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Shiloh: the Man of Sorrows

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Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Aug 9, 1910

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 37, No. 31.

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Shiloh: the Man of Sorrows

By Mrs. L. D. Avery-Stuttle

Chapter XXIII.—Mary Magdalene

EVER in Bethany, at the home of Lazarus and his sisters, there was great rejoicing. Already they had formed not only the acquaintance, but the deep friendship, of the Man of Nazareth.
Altho Bethany was a small hamlet, still it was so near Jerusalem as to be almost a suburb. And perhaps it was this fact, the happy family modestly declared to one another, no less than on account of the sincere friendship which had been formed between them, that had induced the Master to make Bethany, and particularly their humble but hospitable home, His frequent resting-place when in that vicinity.
This blessed intimacy had already continued for some time; and the only drop of grief which their cup contained since the peaceful death of their honored parents, had been the malignant and terrible insanity of their beautiful and dearly loved sister.
Since the morning when she had been carried by Simon, her betrothed, and the soldier Emil, and laid at the door of their cousin Adah, of Bethabara, her malady had continually intensified.
But now she has been made whole by the great Physician, and has returned to her home, a new light in her beautiful eyes, and an inexpressible gratitude and happiness in her heart, while Martha, unable to express the joy of her soul in spoken words, seizes her pen, and writes a letter to her cousin Adah, who has but lately removed from Bethabara to the city of Nain, and despatched it by our old friend Matthias.
This young man, Matthias, whom we last knew as one of the servants of Machbor of Jericho, had already left the employ of his master, that he might be free to follow the Nazarene,—since the imprisonment of the Baptist,—and minister to His needs. His was the unselfish love of a faithful friend, and his devotion that of a sincere and loyal heart. Others, even of those disciples more closely associated with the Master, might talk, as already they often did, of the glory of their Master's kingdom, which they supposed was soon to be set up at Jerusalem, and of the positions of honor which each would occupy. It was enough for Matthias to be near Him, to behold His face, to listen to His words, and to realize that the Messiah of Jacob had at last come to redeem Israel.
Just how this would be accomplished, he knew not, nor desired to know. His was the unquestioning faith of his grandfather Eliah, who perished at the hand of the soldiers of Herod. He only knew that the words of the prophets had their complete fulfilment in Jesus of Nazareth, and that the days were accomplished. It was the one wish of Matthias that his life, which had been so miraculously spared in infancy, might be devoted to Him in whom he believed.
The hand of Martha trembled with eagerness and joy as she penned the words which follow:
“Bethany, A.U.C. 781. “To Adah, of Nain, “Late of Bethabara: “My Dear Cousin, Greeting. “I write to inform my beloved relatives, Adah and Reuben, of the deep joy which has come into our lives, since that terrible morning when last we saw you,—the morning when our loved Magdalene was stricken,—a day which I must forever remember, tho I lived a thousand centuries. Of course, Adah, thou dost already guess my secret—that she is again well; yes, my cousin, she has been healed by the mighty Nazarene. Canst thou patiently follow me, while I make known the truth unto thee? “First, let me relate a few of the more prominent events which have occurred since we saw thee, and of which it is quite likely thou mayest not be cognizant.
“Our brother Lazarus, of course, attended the late Passover at Jerusalem, and as he did not meet thy son, Cousin Reuben, we fear he may be in ill health. But, O my cousin, verily, all Judea and the regions beyond must very soon acknowledge that the Messiah has at last come. I suppose thou hast heard of the miracle at the wedding of Chuza, he who hath been appointed steward of Herod,—because Cana is not far from Nain.
“But truly I am of the opinion that the Master intendeth soon to set up His kingdom at Jerusalem; for at the Passover, He fearlessly entered the temple, and drove thence the greedy money-changers, and those that sold sheep, oxen, and doves; and Lazarus tells us that among those who fled from the temple, was Jazer the scribe, whom perhaps thou mayest remember. Then after the holy house was purified and purged of this bartering multitude, the Master healed very many sick people who had come to Him or had been brought thither by their friends—those who heard of the power and the wondrous pity of the great Healer.
“But I know that thou already weariest of my words,—only thou lovest to hear of the works of the divine Master. But now will I speak of that which thou dost desire to learn.
“Magdalene is at this moment seated with her beloved harp, a gift from our brother. It has always been her favorite pastime to play this instrument, and she is now singing one of the psalms of David. Verily my sister had always a sweet voice, but since her miraculous restoration, it seemeth sweeter than before.
“Thou dost remember in what deplorable condition she was on the morning when we left thy quiet and hospitable home at Bethabara. But immediately upon our arrival home, she became worse, until, of a truth, it seemed necessary for Lazarus to bind her. This was a source of deep grief unto me. At length we decided to take her to Jerusalem, and leave her in the care of Jocabel, the famous physician, whose dwelling is near the temple. This man declared her to be possessed of seven devils. O my Adah! It paineth me even now as I reflect upon the condition in which my beloved sister so long remained. Thus the weeks passed away, one by one; and surely thou knowest that each seemed like an eternity to my poor brother and me.
“Meanwhile, Lazarus had made the acquaintance of Him whom we so much desired to see, while we were yet at your old home in Bethabara. Now we do know and love Him, and call Him Master. We are glad to invite Him often to our home, and He seemeth pleased to accept our loving hospitality; and O what lessons of truth and wondrous beauty fall from His lips. Tho sometimes I can not find time to sit at His feet,—for indeed I am careful and troubled, as thou knowest, Adah, about the things of this life.
“But of a truth I wonder most of all that we were so hard of heart that we did not bring our afflicted one at once to His blessed feet. Had it not been for our strange blindness of heart, how much sooner our beloved invalid might have been among us.
“As I have told you, she was, until yesterday, in the care of the physician Jocabel; but early yesterday morning, even before the rising sun had appeared above the mountains, in some unaccountable manner Magdalene had escaped his watchful care, and the physician knew not whither she had fled. At once a messenger was sent in great haste from Jerusalem to make this known unto us, and to ask our brother Lazarus to join in the search for her; for we feared she might take her own life, for her paroxysms had become frightful.
“At last Lazarus found her, wallowing on the ground, just outside the walls of Jerusalem. At his approach she began foaming and screaming. He has since told me that it stabbed his heart like a knife to assist the men in binding her. The strong cords cut into her tender flesh until her arms were purple and bleeding. But so they bore her along by a back street, hoping to be able to enter the lodgings of the physician without being observed by many. But almost as soon as they had entered the gate of the city, they met a great concourse of people who were already following the Nazarene, and thronging His steps to be healed of their diseases.
“At once my brother and the men who were with him, passed before the Master, while our poor sister, as Lazarus tells me, fell again upon the ground, foaming and tearing madly at her bonds. Finally, as if the springs of life were quite spent, she fell at the very feet of the Master, who gazed upon her distorted face with sympathy and love. Her beautiful black hair hung in unkempt masses about her swollen and disfigured countenance, and she lay as one in a trance, insomuch that my brother supposed her dead.
“Then the Nazarene stooped and took one of the poor torn hands in His own, as He said: ‘O ye unclean spirits, I command you, depart out of her, and enter no more into her!’
“This He said in a voice of authority. Then in a tone of exceeding gentleness and love, He called her by her name: ‘Mary, Mary Magdalene!’
“Instantly there came over her a wonderful change. It was even as if she had awakened out of a deep sleep; and O my cousin, once again there came into the dark eyes a look of peace and happiness as in other days.
“‘Loose her, and let her go!’ commanded the Master. As soon as this was done, a cry of joy broke from her lips, as she sprang to embrace the feet of the Nazarene.
“Then, amid the silent awe of the multitude, there sounded a harsh voice: ‘He casteth out devils through Beelzebub, the prince of devils!’
“Lazarus turned to see whence came the voice; and behold, it was Jonathan, son of Annas, the high priest, as he spake unto Jazer, the scribe of the temple, who bowed his haughty head, and together they passed down the street of the city.
“This letter is long, my cousin; but verily thou wilt rejoice, even as do we also, that the mighty power of Shiloh is being made manifest.
“I must mention, before I close, that the haughty Simon, the former betrothed of my sister, has taken to wife Prisca, the daughter of Elkanah, a nobleman of Jerusalem. They abide in Bethany. This day, tho I almost feared to do so, I told my sister. But she only replied, smiling brightly:
“‘I am so content, my Martha, that verily I have no word of condemnation for Simon,—tho of a truth he hath done me a grievous wrong. But I,—behold, I have found Him whom my soul loveth,—even Him who shall redeem Israel; and my soul doth magnify the Lord.’
“So said my sister; and I also rejoice and am glad of this, because, as thou well knowest, neither Lazarus nor I have favored the man Simon, fearing that he was too hard of heart for our gentle and loving sister. Dost thou remember, Adah, his harsh words and his haughty manner when he looked upon her so coldly on that awful morning, as he said unto me, ‘Thy sister seemeth to be possessed with Beelzebub!’ I remarked, even then, that the young man Emil, the Roman soldier, regarded my poor sister with a look of greater compassion than did Simon, her betrothed.
“Matthias awaits this letter, that he may bear it unto you. “Your happy and grateful cousin “MARTHA.”
(To be continued)