the desire of ages-第33节

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While　Jesus　was　speaking；　some　gleams　of　truth　penetrated　the　ruler's　mind。　The　softening；　subduing　influence　of　the　Holy　Spirit　impressed　his　heart。　Yet　he　did　not　fully　understand　the　Saviour's　words。　He　was　not　so　much　impressed　by　the　necessity　of　the　new　birth　as　by　the　manner　of　its　accomplishment。　He　said　wonderingly；　〃How　can　these　things　be？〃

〃Art　thou　a　master　of　Israel；　and　knowest　not　these　things？〃　Jesus　asked。　Surely　one　entrusted　with　the　religious　instruction　of　the　people　should　not　be　ignorant　of　truths　so　important。　His　words　conveyed　the　lesson　that　instead　of　feeling　irritated　over　the　plain　words　of　truth；　Nicodemus　should　have　had　a　very　humble　opinion　of　himself；　because　of　his　spiritual　ignorance。　Yet　Christ　spoke　with　such　solemn　dignity；　and　both　look　and　tone　expressed　such　earnest　love；　that　Nicodemus　was　not　offended　as　he　realized　his　humiliating　condition。

But　as　Jesus　explained　that　His　mission　on　earth　was　to　establish　a　spiritual　instead　of　a　temporal　kingdom；　His　hearer　was　troubled。　Seeing　this；　Jesus　added；　〃If　I　have　told　you　earthly　things；　and　ye　believe　not；　how　shall　ye　believe；　if　I　tell　you　of　heavenly　things？〃　If　Nicodemus　could　not　receive　Christ's　teaching；　illustrating　the　work　of　grace　upon　the　heart；　how　could　he　comprehend　the　nature　of　His　glorious　heavenly　kingdom？　Not　discerning　the　nature　of　Christ's　work　on　earth；　he　could　not　understand　His　work　in　heaven。

The　Jews　whom　Jesus　had　driven　from　the　temple　claimed　to　be　children　of　Abraham；　but　they　fled　from　the　Saviour's　presence　because

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they　could　not　endure　the　glory　of　God　which　was　manifested　in　Him。　Thus　they　gave　evidence　that　they　were　not　fitted　by　the　grace　of　God　to　participate　in　the　sacred　services　of　the　temple。　They　were　zealous　to　maintain　an　appearance　of　holiness；　but　they　neglected　holiness　of　heart。　While　they　were　sticklers　for　the　letter　of　the　law；　they　were　constantly　violating　its　spirit。　Their　great　need　was　that　very　change　which　Christ　had　been　explaining　to　Nicodemus；a　new　moral　birth；　a　cleansing　from　sin；　and　a　renewing　of　knowledge　and　holiness。

There　was　no　excuse　for　the　blindness　of　Israel　in　regard　to　the　work　of　regeneration。　Under　the　inspiration　of　the　Holy　Spirit；　Isaiah　had　written；　〃We　are　all　as　an　unclean　thing；　and　all　our　righteousnesses　are　as　filthy　rags。〃　David　had　prayed；　〃Create　in　me　a　clean　heart；　O　God；　and　renew　a　right　spirit　within　me。〃　And　through　Ezekiel　the　promise　had　been　given；　〃A　new　heart　also　will　I　give　you；　and　a　new　spirit　will　I　put　within　you：　and　I　will　take　away　the　stony　heart　out　of　your　flesh；　and　I　will　give　you　an　heart　of　flesh。　And　I　will　put　My　Spirit　within　you；　and　cause　you　to　walk　in　My　statutes。〃　Isa。　64：6；　Ps。　51：10；　Ezek。　36：26；　27。

Nicodemus　had　read　these　scriptures　with　a　clouded　mind；　but　he　now　began　to　comprehend　their　meaning。　He　saw　that　the　most　rigid　obedience　to　the　mere　letter　of　the　law　as　applied　to　the　outward　life　could　entitle　no　man　to　enter　the　kingdom　of　heaven。　In　the　estimation　of　men；　his　life　had　been　just　and　honorable；　but　in　the　presence　of　Christ　he　felt　that　his　heart　was　unclean；　and　his　life　unholy。

Nicodemus　was　being　drawn　to　Christ。　As　the　Saviour　explained　to　him　concerning　the　new　birth；　he　longed　to　have　this　change　wrought　in　himself。　By　what　means　could　it　be　accomplished？　Jesus　answered　the　unspoken　question：　〃As　Moses　lifted　up　the　serpent　in　the　wilderness；　even　so　must　the　Son　of　man　be　lifted　up：　that　whosoever　believeth　in　Him　should　not　perish；　but　have　eternal　life。〃

Here　was　ground　with　which　Nicodemus　was　familiar。　The　symbol　of　the　uplifted　serpent　made　plain　to　him　the　Saviour's　mission。　When　the　people　of　Israel　were　dying　from　the　sting　of　the　fiery　serpents；　God　directed　Moses　to　make　a　serpent　of　brass；　and　place　it　on　high　in　the　midst　of　the　congregation。　Then　the　word　was　sounded　throughout　the　encampment　that　all　who　would　look　upon　the　serpent　should　live。　The　people　well　knew　that　in　itself　the　serpent　had　no　power　to　help　them。　It　was　a　symbol　of　Christ。　As　the　image　made　in　the　likeness　of　the

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destroying　serpents　was　lifted　up　for　their　healing；　so　One　made　〃in　the　likeness　of　sinful　flesh〃　was　to　be　their　Redeemer。　Rom。　8：3。　Many　of　the　Israelites　regarded　the　sacrificial　service　as　having　in　itself　virtue　to　set　them　free　from　sin。　God　desired　to　teach　them　that　it　had　no　more　value　than　that　serpent　of　brass。　It　was　to　lead　their　minds　to　the　Saviour。　Whether　for　the　healing　of　their　wounds　or　the　pardon　of　their　sins；　they　could　do　nothing　for　themselves　but　show　their　faith　in　the　Gift　of　God。　They　were　to　look　and　live。

Those　who　had　been　bitten　by　the　serpents　might　have　delayed　to　look。　They　might　have　questioned　how　there　could　be　efficacy　in　that　brazen　symbol。　They　might　have　demanded　a　scientific　explanation。　But　no　explanation　was　given。　They　must　accept　the　word　of　God　to　them　through　Moses。　To　refuse　to　look　was　to　perish。

Not　through　controversy　and　discussion　is　the　soul　enlightened。　We　must　look　and　live。　Nicodemus　received　the　lesson；　and　carried　it　with　him。　He　searched　the　Scriptures　in　a　new　way；　not　for　the　discussion　of　a　theory；　but　in　order　to　receive　life　for　the　soul。　He　began　to　see　the　kingdom　of　heaven　as　he　submitted　himself　to　the　leading　of　the　Holy　Spirit。

There　are　thousands　today　who　need　to　learn　the　same　truth　that　was　taught　to　Nicodemus　by　the　uplifted　serpent。　They　depend　on　their　obedience　to　the　law　of　God　to　commend　them　to　His　favor。　When　they　are　bidden　to　look　to　Jesus；　and　believe　that　He　saves　them　solely　through　His　grace；　they　exclaim；　〃How　can　these　things　be？〃

Like　Nicodemus；　we　must　be　willing　to　enter　into　life　in　the　same　way　as　the　chief　of　sinners。　Than　Christ；　〃there　is　none　other　name　under　heaven　given　among　men；　whereby　we　must　be　saved。〃　Acts　4：12。　Through　faith　we　receive　the　grace　of　God；　but　faith　is　not　our　Saviour。　It　earns　nothing。　It　is　the　hand　by　which　we　lay　hold　upon　Christ；　and　appropriate　His　merits；　the　remedy　for　sin。　And　we　cannot　even　repent　without　the　aid　of　the　Spirit　of　God。　The　Scripture　says　of　Christ；　〃Him　hath　God　exalted　with　His　right　hand　to　be　a　Prince　and　a　Saviour；　for　to　give　repentance　to　Israel；　and　forgiveness　of　sins。〃　Acts　5：31。　Repentance　comes　from　Christ　as　truly　as　does　pardon。

How；　then；　are　we　to　be　saved？　〃As　Moses　lifted　up　the　serpent　in　the　wilderness；〃　so　the　Son　of　man　has　been　lifted　up；　and　everyone　who　has　been　deceived　and　bitten　by　the　serpent　may　look　and　live。　〃Behold　the　Lamb　of　God；　which　taketh　away　the　sin　of　the

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world。〃　John　1：29。　The　light　shining　from　the　cross　reveals　the　love　of　God。　His　love　is　drawing　us　to　Himself。　If　we　do　not　resist　this　drawing；　we　shall　be　led　to　the　foot　of　the　cross　in　repentance　for　the　sins　that　have　crucified　the　Saviour。　Then　the　Spirit　of　God　through　faith　produces　a　new　life　in　the　soul。　The　thoughts　and　desires　are　brought　into　obedience　to　the　will　of　Christ。　The　heart；　the　mind；　are　created　anew　in　the　image　of　Him　who　works　in　us　to　subdue　all　things　to　Himself。　Then　the　law　of　God　is　written　in　the　mind　and　heart；　and　we　can　say　with　Christ；　〃I　delight　to　do　Thy　will；　O　my　God。〃　Ps。　40：8。

In　the　interview　with　Nicodemus；　Jesus　unfolded　the　plan　of　salvation；　and　His　mission　to　the　world。　In　none　of　His　subsequent　discourses　did　He　explain　so　fully；　step　by　step；　the　work　necessary　to　be　done　in　the　hearts　of　all　who　would　inherit　the　kingdom　of　heaven。　At　the　very　beginning　of　His　ministry　He　opened　the　truth　to　a　member　of　the　Sanhedrin；　to　the　mind　that　was　most　receptive；　and　to　an　appointed　teacher　of　the　people。　But　the　leaders　of　Israel　did　not　welcome　the　light。　Nicodemus　hid　the　truth　in　his　heart；　and　for　three　years　there　was　little　apparent　fruit。

But　Jesus　was　acquainted　with　the　soil　into　which　He　cast　the　seed。　The　words　spoken　at　night　to　one　listener　in　the　lonely　mountain　were　not　lost。　For　a　time　Nicodemus　did　not　publicly　acknowledge　Christ；　but　he　watched　His　life；　and　pondered　His　teachings。　In　the　Sanhedrin　council　he　repeatedly　thwarted　the　schemes　of　the　priests　to　destroy　Him。　When　at　last　Jesus　was　lifted　up　on　the　cross；　Nicodemus　remembered　the　teaching　upon　Olivet：　〃As　Moses　lifted　up　the　serpent　in　the　wilderness；　even　so　must　the　Son　of　man　be　lifted　up：　that　whosoever　believeth

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in　Him　should　not　perish；　but　have　eternal　life。〃　The　light　from　that　secret　interview　illumined　the　cross　upon　Calvary；　and　Nicodemus　saw　in　Jesus　the　world's　Redeemer。

After　the　Lord's　ascension；　when　the　disciples　were　scattered　by　persecution；　Nicodemus　came　boldly　to　the　front。　He　employed　his　wealth　in　sustaining　the　infant　church　that　the　Jews　had　expected　to　be　blotted　out　at　the　death　of　Christ。　In　the　time　of　peril　he　who　had　been　so　cautious　and　questioning　was　firm　as　a　rock；　encouraging　the　faith　of　the　disciples；　and　furnishing　means　to　carry　forward　the　work　of　the　gospel。　He　was　scorned　and　persecuted　by　those　who　had　paid　him　reverence　in　other　days。　He　became　poor　in　this　world'