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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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BOOK with <strong>the</strong>m? Why feasting, <strong>and</strong> this in a time<br />

when fasting <strong>and</strong> in prayer would have seemed<br />

specially appropriate ? And, indeed, was not<br />

fasting always appropriate ? And yet this new<br />

<strong>Messiah</strong> had not taught His disciples ei<strong>the</strong>r to &st<br />

or what to pray! <strong>The</strong> Pharisees, in Uieir anxiety to<br />

separate between <strong>Jesus</strong> <strong>and</strong> His Forerunner, most<br />

have told <strong>the</strong>m all this again <strong>and</strong> again, <strong>and</strong> pointed<br />

to <strong>the</strong> contrast. At any rate, it was at <strong>the</strong> instigation<br />

<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Pharisees, <strong>and</strong> in company with <strong>the</strong>m,' that<br />

<strong>the</strong> disciples <strong>of</strong> John propounded to <strong>Jesus</strong> this<br />

question about &sting <strong>and</strong> prayer, immediately<br />

after <strong>the</strong> feast in •St Matt <strong>the</strong> house <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

converted Levi-Mat<strong>the</strong>w.* We must bear in mind<br />

•ndiMunJ]^ that fiEisting <strong>and</strong> prayer, or else<br />

fasting <strong>and</strong> alms, or all <strong>the</strong> three, were always<br />

combined. Fasting represented <strong>the</strong> negative, prayer<br />

<strong>and</strong> alms <strong>the</strong> positive element, in <strong>the</strong> forgiveness <strong>of</strong><br />

sins. Fasting, as self-punishment <strong>and</strong> mortification,<br />

would avert <strong>the</strong> anger <strong>of</strong> God <strong>and</strong> calamities. Most<br />

extraordinary instances <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> purposes in view in<br />

fasting, <strong>and</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> results obtained, are told in<br />

Jewish legend, which (as will be remembered)

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