29.03.2013 Views

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

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

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

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

what, in <strong>the</strong> circumstances, might be <strong>the</strong> views <strong>of</strong> a<br />

devout Jew. Instances are recorded in <strong>the</strong> Talmud,<br />

which may here serve as our guide. Yarious cases<br />

are related in which those seriously ill, <strong>and</strong> even at<br />

<strong>the</strong> point <strong>of</strong> death, were restored by <strong>the</strong> prayers <strong>of</strong><br />

celebrated Rabbis. One »B9.i4»; instance is<br />

specially illustrative.^ We read that, when <strong>the</strong> son<br />

<strong>of</strong> Rabban Gamaliel was dangerously ill, he sent<br />

two <strong>of</strong> his disciples to one Chanina ben Dosa to<br />

entreat his prayers for <strong>the</strong> restoration <strong>of</strong> his son.<br />

On this, Chanina is said to have gone up to <strong>the</strong><br />

AliyaJi (upper chamber) to pray. On his return, he<br />

assured <strong>the</strong> messengers that <strong>the</strong> young man was<br />

restored, grounding his confidence, not on <strong>the</strong><br />

possession <strong>of</strong> any prophetic gift, but on <strong>the</strong><br />

circumstance that he knew his request was<br />

answered, from <strong>the</strong> freedom he had in prayer. <strong>The</strong><br />

messengers noted down <strong>the</strong> hour, <strong>and</strong> on <strong>the</strong>ir<br />

arrival at <strong>the</strong> house <strong>of</strong> Gamaliel found, that at that<br />

very hour * <strong>the</strong> fever left him, <strong>and</strong> he asked for<br />

water.' Thus far <strong>the</strong> Rabbinic story. Even<br />

supposing that it was ei<strong>the</strong>r invented or coloured<br />

in imitation <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> New Testament it shows, at

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!