the desire of ages-第78章

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to　avoid　this　that　He　chose　to　make　the　journey　alone。

In　the　midst　of　the　feast；　when　the　excitement　concerning　Him　was　at　its　height；　He　entered　the　court　of　the　temple　in　the　presence　of　the　multitude。　Because　of　His　absence　from　the　feast；　it　had　been　urged　that　He　dared　not　place　Himself　in　the　power　of　the　priests　and　rulers。　All　were　surprised　at　His　presence。　Every　voice　was　hushed。　All　wondered　at　the　dignity　and　courage　of　His　bearing　in　the　midst　of　powerful　enemies　who　were　thirsting　for　His　life。

Standing　thus；　the　center　of　attraction　to　that　vast　throng；　Jesus　addressed　them　as　no　man　had　ever　done。　His　words　showed　a　knowledge

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of　the　laws　and　institutions　of　Israel；　of　the　sacrificial　service　and　the　teachings　of　the　prophets；　far　exceeding　that　of　the　priests　and　rabbis。　He　broke　through　the　barriers　of　formalism　and　tradition。　The　scenes　of　the　future　life　seemed　outspread　before　Him。　As　one　who　beheld　the　Unseen；　He　spoke　of　the　earthly　and　the　heavenly；　the　human　and　the　divine；　with　positive　authority。　His　words　were　most　clear　and　convincing；　and　again；　as　at　Capernaum；　the　people　were　astonished　at　His　teaching；　〃for　His　word　was　with　power。〃　Luke　4：32。　Under　a　variety　of　representations　He　warned　His　hearers　of　the　calamity　that　would　follow　all　who　rejected　the　blessings　He　came　to　bring　them。　He　had　given　them　every　possible　proof　that　He　came　forth　from　God；　and　made　every　possible　effort　to　bring　them　to　repentance。　He　would　not　be　rejected　and　murdered　by　His　own　nation　if　He　could　save　them　from　the　guilt　of　such　a　deed。

All　wondered　at　His　knowledge　of　the　law　and　the　prophecies；　and　the　question　passed　from　one　to　another；　〃How　knoweth　this　Man　letters；　having　never　learned？〃　No　one　was　regarded　as　qualified　to　be　a　religious　teacher　unless　he　had　studied　in　the　rabbinical　schools；　and　both　Jesus　and　John　the　Baptist　had　been　represented　as　ignorant　because　they　had　not　received　this　training。　Those　who　heard　them　were　astonished　at　their　knowledge　of　the　Scriptures；　〃having　never　learned。〃　Of　men　they　had　not；　truly；　but　the　God　of　heaven　was　their　teacher；　and　from　Him　they　had　received　the　highest　kind　of　wisdom。

As　Jesus　spoke　in　the　temple　court；　the　people　were　held　spellbound。　The　very　men　who　were　the　most　violent　against　Him　felt　themselves　powerless　to　do　Him　harm。　For　the　time；　all　other　interests　were　forgotten。

Day　after　day　He　taught　the　people；　until　the　last；　〃that　great　day　of　the　feast。〃　The　morning　of　this　day　found　the　people　wearied　from　the　long　season　of　festivity。　Suddenly　Jesus　lifted　up　His　voice；　in　tones　that　rang　through　the　courts　of　the　temple：

〃If　any　man　thirst；　let　him　come　unto　Me；　and　drink。　He　that　believeth　on　Me；　as　the　scripture　hath　said；　out　of　his　belly　shall　flow　rivers　of　living　water。〃　The　condition　of　the　people　made　this　appeal　very　forcible。　They　had　been　engaged　in　a　continued　scene　of　pomp　and　festivity；　their　eyes　had　been　dazzled　with　light　and　color；　and　their　ears　regaled　with　the　richest　music；　but　there　had　been　nothing　in　all　this　round　of　ceremonies　to　meet　the　wants　of　the　spirit；　nothing　to

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satisfy　the　thirst　of　the　soul　for　that　which　perishes　not。　Jesus　invited　them　to　come　and　drink　of　the　fountain　of　life；　of　that　which　would　be　in　them　a　well　of　water；　springing　up　unto　everlasting　life。

The　priest　had　that　morning　performed　the　ceremony　which　commemorated　the　smiting　of　the　rock　in　the　wilderness。　That　rock　was　a　symbol　of　Him　who　by　His　death　would　cause　living　streams　of　salvation　to　flow　to　all　who　are　athirst。　Christ's　words　were　the　water　of　life。　There　in　the　presence　of　the　assembled　multitude　He　set　Himself　apart　to　be　smitten；　that　the　water　of　life　might　flow　to　the　world。　In　smiting　Christ；　Satan　thought　to　destroy　the　Prince　of　life；　but　from　the　smitten　rock　there　flowed　living　water。　As　Jesus　thus　spoke　to　the　people；　their　hearts　thrilled　with　a　strange　awe；　and　many　were　ready　to　exclaim；　with　the　woman　of　Samaria；　〃Give　me　this　water；　that　I　thirst　not。〃　John　4：15。

Jesus　knew　the　wants　of　the　soul。　Pomp；　riches；　and　honor　cannot　satisfy　the　heart。　〃If　any　man　thirst；　let　him　come　unto　Me。〃　The　rich；　the　poor；　the　high；　the　low；　are　alike　welcome。　He　promises　to　relieve　the　burdened　mind；　to　comfort　the　sorrowing；　and　to　give　hope　to　the　despondent。　Many　of　those　who　heard　Jesus　were　mourners　over　disappointed　hopes；　many　were　nourishing　a　secret　grief；　many　were　seeking　to　satisfy　their　restless　longing　with　the　things　of　the　world　and　the　praise　of　men；　but　when　all　was　gained；　they　found　that　they　had　toiled　only　to　reach　a　broken　cistern；　from　which　they　could　not　quench　their　thirst。　Amid　the　glitter　of　the　joyous　scene　they　stood；　dissatisfied　and　sad。　That　sudden　cry；　〃If　any　man　thirst；〃　startled　them　from　their　sorrowful　meditation；　and　as　they　listened　to　the　words　that　followed；　their　minds　kindled　with　a　new　hope。　The　Holy　Spirit　presented　the　symbol　before　them　until　they　saw　in　it　the　offer　of　the　priceless　gift　of　salvation。

The　cry　of　Christ　to　the　thirsty　soul　is　still　going　forth；　and　it　appeals　to　us　with　even　greater　power　than　to　those　who　heard　it　in　the　temple　on　that　last　day　of　the　feast。　The　fountain　is　open　for　all。　The　weary　and　exhausted　ones　are　offered　the　refreshing　draught　of　eternal　life。　Jesus　is　still　crying；　〃If　any　man　thirst；　let　him　come　unto　Me；　and　drink。〃　〃Let　him　that　is　athirst　come。　And　whosoever　will；　let　him　take　the　water　of　life　freely。〃　〃Whosoever　drinketh　of　the　water　that　I　shall　give　him　shall　never　thirst；　but　the　water　that　I　shall　give　him　shall　be　in　him　a　well　of　water　springing　up　into　everlasting　life。〃　Rev。　22：17；　John　4：14。




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　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Chapter　50

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Among　Snares


All　the　while　Jesus　was　at　Jerusalem　during　the　feast　He　was　shadowed　by　spies。　Day　after　day　new　schemes　to　silence　Him　were　tried。　The　priests　and　rulers　were　watching　to　entrap　Him。　They　were　planning　to　stop　Him　by　violence。　But　this　was　not　all。　They　wanted　to　humble　this　Galilean　rabbi　before　the　people。

On　the　first　day　of　His　presence　at　the　feast；　the　rulers　had　come　to　Him；　demanding　by　what　authority　He　taught。　They　wished　to　divert　attention　from　Him　to　the　question　of　His　right　to　teach；　and　thus　to　their　own　importance　and　authority。

〃My　teaching　is　not　Mine；〃　said　Jesus；　〃but　His　that　sent　Me。　If　any　man　willeth　to　do　His　will；　he　shall　know　of　the　teaching；　whether　it　be　of　God；　or　whether　I　speak　from　Myself。〃　John　7：16；　17；　R。　V。　The　question　of　these　cavilers　Jesus　met；　not　by　answering　the　cavil；　but　by　opening　up　truth　vital　to　the　salvation　of　the　soul。　The　perception　and　appreciation　of　truth；　He　said；　depends　less　upon　the　mind　than　upon　the　heart。　Truth　must　be　received　into　the　soul；　it　claims　the　homage　of　the　will。　If　truth　could　be　submitted　to　the　reason　alone；　pride　would　be　no　hindrance　in　the　way　of　its　reception。　But　it　is　to　be　received　through　the　work　of　grace　in　the　heart；　and　its　reception　depends　upon　the　renunciation　of　every　sin　that　the　Spirit　of　God　reveals。　Man's　advantages　for　obtaining　a　knowledge　of　the　truth；　however　great　these　may　be；　will　prove　of　no　benefit　to　him　unless　the　heart　is　open　to　receive

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the　truth；　and　there　is　a　conscientious　surrender　of　every　habit　and　practice　that　is　opposed　to　its　principles。　To　those　who　thus　yield　themselves　to　God；　having　an　honest　desire　to　know　and　to　do　His　will；　the　truth　is　revealed　as　the　power　of　God　for　their　salvation。　These　will　be　able　to　distinguish　between　him　who　speaks　for　God；　and　him　who　speaks　merely　from　himself。　The　Pharisees　had　not　put　their　will　on　the　side　of　God's　will。　They　were　not　seeking　to　know　the　truth；　but　to　find　some　excuse　for　evading　it；　Christ　showed　that　this　was　why　they　did　not　understand　His　teaching。

He　now　gave　a　test　by　which　the　true　teacher　might　be　distinguished　from　the　deceiver：　〃He　that　speaketh　from　himself　seeketh　his　own　glory：　but　he　that　seeketh　the　glory　of　Him　that　sent　him；　the　same　is　true；　and　no　unrighteousness　is　in　him。〃　John　7：18；　R。　V。　He　that　seeketh　his　own　glory　is　speaking　only　from　himself。　The　spirit　of　self…seeking　betrays　its　origin。　But　Christ　was　seeking　the　glory　of　God。　He　spoke　the　words　of　God。　This　was　the　evidence　of　His　authority　as　a　teacher　of　the　truth。

Jesus　gave　the　rabbis　an　evidence　of　His　divinity　by　showing　that　He　read　their　hearts。　Ever　since　the　healing　at　Bethesda　they　had　been　plotting　His　death。　Thus　they　were　themselves　breaking　the　law　which　they　professed　to　be　defending。　〃Did　not　Moses　give　you　the　law；〃　He　said；　〃and　yet　none　of　you　keepeth　the　law？　Why　go　ye　about　to　kill　Me？〃

Like　a　swift　flash　of　light　these　words　revealed　to　the　rabbis　the　pit　of　ruin　into　which　they　were　about　to　plunge。　For　an　instant　they　were　filled　with　terror。　They　saw　that　they　were　in　conflict　with　Infinite　Power。　But　they　would　not　be　warned。　In　order　to　maintain　their　influence　with　the　people；　their　murderous　designs　must　be　concealed。　Evading　the　question　of　Jesus；　they　exclaimed；　〃Thou　hast　a　devil：　who　goeth　about　to　kill　Thee？〃　They　insinuated　that　the　wonderful　works　of　Jesus　were　instigated　by　an　evil　spirit。

To　this　insinuation　Christ　gave　no　heed。　He　went　on　to　show　that　His　work　of　healing　at　Bethesda　was　in　harmony　with　the　Sabbath　law；　and　that　it　was　justified　by　the　interpretation　which　the　Jews　themselves　put　upon　the　law。　He　said；　〃Moses　therefore　gave　unto　you　circumcision；　。　。　。　and　ye　on　the　Sabbath　day　circumcise　a　man。〃　According　to　the　law；　every　child　must　be　circumcised　on　the　eighth　day。　Should　the　appointed　time　fall　upon　the　Sabbath；　the　rite　must　then　be　performed。　How　much　more　must　it　be　in　harmony　with　the

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spirit　of　the　law　to　make　a　man　〃every　whit　whole　on　the　Sabbath　day。〃　And　He　warned　them　to　〃judge　not　according　to　the　appearance；　but　judge　righteous　judgment。〃

The　rulers　were　silenced；　and　many　of　the　people　exclaimed；　〃Is　not　this　He；　whom　they　seek　to　kill？　But；　lo；　He　speaketh　boldly；　and　they　say　nothing　unto　Him。　Do　the　rulers　know　indeed　that　this　is　the　very　Christ？〃

Many　among　Christ's　hearers　who　were　dwellers　at　Jerusalem；　and　who　were　not　ignorant　of　the　plots　of　the　rulers　against　Him；　felt　themselves　drawn　to　Him　by　an　irresistible　power。　The　conviction　pressed　upon　them　that　He　was　the　Son　of　God。　But　Satan　was　ready　to　suggest　doubt；　and　for　this　the　way　was　prepared　by　their　own　erroneous　ideas　of　the　Messiah　and　His　coming。　It　was　generally　believed　that　Christ　would　be　born　at　Bethlehem；　but　that　after　a　time　He　would　disappear；　and　at　His　second　appearance　none　would　know　whence　He　came。　There　were　not　a　few　who　held　that　the　Messiah　would　have　no　natural　relationship　to　humanity。　And　because　the　popular　conception　of　the　glory　of　the　Messiah　was　not　met　by　Jesus　of　Nazareth；　many　gave　heed　to　the　suggestion；　〃Howbeit　we　know　this　Man　whence　He　is：　but　when　Christ　cometh；　no　man　knoweth　whence　He　is。〃

While　they　were　th