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.

hea<strong>the</strong>n soldier, met here as on common ground.<br />

<strong>The</strong>ir bond <strong>of</strong> union was <strong>the</strong> common ' hope <strong>of</strong><br />

Israel'—^<strong>the</strong> only hope that remained : that <strong>of</strong> ' <strong>the</strong><br />

Kingdom.' <strong>The</strong> long winter <strong>of</strong> disappointment had<br />

not destroyed, nor <strong>the</strong> storms <strong>of</strong> suffering swept<br />

away, nor yet cx>uld any plant <strong>of</strong> spurious growth<br />

overshadow, what had struck its roots so deep in<br />

<strong>the</strong> soil <strong>of</strong> Israel's heart.<br />

That Kingdom had been <strong>the</strong> last word <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Old<br />

Testament. As <strong>the</strong> thoughtful Israelite, whe<strong>the</strong>r<br />

Eastern or Western,^ viewed even <strong>the</strong> central part<br />

<strong>of</strong> Ms worship in sacrifices, <strong>and</strong> remembered that<br />

his own Scriptures had spoken <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>m in terms<br />

which pointed to something beyond <strong>the</strong>ir <strong>of</strong>fering,'<br />

he must have felt that ^ <strong>the</strong> blood <strong>of</strong> bulls <strong>and</strong> <strong>of</strong><br />

goats, <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> ashes <strong>of</strong> an heifer sprinkling <strong>the</strong><br />

unclean,' could<br />

' It may be said that <strong>the</strong> fundamental tendency <strong>of</strong><br />

Rabbinism wasanti-sacrificial, as regarded <strong>the</strong><br />

yalne <strong>of</strong> sacrifices in commending <strong>the</strong> <strong>of</strong>ferer to<br />

God. After <strong>the</strong> deatmction <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Temple it was, <strong>of</strong>

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

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!