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

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Imprisonment and death of John. John the Baptist had been first in heralding Christ's
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kingdom, and he was first also in suffering from the free air of the
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wilderness and the vast throngs that had hung upon his words. He was now
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shut in by the walls of a dungeon cell. He had become a prisoner
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in the fortress of Herod Antipas, in the territory east of Jordan, which
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was under the dominion of Antipas. Much of John's ministry had been spent.
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Herod himself had listened to the preaching of the Baptist. The dissolute king had
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trembled under the call to repentance. Herod feared John, knowing that he was
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a just man and a holy and when he heard him, he did many
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things and heard him gladly. John dealt with him faithfully, denouncing his iniquitous
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alliance with Herodias, his brother's wife. For a time, Herod feebly sought
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to break the chain of lust that bound him, but Herodias fastened him the
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more firmly in her toils, and found revenge upon the Baptist by inducing Herod
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to cast him into prison. The life of John had been one of active
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labor, and the gloom and inaction of his prison life weighed heavily upon him.
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As week after week passed, bringing no change, despondency and doubt crept
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over him. His disciples did not forsake him. They were allowed access to
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the prison, and they brought him tidings of the works of Jesus and told
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how the people were flocking to him. But they questioned why, if this
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new teacher was the Messiah, he did nothing to affect John's release. How
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could he permit his faithful herald to be deprived of liberty and perhaps of life.
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These questions were not without effect. Doubts which otherwise would never have arisen,
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were suggested to John. Satan rejoiced to hear the words of these disciples,
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and to see how they bruised the soul of the Lord's messenger. Oh,
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how often those who think themselves the friends of a good man, and
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who were eager to show their fidelity to him, proved to be his most
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dangerous enemies. How often, instead of strengthening his faith, their words depress
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and dishearten. Like the Saviour's disciples, John the Baptist did not understand the
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nature of Christ's kingdom. He expected Jesus to take the throne of David.
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And as time passed and the Savior made no claim to kingly authority, John
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became perplexed and troubled. He had declared to the people that in order for
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the way to be prepared before the Lord, the prophecy of Isaiah must be
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fulfilled, the mountains and hills must be brought low, the crook had made
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straight and the rough places plain. He had looked for the high places of
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human pride and power to be cast down. He had pointed to the Messiah
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as the one whose fan was in his hand, and who would thoroughly purge
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his floor, who would gather the wheat to his garner and burn up the
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shaft with unquenchable fire, like the prophet Elijah, in whose spirit and power
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he had come to Israel. He looked for the Lord to reveal himself as
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a god that answereth by fire. In his mission, the Baptists had stood
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as a fearless report proover of iniquity, both in high places and in low.
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He had dared to face King Herod with the plain rebuke of sin.
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He had not counted his life, dear unto himself that he might fulfill his
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appointed work. And now from his dungeon he watched for the lion of the
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tribe of Judah to cast down the pride of the oppressor, and to deliver
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the poor and him that cried. But Jesus seemed to content himself with gathering
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disciples about him, and healing and teaching the people. He was eating at
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the tables of the publicans, while every day the Roman yoke rested more heavily
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upon Israel, while King Herod and his vile paramour worked their will, and
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the cries of the poor and suffering went up to heaven. To the desert
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prophet, all this seemed a mystery beyond his fathoming. There were hours when
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the whisperings of demons tortured his spirit, and the shadow of a terrible fear
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crept over him. Could it be that the long hope for deliverer had not
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yet appeared? Then? What meant the man message that he himself had been
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impelled to bear. John had been bitterly disappointed in the result of his mission.
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He'd expected that the message from God would have the same effect as when
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the law was read in the days of Josiah and of Ezra Second Chronicle thirty
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four Nehemiah eight nine, that there would follow a deep seated work of repentance
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and returning unto the Lord. For the success of this mission, his whole
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life had been sacrificed. Had it been in vain, John was troubled to
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see that, through love for him, his own disciples were cherishing unbelief in
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regard to Jesus. Had his work for them been fruitless, had he been
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unfaithful in his mission, that he was now cut off from labor. If
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the promised deliverer had appeared and John had been found true to his calling,
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would not Jesus now overthrow the oppressor's power and set free his herald? But
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the Baptist did not surrender his faith in Christ. The memory of the voice
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from heaven and the descending dove, the spotless purity of Jesus, the power
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of the Holy Spirit that arrested upon John as he came into the Saviour's presence,
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and the testimony of the prophetic scriptures all witnessed that Jesus of Nazareth was
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the promised one. John would not discuss his doubts and anxieties with his companions,
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he determined to send a message of inquiry to Jesus. This he intrusted
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to two of his disciples, hoping that an interview with the Savior would confirm
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their faith and bring assurance to their brethren. And he longed for some word
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from Christ spoken directly for himself. The disciples came to Jesus with their message,
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Art thou he that should come? Art? Do we look for another?
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How short the time since a Baptist had pointed to Jesus and proclaimed,
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behold the lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world. He
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it is who coming after me is preferred before me John one, twenty nine,
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twenty seven. And now the question art thou he that should come?
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It was keenly, bitter and disappointing to human nature. If John, the
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faithful forerunner, failed to discern Christ's mission, what could be expected from the
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self seeking multitude. The Savior did not at once answer the disciple's question as
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they stood wondering at his silence. The sick and afflicted were coming to him
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to be healed. The blind were groping their way through the crowd. Diseased
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ones of all classes, some urging their own way, some borne by their
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friends, were eagerly pressing into the presence of Jesus. The voice of the
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mighty healer penetrated the deaf. Ear a word. A touch of his hand
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opened the blind eyes to behold the light of day, the scenes of nature,
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the faces of friends, and the face of the deliverer. Jesus rebuked
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disease and banished fever. His voice reached the ears of the dying, and
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they arose in health and vigor. Paralyzed moniacs obeyed his word. Their madness
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left them, and they worshiped him while he healed their des dies. He
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taught the people, the poor, peasants and laborers, who were shunned by
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the rabbis as unclean, gathered close about him, and he spoke to them
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the words of eternal life. Thus the day wore away the disciples of John,
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seeing and hearing all. At last, Jesus called them to him and
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bade them go and tell John what they had witnessed, adding blessed is he
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whosoever shall find none occasion of stumbling in me. Luke seven twenty three RVE.
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The evidence of his divinity was seen in its adaptation to the needs of
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suffering humanity. His glory was shown in his condescension to our low estate.
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The disciples bore the message, and it was enough. John recalled the prophecy
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concerning the Messiah. The Lord Hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the
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meek. He Hath sent me to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim
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liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are
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bound. To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord Isaiah Si. Sixty one
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one and two. The Works of Christ not only declared him to be the
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Messiah, but showed in what manner his kingdom was to be established. To
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John was open the same truth that had come to Elijah in the desert,
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when a great and strong wind rinted the mountains and break in pieces the rocks
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before the Lord. But the Lord was not in the wind. And after
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the wind, an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake,
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And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire.
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And after the fire, God spoke to the prophet by a still small
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voice. First Kings nineteen eleven twelve. So Jesus was to do his work
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not with the clash of arms and the overturning of thrones and kingdoms, but
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through speaking to the hearts of men by a life of mercy and self sacrifice.
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The principle of the Baptist's own life of self abnegation was the principle of
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the Messiah's kingdom. John Well knew how foreign all this was to the prince,
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principles and hopes of the leaders in Israel. That which was to him
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convincing evidence of Christ's divinity would be no evidence to them. They were looking
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for a Messiah who had not been promised. John saw that the Saviour's mission
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could win from them only hatred and condemnation. He the forerunner was but drinking
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of the cup which Christ himself must strain to its dregs. The Savior's words,
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blessed is he whosoever shall find none occasion of stumbling in me were a
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gentle reproof to John. It was not lost upon him, understanding more clearly
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now the nature of Christ's mission. He yielded himself to God for life or
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for death, as should best serve the interest of the cause he loved.
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After the messengers had departed, Jesus spoke to the people concerning John. The
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Saviour's heart went out in sympathy to the faithful witness now buried in Herod's dungeon.
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He would not leave the people to conclude that God had forsaken John,
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or that his faith had failed in the day of trial. What winch ye
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out into the wilderness to see? He said, a reed shaken with the
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wind. The tall reeds that grew beside the Jordan, bending before every breeze,
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were fitting representaties of the rabbis who had stood as critics and judges of
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the Baptist mission. They were swayed this way, and that by the winds
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of popular opinion. They would not humble themselves to receive the heart searching message
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of the Baptists. Yet, for fear of the people, they dared not
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openly oppose his work. But God's messenger was of no such craven spirit.
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The multitudes who were gathered about Christ had been witnesses to the work of John.
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They had heard his fearless rebuke of sin to the self righteous Pharisees,
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the priestly sadducees. King Herod in his court, princes and soldiers publicans and
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peasants. John had spoken with equal plainness. He was no trembling reeds,
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swayed by the winds of human praise or prejudice. In the prison, he
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was the same in his loyalty to God and his zeal for righteousness as when
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he preached God's message in the wilderness. In his faithfulness to principle, he
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was as firm as a rock. Jesus continued, But what went she out
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for to see a man clothed in soft raiment. Behold, they which are
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gorgeously apparelled and lived delicately are in King's courts. John had been called to
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reprove the sins and excesses of his time, and his plain dress and self
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denying life were in harmony with the character of his mission. Rich apparel and
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luxuries of this life are not the portion of God's servants, but of those
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who live in King's courts, the rulers of this world, to whom pertain
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its powers and its riches. Jesus wished to direct attention to the contrast between
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the clothing of John and that warned by the priests and rulers. These officials
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arrayed themselves in rich robes, and costly ornaments. They loved display and hoped
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to dazzle the people and thus command greater consideration. They were more anxile to
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gain the admiration of men than to obtain the purity of heart, which should
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win the approval of God. Thus they revealed that their allegiance was not given
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to God, but to the kingdom of this world. But what said Jesus,
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whence ye out for to see a prophet? Yea, I say unto
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you, and more than a prophet, For this is he of whom it
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is written. Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall
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prepare thy way before thee Verily, I say unto you. Among them that
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are born of women, there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist.
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In the Announcement to Zacharias. Before the birth of John, the Angel
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had declared he shall be great in the sight of the Lord Luke one fifteen
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in the Estimation of Heaven. What is it that constitutes greatness? Not that
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which the world accounts greatness, Not wealth or rank, or noble dissent,
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or intellectual gifts in themselves considered, if intellectual greatness apart from any higher consideration
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is worthy of honor that our homage is due to Satan, whose intellectual power
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no man has ever equalled. But when perverted to self serving, the greater
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the gift, the greater curse it becomes. It is more worth that God
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values love and purity are the attributes he prizes most. John was great in
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the sight of the Lord when before the messengers from the Sanhedron, before the
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people, and before his own disciples, he refrained from seeking honor for himself,
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but pointed all to Jesus as the promised One. His unselfish joy in
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the ministry of Christ presents the highest type of nobility ever revealed in man.
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The witness born of him after his death by those who had hurt His testimony
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to Jesus was John did no miracle, But all things that John spake of
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this man were true, John ten forty one. It was not given to
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John to call down fire from heaven, or to raise the dead, as
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Elijah did, nor to wield Moses's rod of power in the name of God.
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He was sent to herald the Saviour's advent and to call upon the people
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to prepare for his coming. So faithfully did he fulfill his mission, that
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as the people recalled what he had taught them of Jesus, they could say
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all things that John spake of this man were true. Such witness to Christ
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every disciple of the Master is called upon to bear. As the messiahs Harald.
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John was much more than a prophet, For while prophets had seen from
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Afar Christ's advent, to John, it was given to behold him, to
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hear the testimony from Heaven to his messiah ship, and to present him to
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Israel as the sent of God. Yet Jesus said, he that is least
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in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than he. The prophet John was a
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connecting link between the two dispensations. As God's representative, he stood forth to
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show the relation of the law and the prophets to the Christian dispensation. He
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was the lesser light, which was to be followed by a greater. The
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mind of John was illuminated by the Holy Spirit that he might shed light upon
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his people. But no other light ever has shown, or ever will shine
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so clearly upon fallen man as that which emanated from the teaching and example of
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Jesus. Christ and his mission had been but dimly understood, as typified in
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the shadowy Sacrifices. Even John had not fully comprehended the future immortal life through
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the Savior. Aside from the joy that John found in his mission, his
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life had been one of sorrow. His voice had been seldom heard except in
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the wilderness. His was a lonely lot, and he was not permitted to
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see the results of his own labors. It was not his privilege to be
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with Christ and witness the manifestation of divine power attending the greater light. It
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was not for him to see the blind restored to sight, the sick healed,
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and the dead raised to life. He did not behold the light that
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shed own through every word of Christ, shedding glory upon the promises of prophecy.
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The least disciple, who saw Christ's mighty works and heard his words,
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was in this sense more highly privileged than John the Baptist, and therefore said
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to have been greater than he. Through the vast throngs that had listened to
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John's preaching, his fame had spread throughout the land. A deep interest was
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felt as to the result of his imprisonment. Yet his blameless life and the
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strong public sentiment in his favor led to the belief that no violent measures would
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be taken against him. Herod believed John to be a prophet of God,
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and he fully intended to set him at liberty, but he delayed his purpose
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from fear of Herodius. Herodius knew that by direct measures she could never win
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Herod's consent to the death of John, and she resolved to accomplish her purpose
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by stratagem. On the King's birthday and entertainment was to be given to the
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officer's of state and the nobles of the court. There would be feasting and
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drunkenness. Herod would thus be thrown off his guard and might then be influenced
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according to her will. When the great day arrived and the king with his
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lords was feasting and drinking, Herodias sent her daughter into the banqueting hall to
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dance for the entertainment of the guests. Selome was in the first flush of
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womanhood, and her voluptuous beauty captivated the senses of the lordly revelers. It
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was not customary for the ladies of the court to appear at these festivities,
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and a flattering compliment was paid to Herod. When this daughter of Israel's priests
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and princes danced for the amusement of his guests, the king was dazed with
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wine, passion held sway, and reason was dethroned. He saw only the
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hall of Pleasure, with its reveling guests, the banquet table, the sparkling
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wine, and the flashing lights, and the young girl dancing before him.
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In the recklessness of the moment, he desired to make some display that would
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exalt him before the great men of his realm. With an oath, he
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promised to give the daughter of Herodias whatever she might ask, even to the
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half of his kingdom. Sloma hastened to her mother to know what she should
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ask. The answer was ready the head of John the Baptist. Slomea knew
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not of the thirst for revenge in her mother's heart, and she shrank from
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presenting the request. But the determination of Herodias prevailed. The girl returned with
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the terrible petition, I will that thou forthwith give me in a charger the
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head of John the Baptist Mark six twenty five rve. Herod was astonished and
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confounded. The riotous mirth ceased, and an ominous silence settled down upon the
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scene of revelry. The king was horror stricken at the thought of taking the
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life of John, Yet his word was pledged, and he was unwilling to
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appear fickle or rash. The oath had been made in honor of his guest,
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and if one of them had offered a word against the fulfillment of his
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promise, he would gladly have spared the prophet. He gave them opportunity to
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speak in the prisoner's behalf. They had traveled long distances in order to hear
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the preaching of John, and they knew him to be a man without crime
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and a servant of God. But though shocked at the girl's demand, they
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were too besotted to interpose a remonstrance. No voice was raised to save the
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life of Heaven's messenger. These men occupied high positions of trust in the nation,
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and upon them rested grave responsibilities. Yet they had given themselves up to
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feasting and drunkenness until the senses were benumbed. Their heads were turned with the
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giddy scene of music and dancing, and conscience lay dormant by their silence.
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They pronounced the sentence of death upon the prophet of God to satisfy the revenge
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of an abandoned woman. Herod waited in vain to be released from his oath.
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He reluctantly commanded the execution of the prophet. Soon the head of John
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was brought in before the King and his guests. Forever sealed were those lips
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that had faithfully warned Hair to turn from his life of sin. Never more
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would that voice be heard calling men to repentance. The revels of one night
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had cost the life of one of the greatest of the prophets. Oh,
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how often has the life of the innocent been sacrificed through the intemperance of those
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who should have been the guardians of justice. He who puts the intoxicating cup
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to his lips makes himself responsible for all the injustice he may commit under its
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besoughting power. By benumbing his senses, he makes it impossible for him to
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judge calmly, or to have a clear perception of right and wrong. He
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opens the way for Satan to work through him in oppressing and destroying the innocent.
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Wine is a mocker. Strong drink is raging, and whosoever is deceived
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thereby is not wise. Proverbs twenty one. Thus it is that judgment is
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turned away backwards, and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey Isaiah
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fifty nine, fourteen fifteen. Those who have jurisdiction over the lives of their
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fellow men should be held guilty of a crime when they yield to intemperance.
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All who execute the laws should be law keepers. They should be men of
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self control. They need to have full command of their physical, mental,
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and moral powers, that they may possess vigor of intellect, and a high
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sense of justice. The head of John the Baptist was carried to Herodius,
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who received it with fiendish satisfaction. She exulted in her revenge and flattered herself
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that Herod's conscience would no longer be troubled. But no happiness resulted to her
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from her sin. Her name became notorious and abhorred, while Herod was more
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tormented by remorse than he had been by the warnings of the prophet. The
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influence of John's teaching was not silence. It was to extend to every generation
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till the close of time. Herod's sin was ever before him. He was
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constantly seeking to find relief from the accusings of a guilty conscience. His confidence
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in John was unshaken as he recalled his life of self denial, his solemn,
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earnest appeals, his sound judgment and counsel, and then remembered how he
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had come to his death. Herod could find no rest. Engaged in the
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affairs of the state, receiving honors from men, he bore a smiling face
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and dignified mien, while he concealed an anxious heart, ever oppressed with the
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fear that a curse was upon him. Herod had been deeply impressed by the
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words of John that nothing can be hidden from God. He was convinced that
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God was present in every place, that he had witnessed the revelry of the
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banqueting room, that he had heard the command to behead John, and had
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seen the exultation of her Rodius and the insults she offered to the severed head
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of her reprover. And many things that Herod had heard from the lips of
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the prophet now spoke to his conscience more distinctly than had the preaching in the
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wilderness. When Herod heard of the works of Christ, he was exceedingly troubled.
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He thought that God had raised John from the dead and sent him forth
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with still greater power to condemn sin. He was in constant fear that John
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would avenge his death by passing condemnation upon him and his house. Herod was
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reaping that which God had declared to be the result of a course of sin,
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a trembling heart and failing of eyes, and sorrow of mind. And
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thy life shall hang in doubt before thee, and thou shalt fear day and
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night, and shalt have none assurance of thy life. In the morning thou
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shalt say, would God it were even? And at even thou shalt say,
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would God it were mourning? For the fear of thine heart, wherewith
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thou shalt fear, and for the sight of Thine eyes, which thou shalt
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see Deuteronomy twenty eight, sixty five to sixty seven. The sinner's own thoughts
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are his accusers, and there can be no torture keener than the stings of
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a guilty conscience, which give him no rest day or night. To many
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minds, a deep mystery surrounds the fate of John the Baptist. They question
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why he should have been left to languish and die in prison. The mystery
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of this dark providence our human vision cannot penetrate, but it can never shake
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our confidence in God. When we remember that John was but a sharer in
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the sufferings of Christ, all who follow Christ will wear the crown of sacrifice.
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They will surely be misunderstood by selfish men, and will be made a
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mark for the fierce assaults of Satan. It is this principle of self sacrifice
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that his kingdom is established to destroy, and he will war against it wherever
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manifested. The childhood, youth, and manhood of John had been characterized by
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firmness and oral power. When his voice was heard in the wilderness saying,
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prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight Matthew three three,
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Satan feared for the safety of his kingdom. The sinfulness of sin was
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revealed in such a manner that men trembled. Satan's power over many who had
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been under his control was broken. He had been unwearied in his efforts to
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draw away the Baptist from a life of unreserved surrender to God. But he
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had failed, and he had failed to overcome Jesus in the temptation in the
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wilderness. Satan had been defeated, and his rage was great. Now he
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determined to bring sorrow upon Christ by striking John, the one whom he could
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not entice to sin, he would cause to suffer. Jesus did not interpose
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to deliver his servant. He knew that John would bear the test. Gladly
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would the Savior have come to John to brighten the dungeon gloom with his own
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presence, But he was not to place himself in the hands of enemies and
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imperil his own mission. Gladly would he have delivered his faithful servant. But
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for the sake of thousands, who, in after years must pass from prison
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to death. John was to drink the cup of martyrdom. As the followers
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of Jesus should languish in lonely cells or perish by the sword, the rack,
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or the fagot, apparently forsaken by God and man. What a stay
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to their hearts would be the thought that John, the Baptist, to whose
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faithfulness Christ himself had borne witness, had passed through a similar experience. Satan
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was permitted to cut short the earthly life of God's messenger, but that life
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which is hid with Christ and God the destroyer could not reach Collajuans three three.
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He exulted that he had brought sorrow upon Christ, but he had failed
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of conquering John. Death itself only placed him forever beyond the power of temptation.
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In this warfare, Satan was revealing his own carecharacter before the witnessing universe.
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He made manifest his enmity towards God and man. Though no miraculous deliverance
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was granted John, he was not forsaken. He had always the companionship of
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heavenly angels who opened to him the prophecies concerning Christ and the precious promises of
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Scripture. These were his stay, as they were to be the stay of
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God's people through the coming ages. To John the Baptist, as to those
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that came after him, was given the assurance, Lo, I am with
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you all the days, even unto the end. Matthew twenty eight, twenty
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r v. Margin. God never leads his children otherwise than they would choose
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to be led, if they could see the end from the beginning and discern
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the glory of the purpose which they are fulfilling as co workers with Him,
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not Enoch, who was translated to heaven, not Elijah, who ascended in
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a chariot of fire, was greater or are more honored than John the Baptist,
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who perished alone in the dungeon. Unto you, it is given in
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the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to
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suffer for his sake Philippians one twenty nine. And of all the gifts that
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Heaven can bestow upon men, fellowship with Christ in his sufferings is the most
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weighty trust and the highest honor. End of Chapter twenty two.