Paul Visited Jerusalem
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being the Son of God, the Redeemer of the world; they had murdered
him, and could not receive any evidence in his favor. Their only hope
and consolation, like Satan’s after his fall, was in trying to prevail
against the Son of God. They continued their rebellion by persecuting
the disciples of Christ, and putting them to death. Nothing fell so
harshly on their ears as the name of Jesus whom they had crucified;
and they were determined not to listen to any evidence in his favor.
As in the case of Stephen, as the Holy Spirit through him declared the
mighty evidence of his being the Son of God, they stopped their ears
lest they should be convinced. And while Stephen was wrapped up
in God’s glory, they stoned him to death. Satan had the murderers of
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Jesus fast in his grasp. By wicked works they had yielded themselves
his willing subjects, and through them he was at work to trouble and
annoy the believers of Christ. He worked through the Jews to stir
up the Gentiles against the name of Jesus, and against those who
followed him, and believed on his name. But God sent his angels to
strengthen the disciples for their work, that they might testify of the
things they had seen and heard, and at last in their steadfastness, seal
their testimony with their blood.
Satan rejoiced that the Jews were safe in his snare. They still
continued their useless forms, their sacrifices and ordinances. As Jesus
hung upon the cross, and cried, It is finished, the vail of the temple was
rent in twain, from the top to the bottom, to signify that God would
no longer meet with the priests in the temple, to accept their sacrifices
and ordinances; and also to show that the partition wall was broken
down between the Jews and the Gentiles. Jesus had made an offering
of himself for both, and if saved at all, both must believe in Jesus as
the only offering for sin, and the Saviour of the world.
While Jesus hung upon the cross, as the soldier pierced his side
with a spear, there came out blood and water, in two distinct streams,
one of blood, the other of clear water. The blood was to wash away the
sins of those who should believe in his name. The water represents that
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living water which is obtained from Jesus to give life to the believer.
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