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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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had wavered <strong>and</strong> almost failed. This is <strong>the</strong><br />

opposite <strong>of</strong> what one would have expected, if <strong>the</strong><br />

narrative had been a fiction, while it is exactly<br />

what we might expect if <strong>the</strong> narrative be true. Next,<br />

we mark that <strong>the</strong> testimony <strong>of</strong> Christ is as from a<br />

higher st<strong>and</strong>point. And it is a full vindication as<br />

well as unstinted praise, spoken, not as in his<br />

hearing, but after, his messengers—who had met a<br />

seemingly cold reception—had left. <strong>The</strong> people<br />

were not coarsely to misunderst<strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> deep soulagony,<br />

which had issued in John's inquiry. It was<br />

not <strong>the</strong> outcome <strong>of</strong> a fickleness which, like <strong>the</strong> reed<br />

shaken by every wind, was moved by popular<br />

opinion. Nor was it <strong>the</strong> result <strong>of</strong> fear <strong>of</strong> bodily<br />

consequences, such as one that pampered <strong>the</strong> fiesh<br />

might entertain. Let <strong>the</strong>m look back to <strong>the</strong> time<br />

when, in thous<strong>and</strong>s, <strong>the</strong>y had gone into <strong>the</strong><br />

wilderness to hear his preaching. What had<br />

attracted <strong>the</strong>m thi<strong>the</strong>r ? Surely it was, that he was<br />

<strong>the</strong> opposite <strong>of</strong> one swayed by popular opinion, ' a<br />

reed shaken by <strong>the</strong> wind.' And when <strong>the</strong>y had come<br />

to him, what had <strong>the</strong>y witnessed ? * Surely, his<br />

dress <strong>and</strong> food betokened <strong>the</strong> opposite <strong>of</strong>

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