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Shiloh: the Man of Sorrows

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Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Sep 20, 1910

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 37, No. 37.

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Shiloh: the Man of Sorrows

By Mrs. L. D. Avery-Stuttle

Chapter XXIX—The Lifegiver

MEANWHILE the miraculous work of Jesus of Nazareth had gone on. Day after day the surging multitudes sought His divine presence, bringing with them their suffering friends. The deaf heard, the dumb shouted the loud praises of the Shiloh of Jacob, and announced Him as the long-promised Messiah; while the sick and the suffering, who had been given a strength and health which many among them never before knew, united their voices in laudation and praise of the great Deliverer.
The beloved servant of Marcus the Roman centurion, was sick unto death. For a number of years past, this man, first introduced in this narrative as the companion of the cruel Varro, had made the city of Capernaum his home. Ever since the massacre of the children of Bethlehem in the days of his young manhood, this centurion, as though anxious to atone in some manner for the part he had acted in that night of horror, had favored the Jews. In fact, he had gone so far as to build them a synagog, thereby virtually disowning the gods of Rome, and acknowledging allegiance to the God of Israel.
In Capernaum he had heard much of the wonderful works of Jesus of Nazareth; and now that his beloved servant was ill, he conceived the idea of entreating the mighty Healer to save him. We know the result. With an exhibition of faith which the Master declared He had not seen in Israel, he pleaded only that "the word" be spoken. The faith of the kindly centurion was honored, and they "found the servant whole that had been sick."
In the village of Nain a woman sits in her humble home writing a letter by the dim light of a candle. We recognize her even in the uncertain light, as Adah, late of Bethabara, beyond Jordan,—the cousin of the household of Lazarus. She is writing to Martha, of Bethany.
"My dear cousin," she writes, "I have so many things to write unto thee, and such astonishing, such glorious news, that my weak pen almost refuseth to form words of such wonderful import!"
"Two days ago I began to write thee, with a sorrowful heart; for Reuben, mine only son, and the light of mine heart, had fallen the victim of a sudden fever, and I had but just closed his beautiful eyes — so like unto his dead father’s. O my dear Martha! how can I tell thee of my bitter agony?
"Never since we removed to Nain had he been in his usual health. But now, praises to the God of Israel, he standeth by my side in the strength and health of perfect manhood.
"Thou wilt know at once that this is the work of none other than the Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth; for as the Lord liveth, this is the Shiloh of the prophets. Canst thou understand my emotions? Dost thou remember thine own joy at the healing of thy beloved Magdalene?
"But I will hasten to tell thee. My son was ill of the sickness of which he died, but a few days. O how carefully I nursed him! Still, our ever growing poverty prevented to some extent my obtaining for him the aid of the best physicians. Yet, the kind physician Gideon, of Endor, scarcely left his side, and was present at his death. On the fourth day, the sickness became very violent.
"As I sat by my darling’s cot, holding his hot hand in mine, he spake to me. At first I thought his words were but the result of a feverish and diseased brain; but I soon discovered that my poor son was wholly conscious of his sad condition, and that he had a curiously strong premonition of the change which awaited him.
"‘Mother,’ he said, ‘I am sure that I must leave thee. I had hoped that the Master would be passing through Nain, and that I might be healed, even as was my cousin Magdalene and many others. But He cometh not, and we know not where He is; already my eyes are growing dim with the film of death, and I must sleep. But mother, tell me, tell me once again that the doctrine of the Sadducee is not true. Tell me, O my mother, tell me that I shall assuredly live again in the resurrection, at the last day!’"
"And I said: ‘This is the hope which comforted thy father when he died. Listen, my Reuben, while I read from the rolls of the prophets, for this shall strengthen thy faith. For even thus saith the prophet Isaiah: “Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead.”’"
"When I had done my reading, I turned toward my son. A sweet smile rested upon his countenance, but behold, he was dead. Then, O my cousin, how can I tell thee my distress? Ah! how like unto his dead father he appeared, — the same broad, noble brow, the same clustering curls.
"Soon our humble room was filled with the mourning women, who ceased not to fill the air with their cries. But these knew not my grief, for alas! my heart was breaking. In a little while my boy was robed for the tomb, and after a few hours the dear form was stretched upon the bier, and directly I found myself following blindly on, on, with the procession who came to do us honor, — on through the narrow gateway of Nain, westward, toward the place of the dead. There was a large concourse of people which accompanied us, but this gave me no consolation. My heart seemed bursting. Constantly I bemoaned the fate which had condemned me to childless widowhood. And O Martha! may the God of Israel forgive me, but I know that in my heart I rebelled against the decree of the Almighty.
"The words of comfort which I had read but recently in the ears of my son, echoed in mine ears also; but alas! my rebellious spirit felt no thrill of comfort. The resurrection? Ah, yes; but my heart was too sick and rebellious to heed the comforting words of the prophets.
"Suddenly I noticed vaguely that there appeared to be a commotion among the people who accompanied us; but I did not lift my head. Then I heard some one cry: ‘Make way for the Nazarene! He cometh with His followers from the Plain of Esdraelon.’
"In the agony of mind which had followed the death of my son, I had forgotten the Master, and the astonishing miracles, the fame of which were filling all Judea and Galilee, — may the God of our fathers forgive me!
"At once, through my tear-blinded eyes, I perceived that the Nazarene was approaching the bier. This I saw without realizing its import. Then I heard His voice bidding the young men who carried the bier to stand still. The people looked one at the other at this strange interruption, but the bearers obeyed the command. Then I raised my tearful eyes to the face of the Master, and my heart melted at the expression of compassionate love which rested upon His countenance as He turned to me, gently reaching out His hand and laying it upon my head, bidding me ‘Weep not.’ Then, while my heart stood still, I heard the strange words, — strange, but sweeter and richer than any music which ever fell upon the ear of mortal, — ‘Young man, I say unto thee, Arise!’
"The gaze of the multitude was at once fixed upon the silent form out-stretched upon the bier. Instantly, at the command of the Nazarene, a tremor shook the body, and in another moment, O Martha! my beloved son was in my arms.
"‘Where art thou, my mother? and where am I? and wherefore this multitude which is gathered together?’
"The people surrounded us with expressions of astonishment and awe, while I hurriedly explained to my Reuben the wonderful truth. ‘Where hath He gone — the Nazarene — that I may worship Him?’ my son exclaimed, as soon as he had re-leased himself from my clinging embrace. But when we sought Him, He had already departed with His disciples.
"By this time many people, among whom were a great number of women, having recovered somewhat from their bewilderment, were voicing their astonishment and happiness in loud shouts of praise to the Nazarene, declaring that in very deed the long promised Messiah had at last come to deliver Israel.
"Is it not strange, Cousin Martha, that after witnessing so surprising a miracle, there could have been found any so hard of heart among all the multitude, who would cast reproach upon Him, — the Desire of the nations? But even so it was. As I fixed my gaze in the direction of Endor, in which direction the Man and His disciples were journeying, I heard two voices engaged in excited conversation. Turning, I beheld the face of Annas, the aged high priest. It was furious with anger. The purple veins upon his massive forehead were swollen, and his ordinarily calm and dignified manner had become unseemly and hateful. In close converse with him was Shaphan, the rabbi of Nazareth.
"‘What sayest thou, Rabbi Shaphan?’ questioned the high priest excitedly, ‘that thou hast known this Man — this Wizard — whose enchantments are verily chaining the senses of our people Israel?’
"‘Of a truth, O Annas, I have known Him even from His childhood, as has also my son Tubal,’ replied the rabbi, flattered at the attention of the chief priest, and turning toward a young man, with deep set black eyes, the image of his father. ‘Verily,’ continued the rabbi, ‘He hath been a begetter of strife and sedition since the days of His youth; and His coming to Nain bodeth no good to those of us in authority,’ he continued pompously, distending his thin nostrils, and tapping the high priest upon the shoulder with an air of familiarity. ‘I have now no doubt that this Wizard hath arranged the apparent miracle, that He may mislead the common people, and draw them from their lawful instructors and leaders. For behold, who knoweth that this young man was of a truth dead?’
"By this time, my dear cousin, there was great excitement among the people, as their attention was called toward the aged high priest and the rabbi. ‘Behold!’ exclaimed Annas loudly, as if intent upon disabusing the minds of the multitude that a miracle had indeed been performed, ‘behold, I am the high priest, even Annas, and I am a Sadducee! How then shall I believe in a resurrection from the dead? for of a truth Moses in the law saith not that the dead shall live.’
"As thou mayest imagine, my cousin, I could hold my peace no longer. ‘Behold, O Annas,’ I exclaimed, ‘this young man is my son, — and verily he was dead, but now he liveth!’
"‘What sayest thou, young man?’ interrupted Rabbi Shaphan, sneeringly, ‘what dost thou remember? How camest thou here?’
"‘I remember naught, O rabbi, save that I was sick unto death. But behold this concourse of people and this bier, and yonder is the Son of Joseph, the carpenter of Nazareth, who hath given me life again. Is not this the Messiah?’"
"‘Thou knowest nothing at all!’ growled Annas and the rabbi in one breath, and Annas continued: ‘Thou hast been only sleeping. Even Moses himself gave not life again to dead men! and who is this Pretender, who teacheth blasphemy! for the dead rise not at all.’
"Then I perceived that there was a division among the people; the venerable Rabbi Ben-Israel, whom thou rememberest well, my cousin, leading the sect of the Pharisees, contending for the resurrection from the dead; and because Rabbi Shaphan and his son Tubal were Pharisees also, they knew not what to say, except that in their opinion my son had been in league with the Nazarene;while Annas, the high priest, declared that not only had the Man deceived the people, but that, without any doubt, the entire circumstance from the beginning to the ending had been prearranged and contrived by the Pretender and His friends, in order to make good His claim to the Messiahship.
"Thus, my dear Martha, are the most wonderful signs and miracles made of none effect before the people.
"At last I perceived on the outskirts of the crowd the physician who attended my son. In a moment he was by my side.
"‘Hold, O Annas! and thou, O Shaphan! and harken unto me, ye men of Israel! I attended this young man, who was sick of a fever, from which he died. And verily this morning, at the rising of the sun, there was no breath left in him.’"
"‘Ho! this fellow also is in league with the Nazarene!’ bellowed Annas, his face purple with rage.
"‘Behold, thou also art of Nazareth!’ retorted Gideon, the physician, turning to Rabbi Shaphan.
"‘Verily; and Tubal, my son, knoweth Him as well as I, and we testify unto you that He is regarded even in His own city Nazareth as a vain fellow and an impostor!’"
"‘A vain fellow and an impostor!’ echoed Tubal in a shrill voice.
"‘Nor is this all,’ continued Rabbi Shaphan, suddenly changing his expression to that of sanctimonious horror, while his voice sank to a deep whisper.
"‘What knowest thou further of this Nazarene, O rabbi?’ demanded Annas.
"Bending toward him till the long, white locks of the aged high priest touched his skinny cheek, Rabbi Shaphan hissed in his ear:
"‘The Impostor is born of fornication, and He shameth the house of Israel; for no man knoweth His father!’"
"My heart bled at these unrighteous words, my dear kinswoman; but seeing that we could do the cause of the Nazarene no good by remaining longer, and with our hearts filled with unspeakable emotions, we took our way homeward.
"I hope to visit Bethany in a few days; and if so, I shall see thee. But while I live, the praises of the Master shall be upon the lips of thy cousin, "ADAH."
(To be continued)