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the desire of ages-µÚ93ÕÂ

С˵£º the desire of ages ×ÖÊý£º ÿҳ3500×Ö

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¡¡That¡¡mighty¡¡miracle¡¡was¡¡the¡¡crowning¡¡evidence¡¡offered¡¡by¡¡God¡¡to¡¡men¡¡that¡¡He¡¡had¡¡sent¡¡His¡¡Son¡¡into¡¡the¡¡world¡¡for¡¡their¡¡salvation¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡a¡¡demonstration¡¡of¡¡divine¡¡power¡¡sufficient¡¡to¡¡convince¡¡every¡¡mind¡¡that¡¡was¡¡under¡¡the¡¡control¡¡of¡¡reason¡¡and¡¡enlightened¡¡conscience¡£¡¡Many¡¡who¡¡witnessed¡¡the¡¡resurrection¡¡of¡¡Lazarus¡¡were¡¡led¡¡to¡¡believe¡¡on¡¡Jesus¡£¡¡But¡¡the¡¡hatred¡¡of¡¡the¡¡priests¡¡against¡¡Him¡¡was¡¡intensified¡£¡¡They¡¡had¡¡rejected¡¡all¡¡lesser¡¡evidence¡¡of¡¡His¡¡divinity£»¡¡and¡¡they¡¡were¡¡only¡¡enraged¡¡at¡¡this¡¡new¡¡miracle¡£¡¡The¡¡dead¡¡had¡¡been¡¡raised¡¡in¡¡the¡¡full¡¡light¡¡of¡¡day£»¡¡and¡¡before¡¡a¡¡crowd¡¡of¡¡witnesses¡£¡¡No¡¡artifice¡¡could¡¡explain¡¡away¡¡such¡¡evidence¡£¡¡For¡¡this¡¡very¡¡reason¡¡the¡¡enmity¡¡of¡¡the¡¡priests¡¡grew¡¡deadlier¡£¡¡They¡¡were¡¡more¡¡than¡¡ever¡¡determined¡¡to¡¡put¡¡a¡¡stop¡¡to¡¡Christ's¡¡work¡£

The¡¡Sadducees£»¡¡though¡¡not¡¡favorable¡¡to¡¡Christ£»¡¡had¡¡not¡¡been¡¡so¡¡full¡¡of¡¡malignity¡¡toward¡¡Him¡¡as¡¡were¡¡the¡¡Pharisees¡£¡¡Their¡¡hatred¡¡had¡¡not¡¡been¡¡so¡¡bitter¡£¡¡But¡¡they¡¡were¡¡now¡¡thoroughly¡¡alarmed¡£¡¡They¡¡did¡¡not

538

believe¡¡in¡¡a¡¡resurrection¡¡of¡¡the¡¡dead¡£¡¡Producing¡¡so¡­called¡¡science£»¡¡they¡¡had¡¡reasoned¡¡that¡¡it¡¡would¡¡be¡¡an¡¡impossibility¡¡for¡¡a¡¡dead¡¡body¡¡to¡¡be¡¡brought¡¡to¡¡life¡£¡¡But¡¡by¡¡a¡¡few¡¡words¡¡from¡¡Christ¡¡their¡¡theory¡¡had¡¡been¡¡overthrown¡£¡¡They¡¡were¡¡shown¡¡to¡¡be¡¡ignorant¡¡both¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Scriptures¡¡and¡¡of¡¡the¡¡power¡¡of¡¡God¡£¡¡They¡¡could¡¡see¡¡no¡¡possibility¡¡of¡¡removing¡¡the¡¡impression¡¡made¡¡on¡¡the¡¡people¡¡by¡¡the¡¡miracle¡£¡¡How¡¡could¡¡men¡¡be¡¡turned¡¡away¡¡from¡¡Him¡¡who¡¡had¡¡prevailed¡¡to¡¡rob¡¡the¡¡grave¡¡of¡¡its¡¡dead£¿¡¡Lying¡¡reports¡¡were¡¡put¡¡in¡¡circulation£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡miracle¡¡could¡¡not¡¡be¡¡denied£»¡¡and¡¡how¡¡to¡¡counteract¡¡its¡¡effect¡¡they¡¡knew¡¡not¡£¡¡Thus¡¡far¡¡the¡¡Sadducees¡¡had¡¡not¡¡encouraged¡¡the¡¡plan¡¡of¡¡putting¡¡Christ¡¡to¡¡death¡£¡¡But¡¡after¡¡the¡¡resurrection¡¡of¡¡Lazarus¡¡they¡¡decided¡¡that¡¡only¡¡by¡¡His¡¡death¡¡could¡¡His¡¡fearless¡¡denunciations¡¡against¡¡them¡¡be¡¡stopped¡£

The¡¡Pharisees¡¡believed¡¡in¡¡the¡¡resurrection£»¡¡and¡¡they¡¡could¡¡not¡¡but¡¡see¡¡that¡¡this¡¡miracle¡¡was¡¡an¡¡evidence¡¡that¡¡the¡¡Messiah¡¡was¡¡among¡¡them¡£¡¡But¡¡they¡¡had¡¡ever¡¡opposed¡¡Christ's¡¡work¡£¡¡From¡¡the¡¡first¡¡they¡¡had¡¡hated¡¡Him¡¡because¡¡He¡¡had¡¡exposed¡¡their¡¡hypocritical¡¡pretensions¡£¡¡He¡¡had¡¡torn¡¡aside¡¡the¡¡cloak¡¡of¡¡rigorous¡¡rites¡¡under¡¡which¡¡their¡¡moral¡¡deformity¡¡was¡¡hidden¡£¡¡The¡¡pure¡¡religion¡¡that¡¡He¡¡taught¡¡had¡¡condemned¡¡their¡¡hollow¡¡professions¡¡of¡¡piety¡£¡¡They¡¡thirsted¡¡to¡¡be¡¡revenged¡¡upon¡¡Him¡¡for¡¡His¡¡pointed¡¡rebukes¡£¡¡They¡¡had¡¡tried¡¡to¡¡provoke¡¡Him¡¡to¡¡say¡¡or¡¡do¡¡something¡¡that¡¡would¡¡give¡¡them¡¡occasion¡¡to¡¡condemn¡¡Him¡£¡¡Several¡¡times¡¡they¡¡had¡¡attempted¡¡to¡¡stone¡¡Him£»¡¡but¡¡He¡¡had¡¡quietly¡¡withdrawn£»¡¡and¡¡they¡¡had¡¡lost¡¡sight¡¡of¡¡Him¡£

The¡¡miracles¡¡He¡¡performed¡¡on¡¡the¡¡Sabbath¡¡were¡¡all¡¡for¡¡the¡¡relief¡¡of¡¡the¡¡afflicted£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡Pharisees¡¡had¡¡sought¡¡to¡¡condemn¡¡Him¡¡as¡¡a¡¡Sabbathbreaker¡£¡¡They¡¡had¡¡tried¡¡to¡¡arouse¡¡the¡¡Herodians¡¡against¡¡Him¡£¡¡They¡¡represented¡¡that¡¡He¡¡was¡¡seeking¡¡to¡¡set¡¡up¡¡a¡¡rival¡¡kingdom£»¡¡and¡¡consulted¡¡with¡¡them¡¡how¡¡to¡¡destroy¡¡Him¡£¡¡To¡¡excite¡¡the¡¡Romans¡¡against¡¡Him£»¡¡they¡¡had¡¡represented¡¡Him¡¡as¡¡trying¡¡to¡¡subvert¡¡their¡¡authority¡£¡¡They¡¡had¡¡tried¡¡every¡¡pretext¡¡to¡¡cut¡¡Him¡¡off¡¡from¡¡influencing¡¡the¡¡people¡£¡¡But¡¡so¡¡far¡¡their¡¡attempts¡¡had¡¡been¡¡foiled¡£¡¡The¡¡multitudes¡¡who¡¡witnessed¡¡His¡¡works¡¡of¡¡mercy¡¡and¡¡heard¡¡His¡¡pure¡¡and¡¡holy¡¡teachings¡¡knew¡¡that¡¡these¡¡were¡¡not¡¡the¡¡deeds¡¡and¡¡words¡¡of¡¡a¡¡Sabbathbreaker¡¡or¡¡blasphemer¡£¡¡Even¡¡the¡¡officers¡¡sent¡¡by¡¡the¡¡Pharisees¡¡had¡¡been¡¡so¡¡influenced¡¡by¡¡His¡¡words¡¡that¡¡they¡¡could¡¡not¡¡lay¡¡hands¡¡on¡¡Him¡£¡¡In¡¡desperation¡¡the¡¡Jews¡¡had¡¡finally¡¡passed¡¡an¡¡edict¡¡that¡¡any¡¡man¡¡who¡¡professed¡¡faith¡¡in¡¡Jesus¡¡should¡¡be¡¡cast¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡synagogue¡£

So£»¡¡as¡¡the¡¡priests£»¡¡the¡¡rulers£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡elders¡¡gathered¡¡for¡¡consultation£»¡¡it¡¡was¡¡their¡¡fixed¡¡determination¡¡to¡¡silence¡¡Him¡¡who¡¡did¡¡such¡¡marvelous

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works¡¡that¡¡all¡¡men¡¡wondered¡£¡¡Pharisees¡¡and¡¡Sadducees¡¡were¡¡more¡¡nearly¡¡united¡¡than¡¡ever¡¡before¡£¡¡Divided¡¡hitherto£»¡¡they¡¡became¡¡one¡¡in¡¡their¡¡opposition¡¡to¡¡Christ¡£¡¡Nicodemus¡¡and¡¡Joseph¡¡had£»¡¡in¡¡former¡¡councils£»¡¡prevented¡¡the¡¡condemnation¡¡of¡¡Jesus£»¡¡and¡¡for¡¡this¡¡reason¡¡they¡¡were¡¡not¡¡now¡¡summoned¡£¡¡There¡¡were¡¡present¡¡at¡¡the¡¡council¡¡other¡¡influential¡¡men¡¡who¡¡believed¡¡on¡¡Jesus£»¡¡but¡¡their¡¡influence¡¡prevailed¡¡nothing¡¡against¡¡that¡¡of¡¡the¡¡malignant¡¡Pharisees¡£

Yet¡¡the¡¡members¡¡of¡¡the¡¡council¡¡were¡¡not¡¡all¡¡agreed¡£¡¡The¡¡Sanhedrin¡¡was¡¡not¡¡at¡¡this¡¡time¡¡a¡¡legal¡¡assembly¡£¡¡It¡¡existed¡¡only¡¡by¡¡tolerance¡£¡¡Some¡¡of¡¡its¡¡number¡¡questioned¡¡the¡¡wisdom¡¡of¡¡putting¡¡Christ¡¡to¡¡death¡£¡¡They¡¡feared¡¡that¡¡this¡¡would¡¡excite¡¡an¡¡insurrection¡¡among¡¡the¡¡people£»¡¡causing¡¡the¡¡Romans¡¡to¡¡withhold¡¡further¡¡favors¡¡from¡¡the¡¡priesthood£»¡¡and¡¡to¡¡take¡¡from¡¡them¡¡the¡¡power¡¡they¡¡still¡¡held¡£¡¡The¡¡Sadducees¡¡were¡¡united¡¡in¡¡their¡¡hatred¡¡of¡¡Christ£»¡¡yet¡¡they¡¡were¡¡inclined¡¡to¡¡be¡¡cautious¡¡in¡¡their¡¡movements£»¡¡fearing¡¡that¡¡the¡¡Romans¡¡would¡¡deprive¡¡them¡¡of¡¡their¡¡high¡¡standing¡£

In¡¡this¡¡council£»¡¡assembled¡¡to¡¡plan¡¡the¡¡death¡¡of¡¡Christ£»¡¡the¡¡Witness¡¡was¡¡present¡¡who¡¡heard¡¡the¡¡boastful¡¡words¡¡of¡¡Nebuchadnezzar£»¡¡who¡¡witnessed¡¡the¡¡idolatrous¡¡feast¡¡of¡¡Belshazzar£»¡¡who¡¡was¡¡present¡¡when¡¡Christ¡¡in¡¡Nazareth¡¡announced¡¡Himself¡¡the¡¡Anointed¡¡One¡£¡¡This¡¡Witness¡¡was¡¡now¡¡impressing¡¡the¡¡rulers¡¡with¡¡the¡¡work¡¡they¡¡were¡¡doing¡£¡¡Events¡¡in¡¡the¡¡life¡¡of¡¡Christ¡¡rose¡¡up¡¡before¡¡them¡¡with¡¡a¡¡distinctness¡¡that¡¡alarmed¡¡them¡£¡¡They¡¡remembered¡¡the¡¡scene¡¡in¡¡the¡¡temple£»¡¡when¡¡Jesus£»¡¡then¡¡a¡¡child¡¡of¡¡twelve£»¡¡stood¡¡before¡¡the¡¡learned¡¡doctors¡¡of¡¡the¡¡law£»¡¡asking¡¡them¡¡questions¡¡at¡¡which¡¡they¡¡wondered¡£¡¡The¡¡miracle¡¡just¡¡performed¡¡bore¡¡witness¡¡that¡¡Jesus¡¡was¡¡none¡¡other¡¡than¡¡the¡¡Son¡¡of¡¡God¡£¡¡In¡¡their¡¡true¡¡significance£»¡¡the¡¡Old¡¡Testament¡¡Scriptures¡¡regarding¡¡Christ¡¡flashed¡¡before¡¡their¡¡minds¡£¡¡Perplexed¡¡and¡¡troubled£»¡¡the¡¡rulers¡¡asked£»¡¡¡¨What¡¡do¡¡we£¿¡¨¡¡There¡¡was¡¡a¡¡division¡¡in¡¡the¡¡council¡£¡¡Under¡¡the¡¡impression¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Holy¡¡Spirit£»¡¡the¡¡priests¡¡and¡¡rulers¡¡could¡¡not¡¡banish¡¡the¡¡conviction¡¡that¡¡they¡¡were¡¡fighting¡¡against¡¡God¡£

While¡¡the¡¡council¡¡was¡¡at¡¡the¡¡height¡¡of¡¡its¡¡perplexity£»¡¡Caiaphas¡¡the¡¡high¡¡priest¡¡arose¡£¡¡Caiaphas¡¡was¡¡a¡¡proud¡¡and¡¡cruel¡¡man£»¡¡overbearing¡¡and¡¡intolerant¡£¡¡Among¡¡his¡¡family¡¡connections¡¡were¡¡Sadducees£»¡¡proud£»¡¡bold£»¡¡reckless£»¡¡full¡¡of¡¡ambition¡¡and¡¡cruelty£»¡¡which¡¡they¡¡hid¡¡under¡¡a¡¡cloak¡¡of¡¡pretended¡¡righteousness¡£¡¡Caiaphas¡¡had¡¡studied¡¡the¡¡prophecies£»¡¡and¡¡although¡¡ignorant¡¡of¡¡their¡¡true¡¡meaning£»¡¡he¡¡spoke¡¡with¡¡great¡¡authority¡¡and¡¡assurance£º¡¡¡¨Ye¡¡know¡¡nothing¡¡at¡¡all£»¡¡nor¡¡consider¡¡that¡¡it¡¡is¡¡expedient¡¡for¡¡us£»¡¡that¡¡one¡¡man¡¡should¡¡die¡¡for¡¡the¡¡people£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡the¡¡whole¡¡nation

540

perish¡¡not¡£¡¨¡¡Even¡¡if¡¡Jesus¡¡were¡¡innocent£»¡¡urged¡¡the¡¡high¡¡priest£»¡¡He¡¡must¡¡be¡¡put¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡way¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡troublesome£»¡¡drawing¡¡the¡¡people¡¡to¡¡Himself£»¡¡and¡¡lessening¡¡the¡¡authority¡¡of¡¡the¡¡rulers¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡only¡¡one£»¡¡it¡¡was¡¡better¡¡that¡¡He¡¡should¡¡die¡¡than¡¡that¡¡the¡¡authority¡¡of¡¡the¡¡rulers¡¡should¡¡be¡¡weakened¡£¡¡If¡¡the¡¡people¡¡were¡¡to¡¡lose¡¡confidence¡¡in¡¡their¡¡rulers£»¡¡the¡¡national¡¡power¡¡would¡¡be¡¡destroyed¡£¡¡Caiaphas¡¡urged¡¡that¡¡after¡¡this¡¡miracle¡¡the¡¡followers¡¡of¡¡Jesus¡¡would¡¡likely¡¡rise¡¡in¡¡revolt¡£¡¡The¡¡Romans¡¡will¡¡then¡¡come£»¡¡he¡¡said£»¡¡and¡¡will¡¡close¡¡our¡¡temple£»¡¡and¡¡abolish¡¡our¡¡laws£»¡¡destroying¡¡us¡¡as¡¡a¡¡nation¡£¡¡What¡¡is¡¡the¡¡life¡¡of¡¡this¡¡Galilean¡¡worth¡¡in¡¡comparison¡¡with¡¡the¡¡life¡¡of¡¡the¡¡nation£¿¡¡If¡¡He¡¡stands¡¡in¡¡the¡¡way¡¡of¡¡Israel's¡¡well¡­being£»¡¡is¡¡it¡¡not¡¡doing¡¡God¡¡a¡¡service¡¡to¡¡remove¡¡Him£¿¡¡Better¡¡that¡¡one¡¡man¡¡perish¡¡than¡¡that¡¡the¡¡whole¡¡nation¡¡be¡¡destroyed¡£

In¡¡declaring¡¡that¡¡one¡¡man¡¡should¡¡die¡¡for¡¡the¡¡nation£»¡¡Caiaphas¡¡indicated¡¡that¡¡he¡¡had¡¡some¡¡knowledge¡¡of¡¡the¡¡prophecies£»¡¡although¡¡it¡¡was¡¡very¡¡limited¡£¡¡But¡¡John£»¡¡in¡¡his¡¡account¡¡of¡¡this¡¡scene£»¡¡takes¡¡up¡¡the¡¡prophecy£»¡¡and¡¡shows¡¡its¡¡broad¡¡and¡¡deep¡¡significance¡£¡¡He¡¡says£»¡¡¡¨And¡¡not¡¡for¡¡that¡¡nation¡¡only£»¡¡but¡¡that¡¡also¡¡He¡¡should¡¡gather¡¡together¡¡in¡¡one¡¡the¡¡children¡¡of¡¡God¡¡that¡¡were¡¡scattered¡¡abroad¡£¡¨¡¡How¡¡blindly¡¡did¡¡the¡¡haughty¡¡Caiaphas¡¡acknowledge¡¡the¡¡Saviour's¡¡mission£¡

On¡¡the¡¡lips¡¡of¡¡Caiaphas¡¡this¡¡most¡¡precious¡¡truth¡¡was¡¡turned¡¡into¡¡a¡¡lie¡£¡¡The¡¡policy¡¡he¡¡advocated¡¡was¡¡based¡¡on¡¡a¡¡principle¡¡borrowed¡¡from¡¡heathenism¡£¡¡Among¡¡the¡¡heathen£»¡¡the¡¡dim¡¡consciousness¡¡that¡¡one¡¡was¡¡to¡¡die¡¡for¡¡the¡¡human¡¡race¡¡had¡¡led¡¡to¡¡the¡¡offering¡¡of¡¡human¡¡sacrifices¡£¡¡So¡¡Caiaphas¡¡proposed¡¡by¡¡the¡¡sacrifice¡¡of¡¡Jesus¡¡to¡¡save¡¡the¡¡guilty¡¡nation£»¡¡not¡¡from¡¡transgression£»¡¡but¡¡in¡¡transgression£»¡¡that¡¡they¡¡might¡¡continue¡¡in¡¡sin¡£¡¡And¡¡by¡¡his¡¡reasoning¡¡he¡¡thought¡¡to¡¡silence¡¡the¡¡remonstrances¡¡of¡¡those¡¡who¡¡might¡¡dare¡¡to¡¡say¡¡that¡¡as¡¡yet¡¡nothing¡¡worthy¡¡of¡¡death¡¡had¡¡been¡¡found¡¡in¡¡Jesus¡£

At¡¡this¡¡council¡¡Christ's¡¡enemies¡¡had¡¡been¡¡deeply¡¡convicted¡£¡¡The¡¡Holy¡¡Spirit¡¡had¡¡impressed¡¡their¡¡minds¡£¡¡But¡¡Satan¡¡strove¡¡to¡¡gain¡¡control¡¡of¡¡them¡£¡¡He¡¡urged¡¡upon¡¡their¡¡notice¡¡the¡¡grievances¡¡they¡¡had¡¡suffered¡¡on¡¡account¡¡of¡¡Christ¡£¡¡How¡¡little¡¡He¡¡had¡¡honored¡¡their¡¡righteousness¡£¡¡He¡¡presented¡¡a¡¡righteousness¡¡far¡¡greater£»¡¡which¡¡all¡¡who¡¡would¡¡be¡¡children¡¡of¡¡God¡¡must¡¡possess¡£¡¡Taking¡¡no¡¡notice¡¡of¡¡their¡¡forms¡¡and¡¡ceremonies£»¡¡He¡¡had¡¡encouraged¡¡sinners¡¡to¡¡go¡¡directly¡¡to¡¡God¡¡as¡¡a¡¡merciful¡¡Father£»¡¡and¡¡make¡¡known¡¡their¡¡wants¡£¡¡Thus£»¡¡in¡¡their¡¡opinion£»¡¡He¡¡had¡¡set¡¡aside¡¡the¡¡priesthood¡£¡¡He¡¡had¡¡refused¡¡to¡¡acknowledge¡¡the¡¡theology¡¡of¡¡the¡¡rabbinical¡¡schools¡£¡¡He¡¡had¡¡exposed¡¡the¡¡evil¡¡practices¡¡of¡¡the¡¡priests£»

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and¡¡had¡¡irreparably¡¡hurt¡¡their¡¡influence¡£¡¡He¡¡had¡¡injured¡¡the¡¡effect¡¡of¡¡their¡¡maxims¡¡and¡¡traditions£»¡¡declaring¡¡that¡¡though¡¡they¡¡strictly¡¡enforced¡¡the¡¡ritual¡¡law£»¡¡they¡¡made¡¡void¡¡the¡¡law¡¡of¡¡God¡£¡¡All¡¡this¡¡Satan¡¡now¡¡brought¡¡to¡¡their¡¡minds¡£

Satan¡¡told¡¡them¡¡that¡¡in¡¡order¡¡to¡¡maintain¡¡their¡¡authority£»¡¡they¡¡must¡¡put¡¡Jesus¡¡to¡¡death¡£¡¡This¡¡counsel¡¡they¡¡followed¡£¡¡The¡¡fact¡¡that¡¡they¡¡might¡¡lose¡¡the¡¡power¡¡they¡¡then¡¡exercised£»¡¡was£»¡¡they¡¡thought£»¡¡sufficient¡¡reason¡¡for¡¡coming¡¡to¡¡some¡¡decision¡£¡¡With¡¡the¡¡exception¡¡of¡¡a¡¡few¡¡who¡¡dared¡¡not¡¡speak¡¡their¡¡minds£»¡¡the¡¡Sanhedrin¡¡received¡¡the¡¡words¡¡of¡¡Caiaphas¡¡as¡¡the¡¡words¡¡of¡¡God¡£¡¡Relief¡¡came¡¡to¡¡the¡¡council£»¡¡the¡¡discord¡¡ceased¡£¡¡They¡¡resolved¡¡to¡¡put¡¡Christ¡¡to¡¡death¡¡at¡¡the¡¡first¡¡favorable¡¡opportunity¡£¡¡In¡¡rejecting¡¡the¡¡proof¡¡of¡¡the¡¡divinity¡¡of¡¡Jesus£»¡¡these¡¡priests¡¡and¡¡rulers¡¡had¡¡locked¡¡themselves¡¡in¡¡impenetrable¡¡darkness¡£¡¡They¡¡had¡¡come¡¡wholly¡¡under¡¡the¡¡sway¡¡of¡¡Satan£»¡¡to¡¡be¡¡hurried¡¡by¡¡him¡¡over¡¡the¡¡brink¡¡of¡¡eternal¡¡ruin¡£¡¡Yet¡¡such¡¡was¡¡their¡¡deception¡¡that¡¡they¡¡were¡¡well¡¡pleased¡¡with¡¡themselves¡£¡¡They¡¡regarded¡¡themselves¡¡as¡¡patriots£»¡¡who¡¡were¡¡seeking¡¡the¡¡nation's¡¡salvation¡£

The¡¡Sanhedrin¡¡feared£»¡¡however£»¡¡to¡¡take¡¡rash¡¡measures¡¡against¡¡Jesus£»¡¡lest¡¡the¡¡people¡¡should¡¡become¡¡incensed£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡violence¡¡meditated¡¡toward¡¡Him¡¡should¡¡fall¡¡upon¡¡themselves¡£¡¡On¡¡this¡¡account¡¡the¡¡council¡¡delayed¡¡to¡¡execute¡¡the¡¡sentence¡¡they¡¡had¡¡pronounced¡£¡¡The¡¡Saviour¡¡understood¡¡the¡¡plotting¡¡of¡¡the¡¡priests¡£¡¡He¡¡knew¡¡that¡¡they¡¡longed¡¡to¡¡remove¡¡Him£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡their¡¡purpose¡¡would¡¡soon¡¡be¡¡accomplished¡£¡¡But¡¡it¡¡was¡¡not¡¡His¡¡place¡¡to¡¡hasten¡¡the¡¡crisis£»¡¡and¡¡He¡¡withdrew¡¡from¡¡that¡¡region£»¡¡taking¡¡the¡¡disciples¡¡with¡¡Him¡£¡¡Thus¡¡by¡¡His¡¡own¡¡example¡¡Jesus¡¡again¡¡enforced¡¡the¡¡instruction¡¡He¡¡had¡¡given¡¡to¡¡the¡¡disciples£»¡¡¡¨When¡¡they¡¡persecute¡¡you¡¡in¡¡this¡¡city£»¡¡flee¡¡ye¡¡into¡¡another¡£¡¨¡¡Matt¡£¡¡10£º23¡£¡¡There¡¡was¡¡a¡¡wide¡¡field¡¡in¡¡which¡¡to¡¡work¡¡for¡¡the¡¡salvation¡¡of¡¡souls£»¡¡and¡¡unless¡¡loyalty¡¡to¡¡Him¡¡required¡¡it£»¡¡the¡¡Lord's¡¡servants¡¡were¡¡not¡¡to¡¡imperil¡¡their¡¡lives¡£

Jesus¡¡had¡¡now¡¡given¡¡three¡¡years¡¡of¡¡public¡¡labor¡¡to¡¡the¡¡world¡£¡¡His¡¡example¡¡of¡¡self¡­denial¡¡and¡¡disinterested¡¡benevolence¡¡was¡¡before¡¡them¡£¡¡His¡¡life¡¡of¡¡purity£»¡¡of¡¡suffering¡¡and¡¡devotion£»¡¡was¡¡known¡¡to¡¡all¡£¡¡Yet¡¡this¡¡short¡¡period¡¡of¡¡three¡¡years¡¡was¡¡as¡¡long¡¡as¡¡the¡¡world¡¡could¡¡endure¡¡the¡¡presence¡¡of¡¡its¡¡Redeemer¡£

His¡¡life¡¡had¡¡been¡¡one¡¡of¡¡persecution¡¡and¡¡insult¡£¡¡Driven¡¡from¡¡Bethlehem¡¡by¡¡a¡¡jealous¡¡king£»¡¡rejected¡¡by¡¡His¡¡own¡¡people¡¡at¡¡Nazareth£»¡¡condemned¡¡to¡¡death¡¡without¡¡a¡¡cause¡¡at¡¡J

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