the desire of ages-第59部分
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ut the plea that we may urge now and ever is our utterly helpless condition that makes His redeeming power a necessity。 Renouncing all self…dependence； we may look to the cross of Calvary and say；
〃In my hand no price I bring； Simply to Thy cross I cling。〃
The Jews had been instructed from childhood concerning the work of the Messiah。 The inspired utterances of patriarchs and prophets and the symbolic teaching of the sacrificial service had been theirs。 But they had disregarded the light； and now they saw in Jesus nothing to be desired。 But the centurion； born in heathenism； educated in the idolatry of imperial Rome； trained as a soldier； seemingly cut off from spiritual life by his education and surroundings； and still further shut out by the bigotry of the Jews； and by the contempt of his own countrymen for the people of Israel；this man perceived the truth to which the children of Abraham were blinded。 He did not wait to see whether the Jews themselves would receive the One who claimed to be their Messiah。 As the 〃light； which lighteth every man that cometh into the world〃 （John 1：9） had shone upon him； he had； though afar off； discerned the glory of the Son of God。
To Jesus this was an earnest of the work which the gospel was to accomplish among the Gentiles。 With joy He looked forward to the gathering of souls from all nations to His kingdom。 With deep sadness He pictured to the Jews the result of their rejection of His grace： 〃I
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say unto you； That many shall come from the east and west； and shall sit down with Abraham； and Isaac； and Jacob； in the kingdom of heaven。 But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness： there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth。〃 Alas； how many are still preparing for the same fatal disappointment！ While souls in heathen darkness accept His grace； how many there are in Christian lands upon whom the light shines only to be disregarded。
More than twenty miles from Capernaum； on a tableland overlooking the wide； beautiful plain of Esdraelon； lay the village of Nain； and thither Jesus next bent His steps。 Many of His disciples and others were with Him； and all along the way the people came； longing for His words of love and pity； bringing their sick for His healing； and ever with the hope that He who wielded such wondrous power would make Himself known as the King of Israel。 A multitude thronged His steps； and it was a glad； expectant company that followed Him up the rocky path toward the gate of the mountain village。
As they draw near； a funeral train is seen coming from the gates。 With slow； sad steps it is proceeding to the place of burial。 On an open bier carried in front is the body of the dead； and about it are the mourners； filling the air with their wailing cries。 All the people of the town seem to have gathered to show their respect for the dead and their sympathy with the bereaved。
It was a sight to awaken sympathy。 The deceased was the only son of his mother； and she a widow。 The lonely mourner was following to the grave her sole earthly support and comfort。 〃When the Lord saw her； He had compassion on her。〃 As she moved on blindly； weeping； noting not His presence； He came close beside her； and gently said； 〃Weep not。〃 Jesus was about to change her grief to joy； yet He could not forbear this expression of tender sympathy。
〃He came and touched the bier；〃 to Him even contact with death could impart no defilement。 The bearers stood still； and the lamentations of the mourners ceased。 The two companies gathered about the bier； hoping against hope。 One was present who had banished disease and vanquished demons； was death also subject to His power？
In clear； authoritative voice the words are spoken； 〃Young man； I say unto thee； Arise。〃 That voice pierces the ears of the dead。 The young man opens his eyes。 Jesus takes him by the hand； and lifts him up。 His gaze falls upon her who has been weeping beside him； and mother and son unite in a long； clinging； joyous embrace。 The multitude
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look on in silence； as if spellbound。 〃There came a fear on all。〃 Hushed and reverent they stood for a little time； as if in the very presence of God。 Then they 〃glorified God； saying； That a great prophet is risen up among us； and； That God hath visited His people。〃 The funeral train returned to Nain as a triumphal procession。 〃And this rumor of Him went forth throughout all Judea； and throughout all the region round about。〃
He who stood beside the sorrowing mother at the gate of Nain； watches with every mourning one beside the bier。 He is touched with sympathy for our grief。 His heart； that loved and pitied； is a heart of unchangeable tenderness。 His word； that called the dead to life； is no less efficacious now than when spoken to the young man of Nain。 He says； 〃All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth。〃 Matt。 28：18。 That power is not diminished by the lapse of years； nor exhausted by the ceaseless activity of His overflowing grace。 To all who believe on Him He is still a living Saviour。
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Jesus changed the mother's grief to joy when He gave back her son； yet the youth was but called forth to this earthly life； to endure its sorrows； its toils； and its perils； and to pass again under the power of death。 But Jesus comforts our sorrow for the dead with a message of infinite hope： 〃I am He that liveth； and was dead； and； behold； I am alive forevermore； 。 。 。 and have the keys of hell and of death。〃 〃Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood； He also Himself likewise took part of the same； that through death He might destroy him that had the power of death； that is； the devil； and deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage。〃 Rev。 1：18； Heb。 2：14； 15。
Satan cannot hold the dead in his grasp when the Son of God bids them live。 He cannot hold in spiritual death one soul who in faith receives Christ's word of power。 God is saying to all who are dead in sin； 〃Awake thou that sleepest； and arise from the dead。〃 Eph。 5：14。 That word is eternal life。 As the word of God which bade the first man live； still gives us life； as Christ's word； 〃Young man； I say unto thee； Arise；〃 gave life to the youth of Nain； so that word； 〃Arise from the dead；〃 is life to the soul that receives it。 God 〃hath delivered us from the power of darkness； and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son。〃 Col。 1：13。 It is all offered us in His word。 If we receive the word； we have the deliverance。
And 〃if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you； He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you。〃 〃For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout； with the voice of the Archangel； and with the trump of God： and the dead in Christ shall rise first： then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds； to meet the Lord in the air： and so shall we ever be with the Lord。〃 Rom。 8：11； 1 Thess。 4：16； 17。 This is the word of comfort wherewith He bids us comfort one another。
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Chapter 33
Who Are My Brethren？
The sons of Joseph were far from being in sympathy with Jesus in His work。 The reports that reached them in regard to His life and labors filled them with astonishment and dismay。 They heard that He devoted entire nights to prayer； that through the day He was thronged by great companies of people； and did not give Himself time so much as to eat。 His friends felt that He was wearing Himself out by His incessant labor； they were unable to account for His attitude toward the Pharisees； and there were some who feared that His reason was becoming unsettled。
His brothers heard of this； and also of the charge brought by the Pharisees that He cast out devils through the power of Satan。 They felt keenly the reproach that came upon them through their relation to Jesus。 They knew what a tumult His words and works created； and were not only alarmed at His bold statements； but indignant at His denunciation of the scribes and Pharisees。 They decided that He must be persuaded or constrained to cease this manner of labor； and they induced Mary to unite with them； thinking that through His love for her they might prevail upon Him to be more prudent。
It was just before this that Jesus had a second time performed the miracle of healing a man possessed； blind and dumb； and the Pharisees had reiterated the charge； 〃He casteth out devils through the prince of the devils。〃 Matt。 9：34。 Christ told them plainly that in attributing the
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work of the Holy Spirit to Satan； they were cutting themselves off from the fountain of blessing。 Those who had spoken against Jesus Himself； not discerning His divine character； might receive forgiveness； for through the Holy Spirit they might be brought to see their error and repent。 Whatever the sin； if the soul repents and believes； the guilt is washed away in the blood of Christ； but he who rejects the work of the Holy Spirit is placing himself where repentance and faith cannot come to him。 It is by the Spirit that God works upon the heart； when men willfully reject the Spirit； and declare It to be from Satan； they cut off the channel by which God can communicate with them。 When the Spirit is finally rejected； there is no more that God can do for the soul。
The Pharisees to whom Jesus spoke this warning did not themselves believe the charge they brought against Him。 There was not one of those dignitaries but had felt drawn toward the Saviour。 They had heard the Spirit's voice in their own hearts declaring Him to be the Anointed of Israel； and urging them to confess themselves His disciples。 In the light of His presence they had realized their unholiness； and had longed for a righteousness which they could not create。 But after their rejection of Him it would be too humiliating to receive Him as the Messiah。 Having set their feet in the path of unbelief； they were too proud to confess their error。 And in
