Your ShelfYour Projects

Shiloh: the Man of Sorrows

3%

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Dec 13, 1910

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 37, No. 49.

Read the full edition

Shiloh: the Man of Sorrows

By Mrs. L. D. Avery-Stuttle

Chapter XLIII.—Sold into Sin

WHEN Jazer, the scribe of the temple, entered the chamber of Annas the high priest that day, it was with a wonderful message, which he delivered with the earnestness born of deep contrition and conviction: "Jesus of Nazareth is the Christ of God."
When he left the palace, it was not as a bearer of this message,—this message which even the angels of glory have felt it an honor to proclaim. He left the mansion of the high priest that day as the hired emissary of Annas and Caiaphas.
As he passed the outer court, and entered the streets of Jerusalem, he met a number of persons each hurrying to reach the palace of the high priest, with the astonishing news of the resurrection of the dead man of Bethany,—some to acknowledge their faith in the mighty Miracle-Worker, and to bear brave testimony to the truth; others to bring the report of spies, and to aid in forming plots for the overthrow of the Man.
Conspicuous among the latter were Jonathan, son of Annas, and Demas, his servant, a conscienceless hireling in whose heart the love of worldly good was ever dominant. To him the shining gold and silver eclipsed every other consideration. This man Demas, with many another who that day witnessed the mighty miracle at Bethany, had sold himself to do the hellish bidding of the high priests.
But among the former we are glad to recognize Issachar the priest, who was among the guests of Martha and Mary; and, beside him, walking not with the uncertain steps of the blind, but with firm tread and exultant face, is Abner, the lawyer. But the bandage is gone from his face now, which is radiant with new-born happiness, while his loud shouts of praise attract the attention of the passers-by.
Standing directly in the pathway of Jazer as he steps into the street of Jerusalem from the palace of the high priest, were these two men, Issachar the priest of Israel, and Abner the lawyer.
"Whither art thou bound, Issachar? and thou, Abner?" The speaker would fain have passed the two men without recognition; for his heart was in painful tumult. He had but just put a price upon his own soul, in the palace of Annas,—the price of a seat in the Sanhedrin. After having confessed his faith in the hated Nazarene, he had but just bound himself under a solemn oath to repudiate Him, and to do all in his power to secure His arrest and conviction. Jazer the scribe, he of the cool head and the steady nerve, was distracted and unstrung. At any other time, the prospect of a seat in the Sanhedrin would have elevated the scribe to the very pinnacle of self-complacency and delight. But the miracle which his own eyes beheld but a few hours before, the witnessing of which forced from his lips the tardy confession that Jesus of Nazareth was the Christ of God, still repeated itself before his startled eyes, and robbed his perjured soul of peace.
This feeling, common to any soul striving to free itself from the pursuing conviction of the Spirit of the Almighty, was but intensified by hearing the shouts of praise and thanksgiving from the lips of still another witness of the power of the Nazarene.
"Whither art thou bound, Abner?" again questioned the unhappy scribe, hoping at least to interrupt the song of praise.
"I am hastening to the palace of Annas, with Issachar the priest, that I may make known what hath been wrought in mine own body by this Miracle-Worker. Is not this the Christ?"
"And behold, He hath also given life to Lazarus of Bethany," interrupted Issachar.
"Verily, I also have seen the miracle at Bethany—if miracle thou callest it," replied Jazer, blusteringly, intent upon fulfilling his oath to Annas.
"But," he continued, his dark face paling as he spoke the words, "but of a truth this Fellow is in league with Beelzebub, and doeth miracles in his name."
"Hold, Jazer! Is not the time fulfilled for the coming of the Messiah? And if the time be ripe, surely this is He; for no man doeth the miracles that this Man doeth."
"The Man is a sorcerer, as were Jannes and Jambres," retorted Jazer, attempting to pass on his way. But Abner detained him.
"Behold, thou knowest me, O Jazer, how that both mine eyes have been blinded by Varro, the madman, as I was passing by the place of the tombs where he dwelt; and Matthias the son of Sylvanus hath told me to-day, that even this man hath been healed by this Jesus of Nazareth. Behold, I myself was unbelieving as thou art until to-day; but He hath touched mine eyes, and lo, I see."
"Thou also art bewitched with the sorceries of this Pretender!" exclaimed the scribe boldly, as he passed on his way.
Ah, Jazer! thou hast drunk deeply of the paralyzing and insidious draft of sin, and it hath benumbed thee!
Already the awakening conscience had been lulled to sleep, and the scribe was more hard of heart than ever before, and even wondered at the misgivings which he felt but an hour before. "Surely, O Jazer," he muttered to himself, "thou shalt sit in the chambers of the Sanhedrin, in the hall of Gazith, with the chosen men of Israel; of a truth this honor hath been cheaply bought."
Thinking thoughts like these, the scribe entered the court of his own home. Scarcely had his feet touched the pavement of the court, when a beautiful woman, perhaps half a score of years younger than he, rushed to meet him. Her cheek was rosy with the unmistakable bloom of health, and her step was buoyant and graceful as that of a child.
It was Huldah, the invalid sister of Jazer the scribe. The reader will remember her. The broad, intellectual brow, and sweet, spiritual face, were much the same as when we first met her,—a guest at the wedding of Chuza in Cana of Galilee; the same, save that the telltale lines of weakness and pain were gone. We could scarcely believe, in spite of the resemblance, that this radiant creature had been a wretched sufferer for twelve long years. If the heart of Jazer ever knew love, it was for this beautiful woman—his younger sister.
"Who art thou, woman?" exclaimed the scribe in astonishment; "surely thou art not mine own sister Huldah!"
"Thine own sister, my brother, and I have but this hour come from my home in Capernaum,—and when I saw thee, behold, I ran to meet thee!"
"The God of Israel hath visited thee, of a truth, my beautiful one!" exclaimed the scribe, completely off his guard, and gazing at his sister in unfeigned admiration. "Surely the physicians of Capernaum have greater skill than have those of Jerusalem,—or peradventure thou hast been healed by the famous baths of Callirrhoe."
"Not so, my brother, not so; for behold, I had no more gold nor silver, with which to make the journey; for I have spent all the living that I had, on the physicians of Capernaum and Tiberias, and was nothing better, but rather the worse. But, verily, Jesus of Nazareth hath made me whole!"
For a moment the scribe did not reply. But in that moment his decision was made. A great miracle has been wrought upon the frail and suffering body of the sister whom he loves, and that by the hated Nazarene. But he must remember his oath,—he must not forget that a seat in the Sanhedrin awaits him. After all, are not his own interests of paramount importance? What matters it anyhow? Suddenly he remembered that he had always hated this strange Man,—that he had hated Him from very childhood. From the first the Man had seemed a supplanter, antagonistic to the best interests of both scribes and priests. In that brief moment, in imagination Jazer sees himself looked up to and honored as a member of the Sanhedrin, and praised in the streets of Jerusalem for his great wisdom and superior judgment.
Ah, yes; his oath to the high priest must be kept.
"Jesus of Nazareth hath made me whole!" repeated the woman.
"What sayest thou, my Huldah? Say not so!" The face of the scribe was transfigured with sudden anger, as he pushed the woman from him almost rudely. "Say not so! let us give praise to Jehovah; as for this Fellow, we know that He is a sorcerer."
"Surely, my brother, thou art not angry! I shall tell thee, that thou mayest know how the Nazarene hath healed me,—for indeed I did but touch the hem of His garment. One day as I walked feebly by the shores of Galilee, behold, Jesus of Nazareth passed that way going up to Capernaum. Ah, Jazer, my brother! thou knowest not the emotions which filled my heart when I at last saw the Man; for I had heard of His fame, and even since the wedding of our friends at Cana of Galilee, when first I heard that some thought the Man to be the Messiah, I have longed to cast myself at His feet, for I believed that He would heal me. Often had I thought to speak with Him as He passed through the streets of Capernaum, but mine infirmity prevented me; and even the same day of my healing, I could scarcely raise my feeble body; and as I crept toward the throng which surrounded Him, my heart indeed almost failed me, for I had not strength to make my way through the dense crowd.
"Finally, by bowing myself, I found that I could but just reach His garment. Then I said in my heart, 'If I but touch the hem of His garment, it shall avail.' I reached mine hand and touched the border of His abba.
"O my brother! the touch thrilled my very being, and I felt that I was whole of my plague. Verily then, I thought to return at once to my home; for why should the people scorn me for my boldness? But the Man called me, and said unto me, 'Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.' The majesty of the Man overpowered me; and the light in His eyes told of a love infinite, measureless.
"O my brother!" and the woman threw a caressing arm about the scribe, "O my brother! is not this the Shiloh of Israel — the Desire of the nations!"
"Let me go, Huldah!" shouted Jazer fiercely, rising and shaking himself free from the detaining arms, as he again passed the outer gateway into the streets of the city; "let me go, woman; why should I smite thee! for behold, this Fellow is in league with Beelzebub!"
The woman felt the sting of sudden tears, as she watched the scribe pass hurriedly down the streets of Jerusalem.
(To be continued)