Chapter 3—Life and Mission of John
About the time of the birth of John, the Jews were in a deplorable
condition. And in order to keep down insurrection, they were allowed
to have a separate government, in name, while the Romans virtually
ruled them. The Jews saw that their power and liberty were restricted,
and that, in reality, they were under the Roman yoke. The Romans
claimed the right to appoint men to the priesthood, and to remove them
from office at will. Thus was there a door opened for the priesthood
to become corrupt. The priests, not being divinely appointed, abused
their office, and were unfaithful in their ministrations. Men of corrupt
morals, with money and influence, obtained the favor of those in power,
and succeeded in attaining to the priesthood. The whole country felt
their oppression, and revolt and dissension were the result of this state
of things.
The pious Jews were looking, believing, and earnestly praying,
for the coming of the Messiah. God could not manifest his glory and
power to his people through a corrupt priesthood. The set time to favor
his people had come. The faith of the Jews had become clouded, in
consequence of their departure from God. Many of the leaders of the
people brought in their own traditions, and enforced them upon the
Jews, as the commandments of God. The pious Jews believed, and
trusted in God that he would not leave his people in this condition, to
be a reproach to the heathen. He had, in time past, raised them up a
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deliverer when in their distress they had called upon him. From the
predictions of the prophets, they thought the time appointed of God
had arrived when Messiah would come. And when he should come,
they would have a clear revelation of the divine will, and that their
doctrines would be freed from the traditions and needless ceremonies
which had confused their faith. The pious, aged Jews waited day and
night for the coming Messiah, praying that they might see the Saviour
before they died. They longed to see the cloud of ignorance and bigotry
dispelled from the minds of the people.
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