the desire of ages-第16章

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here　breathed　an　influence　so　divine。　All　this　was　in　harmony　with　what　had　been　revealed　to　John　regarding　the　Messiah。　Yet　he　shrank　from　granting　the　request　of　Jesus。　How　could　he；　a　sinner；　baptize　the　Sinless　One？　And　why　should　He　who　needed　no　repentance　submit　to　a　rite　that　was　a　confession　of　guilt　to　be　washed　away？

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As　Jesus　asked　for　baptism；　John　drew　back；　exclaiming；　〃I　have　need　to　be　baptized　of　Thee；　and　comest　Thou　to　me？〃　With　firm　yet　gentle　authority；　Jesus　answered；　〃Suffer　it　to　be　so　now：　for　thus　it　becometh　us　to　fulfill　all　righteousness。〃　And　John；　yielding；　led　the　Saviour　down　into　the　Jordan；　and　buried　Him　beneath　the　water。　〃And　straightway　coming　up　out　of　the　water；〃　Jesus　〃saw　the　heavens　opened；　and　the　Spirit　like　a　dove　descending　upon　Him。〃

Jesus　did　not　receive　baptism　as　a　confession　of　guilt　on　His　own　account。　He　identified　Himself　with　sinners；　taking　the　steps　that　we　are　to　take；　and　doing　the　work　that　we　must　do。　His　life　of　suffering　and　patient　endurance　after　His　baptism　was　also　an　example　to　us。

Upon　coming　up　out　of　the　water；　Jesus　bowed　in　prayer　on　the　river　bank。　A　new　and　important　era　was　opening　before　Him。　He　was　now；　upon　a　wider　stage；　entering　on　the　conflict　of　His　life。　Though　He　was　the　Prince　of　Peace；　His　coming　must　be　as　the　unsheathing　of　a　sword。　The　kingdom　He　had　come　to　establish　was　the　opposite　of　that　which　the　Jews　desired。　He　who　was　the　foundation　of　the　ritual　and　economy　of　Israel　would　be　looked　upon　as　its　enemy　and　destroyer。　He　who　had　proclaimed　the　law　upon　Sinai　would　be　condemned　as　a　transgressor。　He　who　had　come　to　break　the　power　of　Satan　would　be　denounced　as　Beelzebub。　No　one　upon　earth　had　understood　Him；　and　during　His　ministry　He　must　still　walk　alone。　Throughout　His　life　His　mother　and　His　brothers　did　not　comprehend　His　mission。　Even　His　disciples　did　not　understand　Him。　He　had　dwelt　in　eternal　light；　as　one　with　God；　but　His　life　on　earth　must　be　spent　in　solitude。

As　one　with　us；　He　must　bear　the　burden　of　our　guilt　and　woe。　The　Sinless　One　must　feel　the　shame　of　sin。　The　peace　lover　must　dwell　with　strife；　the　truth　must　abide　with　falsehood；　purity　with　vileness。　Every　sin；　every　discord；　every　defiling　lust　that　transgression　had　brought；　was　torture　to　His　spirit。

Alone　He　must　tread　the　path；　alone　He　must　bear　the　burden。　Upon　Him　who　had　laid　off　His　glory　and　accepted　the　weakness　of　humanity　the　redemption　of　the　world　must　rest。　He　saw　and　felt　it　all；　but　His　purpose　remained　steadfast。　Upon　His　arm　depended　the　salvation　of　the　fallen　race；　and　He　reached　out　His　hand　to　grasp　the　hand　of　Omnipotent　Love。

The　Saviour's　glance　seems　to　penetrate　heaven　as　He　pours　out　His　soul　in　prayer。　Well　He　knows　how　sin　has　hardened　the　hearts　of　men；

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and　how　difficult　it　will　be　for　them　to　discern　His　mission；　and　accept　the　gift　of　salvation。　He　pleads　with　the　Father　for　power　to　overcome　their　unbelief；　to　break　the　fetters　with　which　Satan　has　enthralled　them；　and　in　their　behalf　to　conquer　the　destroyer。　He　asks　for　the　witness　that　God　accepts　humanity　in　the　person　of　His　Son。

Never　before　have　the　angels　listened　to　such　a　prayer。　They　are　eager　to　bear　to　their　loved　Commander　a　message　of　assurance　and　comfort。　But　no；　the　Father　Himself　will　answer　the　petition　of　His　Son。　Direct　from　the　throne　issue　the　beams　of　His　glory。　The　heavens　are　opened；　and　upon　the　Saviour's　head　descends　a　dovelike　form　of　purest　light；fit　emblem　of　Him；　the　meek　and　lowly　One。

Of　the　vast　throng　at　the　Jordan；　few　except　John　discerned　the　heavenly　vision。　Yet　the　solemnity　of　the　divine　Presence　rested　upon　the　assembly。　The　people　stood　silently　gazing　upon　Christ。　His　form　was　bathed　in　the　light　that　ever　surrounds　the　throne　of　God。　His　upturned　face　was　glorified　as　they　had　never　before　seen　the　face　of　man。　From　the　open　heavens　a　voice　was　heard　saying；　〃This　is　My　beloved　Son；　in　whom　I　am　well　pleased。〃

These　words　of　confirmation　were　given　to　inspire　faith　in　those　who　witnessed　the　scene；　and　to　strengthen　the　Saviour　for　His　mission。　Notwithstanding　that　the　sins　of　a　guilty　world　were　laid　upon　Christ；　notwithstanding　the　humiliation　of　taking　upon　Himself　our　fallen　nature；　the　voice　from　heaven　declared　Him　to　be　the　Son　of　the　Eternal。

John　had　been　deeply　moved　as　he　saw　Jesus　bowed　as　a　suppliant；　pleading　with　tears　for　the　approval　of　the　Father。　As　the　glory　of　God　encircled　Him；　and　the　voice　from　heaven　was　heard；　John　recognized　the　token　which　God　had　promised。　He　knew　that　it　was　the　world's　Redeemer　whom　he　had　baptized。　The　Holy　Spirit　rested　upon　him；　and　with　outstretched　hand　pointing　to　Jesus；　he　cried；　〃Behold　the　Lamb　of　God；　which　taketh　away　the　sin　of　the　world。〃

None　among　the　hearers；　and　not　even　the　speaker　himself；　discerned　the　import　of　these　words；　〃the　Lamb　of　God。〃　Upon　Mount　Moriah；　Abraham　had　heard　the　question　of　his　son；　〃My　father；　。　。　。　where　is　the　lamb　for　a　burnt　offering？〃　The　father　answered；　〃My　son；　God　will　provide　Himself　a　lamb　for　a　burnt　offering。〃　Gen。　22：7；　8。　And　in　the　ram　divinely　provided　in　the　place　of　Isaac；　Abraham　saw　a　symbol　of　Him　who　was　to　die　for　the　sins　of　men。　The　Holy　Spirit　through　Isaiah；　taking　up　the　illustration；　prophesied　of　the　Saviour；　〃He　is

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brought　as　a　lamb　to　the　slaughter；〃　〃and　the　Lord　hath　laid　on　Him　the　iniquity　of　us　all〃　（Isa。　53：7；　6）；　but　the　people　of　Israel　had　not　understood　the　lesson。　Many　of　them　regarded　the　sacrificial　offerings　much　as　the　heathen　looked　upon　their　sacrifices；as　gifts　by　which　they　themselves　might　propitiate　the　Deity。　God　desired　to　teach　them　that　from　His　own　love　comes　the　gift　which　reconciles　them　to　Himself。

And　the　word　that　was　spoken　to　Jesus　at　the　Jordan；　〃This　is　My　beloved　Son；　in　whom　I　am　well　pleased；〃　embraces　humanity。　God　spoke　to　Jesus　as　our　representative。　With　all　our　sins　and　weaknesses；　we　are　not　cast　aside　as　worthless。　〃He　hath　made　us　accepted　in　the　Beloved。〃　Eph。　1：6。　The　glory　that　rested　upon　Christ　is　a　pledge　of　the　love　of　God　for　us。　It　tells　us　of　the　power　of　prayer；how　the　human　voice　may　reach　the　ear　of　God；　and　our　petitions　find　acceptance　in　the　courts　of　heaven。　By　sin；　earth　was　cut　off　from　heaven；　and　alienated　from　its　communion；　but　Jesus　has　connected　it　again　with　the　sphere　of　glory。　His　love　has　encircled　man；　and　reached　the　highest　heaven。　The　light　which　fell　from　the　open　portals　upon　the　head　of　our　Saviour　will　fall　upon　us　as　we　pray　for　help　to　resist　temptation。　The　voice　which　spoke　to　Jesus　says　to　every　believing　soul；　This　is　My　beloved　child；　in　whom　I　am　well　pleased。

〃Beloved；　now　are　we　the　sons　of　God；　and　it　doth　not　yet　appear　what　we　shall　be：　but　we　know　that；　when　He　shall　appear；　we　shall　be　like　Him；　for　we　shall　see　Him　as　He　is。〃　1　John　3：2。　Our　Redeemer　has　opened　the　way　so　that　the　most　sinful；　the　most　needy；　the　most　oppressed　and　despised；　may　find　access　to　the　Father。　All　may　have　a　home　in　the　mansions　which　Jesus　has　gone　to　prepare。　〃These　things　saith　He　that　is　holy；　He　that　is　true；　He　that　hath　the　key　of　David；　He　that　openeth；　and　no　man　shutteth；　and　shutteth；　and　no　man　openeth；　。　。　。　behold；　I　have　set　before　thee　an　open　door；　and　no　man　can　shut　it。〃　Rev。　3：7；　8。




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　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Chapter　12

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　The　Temptation


And　Jesus　being　full　of　the　Holy　Ghost　returned　from　Jordan；　and　was　led　by　the　Spirit　into　the　wilderness。〃　The　words　of　Mark　are　still　more　significant。　He　says；　〃Immediately　the　Spirit　driveth　Him　into　the　wilderness。　And　He　was　there　in　the　wilderness　forty　days；　tempted　of　Satan；　and　was　with　the　wild　beasts。〃　〃And　in　those　days　He　did　eat　nothing。〃

When　Jesus　was　led　into　the　wilderness　to　be　tempted；　He　was　led　by　the　Spirit　of　God。　He　did　not　invite　temptation。　He　went　to　the　wilderness　to　be　alone；　to　contemplate　His　mission　and　work。　By　fasting　and　prayer　He　was　to　brace　Himself　for　the　bloodstained　path　He　must　travel。　But　Satan　knew　that　the　Saviour　had　gone　into　the　wilderness；　and　he　thought　this　the　best　time　to　approach　Him。

Mighty　issues　for　the　world　were　at　stake　in　the　conflict　between　the　Prince　of　light　and　the　leader　of　the　kingdom　of　darkness。　After　tempting　man　to　sin；　Satan　claimed　the　earth　as　his；　and　styled　himself　the　prince　of　this　world。　Having　conformed　to　his　own　nature　the　father　and　mother　of　our　race；　he　thought　to　establish　here　his　empire。　He　declared　that　men　had　chosen　him　as　their　sovereign。　Through　his

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control　of　men；　he　held　dominion　over　the　world。　Christ　had　come　to　disprove　Satan's　claim。　As　the　Son　of　man；　Christ　would　stand　loyal　to　God。　Thus　it　would　be　shown　that　Satan　had　not　gained　complete　control　of　the　human　race；　and　that　his　claim　to　the　world　was　false。　All　who　desired　deliverance　from　his　power　would　be　set　free。　The　dominion　that　Adam　had　lost　through　sin　would　be　recovered。

Since　the　announcement　to　the　serpent　in　Eden；　〃I　will　put　enmity　between　thee　and　the　woman；　and　between　thy　seed　and　her　seed〃　（Gen。　3：15）；　Satan　had　known　that　he　did　not　hold　absolute　sway　over　the　world。　There　was　seen　in　men　the　working　of　a　power　that　withstood　his　dominion。　With　intense　interest　he　watched　the　sacrifices　offered　by　Adam　and　his　sons。　In　these　ceremonies　he　discerned　a　symbol　of　communion　between　earth　and　heaven。　He　set　himself　to　intercept　this　communion。　He　misrepresented　God；　and　misinterpreted　the　rites　that　pointed　to　the　Saviour。　Men　were　led　to　fear　God　as　one　who　delighted　in　their　destruction。　The　sacrifices　that　should　have　revealed　His　love　were　offered　only　to　appease　His　wrath。　Satan　excited　the　evil　passions　of　men；　in　order　to　fasten　his　rule　upon　them。　When　God's　written　word　was　given；　Satan　studied　the　prophecies　of　the　Saviour's　advent。　From　generation　to　generation　he　worked　to　blind　the　people　to　these　prophecies；　that　they　might　reject　Christ　at　His　coming。

At　the　birth　of　Jesus；　Satan　knew　that　One　had　come　with　a　divine　commission　to　dispute　his　dominion。　He　trembled　at　the　angel's　message　attesting　the　authority　of　the　newborn　King。　Satan　well　knew　the　position　that　Christ　had　held　in　heaven　as　the　Beloved　of　the　Father。　That　the　Son　of　God　should　come　to　this　earth　as　a　man　filled　him　with　amazement　and　with　apprehension。　He　could　not　fathom　the　mystery　of　this　great　sacrifice。　His　selfish　soul　could　not　understand　such　love　for　the　deceived　race。　The　glory　and　peace　of　heaven；　and　the　joy　of　communion　with　God；　were　but　dimly　comprehended　by　men；　but　they

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were　well　known　to　Lucifer；　the　covering　cherub。　Since　he　had　lost　heaven；　he　was　determined　to　find　revenge　by　causing　others　to　share　his　fall。　This　he　would　do　by　causing　them　to　undervalue　heavenly　things；　and　to　set　the　heart　upon　things　of　earth。

Not　without　hindrance　was　the　Commander　of　heaven　to　win　the　souls　of　men　to　His　kingdom。　From　the　time　when　He　was　a　babe　in　Bethlehem；　He　was　cont