the desire of ages-第121部分

快捷操作: 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! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！

d　gracefully　about　the　white　and　glistening　pillars；　clinging　with　shining　tendrils　to　their　golden　ornaments；　it　caught　the　splendor　of　the　setting　sun；　shining　as　if　with　a　glory　borrowed　from　heaven。

Jesus　gazes　upon　the　scene；　and　the　vast　multitude　hush　their　shouts；　spellbound　by　the　sudden　vision　of　beauty。　All　eyes　turn　upon　the　Saviour；　expecting　to　see　in　His　countenance　the　admiration　they　themselves　feel。　But　instead　of　this　they　behold　a　cloud　of　sorrow。　They　are　surprised　and　disappointed　to　see　His　eyes　fill　with　tears；　and　His　body　rock　to　and　fro　like　a　tree　before　the　tempest；　while　a　wail　of　anguish　bursts　from　His　quivering　lips；　as　if　from　the　depths　of　a　broken　heart。　What　a　sight　was　this　for　angels　to　behold！　their　loved　Commander　in　an　agony　of　tears！　What　a　sight　was　this　for　the　glad　throng　that　with　shouts　of　triumph　and　the　waving　of　palm　branches　were　escorting　Him　to　the　glorious　city；　where　they　fondly　hoped　He　was　about　to　reign！　Jesus　had　wept　at　the　grave　of　Lazarus；　but　it　was　in　a

576

godlike　grief　in　sympathy　with　human　woe。　But　this　sudden　sorrow　was　like　a　note　of　wailing　in　a　grand　triumphal　chorus。　In　the　midst　of　a　scene　of　rejoicing；　where　all　were　paying　Him　homage；　Israel's　King　was　in　tears；　not　silent　tears　of　gladness；　but　tears　and　groans　of　insuppressible　agony。　The　multitude　were　struck　with　a　sudden　gloom。　Their　acclamations　were　silenced。　Many　wept　in　sympathy　with　a　grief　they　could　not　comprehend。

The　tears　of　Jesus　were　not　in　anticipation　of　His　own　suffering。　Just　before　Him　was　Gethsemane；　where　soon　the　horror　of　a　great　darkness　would　overshadow　Him。　The　sheepgate　also　was　in　sight；　through　which　for　centuries　the　beasts　for　sacrificial　offerings　had　been　led。　This　gate　was　soon　to　open　for　Him；　the　great　Antitype；　toward　whose　sacrifice　for　the　sins　of　the　world　all　these　offerings　had　pointed。　Near　by　was　Calvary；　the　scene　of　His　approaching　agony。　Yet　it　was　not　because　of　these　reminders　of　His　cruel　death　that　the　Redeemer　wept　and　groaned　in　anguish　of　spirit。　His　was　no　selfish　sorrow。　The　thought　of　His　own　agony　did　not　intimidate　that　noble；　self…sacrificing　soul。　It　was　the　sight　of　Jerusalem　that　pierced　the　heart　of　JesusJerusalem　that　had　rejected　the　Son　of　God　and　scorned　His　love；　that　refused　to　be　convinced　by　His　mighty　miracles；　and　was　about　to　take　His　life。　He　saw　what　she　was　in　her　guilt　of　rejecting　her　Redeemer；　and　what　she　might　have　been　had　she　accepted　Him　who　alone　could　heal　her　wound。　He　had　come　to　save　her；　how　could　He　give　her　up？

Israel　had　been　a　favored　people；　God　had　made　their　temple　His　habitation；　it　was　〃beautiful　for　situation；　the　joy　of　the　whole　earth。〃　Ps。　48：2。　The　record　of　more　than　a　thousand　years　of　Christ's　guardian　care　and　tender　love；　such　as　a　father　bears　his　only　child；　was　there。　In　that　temple　the　prophets　had　uttered　their　solemn　warnings。　There　had　the　burning　censers　waved；　while　incense；　mingled　with　the　prayers　of　the　worshipers；　had　ascended　to　God。　There　the　blood　of　beasts　had　flowed；　typical　of　the　blood　of　Christ。　There　Jehovah　had　manifested　His　glory　above　the　mercy　seat。　There　the　priests　had　officiated；　and　the　pomp　of　symbol　and　ceremony　had　gone　on　for　ages。　But　all　this　must　have　an　end。

Jesus　raised　His　hand；that　had　so　often　blessed　the　sick　and　suffering；and　waving　it　toward　the　doomed　city；　in　broken　utterances　of　grief　exclaimed：　〃If　thou　hadst　known；　even　thou；　at　least　in　this　thy　day；　the　things　which　belong　unto　thy　peace！〃　Here　the　Saviour　paused；　and　left　unsaid　what　might　have　been　the　condition　of　Jerusalem

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　577

had　she　accepted　the　help　that　God　desired　to　give　her；the　gift　of　His　beloved　Son。　If　Jerusalem　had　known　what　it　was　her　privilege　to　know；　and　had　heeded　the　light　which　Heaven　had　sent　her；　she　might　have　stood　forth　in　the　pride　of　prosperity；　the　queen　of　kingdoms；　free　in　the　strength　of　her　God…given　power。　There　would　have　been　no　armed　soldiers　standing　at　her　gates；　no　Roman　banners　waving　from　her　walls。　The　glorious　destiny　that　might　have　blessed　Jerusalem　had　she　accepted　her　Redeemer　rose　before　the　Son　of　God。　He　saw　that　she　might　through　Him　have　been　healed　of　her　grievous　malady；　liberated　from　bondage；　and　established　as　the　mighty　metropolis　of　the　earth。　From　her　walls　the　dove　of　peace　would　have　gone　forth　to　all　nations。　She　would　have　been　the　world's　diadem　of　glory。

But　the　bright　picture　of　what　Jerusalem　might　have　been　fades　from　the　Saviour's　sight。　He　realizes　what　she　now　is　under　the　Roman　yoke；　bearing　the　frown　of　God；　doomed　to　His　retributive　judgment。　He　takes　up　the　broken　thread　of　His　lamentation：　〃But　now　they　are　hid　from　thine　eyes。　For　the　days　shall　come　upon　thee；　that　thine　enemies　shall　cast　a　trench　about　thee；　and　compass　thee　round；　and　keep　thee　in　on　every　side；　and　shall　lay　thee　even　with　the　ground；　and　thy　children　within　thee；　and　they　shall　not　leave　in　thee　one　stone　upon　another；　because　thou　knewest　not　the　time　of　thy　visitation。〃

Christ　came　to　save　Jerusalem　with　her　children；　but　Pharisaical　pride；　hypocrisy；　jealousy；　and　malice　had　prevented　Him　from　accomplishing　His　purpose。　Jesus　knew　the　terrible　retribution　which　would　be　visited　upon　the　doomed　city。　He　saw　Jerusalem　encompassed　with　armies；　the　besieged　inhabitants　driven　to　starvation　and　death；　mothers　feeding　upon　the　dead　bodies　of　their　own　children；　and　both　parents　and　children　snatching　the　last　morsel　of　food　from　one　another；　natural　affection　being　destroyed　by　the　gnawing　pangs　of　hunger。　He　saw　that　the　stubbornness　of　the　Jews；　as　evinced　in　their　rejection　of　His　salvation；　would　also　lead　them　to　refuse　submission　to　the　invading　armies。　He　beheld　Calvary；　on　which　He　was　to　be　lifted　up；　set　with　crosses　as　thickly　as　forest　trees。　He　saw　the　wretched　inhabitants　suffering　torture　on　the　rack　and　by　crucifixion；　the　beautiful　palaces　destroyed；　the　temple　in　ruins；　and　of　its　massive　walls　not　one　stone　left　upon　another；　while　the　city　was　plowed　like　a　field。　Well　might　the　Saviour　weep　in　agony　in　view　of　that　fearful　scene。

Jerusalem　had　been　the　child　of　His　care；　and　as　a　tender　father　mourns　over　a　wayward　son；　so　Jesus　wept　over　the　beloved　city。　How

578

can　I　give　thee　up？　How　can　I　see　thee　devoted　to　destruction？　Must　I　let　thee　go　to　fill　up　the　cup　of　thine　iniquity？　One　soul　is　of　such　value　that；　in　comparison　with　it；　worlds　sink　into　insignificance；　but　here　was　a　whole　nation　to　be　lost。　When　the　fast　westering　sun　should　pass　from　sight　in　the　heavens；　Jerusalem's　day　of　grace　would　be　ended。　While　the　procession　was　halting　on　the　brow　of　Olivet；　it　was　not　yet　too　late　for　Jerusalem　to　repent。　The　angel　of　mercy　was　then　folding　her　wings　to　step　down　from　the　golden　throne　to　give　place　to　justice　and　swift…coming　judgment。　But　Christ's　great　heart　of　love　still　pleaded　for　Jerusalem；　that　had　scorned　His　mercies；　despised　His　warnings；　and　was　about　to　imbrue　her　hands　in　His　blood。　If　Jerusalem　would　but　repent；　it　was　not　yet　too　late。　While　the　last　rays　of　the　setting　sun　were　lingering　on　temple；　tower；　and　pinnacle；　would　not　some　good　angel　lead　her　to　the　Saviour's　love；　and　avert　her　doom？　Beautiful　and　unholy　city；　that　had　stoned　the　prophets；　that　had　rejected　the　Son　of　God；　that　was　locking　herself　by　her　impenitence　in　fetters　of　bondage；her　day　of　mercy　was　almost　spent！

Yet　again　the　Spirit　of　God　speaks　to　Jerusalem。　Before　the　day　is　done；　another　testimony　is　borne　to　Christ。　The　voice　of　witness　is　lifted　up；　responding　to　the　call　from　a　prophetic　past。　If　Jerusalem　will　hear　the　call；　if　she　will　receive　the　Saviour　who　is　entering　her　gates；　she　may　yet　be　saved。

Reports　have　reached　the　rulers　in　Jerusalem　that　Jesus　is　approaching　the　city　with　a　great　concourse　of　people。　But　they　have　no　welcome　for　the　Son　of　God。　In　fear　they　go　out　to　meet　Him；　hoping　to　disperse　the　throng。　As　the　procession　is　about　to　descend　the　Mount　of　Olives；　it　is　intercepted　by　the　rulers。　They　inquire　the　cause　of　the　tumultuous　rejoicing。　As　they　question；　〃Who　is　this？〃　the　disciples；　filled　with　the　spirit　of　inspiration；　answer　this　question。　In　eloquent　strains　they　repeat　the　prophecies　concerning　Christ：

Adam　will　tell　you；　It　is　the　seed　of　the　woman　that　shall　bruise　the　serpent's　head。

Ask　Abraham；　he　will　tell　you；　It　is　〃Melchizedek　King　of　Salem；〃　King　of　Peace。　Gen。　14：18。

Jacob　will　tell　you；　He　is　Shiloh　of　the　tribe　of　Judah。

Isaiah　will　tell　you；　〃Immanuel；〃　〃Wonderful；　Counselor；　The　mighty　God；　The　everlasting　Father；　The　Prince　of　Peace。〃　Isa。　7：14；　9：6。

Jeremiah　will　tell　you；　The　Branch　of　David；　〃the　Lord　our　Righteousness。〃　Jer。　23：6。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　579


Daniel　will　tell　you；　He　is　the　Messiah。

Hosea　will　tell　you；　He　is　〃the　Lord　God　of　hosts；　the　Lord　is　His　memorial。〃　Hosea　12：5。

John　the　Baptist　will　tell　you；　He　is　〃the　Lamb　of　God；　which　taketh　away　the　sin　of　the　world。〃　John　1：29。

The　great　Jehovah　has　proclaimed　from　His　throne；　〃This　is　My　beloved　Son。〃　Matt。　3：17。