the　matter　before　Jesus。　〃Master；〃　he　said；　〃we　saw　one　casting　out　devils　in　Thy　name；　and　he　followeth　not　us：　and　we　forbade　him；　because　he　followeth　not　us。〃

James　and　John　had　thought　that　in　checking　this　man　they　had　had　in　view　their　Lord's　honor；　they　began　to　see　that　they　were　jealous　for　their　own。　They　acknowledged　their　error；　and　accepted　the　reproof　of　Jesus；　〃Forbid　him　not：　for　there　is　no　man　which　shall　do　a　miracle　in　My　name；　that　can　lightly　speak　evil　of　Me。〃　None　who　showed

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themselves　in　any　way　friendly　to　Christ　were　to　be　repulsed。　There　were　many　who　had　been　deeply　moved　by　the　character　and　the　work　of　Christ；　and　whose　hearts　were　opening　to　Him　in　faith；　and　the　disciples；　who　could　not　read　motives；　must　be　careful　not　to　discourage　these　souls。　When　Jesus　was　no　longer　personally　among　them；　and　the　work　was　left　in　their　hands；　they　must　not　indulge　a　narrow；　exclusive　spirit；　but　manifest　the　same　far…reaching　sympathy　which　they