the desire of ages-第49章

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　〃He　shall　be　great　in　the　sight　of　the　Lord。〃　Luke　1：15。　In　the　estimation　of　Heaven；　what　is　it　that　constitutes　greatness？　Not　that　which　the　world　accounts　greatness；　not　wealth；　or　rank；　or　noble　descent；　or　intellectual　gifts；　in　themselves　considered。　If　intellectual　greatness；　apart　from　any　higher　consideration；　is　worthy　of　honor；　then　our　homage　is　due　to　Satan；　whose　intellectual　power　no　man　has　ever　equaled。　But　when　perverted　to　self…serving；　the　greater　the　gift；　the　greater　curse　it　becomes。　It　is　moral　worth　that　God　values。　Love　and　purity　are　the　attributes　He　prizes　most。　John　was　great　in　the　sight　of　the　Lord；　when；　before　the　messengers　from　the　Sanhedrin；　before　the　people；　and　before　his　own　disciples；　he　refrained　from　seeking　honor　for　himself；　but　pointed　all　to　Jesus　as　the　Promised　One。　His　unselfish　joy　in　the　ministry　of　Christ　presents　the　highest　type　of　nobility　ever　revealed　in　man。

The　witness　borne　of　him　after　his　death；　by　those　who　had　heard　his　testimony　to　Jesus；　was；　〃John　did　no　miracle：　but　all　things　that　John　spake　of　this　Man　were　true。〃　John　10：41。　It　was　not　given　to　John　to　call　down　fire　from　heaven；　or　to　raise　the　dead；　as　Elijah　did；　nor

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to　wield　Moses'　rod　of　power　in　the　name　of　God。　He　was　sent　to　herald　the　Saviour's　advent；　and　to　call　upon　the　people　to　prepare　for　His　coming。　So　faithfully　did　he　fulfill　his　mission；　that　as　the　people　recalled　what　he　had　taught　them　of　Jesus；　they　could　say；　〃All　things　that　John　spake　of　this　Man　were　true。〃　Such　witness　to　Christ　every　disciple　of　the　Master　is　called　upon　to　bear。

As　the　Messiah's　herald；　John　was　〃much　more　than　a　prophet。〃　For　while　prophets　had　seen　from　afar　Christ's　advent；　to　John　it　was　given　to　behold　Him；　to　hear　the　testimony　from　heaven　to　His　Messiahship；　and　to　present　Him　to　Israel　as　the　Sent　of　God。　Yet　Jesus　said；　〃He　that　is　least　in　the　kingdom　of　heaven　is　greater　than　he。〃

The　prophet　John　was　the　connecting　link　between　the　two　dispensations。　As　God's　representative　he　stood　forth　to　show　the　relation　of　the　law　and　the　prophets　to　the　Christian　dispensation。　He　was　the　lesser　light；　which　was　to　be　followed　by　a　greater。　The　mind　of　John　was　illuminated　by　the　Holy　Spirit；　that　he　might　shed　light　upon　his　people；　but　no　other　light　ever　has　shone　or　ever　will　shine　so　clearly　upon　fallen　man　as　that　which　emanated　from　the　teaching　and　example　of　Jesus。　Christ　and　His　mission　had　been　but　dimly　understood　as　typified　in　the　shadowy　sacrifices。　Even　John　had　not　fully　comprehended　the　future；　immortal　life　through　the　Saviour。

Aside　from　the　joy　that　John　found　in　his　mission；　his　life　had　been　one　of　sorrow。　His　voice　had　been　seldom　heard　except　in　the　wilderness。　His　was　a　lonely　lot。　And　he　was　not　permitted　to　see　the　result　of　his　own　labors。　It　was　not　his　privilege　to　be　with　Christ　and　witness　the　manifestation　of　divine　power　attending　the　greater　light。　It　was　not　for　him　to　see　the　blind　restored　to　sight；　the　sick　healed；　and　the　dead　raised　to　life。　He　did　not　behold　the　light　that　shone　through　every　word　of　Christ；　shedding　glory　upon　the　promises　of　prophecy。　The　least　disciple　who　saw　Christ's　mighty　works　and　heard　His　words　was　in　this　sense　more　highly　privileged　than　John　the　Baptist；　and　therefore　is　said　to　have　been　greater　than　he。

Through　the　vast　throngs　that　had　listened　to　John's　preaching；　his　fame　had　spread　throughout　the　land。　A　deep　interest　was　felt　as　to　the　result　of　his　imprisonment。　Yet　his　blameless　life；　and　the　strong　public　sentiment　in　his　favor；　led　to　the　belief　that　no　violent　measures　would　be　taken　against　him。

Herod　believed　John　to　be　a　prophet　of　God；　and　he　fully　intended

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to　set　him　at　liberty。　But　he　delayed　his　purpose　from　fear　of　Herodias。

Herodias　knew　that　by　direct　measures　she　could　never　win　Herod's　consent　to　the　death　of　John；　and　she　resolved　to　accomplish　her　purpose　by　stratagem。　On　the　king's　birthday　an　entertainment　was　to　be　given　to　the　officers　of　state　and　the　nobles　of　the　court。　There　would　be　feasting　and　drunkenness。　Herod　would　thus　be　thrown　off　his　guard；　and　might　then　be　influenced　according　to　her　will。

When　the　great　day　arrived；　and　the　king　with　his　lords　was　feasting　and　drinking；　Herodias　sent　her　daughter　into　the　banqueting　hall　to　dance　for　the　entertainment　of　the　guests。　Salome　was　in　the　first　flush　of　womanhood；　and　her　voluptuous　beauty　captivated　the　senses　of　the　lordly　revelers。　It　was　not　customary　for　the　ladies　of　the　court　to　appear　at　these　festivities；　and　a　flattering　compliment　was　paid　to　Herod　when　this　daughter　of　Israel's　priests　and　princes　danced　for　the　amusement　of　his　guests。

The　king　was　dazed　with　wine。　Passion　held　sway；　and　reason　was　dethroned。　He　saw　only　the　hall　of　pleasure；　with　its　reveling　guests；　the　banquet　table；　the　sparkling　wine　and　the　flashing　lights；　and　the　young　girl　dancing　before　him。　In　the　recklessness　of　the　moment；　he　desired　to　make　some　display　that　would　exalt　him　before　the　great　men　of　his　realm。　With　an　oath　he　promised　to　give　the　daughter　of　Herodias　whatever　she　might　ask；　even　to　the　half　of　his　kingdom。

Salome　hastened　to　her　mother；　to　know　what　she　should　ask。　The　answer　was　ready；the　head　of　John　the　Baptist。　Salome　knew　not　of　the　thirst　for　revenge　in　her　mother's　heart；　and　she　shrank　from　presenting　the　request；　but　the　determination　of　Herodias　prevailed。　The　girl　returned　with　the　terrible　petition；　〃I　will　that　thou　forthwith　give　me　in　a　charger　the　head　of　John　the　Baptist。〃　Mark　6：25；　R。　V。

Herod　was　astonished　and　confounded。　The　riotous　mirth　ceased；　and　an　ominous　silence　settled　down　upon　the　scene　of　revelry。　The　king　was　horror…stricken　at　the　thought　of　taking　the　life　of　John。　Yet　his　word　was　pledged；　and　he　was　unwilling　to　appear　fickle　or　rash。　The　oath　had　been　made　in　honor　of　his　guests；　and　if　one　of　them　had　offered　a　word　against　the　fulfillment　of　his　promise；　he　would　gladly　have　spared　the　prophet。　He　gave　them　opportunity　to　speak　in　the　prisoner's　behalf。　They　had　traveled　long　distances　in　order　to　hear　the　preaching　of　John；　and　they　knew　him　to　be　a　man　without　crime；　and　a　servant　of　God。　But　though　shocked　at　the　girl's　demand；　they　were

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too　besotted　to　interpose　a　remonstrance。　No　voice　was　raised　to　save　the　life　of　Heaven's　messenger。　These　men　occupied　high　positions　of　trust　in　the　nation；　and　upon　them　rested　grave　responsibilities；　yet　they　had　given　themselves　up　to　feasting　and　drunkenness　until　the　senses　were　benumbed。　Their　heads　were　turned　with　the　giddy　scene　of　music　and　dancing；　and　conscience　lay　dormant。　By　their　silence　they　pronounced　the　sentence　of　death　upon　the　prophet　of　God　to　satisfy　the　revenge　of　an　abandoned　woman。

Herod　waited　in　vain　to　be　released　from　his　oath；　then　he　reluctantly　commanded　the　execution　of　the　prophet。　Soon　the　head　of　John　was　brought　in　before　the　king　and　his　guests。　Forever　sealed　were　those　lips　that　had　faithfully　warned　Herod　to　turn　from　his　life　of　sin。　Never　more　would　that　voice　be　heard　calling　men　to　repentance。　The　revels　of　one　night　had　cost　the　life　of　one　of　the　greatest　of　the　prophets。

Oh；　how　often　has　the　life　of　the　innocent　been　sacrificed　through　the　intemperance　of　those　who　should　have　been　guardians　of　justice！　He　who　puts　the　intoxicating　cup　to　his　lips　makes　himself　responsible　for　all　the　injustice　he　may　commit　under　its　besotting　power。　By　benumbing　his　senses　he　makes　it　impossible　for　him　to　judge　calmly　or　to　have　a　clear　perception　of　right　and　wrong。　He　opens　the　way　for　Satan　to　work　through　him　in　oppressing　and　destroying　the　innocent。　〃Wine　is　a　mocker；　strong　drink　is　raging：　and　whosoever　is　deceived　thereby　is　not　wise。〃　Prov。　20：1。　Thus　it　is　that　〃judgment　is　turned　away　backward；　。　。　。　and　he　that　departeth　from　evil　maketh　himself　a　prey。〃　Isa。　59：14；　15。　Those　who　have　jurisdiction　over　the　lives　of　their　fellow　men　should　be　held　guilty　of　a　crime　when　they　yield　to　intemperance。　All　who　execute　the　laws　should　be　lawkeepers。　They　should　be　men　of　self…control。