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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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earnest <strong>and</strong> faithful. <strong>The</strong> setting <strong>of</strong> his own life-sun<br />

was to be <strong>the</strong> rising <strong>of</strong> One infinitely more bright;<br />

<strong>the</strong> end <strong>of</strong> his mission <strong>the</strong> b^in-ning <strong>of</strong> ano<strong>the</strong>r far<br />

l%her. In <strong>the</strong> silence, which was now ga<strong>the</strong>ring<br />

around him, he heard but One Voice, that <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

Bridegroom, <strong>and</strong> he rejoiced in it, though he must<br />

listen to it in stillness <strong>and</strong> loneliness. For it he had<br />

waited <strong>and</strong> worked. Not his own, but this had he<br />

sought. And now that it had come, he was content;<br />

more than content : his ' joy was now fulfilled.' ^<br />

He must increase, but I must decrease.' It was <strong>the</strong><br />

right <strong>and</strong> good order. With <strong>the</strong>se as his last words<br />

publicly spoken,' this Aaron <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> New Testament<br />

unrobed himself ere he lay down to die. Surely<br />

among those bom <strong>of</strong> women <strong>the</strong>re was not one<br />

greater than John.<br />

That <strong>the</strong>se were his last words, publicly spoken<br />

<strong>and</strong> recorded, may, however, explain to us why on<br />

this exceptional occasion <strong>Jesus</strong> sanctioned <strong>the</strong><br />

administration by His disciples <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Baptism <strong>of</strong><br />

John. It was not a retrogression from <strong>the</strong> position<br />

He had taken in Jerusalem, nor caused by <strong>the</strong>

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