the desire of ages-第50部分

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r。　These　Pharisees　had　not　accepted　the　mission　of　the　Baptist。　They　had　pointed　in　scorn　to　his　abstemious　life；　his　simple　habits；　his　coarse　garments；　and　had　declared　him　a　fanatic。　Because　he　denounced　their　hypocrisy；　they　had　resisted　his　words；　and　had　tried　to　stir　up　the　people　against　him。　The

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Spirit　of　God　had　moved　upon　the　hearts　of　these　scorners；　convicting　them　of　sin；　but　they　had　rejected　the　counsel　of　God；　and　had　declared　that　John　was　possessed　of　a　devil。

Now　when　Jesus　came　mingling　with　the　people；　eating　and　drinking　at　their　tables；　they　accused　Him　of　being　a　glutton　and　a　winebibber。　The　very　ones　who　made　this　charge　were　themselves　guilty。　As　God　is　misrepresented；　and　clothed　by　Satan　with　his　own　attributes；　so　the　Lord's　messengers　were　falsified　by　these　wicked　men。

The　Pharisees　would　not　consider　that　Jesus　was　eating　with　publicans　and　sinners　in　order　to　bring　the　light　of　heaven　to　those　who　sat　in　darkness。　They　would　not　see　that　every　word　dropped　by　the　divine　Teacher　was　a　living　seed　that　would　germinate　and　bear　fruit　to　the　glory　of　God。　They　had　determined　not　to　accept　the　light；　and　although　they　had　opposed　the　mission　of　the　Baptist；　they　were　now　ready　to　court　the　friendship　of　his　disciples；　hoping　to　secure　their　co…operation　against　Jesus。　They　represented　that　Jesus　was　setting　at　nought　the　ancient　traditions；　and　they　contrasted　the　austere　piety　of　the　Baptist　with　the　course　of　Jesus　in　feasting　with　publicans　and　sinners。

The　disciples　of　John　were　at　this　time　in　great　sorrow。　It　was　before　their　visit　to　Jesus　with　John's　message。　Their　beloved　teacher　was　in　prison；　and　they　passed　their　days　in　mourning。　And　Jesus　was　making　no　effort　to　release　John；　and　even　appeared　to　cast　discredit　on　his　teaching。　If　John　had　been　sent　by　God；　why　did　Jesus　and　His　disciples　pursue　a　course　so　widely　different？

The　disciples　of　John　had　not　a　clear　understanding　of　Christ's　work；　they　thought　there　might　be　some　foundation　for　the　charges　of　the　Pharisees。　They　observed　many　of　the　rules　prescribed　by　the　rabbis；　and　even　hoped　to　be　justified　by　the　works　of　the　law。　Fasting　was　practiced　by　the　Jews　as　an　act　of　merit；　and　the　most　rigid　among　them　fasted　two　days　in　every　week。　The　Pharisees　and　John's　disciples　were　fasting　when　the　latter　came　to　Jesus　with　the　inquiry；　〃Why　do　we　and　the　Pharisees　fast　oft；　but　Thy　disciples　fast　not？〃

Very　tenderly　Jesus　answered　them。　He　did　not　try　to　correct　their　erroneous　conception　of　fasting；　but　only　to　set　them　right　in　regard　to　His　own　mission。　And　He　did　this　by　employing　the　same　figure　that　the　Baptist　himself　had　used　in　his　testimony　to　Jesus。　John　had　said；　〃He　that　hath　the　bride　is　the　bridegroom：　but　the　friend　of　the　bridegroom；　which　standeth　and　heareth　him；　rejoiceth　greatly　because　of

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the　bridegroom's　voice：　this　my　joy　therefore　is　fulfilled。〃　John　3：29。　The　disciples　of　John　could　not　fail　to　recall　these　words　of　their　teacher；　as；　taking　up　the　illustration；　Jesus　said；　〃Can　ye　make　the　children　of　the　bridechamber　fast；　while　the　bridegroom　is　with　them？〃

The　Prince　of　heaven　was　among　His　people。　The　greatest　gift　of　God　had　been　given　to　the　world。　Joy　to　the　poor；　for　Christ　had　come　to　make　them　heirs　of　His　kingdom。　Joy　to　the　rich；　for　He　would　teach　them　how　to　secure　eternal　riches。　Joy　to　the　ignorant；　He　would　make　them　wise　unto　salvation。　Joy　to　the　learned；　He　would　open　to　them　deeper　mysteries　than　they　had　ever　fathomed；　truths　that　had　been　hidden　from　the　foundation　of　the　world　would　be　opened　to　men　by　the　Saviour's　mission。

John　the　Baptist　had　rejoiced　to　behold　the　Saviour。　What　occasion　for　rejoicing　had　the　disciples　who　were　privileged　to　walk　and　talk　with　the　Majesty　of　heaven！　This　was　not　a　time　for　them　to　mourn　and　fast。　They　must　open　their　hearts　to　receive　the　light　of　His　glory；　that　they　might　shed　light　upon　those　who　sat　in　darkness　and　in　the　shadow　of　death。

It　was　a　bright　picture　which　the　words　of　Christ　had　called　up；　but　across　it　lay　a　heavy　shadow；　which　His　eye　alone　discerned。　〃The　days　will　come；〃　He　said；　〃when　the　bridegroom　shall　be　taken　away　from　them；　and　then　shall　they　fast　in　those　days。〃　When　they　should　see　their　Lord　betrayed　and　crucified；　the　disciples　would　mourn　and　fast。　In　His　last　words　to　them　in　the　upper　chamber；　He　said；　〃A　little　while；　and　ye　shall　not　see　Me：　and　again；　a　little　while；　and　ye　shall　see　Me。　Verily；　verily；　I　say　unto　you；　That　ye　shall　weep　and　lament；　but　the　world　shall　rejoice：　and　ye　shall　be　sorrowful；　but　your　sorrow　shall　be　turned　into　joy。〃　John　16：19；　20。

When　He　should　come　forth　from　the　tomb；　their　sorrow　would　be　turned　to　joy。　After　His　ascension　He　was　to　be　absent　in　person；　but　through　the　Comforter　He　would　still　be　with　them；　and　they　were　not　to　spend　their　time　in　mourning。　This　was　what　Satan　wanted。　He　desired　them　to　give　the　world　the　impression　that　they　had　been　deceived　and　disappointed；　but　by　faith　they　were　to　look　to　the　sanctuary　above；　where　Jesus　was　ministering　for　them；　they　were　to　open　their　hearts　to　the　Holy　Spirit；　His　representative；　and　to　rejoice　in　the　light　of　His　presence。　Yet　days　of　temptation　and　trial　would　come；　when　they　would　be　brought　into　conflict　with　the　rulers　of　this　world；　and　the　leaders　of　the　kingdom　of　darkness；　when　Christ　was　not　personally

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with　them；　and　they　failed　to　discern　the　Comforter；　then　it　would　be　more　fitting　for　them　to　fast。

The　Pharisees　sought　to　exalt　themselves　by　their　rigorous　observance　of　forms；　while　their　hearts　were　filled　with　envy　and　strife。　〃Behold；〃　says　the　Scripture；　〃ye　fast　for　strife　and　debate；　and　to　smite　with　the　fist　of　wickedness：　ye　shall　not　fast　as　ye　do　this　day；　to　make　your　voice　to　be　heard　on　high。　Is　it　such　a　fast　that　I　have　chosen？　a　day　for　a　man　to　afflict　his　soul？　is　it　to　bow　down　his　head　as　a　bulrush；　and　to　spread　sackcloth　and　ashes　under　him？　wilt　thou　call　this　a　fast；　and　an　acceptable　day　to　the　Lord？〃　Isa。　58：4；　5。

The　true　fast　is　no　mere　formal　service。　The　Scripture　describes　the　fast　that　God　has　chosen；〃to　loose　the　bands　of　wickedness；　to　undo　the　heavy　burdens；　and　to　let　the　oppressed　go　free；　and　that　ye　break　every　yoke；〃　to　〃draw　out　thy　soul　to　the　hungry；　and　satisfy　the　afflicted　soul。〃　Isa。　58：6；　10。　Here　is　set　forth　the　very　spirit　and　character　of　the　work　of　Christ。　His　whole　life　was　a　sacrifice　of　Himself　for　the　saving　of　the　world。　Whether　fasting　in　the　wilderness　of　temptation　or　eating　with　the　publicans　at　Matthew's　feast；　He　was　giving　His　life　for　the　redemption　of　the　lost。　Not　in　idle　mourning；　in　mere　bodily　humiliation　and　multitudinous　sacrifices；　is　the　true　spirit　of　devotion　manifested；　but　it　is　shown　in　the　surrender　of　self　in　willing　service　to　God　and　man。

Continuing　His　answer　to　the　disciples　of　John；　Jesus　spoke　a　parable；　saying；　〃No　man　putteth　a　piece　of　a　new　garment　upon　an　old；　if　otherwise；　then　both　the　new　maketh　a　rent；　and　the　piece　that　was　taken　out　of　the　new　agreeth　not　with　the　old。〃　The　message　of　John　the　Baptist　was　not　to　be　interwoven　with　tradition　and　superstition。　An　attempt　to　blend　the　pretense　of　the　Pharisees　with　the　devotion　of　John　would　only　make　more　evident　the　breach　between　them。

Nor　could　the　principles　of　Christ's　teaching　be　united　with　the　forms　of　Pharisaism。　Christ　was　not　to　close　up　the　breach　that　had　been　made　by　the　teachings　of　John。　He　would　make　more　distinct　the　separation　between　the　old　and　the　new。　Jesus　further　illustrated　this　fact；　saying；　〃No　man　putteth　new　wine　into　old　bottles；　else　the　new　wine　will　burst　the　bottles；　and　be　spilled；　and　the　bottles　shall　perish。〃　The　skin　bottles　which　were　used　as　vessels　to　contain　the　new　wine；　after　a　time　became　dry　and　brittle；　and　were　then　worthless　to　serve　the　same　purpose　again。　In　this　familiar　illustration　Jesus　presented　the　condition　of　the　Jewish　leaders。　Priests　and　scribes　and　rulers　were

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fixed　in　a　rut　of　ceremonies　and　traditions。　Their　hearts　had　become　contracted；　like　the　dried…up　wine　skins　to　which　He　had　compared　them。　While　they　remained　satisfied　with　a　legal　religion；　it　was　impossible　for　them　to　become　the　depositaries　of　the　living　truth　of　heaven。　They　thought　their　own　righteousness　all…sufficient；　and　did　not　desire　that　a　new　element　should　be　brought　into　their　religion。　The　good　will　of　God　to　men　they　did　not　accept　as　something　apart　from　themselves。　They　connected　it　with　their　own　merit　because　of　their　good　works。　The　faith　that　works　by　love　and　purifies　the　soul　could　find　no　place　for　union　with　the　religion　of　the　Pharisees；　made　up　of　ceremonies　and　the　injunctions　of　men。　The　effort　to　unite　the　teachings　of　Jesus　with　the　established　religion　would　be　vain。　The　vital　truth　of　God；　like　fermenting　wine；　would　burst　the　old；　decaying　bottles　of　the　Pharisaical　tradition。

The　Pharisees　thought　themselves　too　wise　to　need　instruction；　too　righteous　to　need　salvation；　too　highly　honored　to　need　the　honor　that　comes　from　Christ。　The　Saviour　turned　away　from　them　to　find　others　who　would　receive　the　message　of　heaven。　In　the　untutored　fishermen；　in　the　publican　at　the　market　place；　in　the　woman　of　Samaria；　in　the　common　people　who　heard　Him　gladly；　He　found　His　new　bottles　for　the　new　wine。　The　instrumentalities　to　be　used　in　the　gospel　work　are　those　souls　who　gladly　receive　the　light　which　God　sends　them。　These　are　His　agencies　for　imparting　the　knowledge　of　truth　to　the　world。　If　through　the　grace　of　Christ　His　people　will　become　new　bottles；　He　will　fill　them　with　new　wine。

The　teaching　of　Christ；　though　it　was　represented　by　the　new　wine；　was　not　a　new　doctrine；　but　the　revelation　of　that　which　had　been　taught　from　the　beginning。　But　to　the　Pharisees　the　truth　of　God　had　lost　its　original　significance　and　beauty。　To　them　Christ's　teaching　was　new　in　almost　every　respect；　and　it　was　unrecognized　and　unacknowledged。

Jesus　pointed　out　the　power　of　false　teaching　to　destroy　the　appre