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16 - The Desire of Ages - Ellen Gould · Philosophy and Faith

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In his temple. After this he went down to Capernaum, he and his
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mother, and his brethren and his disciples, and they continued there not many
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days, and the Jews Passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to
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Jerusalem. In this journey, Jesus joined one of the large companies that were
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making their way to the capital. He had not yet publicly announced his mission,
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and he mingled unnoticed with a throng. Upon these occasions, the coming
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of the Messiah, to which such prominence had been given by the Ministry of
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John, was often the theme of conversation. The hope of national greatness was
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dwelt upon with kindling enthusiasm. Jesus knew that this hope was to be disappointed,
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for it was founded on a misinterpretation of the scriptures. With deep earnestness,
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he explained the prophecies and tried to arouse the people to a closer study
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of God's word. The Jewish leaders had instructed the people that at Jerusalem they
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were to be taught to worship God. Here. During the Passover week,
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large numbers assembled, coming from all parts of Palestine and even from distant lands.
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The temple courts were filled with a promiscuous throng. Many were unable to
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bring with them the sacrifices that were to be offered up as typifying the one
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great sacrifice for the convenience of these animals were bought and sold in the outer
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court of the temple. Here all classes of people assembled to purchase their offerings.
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Here all foreign money was exchanged for the coin of the sanctuary. Every
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jew was required to pay yearly a half shekel as a ransom for his soul,
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and the money thus collected was used for the support of the temple exes
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thirty twelve to sixteen. Besides this, large sums were brought as free will
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offerings to be deposited in the temple treasury, and it was required that all
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foreign coins should be changed for a coin called the Temple shekel, which was
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accepted for the service of the sanctuary. The money changing gave opportunity for fraud
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and extortion, and it had grown into a disgraceful traffic which was a source
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of revenue to the priests. The dealers demanded exorbitant prices for the animals sold,
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and they shared their profits with the priests and rulers, who thus enriched
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themselves at the expense of the people. The worshippers had been taught to believe
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that if they did not offer sacrifice, the blessings of God would not rest
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on their children or their lands. Thus a high price for the animals could
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be secured, for after coming so far, the people would not return to
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their homes without performing the act of devotion for which they had come. A
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great number of sacrifices were offered at the time of the passover, and the
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sales at the temple were very large. The consequent confusion indicated a noisy cattle
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market rather than the sacred temple of God. There could be heard sharp bargaining,
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the lowing of cattle, the bleating of sheep, the cooing of doves,
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mingled with the chinking of coin in angry disputation. So great was the
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confusion that the worshippers were disturbed, and the words addressed to the most high
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were drowned in the uproar that invaded the temple. The Jews were exceedingly proud
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of their piety. They rejoiced over their temple and regarded a word spoken in
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its disfavor as blasphemy. They were very rigorous in the performance of ceremonies connected
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with it, but the love of money had overruled their scruples. They were
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scarcely aware how far they had wandered from the original purpose of the service instituted
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by God himself. When the Lord descended upon Mount Sinai, the place was
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consecrated by his presence. Moses was commanded to put bounds around the mount and
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sanctify it, and the word of the Lord was heard in warning, take
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heed to yourselves that Ego not up into the mount or touched the border of
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it, Whosoever toucheth the mount shall be surely put to death. There shall
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not in hand touch it, but he shall surely be stoned or shot through.
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Whether it be beast or man, it shall not live. Exodus nineteen
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twelve thirteen. Thus was taught the lesson that wherever God manifest his presence,
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the place is holy. The precincts of God's temples should have been regarded as
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sacred, but in the strife for gain all this was lost. Sight of
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the priests and rulers were called to be the representaties of God to the nation.
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They should have corrected the abuses of the temple court. They should have
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given to the people an example of integrity and compassion. Instead of studying their
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own profit. They should have considered the situation and needs of the worshippers,
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and should have been ready to assist those who were not able to buy the
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required sacrifices. But this they did not do. Avarice had hardened their hearts.
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There came to this feast those who were suffering, those who were in
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want and distress. The blind, the lame, the deaf were there.
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Some were brought on beds. Many came who were too poor to purchase the
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humblest offering for the lord, too poor even to buy food with which to
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satisfy their own hunger. These were greatly distressed by the statements of the priests.
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The priests boasted of their priety. They claimed to be the guardians of
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the people, but they were without sympathy or compassion. The poor, the
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sick, the dying made their vain plea for favor. Their suffering awakened no
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pity in the hearts of the priest. As Jesus came into the temple,
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he took in the whole scene. He saw the unfair transactions, He saw
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the distress of the poor, who thought that without shedding of blood there would
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be no forgiveness for their sins. He saw the outer court of his temple
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converted into a place of unholy traffic. The sacred enclosure had become one vast
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exchange. Christ saw that something must be done. Numerous ceremonies were enjoined upon
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the people without proper instruction as to their import. The worshippers offered their sacrifices
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without understanding that they were typical of the only perfect sacrifice, and among them,
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unrecognized and unhonored, stood the one symbolized by all their service. He
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had given directions in regard to the offerings. He understood their symbolical value,
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and he saw that they were now perverted and misunderstood. Spiritual worship was fast
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disappearing. No link bound the priests and rulers to their God. Christ's work
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was to establish an altogether different worship. With searching glance, Christ takes in
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the scene before him as he stands upon the steps of the temple court.
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With prophetic eye, he looks into futurity and sees not only years, but
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centries and ages. He sees how priests and rulers will turn the needy from
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their right and forbid that the Gospel shall be preached to the poor. He
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sees how the love of God will be concealed from sinners, and men will
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make merchandise of his grace. As he beholds a scene, indignation, authority,
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and power are expressed in his countenance. The attention of the people is
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attracted to him. The eyes of those engaged in their unholy traffic are riveted
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upon his face. They cannot withdraw their gaze. They feel that this man
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reads their inmost thoughts and discovers their hidden motives. Some attempt to conceal their
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faces, as if their evil deeds were written upon their countenances, to be
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scanned by those searching eyes. The confusion is hushed, the sound of traffic
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and bargaining has ceased. The silence becomes painful. A sense of awe overpowers
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the assembly. It is as if they were arraigned before the tribunal of God
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to answer for their deeds. Looking upon Christ, they behold divinity flashed through
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the garb of humanity. The majesty of Heaven stands as a judge will stand
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at the last day, not now encircled with the glory that will then attend
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him, but with the same power to read the soul. His eye sweeps
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over the multitude, taking in every individual. His form seems to rise above
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them in commanding dignity, and a divine light illuminates his countenance. He speaks,
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and his clear, ringing voice, the same that upon Mount SINII proclaim
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the law that priests and rulers are transgressing, is heard echoing through the arches
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of the temple. Take these things, hence, make not my father's house
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an house of merchandise. Slowly descending the steps and raising the scourge of chords
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gathered upon entering the enclosure, he bids the bargaining company depart from the precincts
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of the temple. With a zeal and severity he has never before manifested.
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He overthrows the tables of the money changers. The coin falls, ringing sharply
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upon the marble pavement. None presumed to question his authority, none dare stop
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to gather up their ill gotten gains. Jesus does not smite them with the
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whip of chords, but in his hand that simple scorge seems terrible as a
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flaming sword. Officers of the Temple speculating priest brokers and cattle traders with their
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sheep and oxen, rush from the place with the one thought of escaping from
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the condemnation of his presence. A panic sweeps over the multitude who feel the
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overshadowing of his divinity. Cries of terror escape from hundreds of blanched lips.
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Even the disciples tremble. They are awe struck by the words and manner of
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Jesus, so unlike his usual demeanor. They remember that it is written of
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him, the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up Psalm sixty nine nine.
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Soon the tumultuous throng with their merchandise are far removed from the temple of
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the Lord. The courts are free from unholy traffic, and a deep silence
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and solemnity settles upon the scene of confusion. The presence of the Lord,
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that of old sanctified the mount, has now made sacred the temple reared in
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his honor. In the cleansing of the temple, Jesus was announcing his mission
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as the Messiah and entering upon his words. That temple erected for the abode
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of the divine presence, was designed to be an object lesson for Israel and
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for the world. From the eternal ages. It was God's purpose that every
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created being, from the bright and holy Seraph to man, should be a
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temple for the indwelling of the Creator. Because of sin, humanity ceased to
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be a temple for God. Darkened and defiled by evil, the heart of
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man no longer revealed the glory of the Divine One. But by the incarnation
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of the Son of God, the purpose of Heaven is fulfilled. God dwells
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in humanity, and through saving grace, the heart of man becomes again his
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temple. God designed that the Temple at Jerusalem should be a continual witness to
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the high destiny, open to every soul. But the Jews had not understood
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the significance of the building. They regarded with so much pride, they did
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not yield themselves as holy temples for the divine Spirit. The courts of the
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Temple at Jerusalem, filled with the tumult of unh holy traffic, represented all
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too truly the temple of the Heart, defiled by the presence of sensual passion
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and unholy thoughts. In cleansing the temple from the world's buyers, and sellers.
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Jesus announced his mission to cleanse the heart from the defilement of sin,
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from the earthly desires, the selfish lust, the evil habits that corrupt the
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soul. The Lord whom ye seek shall suddenly come to his temple, even
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the messenger of the Covenant, whom ye delight in. Behold, he shall
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come, said the Lord of Hosts. But who may abide the day of
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his coming, and who shall stand when he appereth? For he is like
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a refiner's fire, and like fuller soap. And he shall sit as a
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refiner and purifier of silver. And he shall purify the sons of Levi,
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and purge them as gold and silver. Malachi three one to three. Know
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ye not that year the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God
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dwelleth in you. If any man defile the temple of God, him shall
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God destroy. For the Temple of God is holy, Which temple ye are
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first Corinthians three, sixteen seventeen. No man can of himself cast out the
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evil throng that have taken possession of the heart. Only Christ can cleanse a
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soul temple. But he will not force an entrance. He comes not into
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the heart as to the temple of old. But he says, behold,
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I stand at the door and knock. If any man hear my voice and
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open the door, I will come into him Revelation three twenty. He will
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come not for one day, merely, for he says, I will dwell
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in them and walk in them, and they shall be my people. He
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will subdue our iniquities, and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths
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of the sea Second Corinthians six sixteen Mica seven nineteen. His presence will cleanse
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and sanctify the soul, so that it may be a holy temple unto the
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Lord, and an habitation of God through the spirit. Ephesians Too, twenty
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one twenty two. Overpowered with terror, the priests and rulers had fled from
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the temple court and from the searching glance that read their hearts. In their
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flight, they met others on their way to the temple and bade them turn
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back, telling them what they had seen and heard. Christ looked upon the
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fleeing men with yearning pity for their fear and their ignorance of what constituted true
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worship. In this scene, he saw symbolized the dispersion of the whole Jewish
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nation for their wickedness and impenitence. And why did the priests flee from the
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temple? Why did they not stand their ground? He who commanded them to
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go was a carpenter's son, a poor Galilean, without earthly rank or power.
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Why did they not resist him? Why did they leave the gain so
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ill acquired and flee at the command of one whose outward appearance was so humble.
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Christ spoke with the authority of a king, And in his appearance and
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in the tones of his voice, there was that which they had no power
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to resist. At the word of command, they realized, as they had
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never realized before, their true position as hypocrites and robbers. When divinity flashed
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through humanity, not only did they see indignation on Christ's countenance, they realized
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the import of his words. They felt as if before the throne of the
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eternal judge, with their sentence passed on them for time and for eternity.
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For a time, they were convinced that Christ was a prophet, and many
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believed him to be the Messiah. The Holy Spirit flashed into their minds the
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utterances of the prophets concerning Christ. Would they yield to this conviction repent?
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They would not. They knew that Christ's sympathy for the poor had been aroused.
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They knew that they had been guilty of extortion in their dealings with the
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people. Because Christ discerned their thoughts. They hated him. His public rebuke
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was humiliating to their pride, and they were jealous of his growing influence with
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the people. They determined to challenge him as to the power by which he
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had driven them forth, and who gave him this power. Slowly and thoughtfully,
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but with hate in their hearts, they returned the temple. But what
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a change had taken place during their absence. When they fled, the poor
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remained behind, and those were now looking to Jesus, whose countenance expressed his
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love and sympathy. With tears in his eyes, he said to the trembling
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ones around him, fear not. I will deliver thee, and thou shalt
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glorify me. For this cause came I into the world. The people pressed
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into Christ's presence with urgent, pitiful appeals. Master, bless me. His
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ear heard every cry with pity exceeding that of a tender mother. He bent
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over the suffering little ones, all received attention. Every one was healed of
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whatever disease he had. The dumb opened their lips in praise. The blind
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beheld the face of their restorer. The heart of the sufferers were made glad
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as the priests and temple officials witnessed this great work. What a revelation to
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them were the sounds that fell upon their ears. The people were relating the
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story of the pain they had suffered, of all their disappointed hopes, of
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painful days, and the sleepless nights when the last spark of hope seemed to
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be dead. Christ had healed them. The burden was so heavy, one
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said, but I have found a helper. He is the Christ of God,
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and I will devote my life to his service. Parents said to their
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children, he has saved your life. Lift up your voice and praise him.
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The voices of children and youth, fathers and mothers, friends and spectators
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blended in thanksgiving and praise. Hope and gladness filled their hearts. Peace came
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to their minds. They were restored soul and body, and they returned home,
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proclaiming everywhere the matchless love of Jesus. At the crucifixion of Christ.
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Those who had thus been healed did not join with the rabble, throught wrong
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and crying crucify him, crucify him. Their sympathies were with Jesus, for
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they had felt his great sympathy and wonderful power. They knew him to be
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their savior, for he had given them health of body and soul. They
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listened to the preaching of the apostles, and the entrance of God's word into
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their hearts gave them understanding. They became agents of God's mercy and instruments of
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his salvation. The crowd that had fled from the temple court, after a
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time, slowly drifted back. They had partially recovered from the panic that had
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seized them, but their faces expressed irresolution and timidity. They looked with amazement
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on the works of Jesus, and were convicted that in him the prophecies concerning
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the Messiah were fulfilled. The sin of the desecration of the temple rested in
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a great degree upon the priest. It was by their arrangement that the court
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had been turned into a market place. The people were comparatively innocent. They
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were impressed by the divine authority parity of Jesus. But with them the influence
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of the priest and rulers was paramount. They regarded Christ's mission as an innovation
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and questioned his right to interfere with what was permitted by the authorities of the
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temple. They were offended because the traffic had been interrupted, and they stifled
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the convictions of the Holy Spirit. Above all others, the priests and rulers
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should have seen in Jesus the anointed of the Lord, for in their hands
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were the sacred scrolls that described his mission, and they knew that the cleansing
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of the temple was a manifestation of more than human power. Much as they
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hated Jesus, they could not free themselves from the thought that he might be
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a prophet sent by God to restore the sanctity of the temple. With a
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deference born of this fear, they went to him with the inquiry, what
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sign ShoWest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things? Jesus had
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shown them a sign in flashing light into their hearts, and in doing before
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them the works which the Messiah was to do. He had given convincing evidence
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of his character Now, when they asked for a sign, he answered them
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by a parable showing that he read their malice and saw to what links it
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would lead them. Destroy this temple, he said, and in three days
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I will raise it up. In these words, his meaning was twofold.
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He referred not only to the destruction of the Jewish temple and worship, but
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to his own death, the destruction of the temple of his body. This
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the Jews were already plotting as the priests and rulers returned to the temple.
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They had proposed to kill Jesus and thus rid themselves of the troubler. Yet
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when he set before them their purpose, they did not understand him. They
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took his words as applying only to the temple at Jerusalem, and with indignation,
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exclaimed, forty and six years was this temple and building? And wilt
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thou rear it up? In three days? Now they felt that Jesus had
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justified their unbelief, and they were confirmed in their reject of him. Christ
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did not design that his words should be understood by the unbelieving Jews, nor
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even by his disciples. At this time. He knew that they would be
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misconstrued by his enemies, and would be turned against him. At his trial,
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they would be brought as an accusation, and on cavalry they would be
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flung at him as a taunt. But to explain them now would give his
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disciples a knowledge of his sufferings and bring upon them sorrow which as yet they
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were not able to bear. And an explanation would prematurely disclose the Jews the
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results of their prejudice and unbelief. Already they had entered upon a path which
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they would steadily pursue until he should be led as a lamb to the slaughter.
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It was for the sake of those who should believe on him that these
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words of Christ were spoken. He knew that they would be repeated. Being
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spoken at the Passover, they would come to the ears of thousands, and
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be carried to all parts of the world. After he had risen from the
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dead, Their meaning would be made plain to many. They would be conclusive
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evidence of his divinity. Because of their spiritual darkness, even the disciples of
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Jesus often failed of comprehending his lessons. But many of these lessons were made
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plain to them by subsequent events. When he walked no more with them,
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his words were a stay to their hearts. As referring to the Temple at
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Jerusalem, the Saviour's words destroy this temple, and in three days I will
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raise it up had a deeper meaning than the hearers perceived. Christ was the
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foundation and life of the temple. Its services were typical of the sacrifice of
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the Son of God. The priesthood was established to represent the mediatorial character and
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work of Christ. The entire plan of sacrificial worship was a foreshadowing of the
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Saviour's death to redeem the world. There would be no efficacy in these offerings
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when the great event towards which they had pointed for ages was consummated. Since
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the whole ritual economy was symbolical of Christ, it had no value apart from
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him. When the Jews sealed the rejection of Christ by delivering him to death,
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they rejected all that gave significance to the temple and its services. Its
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sacredness had departed. It was doomed to destruction. From that day, sacrificial
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offerings and the service connected that with them were meaningless, like the offering of
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Cain. They did not express faith in the Savior in putting Christ to death,
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the Jews virtually destroyed their temple. When Christ was crucified, the inner
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veil of the temple was rent in twain from top to bottom, signifying that
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the great final sacrifice had been made, and that the system of sacrificial offerings
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was forever at an end. In three days, I will raise it up.
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In the Saviour's death, the powers of darkness seemed to prevail, and
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they exulted in their victory. But from the rent sepulcher of Joseph, Jesus
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came forth a conqueror. Having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show
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of them, openly triumphing over them Clausans two fifteen. By virtue of his
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death and resurrection, he became the minister of the true Tabernacle, which the
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Lord pitched, and not man Hebrews eight too. Men reared the Jewish tabernacle.
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Men builded the Jewish Temple, But the sanctuary above of which the earthly
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was a type, was built by no human architect. Behold the man whose
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name is the Branch. He shall build the temple of the Lord, and
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he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne,
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and he shall be a priest upon his throne Zachariah sixth, twelve and thirteen.
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The sacrificial service that had pointed to Christ passed away, but the eyes
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of men were turned to the true sacrifice for the sins of the world.
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The earthly priesthood ceased, but we looked to Jesus, the minister of the
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New Covenant, and to the blood of Sprinkling, that speaketh better things than
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that of Abel. The way into the holiest of all was not yet made
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manifest, while as the first Tabernacle was yet standing. But Christ being come
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an high priest of good things to come by a greater and more perfect tabernacle,
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not made with hands, by his own blood, he entered in once
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into the Holy Place, having obtained eternal redemption for us Hebrews twelve twenty four,
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nine eight to twelve. Wherefore He is able to save them to the
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uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession
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for them Hebrews seven twenty five. Though the ministration was to be removed from
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the earthly to the heavenly temple, though the sanctuary and our great high Priest
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would be invisible to human sight, Yet the disciples were to suffer no loss.
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Thereby they would realize no break in their communion and no diminution of power
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because of the Saviour's absence. While Jesus ministers in the sanctuary above, he
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is still by his spirit the minister of the Church on earth. He is
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withdrawn from the eye of sense, but his parting promise is fulfilled. Lo
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I am with you always, even unto the end of the world Matthew twenty
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eight twenty. While he delegates his power to inferior ministers, his energizing presence
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is still with his church. Seeing then that we have a great high priest,
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Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession,
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For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feelings of
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our infirmities, but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet
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without sin. Let Us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that
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we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews
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four fourteen to sixteen, end of chapter sixteen