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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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How imperfectly Israel understood this Eongdom,<br />

our previous investigations have shown. In truth,<br />

<strong>the</strong> men <strong>of</strong> that period possessed only <strong>the</strong> term—as<br />

it were, <strong>the</strong> form. What explained its meaning,<br />

filled, <strong>and</strong> fulfilled it, came once more from<br />

heaven. Babbinism <strong>and</strong> Alex<strong>and</strong>rianism kept alive<br />

<strong>the</strong> thought <strong>of</strong> it; <strong>and</strong> in <strong>the</strong>ir own way filled <strong>the</strong><br />

soul with its longing—just as <strong>the</strong> distress in<br />

Church <strong>and</strong> State carried <strong>the</strong> need <strong>of</strong> it to every<br />

heart with <strong>the</strong> keenness <strong>of</strong> anguish. As throughout<br />

this history, <strong>the</strong> form was <strong>of</strong> that time; <strong>the</strong><br />

substance <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> spirit were <strong>of</strong> Him Whose<br />

coming was <strong>the</strong> Advent <strong>of</strong> that Kingdom. Perhaps<br />

<strong>the</strong> nearest approach to it lay in <strong>the</strong> higher<br />

aspirations <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Nationalist party, only that it<br />

sought <strong>the</strong>ir realisation, not spiritually, but<br />

outwardly. Taking <strong>the</strong> sword, it perished by <strong>the</strong><br />

sword. It was probably to this that both Pilate <strong>and</strong><br />

<strong>Jesus</strong> referred in that memorable question: * Art<br />

Thou <strong>the</strong>n a King ?' to which our Lord, unfolding<br />

<strong>the</strong> deepest meaning <strong>of</strong> His Mission, replied: * My<br />

Kingdom is not <strong>of</strong> thia world: if my Kingdom were<br />

<strong>of</strong> this world, <strong>the</strong>n would My servants fight.' °

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