the desire of ages-第39部分
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e fire； God spoke to the prophet by 〃a still small voice。〃 1 Kings 19：11； 12。 So Jesus was to do His work； not with the clash of arms and the overturning of thrones and kingdoms； but through speaking to the hearts of men by a life of mercy and self…sacrifice。
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The principle of the Baptist's own life of self…abnegation was the principle of the Messiah's kingdom。 John well knew how foreign all this was to the principles and hopes of the leaders in Israel。 That which was to him convincing evidence of Christ's divinity would be no evidence to them。 They were looking for a Messiah who had not been promised。 John saw that the Saviour's mission could win from them only hatred and condemnation。 He； the forerunner； was but drinking of the cup which Christ Himself must drain to its dregs。
The Saviour's words； 〃Blessed is he； whosoever shall find none occasion of stumbling in Me；〃 were a gentle reproof to John。 It was not lost upon him。 Understanding more clearly now the nature of Christ's mission； he yielded himself to God for life or for death； as should best serve the interests of the cause he loved。
After the messengers had departed； Jesus spoke to the people concerning John。 The Saviour's heart went out in sympathy to the faithful witness now buried in Herod's dungeon。 He would not leave the people to conclude that God had forsaken John； or that his faith had failed in the day of trial。 〃What went ye out into the wilderness to see？〃 He said。 〃A reed shaken with the wind？〃
The tall reeds that grew beside the Jordan； bending before every breeze； were fitting representatives of the rabbis who had stood as critics and judges of the Baptist's mission。 They were swayed this way and that by the winds of popular opinion。 They would not humble themselves to receive the heart…searching message of the Baptist； yet for fear of the people they dared not openly oppose his work。 But God's messenger was of no such craven spirit。 The multitudes who were gathered about Christ had been witnesses to the work of John。 They had heard his fearless rebuke of sin。 To the self…righteous Pharisees； the priestly Sadducees； King Herod and his court； princes and soldiers； publicans and peasants； John had spoken with equal plainness。 He was no trembling reed； swayed by the winds of human praise or prejudice。 In the prison he was the same in his loyalty to God and his zeal for righteousness as when he preached God's message in the wilderness。 In his faithfulness to principle he was as firm as a rock。
Jesus continued； 〃But what went ye out for to see？ A man clothed in soft raiment？ Behold； they which are gorgeously appareled； and live delicately； are in kings' courts。〃 John had been called to reprove the sins and excesses of his time； and his plain dress and self…denying life
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were in harmony with the character of his mission。 Rich apparel and the luxuries of this life are not the portion of God's servants； but of those who live 〃in kings' courts；〃 the rulers of this world； to whom pertain its power and its riches。 Jesus wished to direct attention to the contrast between the clothing of John； and that worn by the priests and rulers。 These officials arrayed themselves in rich robes and costly ornaments。 They loved display； and hoped to dazzle the people； and thus command greater consideration。 They were more anxious to gain the admiration of men than to obtain the purity of heart which would win the approval of God。 Thus they revealed that their allegiance was not given to God； but to the kingdom of this world。
〃But what；〃 said Jesus； 〃went ye out for to see？ A prophet？ yea； I say unto you； and more than a prophet。 For this is he； of whom it is written；
〃Behold； I send My messenger before Thy face； Which shall prepare Thy way before Thee。
〃Verily I say unto you； Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist。〃 In the announcement to Zacharias before the birth of John； the angel had declared； 〃He shall be great in the sight of the Lord。〃 Luke 1：15。 In the estimation of Heaven； what is it that constitutes greatness？ Not that which the world accounts greatness； not wealth； or rank； or noble descent； or intellectual gifts； in themselves considered。 If intellectual greatness； apart from any higher consideration； is worthy of honor； then our homage is due to Satan； whose intellectual power no man has ever equaled。 But when perverted to self…serving； the greater the gift； the greater curse it becomes。 It is moral worth that God values。 Love and purity are the attributes He prizes most。 John was great in the sight of the Lord； when； before the messengers from the Sanhedrin； before the people； and before his own disciples； he refrained from seeking honor for himself； but pointed all to Jesus as the Promised One。 His unselfish joy in the ministry of Christ presents the highest type of nobility ever revealed in man。
The witness borne of him after his death； by those who had heard his testimony to Jesus； was； 〃John did no miracle： but all things that John spake of this Man were true。〃 John 10：41。 It was not given to John to call down fire from heaven； or to raise the dead； as Elijah did； nor
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to wield Moses' rod of power in the name of God。 He was sent to herald the Saviour's advent； and to call upon the people to prepare for His coming。 So faithfully did he fulfill his mission； that as the people recalled what he had taught them of Jesus； they could say； 〃All things that John spake of this Man were true。〃 Such witness to Christ every disciple of the Master is called upon to bear。
As the Messiah's herald； John was 〃much more than a prophet。〃 For while prophets had seen from afar Christ's advent； to John it was given to behold Him； to hear the testimony from heaven to His Messiahship； and to present Him to Israel as the Sent of God。 Yet Jesus said； 〃He that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he。〃
The prophet John was the connecting link between the two dispensations。 As God's representative he stood forth to show the relation of the law and the prophets to the Christian dispensation。 He was the lesser light； which was to be followed by a greater。 The mind of John was illuminated by the Holy Spirit； that he might shed light upon his people； but no other light ever has shone or ever will shine so clearly upon fallen man as that which emanated from the teaching and example of Jesus。 Christ and His mission had been but dimly understood as typified in the shadowy sacrifices。 Even John had not fully comprehended the future； immortal life through the Saviour。
Aside from the joy that John found in his mission； his life had been one of sorrow。 His voice had been seldom heard except in the wilderness。 His was a lonely lot。 And he was not permitted to see the result of his own labors。 It was not his privilege to be with Christ and witness the manifestation of divine power attending the greater light。 It was not for him to see the blind restored to sight； the sick healed； and the dead raised to life。 He did not behold the light that shone through every word of Christ； shedding glory upon the promises of prophecy。 The least disciple who saw Christ's mighty works and heard His words was in this sense more highly privileged than John the Baptist； and therefore is said to have been greater than he。
Through the vast throngs that had listened to John's preaching； his fame had spread throughout the land。 A deep interest was felt as to the result of his imprisonment。 Yet his blameless life； and the strong public sentiment in his favor； led to the belief that no violent measures would be taken against him。
Herod believed John to be a prophet of God； and he fully intended
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to set him at liberty。 But he delayed his purpose from fear of Herodias。
Herodias knew that by direct measures she could never win Herod's consent to the death of John； and she resolved to accomplish her purpose by stratagem。 On the king's birthday an entertainment was to be given to the officers of state and the nobles of the court。 There would be feasting and drunkenness。 Herod would thus be thrown off his guard； and might then be influenced according to her will。
When the great day arrived； and the king with his lords was feasting and drinking； Herodias sent her daughter into the banqueting hall to dance for the entertainment of the guests。 Salome was in the first flush of womanhood； and her voluptuous beauty captivated the senses of the lordly revelers。 It was not customary for the ladies of the court to appear at these festivities； and a flattering compliment was paid to Herod when this daughter of Israel's priests and princes danced for the amusement of his guests。
The king was dazed with wine。 Passion held sway； and reason was dethroned。 He saw only the hall of pleasure； with its reveling guests； the banquet table； the sparkling wine and the flashing lights； and the young girl dancing before him。 In the recklessness of the moment； he desired to make some display that would exalt him before the great men of his realm。 With an oath he promised to give the daughter of Herodias whatever she might ask； even to the half of his kingdom。
Salome hastened to her mother； to know what she should ask。 The answer was ready；the head of John the Baptist。 Salome knew not of the thirst for revenge in her mother's heart； and she shrank from presenting the request； but the determination of Herodias prevailed。 The girl returned with the terrible petition； 〃I will that thou forthwith give me in a charger the head of John the Baptist。〃 Mark 6：25； R。 V。
Herod was astonished and confounded。 The riotous mirth ceased； and an ominous silence settled down upon the scene of revelry。 The king was horror…stricken at the thought of taking the life of John。 Yet his word was pledged； and he was unwilling to appear fickle or rash。 The oath had been made in honor of his guests； and if one of them had offered a word against the fulfillment of his promise； he would gladly have spared the prophet。 He gave them opportunity to speak in the prisoner's behalf。 They had traveled lon
