按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
e pattern；〃 even Him who 〃suffered for us； leaving us an example； that ye should follow His steps。〃 Heb。 8：5； 1 Peter 2：21。
The words of Christ teach that we should regard ourselves as inseparably bound to our Father in heaven。 Whatever our position； we are dependent upon God； who holds all destinies in His hands。 He has appointed us our work； and has endowed us with faculties and means for that work。 So long as we surrender the will to God； and trust in His strength and wisdom； we shall be guided in safe paths； to fulfill our appointed part in His great plan。 But the one who depends upon his own wisdom and power is separating himself from God。 Instead of working in unison with Christ； he is fulfilling the purpose of the enemy of God and man。
The Saviour continued： 〃What things soever He ＇the Father＇ doeth； these also doeth the Son likewise。 。 。 。 As the Father raiseth up the dead； and quickeneth them； even so the Son quickeneth whom He will。〃 The Sadducees held that there would be no resurrection of the body； but Jesus tells them that one of the greatest works of His Father is raising the dead； and that He Himself has power to do the same work。 〃The hour is coming； and now is； when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God： and they that hear shall live。〃 The Pharisees believed in the resurrection of the dead。 Christ declares that even now the power which gives life to the dead is among them； and they are to behold its manifestation。 This same resurrection power is that which gives life to the soul 〃dead in trespasses and sins。〃 Eph。 2：1。 That spirit of life in Christ Jesus； 〃the power of His resurrection；〃 sets men 〃free from
210
the law of sin and death。〃 Phil。 3：10； Rom。 8：2。 The dominion of evil is broken； and through faith the soul is kept from sin。 He who opens his heart to the Spirit of Christ becomes a partaker of that mighty power which shall bring forth his body from the grave。
The humble Nazarene asserts His real nobility。 He rises above humanity； throws off the guise of sin and shame； and stands revealed； the Honored of the angels； the Son of God； One with the Creator of the universe。 His hearers are spellbound。 No man has ever spoken words like His； or borne himself with such a kingly majesty。 His utterances are clear and plain； fully declaring His mission； and the duty of the world。 〃For the Father judgeth no man； but hath committed all judgment unto the Son： that all men should honor the Son； even as they honor the Father。 He that honoreth not the Son honoreth not the Father which hath sent Him。 。 。 。 For as the Father hath life in Himself； so hath He given to the Son to have life in Himself； and hath given Him authority to execute judgment also； because He is the Son of man。〃
The priests and rulers had set themselves up as judges to condemn Christ's work； but He declared Himself their judge； and the judge of all the earth。 The world has been committed to Christ； and through Him has come every blessing from God to the fallen race。 He was the Redeemer before as after His incarnation。 As soon as there was sin； there was a Saviour。 He has given light and life to all； and according to the measure of light given； each is to be judged。 And He who has given the light； He who has followed the soul with tenderest entreaty； seeking to win it from sin to holiness； is in one its advocate and judge。 From the opening of the great controversy in heaven； Satan has maintained his cause through deception； and Christ has been working to unveil his schemes and to break his power。 It is He who has encountered the deceiver； and who through all the ages has been seeking to wrest the captives from his grasp； who will pass judgment upon every soul。
And God 〃hath given Him authority to execute judgment also； because He is the Son of man。〃 Because He has tasted the very dregs of human affliction and temptation； and understands the frailties and sins of men； because in our behalf He has victoriously withstood the temptations of Satan； and will deal justly and tenderly with the souls that His own blood has been poured out to save；because of this； the Son of man is appointed to execute the judgment。
But Christ's mission was not for judgment； but for salvation。 〃God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world； but that the
211
world through Him might be saved。〃 John 3：17。 And before the Sanhedrin Jesus declared； 〃He that heareth My word； and believeth Him that sent Me； hath eternal life； and cometh not into judgment； but hath passed out of death into life。〃 John 5：24； R。 V。
Bidding His hearers marvel not； Christ opened before them； in still wider view； the mystery of the future。 〃The hour cometh；〃 He said； 〃in which all that are in the tombs shall hear His voice； and shall come forth； they that have done good； unto the resurrection of life； and they that have done ill； unto the resurrection of judgment。〃 John 5：28； 29； R。 V。
This assurance of the future life was that for which Israel had so long waited； and which they had hoped to receive at the Messiah's advent。 The only light that can lighten the gloom of the grave was shining upon them。 But self…will is blind。 Jesus had violated the traditions of the rabbis； and disregarded their authority； and they would not believe。
The time； the place； the occasion； the intensity of feeling that pervaded the assembly； all combined to make the words of Jesus before the Sanhedrin the more impressive。 The highest religious authorities of the nation were seeking the life of Him who declared Himself the restorer of Israel。 The Lord of the Sabbath was arraigned before an earthly tribunal to answer the charge of breaking the Sabbath law。 When He so fearlessly declared His mission； His judges looked upon Him with astonishment and rage； but His words were unanswerable。 They could not condemn Him。 He denied the right of the priests and rabbis to question Him； or to interfere with His work。 They were invested with no such authority。 Their claims were based upon their own pride and arrogance。 He refused to plead guilty of their charges； or to be catechized by them。
Instead of apologizing for the act of which they complained； or explaining His purpose in doing it； Jesus turned upon the rulers； and the accused became the accuser。 He rebuked them for the hardness of their hearts； and their ignorance of the Scriptures。 He declared that they had rejected the word of God； inasmuch as they had rejected Him whom God had sent。 〃Ye search the Scriptures； because ye think that in them ye have eternal life； and these are they which bear witness of Me。〃 John 5：39； R。 V。
In every page； whether history； or precept； or prophecy； the Old Testament Scriptures are irradiated with the glory of the Son of God。 So far as it was of divine institution； the entire system of Judaism was a compacted prophecy of the gospel。 To Christ 〃give all the prophets witness。〃 Acts 10：43。 From the promise given to Adam； down through
212
the patriarchal line and the legal economy； heaven's glorious light made plain the footsteps of the Redeemer。 Seers beheld the Star of Bethlehem； the Shiloh to come； as future things swept before them in mysterious procession。 In every sacrifice Christ's death was shown。 In every cloud of incense His righteousness ascended。 By every jubilee trumpet His name was sounded。 In the awful mystery of the holy of holies His glory dwelt。
The Jews had the Scriptures in their possession； and supposed that in their mere outward knowledge of the word they had eternal life。 But Jesus said； 〃Ye have not His word abiding in you。〃 Having rejected Christ in His word； they rejected Him in person。 〃Ye will not come to Me；〃 He said； 〃that ye might have life。〃
The Jewish leaders had studied the teachings of the prophets concerning the kingdom of the Messiah； but they had done this； not with a sincere desire to know the truth； but with the purpose of finding evidence to sustain their ambitious hopes。 When Christ came in a manner contrary to their expectations； they would not receive Him； and in order to justify themselves； they tried to prove Him a deceiver。 When once they had set their feet in this path； it was easy for Satan to strengthen their opposition to Christ。 The very words that should have been received as evidence of His divinity were interpreted against Him。 Thus they turned the truth of God into a lie； and the more directly the Saviour spoke to them in His works of mercy； the more determined they were in resisting the light。
Jesus said； 〃I receive not honor from men。〃 It was not the influence of the Sanhedrin； it was not their sanction He desired。 He could receive no honor from their approbation。 He was invested with the honor and authority of Heaven。 Had He desired it； angels would have come to do Him homage； the Father would again have testified to His divinity。 But for their own sake； for the sake of the nation whose leaders they were； He desired the Jewish rulers to discern His character； and receive the blessings He came to bring them。
〃I am come in My Father's name； and ye receive Me not： if another shall come in his own name； him ye will receive。〃 Jesus came by the authority of God； bearin