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372
Humble Hero
showed no irritated temper. The face of the Son of God revealed
divine pity as He took one lingering look at the temple and then
at His hearers. In a voice choked by anguish and bitter tears He
exclaimed, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets
and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather
your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings,
but you were not willing!” In Christ’s lament the very heart of
God poured forth. It was the mysterious farewell of the Deity’s
longsuffering love.
Pharisees and Sadducees alike were silenced. Jesus called His
disciples to Him and prepared to leave the temple, not as someone
defeated, but as someone whose work was done. He withdrew from
the contest as the victor.
In many hearts that eventful day, new thoughts started into life
and a new history began. After the Crucifixion and Resurrection,
these persons came forward with wisdom and zeal. They bore a
message that appealed to hearts. In the light of their testimony,
human theories and philosophies became like idle fables.
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But Israel as a nation had divorced herself from God. Looking for
the last time on the interior of the temple, Jesus said with mournful
tones, “See! Your house is left to you desolate; for I say to you,
you shall see Me no more till you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes
in the name of the Lord!’ “ When the Son of God went out from
those walls, God’s presence would be withdrawn forever from the
temple built for His glory. Its ceremonies would be meaningless, its
services a mockery.
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