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Nicodemus¡¡related¡¡to¡¡John¡¡the¡¡story¡¡of¡¡that¡¡interview£»¡¡and¡¡by¡¡his¡¡pen¡¡it¡¡was¡¡recorded¡¡for¡¡the¡¡instruction¡¡of¡¡millions¡£¡¡The¡¡truths¡¡there¡¡taught¡¡are¡¡as¡¡important¡¡today¡¡as¡¡they¡¡were¡¡on¡¡that¡¡solemn¡¡night¡¡in¡¡the¡¡shadowy¡¡mountain£»¡¡when¡¡the¡¡Jewish¡¡ruler¡¡came¡¡to¡¡learn¡¡the¡¡way¡¡of¡¡life¡¡from¡¡the¡¡lowly¡¡Teacher¡¡of¡¡Galilee¡£




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For¡¡a¡¡time¡¡the¡¡Baptist's¡¡influence¡¡over¡¡the¡¡nation¡¡had¡¡been¡¡greater¡¡than¡¡that¡¡of¡¡its¡¡rulers£»¡¡priests£»¡¡or¡¡princes¡£¡¡If¡¡he¡¡had¡¡announced¡¡himself¡¡as¡¡the¡¡Messiah£»¡¡and¡¡raised¡¡a¡¡revolt¡¡against¡¡Rome£»¡¡priests¡¡and¡¡people¡¡would¡¡have¡¡flocked¡¡to¡¡his¡¡standard¡£¡¡Every¡¡consideration¡¡that¡¡appeals¡¡to¡¡the¡¡ambition¡¡of¡¡the¡¡world's¡¡conquerors¡¡Satan¡¡had¡¡stood¡¡ready¡¡to¡¡urge¡¡upon¡¡John¡¡the¡¡Baptist¡£¡¡But¡¡with¡¡the¡¡evidence¡¡before¡¡him¡¡of¡¡his¡¡power£»¡¡he¡¡had¡¡steadfastly¡¡refused¡¡the¡¡splendid¡¡bribe¡£¡¡The¡¡attention¡¡which¡¡was¡¡fixed¡¡upon¡¡him¡¡he¡¡had¡¡directed¡¡to¡¡Another¡£

Now¡¡he¡¡saw¡¡the¡¡tide¡¡of¡¡popularity¡¡turning¡¡away¡¡from¡¡himself¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Saviour¡£¡¡Day¡¡by¡¡day¡¡the¡¡crowds¡¡about¡¡him¡¡lessened¡£¡¡When¡¡Jesus¡¡came¡¡from¡¡Jerusalem¡¡to¡¡the¡¡region¡¡about¡¡Jordan£»¡¡the¡¡people¡¡flocked¡¡to¡¡hear¡¡Him¡£¡¡The¡¡number¡¡of¡¡His¡¡disciples¡¡increased¡¡daily¡£¡¡Many¡¡came¡¡for¡¡baptism£»¡¡and¡¡while¡¡Christ¡¡Himself¡¡did¡¡not¡¡baptize£»¡¡He¡¡sanctioned¡¡the¡¡administration¡¡of¡¡the¡¡ordinance¡¡by¡¡His¡¡disciples¡£¡¡Thus¡¡He¡¡set¡¡His¡¡seal¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡mission¡¡of¡¡His¡¡forerunner¡£¡¡But¡¡the¡¡disciples¡¡of¡¡John¡¡looked¡¡with¡¡jealousy¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡growing¡¡popularity¡¡of¡¡Jesus¡£¡¡They¡¡stood¡¡ready¡¡to¡¡criticize¡¡His¡¡work£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡was¡¡not¡¡long¡¡before¡¡they¡¡found¡¡occasion¡£¡¡A¡¡question¡¡arose¡¡between¡¡them¡¡and¡¡the¡¡Jews¡¡as¡¡to¡¡whether¡¡baptism¡¡availed¡¡to¡¡cleanse¡¡the¡¡soul¡¡from¡¡sin£»¡¡they¡¡maintained¡¡that¡¡the¡¡baptism¡¡of¡¡Jesus¡¡differed¡¡essentially¡¡from¡¡that¡¡of¡¡John¡£¡¡Soon¡¡they¡¡were¡¡in¡¡dispute¡¡with¡¡Christ's¡¡disciples¡¡in¡¡regard¡¡to¡¡the¡¡form¡¡of¡¡words¡¡proper¡¡to¡¡use¡¡at¡¡baptism£»¡¡and¡¡finally¡¡as¡¡to¡¡the¡¡right¡¡of¡¡the¡¡latter¡¡to¡¡baptize¡¡at¡¡all¡£

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The¡¡disciples¡¡of¡¡John¡¡came¡¡to¡¡him¡¡with¡¡their¡¡grievances£»¡¡saying£»¡¡¡¨Rabbi£»¡¡He¡¡that¡¡was¡¡with¡¡thee¡¡beyond¡¡Jordan£»¡¡to¡¡whom¡¡thou¡¡bearest¡¡witness£»¡¡behold£»¡¡the¡¡same¡¡baptizeth£»¡¡and¡¡all¡¡men¡¡come¡¡to¡¡Him¡£¡¨¡¡Through¡¡these¡¡words£»¡¡Satan¡¡brought¡¡temptation¡¡upon¡¡John¡£¡¡Though¡¡John's¡¡mission¡¡seemed¡¡about¡¡to¡¡close£»¡¡it¡¡was¡¡still¡¡possible¡¡for¡¡him¡¡to¡¡hinder¡¡the¡¡work¡¡of¡¡Christ¡£¡¡If¡¡he¡¡had¡¡sympathized¡¡with¡¡himself£»¡¡and¡¡expressed¡¡grief¡¡or¡¡disappointment¡¡at¡¡being¡¡superseded£»¡¡he¡¡would¡¡have¡¡sown¡¡the¡¡seeds¡¡of¡¡dissension£»¡¡would¡¡have¡¡encouraged¡¡envy¡¡and¡¡jealousy£»¡¡and¡¡would¡¡seriously¡¡have¡¡impeded¡¡the¡¡progress¡¡of¡¡the¡¡gospel¡£

John¡¡had¡¡by¡¡nature¡¡the¡¡faults¡¡and¡¡weaknesses¡¡common¡¡to¡¡humanity£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡touch¡¡of¡¡divine¡¡love¡¡had¡¡transformed¡¡him¡£¡¡He¡¡dwelt¡¡in¡¡an¡¡atmosphere¡¡uncontaminated¡¡with¡¡selfishness¡¡and¡¡ambition£»¡¡and¡¡far¡¡above¡¡the¡¡miasma¡¡of¡¡jealousy¡£¡¡He¡¡manifested¡¡no¡¡sympathy¡¡with¡¡the¡¡dissatisfaction¡¡of¡¡his¡¡disciples£»¡¡but¡¡showed¡¡how¡¡clearly¡¡he¡¡understood¡¡his¡¡relation¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Messiah£»¡¡and¡¡how¡¡gladly¡¡he¡¡welcomed¡¡the¡¡One¡¡for¡¡whom¡¡he¡¡had¡¡prepared¡¡the¡¡way¡£

He¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨A¡¡man¡¡can¡¡receive¡¡nothing£»¡¡except¡¡it¡¡be¡¡given¡¡him¡¡from¡¡heaven¡£¡¡Ye¡¡yourselves¡¡bear¡¡me¡¡witness£»¡¡that¡¡I¡¡said£»¡¡I¡¡am¡¡not¡¡the¡¡Christ£»¡¡but¡¡that¡¡I¡¡am¡¡sent¡¡before¡¡Him¡£¡¡He¡¡that¡¡hath¡¡the¡¡bride¡¡is¡¡the¡¡bridegroom£º¡¡but¡¡the¡¡friend¡¡of¡¡the¡¡bridegroom£»¡¡which¡¡standeth¡¡and¡¡heareth¡¡him£»¡¡rejoiceth¡¡greatly¡¡because¡¡of¡¡the¡¡bridegroom's¡¡voice¡£¡¨¡¡John¡¡represented¡¡himself¡¡as¡¡the¡¡friend¡¡who¡¡acted¡¡as¡¡a¡¡messenger¡¡between¡¡the¡¡betrothed¡¡parties£»¡¡preparing¡¡the¡¡way¡¡for¡¡the¡¡marriage¡£¡¡When¡¡the¡¡bridegroom¡¡had¡¡received¡¡his¡¡bride£»¡¡the¡¡mission¡¡of¡¡the¡¡friend¡¡was¡¡fulfilled¡£¡¡He¡¡rejoiced¡¡in¡¡the¡¡happiness¡¡of¡¡those¡¡whose¡¡union¡¡he¡¡had¡¡promoted¡£¡¡So¡¡John¡¡had¡¡been¡¡called¡¡to¡¡direct¡¡the¡¡people¡¡to¡¡Jesus£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡was¡¡his¡¡joy¡¡to¡¡witness¡¡the¡¡success¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Saviour's¡¡work¡£¡¡He¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨This¡¡my¡¡joy¡¡therefore¡¡is¡¡fulfilled¡£¡¡He¡¡must¡¡increase£»¡¡but¡¡I¡¡must¡¡decrease¡£¡¨

Looking¡¡in¡¡faith¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Redeemer£»¡¡John¡¡had¡¡risen¡¡to¡¡the¡¡height¡¡of¡¡self¡­abnegation¡£¡¡He¡¡sought¡¡not¡¡to¡¡attract¡¡men¡¡to¡¡himself£»¡¡but¡¡to¡¡lift¡¡their¡¡thoughts¡¡higher¡¡and¡¡still¡¡higher£»¡¡until¡¡they¡¡should¡¡rest¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡Lamb¡¡of¡¡God¡£¡¡He¡¡himself¡¡had¡¡been¡¡only¡¡a¡¡voice£»¡¡a¡¡cry¡¡in¡¡the¡¡wilderness¡£¡¡Now¡¡with¡¡joy¡¡he¡¡accepted¡¡silence¡¡and¡¡obscurity£»¡¡that¡¡the¡¡eyes¡¡of¡¡all¡¡might¡¡be¡¡turned¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Light¡¡of¡¡life¡£

Those¡¡who¡¡are¡¡true¡¡to¡¡their¡¡calling¡¡as¡¡messengers¡¡for¡¡God¡¡will¡¡not¡¡seek¡¡honor¡¡for¡¡themselves¡£¡¡Love¡¡for¡¡self¡¡will¡¡be¡¡swallowed¡¡up¡¡in¡¡love¡¡for¡¡Christ¡£¡¡No¡¡rivalry¡¡will¡¡mar¡¡the¡¡precious¡¡cause¡¡of¡¡the¡¡gospel¡£¡¡They¡¡will¡¡recognize¡¡that¡¡it¡¡is¡¡their¡¡work¡¡to¡¡proclaim£»¡¡as¡¡did¡¡John¡¡the¡¡Baptist£»

180

¡¨Behold¡¡the¡¡Lamb¡¡of¡¡God£»¡¡which¡¡taketh¡¡away¡¡the¡¡sin¡¡of¡¡the¡¡world¡£¡¨¡¡John¡¡1£º29¡£¡¡They¡¡will¡¡lift¡¡up¡¡Jesus£»¡¡and¡¡with¡¡Him¡¡humanity¡¡will¡¡be¡¡lifted¡¡up¡£¡¡¡¨Thus¡¡saith¡¡the¡¡high¡¡and¡¡lofty¡¡One¡¡that¡¡inhabiteth¡¡eternity£»¡¡whose¡¡name¡¡is¡¡Holy£»¡¡I¡¡dwell¡¡in¡¡the¡¡high¡¡and¡¡holy¡¡place£»¡¡with¡¡him¡¡also¡¡that¡¡is¡¡of¡¡a¡¡contrite¡¡and¡¡humble¡¡spirit£»¡¡to¡¡revive¡¡the¡¡spirit¡¡of¡¡the¡¡humble£»¡¡and¡¡to¡¡revive¡¡the¡¡heart¡¡of¡¡the¡¡contrite¡¡ones¡£¡¨¡¡Isa¡£¡¡57£º15¡£

The¡¡soul¡¡of¡¡the¡¡prophet£»¡¡emptied¡¡of¡¡self£»¡¡was¡¡filled¡¡with¡¡the¡¡light¡¡of¡¡the¡¡divine¡£¡¡As¡¡he¡¡witnessed¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Saviour's¡¡glory£»¡¡his¡¡words¡¡were¡¡almost¡¡a¡¡counterpart¡¡of¡¡those¡¡that¡¡Christ¡¡Himself¡¡had¡¡spoken¡¡in¡¡His¡¡interview¡¡with¡¡Nicodemus¡£¡¡John¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨He¡¡that¡¡cometh¡¡from¡¡above¡¡is¡¡above¡¡all£º¡¡he¡¡that¡¡is¡¡of¡¡the¡¡earth¡¡is¡¡earthly£»¡¡and¡¡speaketh¡¡of¡¡the¡¡earth£º¡¡He¡¡that¡¡cometh¡¡from¡¡heaven¡¡is¡¡above¡¡all¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡For¡¡He¡¡whom¡¡God¡¡hath¡¡sent¡¡speaketh¡¡the¡¡words¡¡of¡¡God£º¡¡for¡¡God¡¡giveth¡¡not¡¡the¡¡Spirit¡¡by¡¡measure¡¡unto¡¡Him¡£¡¨¡¡Christ¡¡could¡¡say£»¡¡¡¨I¡¡seek¡¡not¡¡Mine¡¡own¡¡will£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡will¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Father¡¡which¡¡hath¡¡sent¡¡Me¡£¡¨¡¡John¡¡5£º30¡£¡¡To¡¡Him¡¡it¡¡is¡¡declared£»¡¡¡¨Thou¡¡hast¡¡loved¡¡righteousness£»¡¡and¡¡hated¡¡iniquity£»¡¡therefore¡¡God£»¡¡even¡¡Thy¡¡God£»¡¡hath¡¡anointed¡¡Thee¡¡with¡¡the¡¡oil¡¡of¡¡gladness¡¡above¡¡Thy¡¡fellows¡£¡¨¡¡Heb¡£¡¡1£º9¡£¡¡The¡¡Father¡¡¡¨giveth¡¡not¡¡the¡¡Spirit¡¡by¡¡measure¡¡unto¡¡Him¡£¡¨

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So¡¡with¡¡the¡¡followers¡¡of¡¡Christ¡£¡¡We¡¡can¡¡receive¡¡of¡¡heaven's¡¡light¡¡only¡¡as¡¡we¡¡are¡¡willing¡¡to¡¡be¡¡emptied¡¡of¡¡self¡£¡¡We¡¡cannot¡¡discern¡¡the¡¡character¡¡of¡¡God£»¡¡or¡¡accept¡¡Christ¡¡by¡¡faith£»¡¡unless¡¡we¡¡consent¡¡to¡¡the¡¡bringing¡¡into¡¡captivity¡¡of¡¡every¡¡thought¡¡to¡¡the¡¡obedience¡¡of¡¡Christ¡£¡¡To¡¡all¡¡who¡¡do¡¡this¡¡the¡¡Holy¡¡Spirit¡¡is¡¡given¡¡without¡¡measure¡£¡¡In¡¡Christ¡¡¡¨dwelleth¡¡all¡¡the¡¡fullness¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Godhead¡¡bodily£»¡¡and¡¡in¡¡Him¡¡ye¡¡are¡¡made¡¡full¡£¡¨¡¡Col¡£¡¡2£º9£»¡¡10£»¡¡R¡£¡¡V¡£

The¡¡disciples¡¡of¡¡John¡¡had¡¡declared¡¡that¡¡all¡¡men¡¡were¡¡coming¡¡to¡¡Christ£»¡¡but¡¡with¡¡clearer¡¡insight£»¡¡John¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨No¡¡man¡¡receiveth¡¡His¡¡witness£»¡¨¡¡so¡¡few¡¡were¡¡ready¡¡to¡¡accept¡¡Him¡¡as¡¡the¡¡Saviour¡¡from¡¡sin¡£¡¡But¡¡¡¨he¡¡that¡¡hath¡¡received¡¡His¡¡witness¡¡hath¡¡set¡¡his¡¡seal¡¡to¡¡this£»¡¡that¡¡God¡¡is¡¡true¡£¡¨¡¡John¡¡3£º33£»¡¡R¡£¡¡V¡£¡¡¡¨He¡¡that¡¡believeth¡¡on¡¡the¡¡Son¡¡hath¡¡everlasting¡¡life¡£¡¨¡¡No¡¡need¡¡of¡¡disputation¡¡as¡¡to¡¡whether¡¡Christ's¡¡baptism¡¡or¡¡John's¡¡purified¡¡from¡¡sin¡£¡¡It¡¡is¡¡the¡¡grace¡¡of¡¡Christ¡¡that¡¡gives¡¡life¡¡to¡¡the¡¡soul¡£¡¡Apart¡¡from¡¡Christ£»¡¡baptism£»¡¡like¡¡any¡¡other¡¡service£»¡¡is¡¡a¡¡worthless¡¡form¡£¡¡¡¨He¡¡that¡¡believeth¡¡not¡¡the¡¡Son¡¡shall¡¡not¡¡see¡¡life¡£¡¨

The¡¡success¡¡of¡¡Christ's¡¡work£»¡¡which¡¡the¡¡Baptist¡¡had¡¡received¡¡with¡¡such¡¡joy£»¡¡was¡¡reported¡¡also¡¡to¡¡the¡¡authorities¡¡at¡¡Jerusalem¡£¡¡The¡¡priests¡¡and¡¡rabbis¡¡had¡¡been¡¡jealous¡¡of¡¡John's¡¡influence¡¡as¡¡they¡¡saw¡¡the¡¡people¡¡leaving¡¡the¡¡synagogues¡¡and¡¡flocking¡¡to¡¡the¡¡wilderness£»¡¡but¡¡here¡¡was¡¡One¡¡who¡¡had¡¡still¡¡greater¡¡power¡¡to¡¡attract¡¡the¡¡multitudes¡£¡¡Those¡¡leaders¡¡in¡¡Israel¡¡were¡¡not¡¡willing¡¡to¡¡say¡¡with¡¡John£»¡¡¡¨He¡¡must¡¡increase£»¡¡but¡¡I¡¡must¡¡decrease¡£¡¨¡¡They¡¡arose¡¡with¡¡a¡¡new¡¡determination¡¡to¡¡put¡¡an¡¡end¡¡to¡¡the¡¡work¡¡that¡¡was¡¡drawing¡¡the¡¡people¡¡away¡¡from¡¡them¡£

Jesus¡¡knew¡¡that¡¡they¡¡would¡¡spare¡¡no¡¡effort¡¡to¡¡create¡¡a¡¡division¡¡between¡¡His¡¡own¡¡disciples¡¡and¡¡those¡¡of¡¡John¡£¡¡He¡¡knew¡¡that¡¡the¡¡storm¡¡was¡¡gathering¡¡which¡¡would¡¡sweep¡¡away¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡greatest¡¡prophets¡¡ever¡¡given¡¡to¡¡the¡¡world¡£¡¡Wishing¡¡to¡¡avoid¡¡all¡¡occasion¡¡for¡¡misunderstanding¡¡or¡¡dissension£»¡¡He¡¡quietly¡¡ceased¡¡His¡¡labors£»¡¡and¡¡withdrew¡¡to¡¡Galilee¡£¡¡We¡¡also£»¡¡while¡¡loyal¡¡to¡¡truth£»¡¡should¡¡try¡¡to¡¡avoid¡¡all¡¡that¡¡may¡¡lead¡¡to¡¡discord¡¡and¡¡misapprehension¡£¡¡For¡¡whenever¡¡these¡¡arise£»¡¡they¡¡result¡¡in¡¡the¡¡loss¡¡of¡¡souls¡£¡¡Whenever¡¡circumstances¡¡occur¡¡that¡¡threaten¡¡to¡¡cause¡¡division£»¡¡we¡¡should¡¡follow¡¡the¡¡example¡¡of¡¡Jesus¡¡and¡¡of¡¡John¡¡the¡¡Baptist¡£

John¡¡had¡¡been¡¡called¡¡to¡¡lead¡¡out¡¡as¡¡a¡¡reformer¡£¡¡Because¡¡of¡¡this£»¡¡his¡¡disciples¡¡were¡¡in¡¡danger¡¡of¡¡fixing¡¡their¡¡attention¡¡upon¡¡him£»¡¡feeling¡¡that¡¡the¡¡success¡¡of¡¡the¡¡work¡¡depended¡¡upon¡¡his¡¡labors£»¡¡and¡¡losing¡¡sight¡¡of¡¡the¡¡fact¡¡that¡¡he¡¡was¡¡only¡¡an¡¡instrument¡¡through¡¡which¡¡God¡¡had¡¡wrought¡£¡¡But¡¡the¡¡work¡¡of¡¡John¡¡was¡¡not¡¡sufficient¡¡to¡¡lay¡¡the¡¡foundation¡¡of¡¡the

182

Christian¡¡church¡£¡¡When¡¡he¡¡had¡¡fulfilled¡¡his¡¡mission£»¡¡another¡¡work¡¡was¡¡to¡¡be¡¡done£»¡¡which¡¡his¡¡testimony¡¡could¡¡not¡¡accomplish¡£¡¡His¡¡disciples¡¡did¡¡not¡¡understand¡¡this¡£¡¡When¡¡they¡¡saw¡¡Christ¡¡coming¡¡in¡¡to¡¡take¡¡the¡¡work£»¡¡they¡¡were¡¡jealous¡¡and¡¡dissatisfied¡£

The¡¡same¡¡dangers¡¡still¡¡exist¡£¡¡God¡¡calls¡¡a¡¡man¡¡to¡¡do¡¡a¡¡certain¡¡work£»¡¡and¡¡when¡¡he¡¡has¡¡carried¡¡it¡¡as¡¡far¡¡as¡¡he¡¡is¡¡qualified¡¡to¡¡take¡¡it£»¡¡the¡¡Lord¡¡brings¡¡in¡¡others£»¡¡to¡¡carry¡¡it¡¡still¡¡farther¡£¡¡But£»¡¡like¡¡John's¡¡disciples£»¡¡many¡¡feel¡¡that¡¡the¡¡success¡¡of¡¡the¡¡work¡¡depends¡¡on¡¡the¡¡first¡¡laborer¡£¡¡Attention¡¡is¡¡fixed¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡human¡¡instead¡¡of¡¡the¡¡divine£»¡¡jealousy¡¡comes¡¡in£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡wo

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