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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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<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> year tat. Joim 27 <strong>of</strong> our era, that John was<br />

baptizing in ^non, near to ScJim. *"-***®*^-* In<br />

<strong>the</strong> neighbourhood, <strong>Jesus</strong> <strong>and</strong> His disciples were<br />

similarly engaged.' <strong>The</strong> Presence <strong>and</strong> activity <strong>of</strong><br />

<strong>Jesus</strong> in Jerusalem at <strong>the</strong> Passover^ had -tst.JoimiL<br />

determined <strong>the</strong> Pharisaic party to take active<br />

measures against Him ^' ^ '^ '^ <strong>and</strong> His Forerunner,<br />

John. As <strong>the</strong> first outcome <strong>of</strong> this plan we notice<br />

<strong>the</strong> discussions on <strong>the</strong> question <strong>of</strong> ^purification,'<br />

<strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> attempt to separate between Christ <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

Baptist by exciting <strong>the</strong> jealoufify <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> latter.* But<br />

<strong>the</strong> result was iar difierent. TTi« dis* '>'^.*Hm<br />

ciples might have been influenced, but John<br />

himself was too true 9-man, <strong>and</strong> too deeply<br />

convinced <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> reality <strong>of</strong> Christ's Mission, te<br />

yield even for a moment to such temptation.<br />

Nothing more noble cto be conceived than <strong>the</strong> selfabnegation<br />

<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Baptist in circumstances which<br />

would not only have turned aside an impostor or<br />

an enthusiast, but must have severely tried <strong>the</strong><br />

constancy <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> truest man. At <strong>the</strong> end <strong>of</strong> a most<br />

trying career <strong>of</strong> constant self-denial its scanty<br />

fruits seemed, as it were, snatched from him, <strong>and</strong>

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