the desire of ages-第116章
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！
And He 〃sent messengers before His face： and they went； and entered into a village of the Samaritans； to make ready for Him。〃 But
487
the people refused to receive Him； because He was on His way to Jerusalem。 This they interpreted as meaning that Christ showed a preference for the Jews； whom they hated with intense bitterness。 Had He come to restore the temple and worship upon Mount Gerizim； they would gladly have received Him； but He was going to Jerusalem； and they would show Him no hospitality。 Little did they realize that they were turning from their doors the best gift of heaven。 Jesus invited men to receive Him； He asked favors at their hands； that He might come near to them； to bestow the richest blessings。 For every favor manifested toward Him； He requited a more precious grace。 But all was lost to the Samaritans because of their prejudice and bigotry。
James and John； Christ's messengers； were greatly annoyed at the insult shown to their Lord。 They were filled with indignation because He had been so rudely treated by the Samaritans whom He was honoring by His presence。 They had recently been with Him on the mount of transfiguration； and had seen Him glorified by God； and honored by Moses and Elijah。 This manifest dishonor on the part of the Samaritans； should not； they thought； be passed over without marked punishment。
Coming to Christ； they reported to Him the words of the people； telling Him that they had even refused to give Him a night's lodging。 They thought that a grievous wrong had been done Him； and seeing Mount Carmel in the distance； where Elijah had slain the false prophets； they said； 〃Wilt Thou that we command fire to come down from heaven； and consume them； even as Elias did？〃 They were surprised to see that Jesus was pained by their words； and still more surprised as His rebuke fell upon their ears； 〃Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of。 For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives； but to save them。〃 And He went to another village。
It is no part of Christ's mission to compel men to receive Him。 It is Satan； and men actuated by his spirit； that seek to compel the conscience。 Under a pretense of zeal for righteousness； men who are confederate with evil angels bring suffering upon their fellow men； in order to convert them to their ideas of religion； but Christ is ever showing mercy； ever seeking to win by the revealing of His love。 He can admit no rival in the soul； nor accept of partial service； but He desires only voluntary service； the willing surrender of the heart under the constraint of love。 There can be no more conclusive evidence that we possess the spirit of Satan than the disposition to hurt and destroy those who do not appreciate our work； or who act contrary to our ideas。
488
Every human being； in body； soul； and spirit； is the property of God。 Christ died to redeem all。 Nothing can be more offensive to God than for men； through religious bigotry； to bring suffering upon those who are the purchase of the Saviour's blood。
〃And He arose from thence； and cometh into the coasts of Judea by the farther side of Jordan： and the people resort unto Him again； and； as He was wont； He taught them again。〃 Mark 10：1。
A considerable part of the closing months of Christ's ministry was spent in Perea； the province on 〃the farther side of Jordan〃 from Judea。 Here the multitude thronged His steps； as in His early ministry in Galilee； and much of His former teaching was repeated。
As He had sent out the twelve； so He 〃appointed seventy others； and sent them two and two before His face into every city and place； whither He Himself was about to come。〃 Luke 10：1； R。 V。 These disciples had been for some time with Him； in training for their work。 When the twelve were sent out on their first separate mission； other disciples accompanied Jesus in His journey through Galilee。 Thus they had the privilege of intimate association with Him； and direct personal instruction。 Now this larger number also were to go forth on a separate mission。
The directions to the seventy were similar to those that had been given to the twelve； but the command to the twelve； not to enter into any city of the Gentiles or of the Samaritans； was not given to the seventy。 Though Christ had just been repulsed by the Samaritans； His love toward them was unchanged。 When the seventy went forth in His name； they visited； first of all； the cities of Samaria。
The Saviour's own visit to Samaria； and later； the commendation of the good Samaritan； and the grateful joy of that leper； a Samaritan； who alone of the ten returned to give thanks to Christ； were full of significance to the disciples。 The lesson sank deep into their hearts。 In His commission to them； just before His ascension； Jesus mentioned Samaria with Jerusalem and Judea as the places where they were first to preach the gospel。 This commission His teaching had prepared them to fulfill。 When in their Master's name they went to Samaria； they found the people ready to receive them。 The Samaritans had heard of Christ's words of commendation and His works of mercy for men of their nation。 They saw that； notwithstanding their rude treatment of Him； He had only thoughts of love toward them； and their hearts were won。 After His ascension they welcomed the Saviour's messengers； and the disciples gathered a precious harvest from among those who had once been their bitterest enemies。
489
〃A bruised reed shall He not break； and the dimly burning flax shall He not quench： He shall bring forth judgment unto truth。〃 〃And in His name shall the Gentiles trust。〃 Isa。 42：3； margin； Matt。 12：21。
In sending out the seventy； Jesus bade them； as He had bidden the twelve； not to urge their presence where they were unwelcome。 〃Into whatsoever city ye enter； and they receive you not；〃 He said； 〃go your ways out into the streets of the same； and say； Even the very dust of your city； which cleaveth on us； we do wipe off against you： notwithstanding be ye sure of this； that the kingdom of God is come nigh unto you。〃 They were not to do this from motives of resentment or through wounded dignity； but to show how grievous a thing it is to refuse the Lord's message or His messengers。 To reject the Lord's servants is to reject Christ Himself。
〃I say unto you；〃 Jesus added； 〃that it shall be more tolerable in that day for Sodom； than for that city。〃 Then His mind reverted to the Galilean towns where so much of His ministry had been spent。 In deeply sorrowful accents He exclaimed； 〃Woe unto thee； Chorazin！ woe unto thee； Bethsaida！ for if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon； which have been done in you； they had a great while ago repented； sitting in sackcloth and ashes。 But it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment； than for you。 And thou； Capernaum； which art exalted to heaven； shalt be thrust down to hell。〃
To those busy towns about the Sea of Galilee； heaven's richest blessings had been freely offered。 Day after day the Prince of life had gone in and out among them。 The glory of God； which prophets and kings had longed to see； had shone upon the multitudes that thronged the Saviour's steps。 Yet they had refused the heavenly Gift。
With a great show of prudence the rabbis had warned the people against receiving the new doctrines taught by this new teacher； for His theories and practices were contrary to the teachings of the fathers。 The people gave credence to what the priests and Pharisees taught； in place of seeking to understand the word of God for themselves。 They honored the priests and rulers instead of honoring God； and rejected the truth that they might keep their own traditions。 Many had been impressed and almost persuaded； but they did not act upon their convictions； and were not reckoned on the side of Christ。 Satan presented his temptations； until the light appeared as darkness。 Thus many rejected the truth that would have proved the saving of the soul。
The True Witness says； 〃Behold； I stand at the door； and knock。〃 Rev。 3：20。 Every warning； reproof； and entreaty in the word of
