The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1894-11-24
THE LESSON STORY.

Jesus is last located, previous to the
occurrences we are now to study, at Main,
on the southern side of Mount Tabor He
is on his first tour of Gallee with his
Twelve. Near the gate of the city duke
7:II, I2) he had raised from his bier an
only son of a widow, as he was being borne
out for burial. This miracle had produced
a great popular expectation, which is
graphically described by Luke e: 10, ~:
Ind fear took hold on all; and they gloyt-
tied Goa, saying, Il great 6r0bhef has
risen among MS !. and God hath viSited his
peoble. And this yeb0rt qOent forth con-
corning him in tie aVhols Of ./uaea, and
all the region round about.
1t was this report that reached John the
Baptist in his prison. Tie disciples Of
./oAn told him ofaH these things.
To Josephus we are indebted for the in
formation that the Baptist was political
prisoner in the castle of Macharus; a
fortress set for the defence of the southern
frontier of Perea, in the region of the
black, craggy rocks east of the Dead Sea.
Here John had languished in confinement
several months, it may be whole year.
He was, as we note, privileged to hold
communication with his disciples but this
may have served to make his enforced in
activity only the harder to endure,-as the
sight of crags will fret Gagged eagle.
John was in prison,-to his honor be it
recalled, he had dared to speak
to the scheming sensualist, Herod Antpas,
who was by grace of Rome governor of
Galilee and Perea, precisely as he had
spoken to the sinners of humble life who
had come to hear him preach in the wilder
ness. Herod Antipas had broken Jewish
law, he had broken Roman law, he had
outraged common decency, by taking from
his brother Philip his fascinating wife
Herodias, and installing her in the vacated
place of his own wife in his palace. To
these royal-born prohigates, who had
been Aattered by the sycophantic Herodian
Jews and had been pacifed by the time
serving scribcs,-the Baptist showed the
stern face of Incorporating Law. The
prison, as preliminary to execution, was
the mildest penalty to be expected in that
age for such righteous daring.
The reports of Jesus carried to the Bap-
fist in prison must have been very confus-
ing. Jesus, he was told, was working in
Galilee innumerable wonderful cures.
This, so far, John would not think strange.
He had even raised one from the dead.
This the Baptist could easily credit. Jesus
had so won the regard of the common
people of Galilee that they were saying of
him, Il great brobhef has risen Hb among
u.s. and again, God hath viSited his be0-
PAe All this was as it should be. 1t ac-
corded with the Baptist's hope. But how
were the contradictory facts to be recon-
ciled3 Jesus was actually eating and con-
sorting with publicans and sinners. This
must have seemed gross inconsistency to
the hermit prophet. Jesus had been further
more pronounced by the scribes to be
demoniac, an insane person; one who had
sold himself to Beelzebub, and was work.
ing decisions by satanic assistance. Could
this story, which was believed by Jesus
own family, have been entirely incredible
to John? Furthermore, if Jesus could
raise the dead to life, why could he not
liberate prisoner? Why was the Baptist
himself left to waste his energies and suffer
untold agonies in prison? There was sure
ly, on the face of things, reason for the
Baptist's perplexity.
Nevertheless, John kept his faith. This
is proved by the very fact that he sent to
Jesus in his need. Had he disbelieved in
IeSus, he would have scorned to hold anv
communication whatever with him.
He did well in sending directly to Jesus
for some word of reinsurance.
The messengers arrived in the presence
of Jesus at time when he was busy heal
ing. When the two agents OF the Baptist
asked their masters question, Art MOn he