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The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah Vol 1 - Predestination

The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah Vol 1 - Predestination

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suffering—^helpless, hopeless suffering to <strong>the</strong><br />

bitter end; to <strong>the</strong> extinction <strong>of</strong> life, in <strong>the</strong> agonies <strong>of</strong><br />

<strong>the</strong> Cross, as a malefactor ; denounced, betrayed,<br />

rejected by His people; alone, in very Gk)dforsakenness.<br />

And when thus beaten about by<br />

temptation, His powers reduced to <strong>the</strong> lowest ebb<br />

<strong>of</strong> faintness, all <strong>the</strong> more vividly would memory<br />

hold out <strong>the</strong> facts so weU known, so keenly<br />

realised at that moment, in <strong>the</strong> almost utter<br />

cessation <strong>of</strong> every o<strong>the</strong>r mental faculty:' <strong>the</strong> scene<br />

lately enacted by <strong>the</strong> banks <strong>of</strong> Jordan, <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> two<br />

great expectations <strong>of</strong> ELis own people, that <strong>the</strong><br />

<strong>Messiah</strong> was to head Israel from <strong>the</strong> Sanctuary <strong>of</strong><br />

<strong>the</strong> Temple, <strong>and</strong> that all kingdoms <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> world<br />

were to become subject to Him. Here, <strong>the</strong>n, is <strong>the</strong><br />

inwaid basis <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Temptation <strong>of</strong> Christ, in which<br />

<strong>the</strong> fast was not unnecessary, nor yet <strong>the</strong> special<br />

assaults <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Enemy ei<strong>the</strong>r ^ clumsy sug^<br />

gestions,' or unworthy <strong>of</strong> <strong>Jesus</strong>.<br />

He is weary with <strong>the</strong> contest, &int with hunger,<br />

alone in that wilderness. His voice falls on no<br />

sympathising ear; no voice reaches Him but that <strong>of</strong>

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