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eat。 Now he determined to bring sorrow upon Christ by striking John。 The One whom he could not entice to sin he would cause to suffer。
Jesus did not interpose to deliver His servant。 He knew that John would bear the test。 Gladly would the Saviour have come to John； to brighten the dungeon gloom with His own presence。 But He was not to place Himself in the hands of enemies and imperil His own mission。 Gladly would He have delivered His faithful servant。 But for the sake of thousands who in after years must pass from prison to death； John was to drink the cup of martyrdom。 As the followers of Jesus should languish in lonely cells； or perish by the sword； the rack； or the fagot； apparently forsaken by God and man； what a stay to their hearts would be the thought that John the Baptist； to whose faithfulness Christ Himself had borne witness； had passed through a similar experience！
Satan was permitted to cut short the earthly life of God's messenger； but that life which 〃is hid with Christ in God；〃 the destroyer could not reach。 Col。 3：3。 He exulted that he had brought sorrow upon Christ； but he had failed of conquering John。 Death itself only placed him forever beyond the power of temptation。 In this warfare； Satan was revealing his own character。 Before the witnessing universe he made manifest his enmity toward God and man。
Though no miraculous deliverance was granted John； he was not forsaken。 He had always the companionship of heavenly angels； who opened to him the prophecies concerning Christ； and the precious promises of Scripture。 These were his stay； as they were to be the stay of God's people through the coming ages。 To John the Baptist； as to those that came after him； was given the assurance； 〃Lo； I am with you all the days； even unto the end。〃 Matt。 28：20； R。 V。； margin。
God never leads His children otherwise than they would choose to be led； if they could see the end from the beginning； and discern the glory
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of the purpose which they are fulfilling as co…workers with Him。 Not Enoch； who was translated to heaven； not Elijah； who ascended in a chariot of fire； was greater or more honored than John the Baptist； who perished alone in the dungeon。 〃Unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ； not only to believe on Him； but also to suffer for His sake。〃 Phil。 1：29。 And of all the gifts that Heaven can bestow upon men； fellowship with Christ in His sufferings is the most weighty trust and the highest honor。
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Chapter 23
〃The Kingdom of God Is at Hand〃
〃Jesus came into Galilee； preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God； and saying； The time is fulfilled； and the kingdom of God is at hand： repent ye； and believe the gospel。〃 Mark 1：14； 15。
The Messiah's coming had been first announced in Judea。 In the temple at Jerusalem the birth of the forerunner had been foretold to Zacharias as he ministered before the altar。 On the hills of Bethlehem the angels had proclaimed the birth of Jesus。 To Jerusalem the magi had come in search of Him。 In the temple Simeon and Anna had testified to His divinity。 〃Jerusalem； and all Judea〃 had listened to the preaching of John the Baptist； and the deputation from the Sanhedrin； with the multitude； had heard his testimony concerning Jesus。 In Judea； Christ had received His first disciples。 Here much of His early ministry had been spent。 The flashing forth of His divinity in the cleansing of the temple； His miracles of healing； and the lessons of divine truth that fell from His lips； all proclaimed that which after the healing at Bethesda He had declared before the Sanhedrin；His Sonship to the Eternal。
If the leaders in Israel had received Christ； He would have honored them as His messengers to carry the gospel to the world。 To them first was given the opportunity to become heralds of the kingdom and grace
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of God。 But Israel knew not the time of her visitation。 The jealousy and distrust of the Jewish leaders had ripened into open hatred； and the hearts of the people were turned away from Jesus。
The Sanhedrin had rejected Christ's message and was bent upon His death； therefore Jesus departed from Jerusalem； from the priests； the temple； the religious leaders； the people who had been instructed in the law； and turned to another class to proclaim His message； and to gather out those who should carry the gospel to all nations。
As the light and life of men was rejected by the ecclesiastical authorities in the days of Christ； so it has been rejected in every succeeding generation。 Again and again the history of Christ's withdrawal from Judea has been repeated。 When the Reformers preached the word of God； they had no thought of separating themselves from the established church； but the religious leaders would not tolerate the light； and those that bore it were forced to seek another class； who were longing for the truth。 In our day few of the professed followers of the Reformers are actuated by their spirit。 Few are listening for the voice of God； and ready to accept truth in whatever guise it may be presented。 Often those who follow in the steps of the Reformers are forced to turn away from the churches they love； in order to declare the plain teaching of the word of God。 And many times those who are seeking for light are by the same teaching obliged to leave the church of their fathers； that they may render obedience。
The people of Galilee were despised by the rabbis of Jerusalem as rude and unlearned； yet they presented a more favorable field for the Saviour's work。 They were more earnest and sincere； less under the control of bigotry； their minds were more open for the reception of truth。 In going to Galilee； Jesus was not seeking seclusion or isolation。 The province was at this time the home of a crowded population； with a much larger admixture of people of other nations than was found in Judea。
As Jesus traveled through Galilee； teaching and healing； multitudes flocked to Him from the cities and villages。 Many came even from Judea and the adjoining provinces。 Often He was obliged to hide Himself from the people。 The enthusiasm ran so high that it was necessary to take precautions lest the Roman authorities should be aroused to fear an insurrection。 Never before had there been such a period as this for the world。 Heaven was brought down to men。 Hungering and thirsting souls that had waited long for the redemption of Israel now feasted upon the grace of a merciful Saviour。
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The burden of Christ's preaching was； 〃The time is fulfilled； and the kingdom of God is at hand； repent ye； and believe the gospel。〃 Thus the gospel message； as given by the Saviour Himself； was based on the prophecies。 The 〃time〃 which He declared to be fulfilled was the period made known by the angel Gabriel to Daniel。 〃Seventy weeks；〃 said the angel； 〃are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city； to finish the transgression； and to make an end of sins； and to make reconciliation for iniquity； and to bring in everlasting righteousness； and to seal up the vision and prophecy； and to anoint the most holy。〃 Dan。 9：24。 A day in prophecy stands for a year。 See Num。 14：34； Ezek。 4：6。 The seventy weeks； or four hundred and ninety days； represent four hundred and ninety years。 A starting point for this period is given： 〃Know therefore and understand； that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks； and threescore and two weeks；〃 sixty…nine weeks； or four hundred and eighty…three years。 Dan。 9：25。 The commandment to restore and build Jerusalem； as completed by the decree of Artaxerxes Longimanus （see Ezra 6：14； 7：1； 9； margin）； went into effect in the autumn of B。 C。 457。 From this time four hundred and eighty…three years extend to the autumn of A。 D。 27。 According to the prophecy； this period was to reach to the Messiah； the Anointed One。 In A。 D。 27； Jesus at His baptism received the anointing of the Holy Spirit； and soon afterward began His ministry。 Then the message was proclaimed。 〃The time is fulfilled。〃
Then； said the angel； 〃He shall confirm the covenant with many for one week ＇seven years＇。〃 For seven years after the Saviour entered on His ministry； the gospel was to be preached especially to the Jews； for three and a half years by Christ Himself； and afterward by the apostles。 〃In the midst of the week He shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease。〃 Dan。 9：27。 In the spring of A。 D。 31； Christ the true sacrifice was offered on Calvary。 Then the veil of the temple was rent in twain； showing that the sacredness and significance of the sacrificial service had departed。 The time had come for the earthly sacrifice and oblation to cease。
The one weekseven yearsended in A。 D。 34。 Then by the stoning of Stephen the Jews finally sealed their rejection of the gospel； the disciples who were scattered abroad by persecution 〃went everywhere preaching the word〃 （Acts 8：4）； and shortly after； Saul the per