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From Heaven With Love
coming to be healed. The blind, the diseased were eagerly pressing
into the presence of Jesus. The voice of the mighty Healer penetrated
the deaf ear. A word, a touch of His hand, opened the blind eyes.
Jesus rebuked disease and banished fever. His voice reached the ears
of the dying, and they arose in health and vigor. While He healed
their diseases, the poor peasants and laborers who were shunned by
the rabbis as unclean gathered close about Him, and He spoke to
them the words of eternal life.
Jesus Presents Evidence
Thus the day wore away, the disciples of John seeing and hearing
all. At last Jesus called them to Him and told them to go and tell
John what they had witnessed, adding, “Blessed is he, whosoever
shall find none occasion of stumbling in Me.” RV. The evidence of
His divinity was seen; His glory was shown in His condescension to
our low estate.
The disciples bore the message, and it was enough. John recalled
the prophecy concerning the Messiah, “The Lord hath anointed Me
to preach good tidings unto the meek; He hath sent Me to bind up
the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives.”
Isaiah 61:1
.
The works of Christ declared Him to be the Messiah. Jesus was
to do His work, not with the clash of arms and the overturning of
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thrones and kingdoms, but through speaking to the hearts of men by
a life of mercy and self-sacrifice.
The principle of the Baptist’s own life was the principle of the
Messiah’s kingdom. But that which was to him convincing evidence
of Christ’s divinity would be no evidence to the leaders in Israel.
John saw that the Saviour’s mission could win from them only
hatred and condemnation. He, the forerunner, was drinking of the
cup which Christ Himself must drain to its dregs.
The Saviour’s gentle reproof was not lost upon John. Under-
standing more clearly now the nature of Christ’s mission, he yielded
himself to God for life or for death, as should best serve the interests
of the cause he loved.
The Saviour’s heart went out in sympathy to the faithful witness
in Herod’s dungeon. He would not leave the people to conclude that
God had forsaken John or that his faith had failed in the day of trial.