p. 12 | Shiloh: the Man of Sorrows

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Jun 21, 1910

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 37, No. 24.

Shiloh: the Man of Sorrows

By Mrs. L. D. Avery-Stuttl

Chapter XVI.—The Bold Preacher of the Wilderness

ALL night long, at the home of Machbor the ruler, the thoughts of Magdalene, the sister of Lazarus and Martha, were concerning the marvelous story to which she had listened the evening before from the lips of their host and hostess.

The Messiah of Israel! the long-promised Deliverer! Was it possible that this strange Being of whom they had heard, was He,—the Shiloh of Jacob? If so, might not her eyes also behold Him? Her heart throbbed eagerly and joyfully at the thought of the possibility. She wondered at the calmness of Martha,—the easily excited, the quickly disturbed, the careful and troubled about the little things! for Magdalene remembered that her sister had slept soundly through the entire night.

But this—this was to Mary Magdalene the greatest, grandest joy that had ever entered into her life. Might He not visit the Jordan again that very day? If so, she might see Him.

But the days wore on apace, and still many succeeding days; yet tho the little company from Bethany tarried at Bethabara more than a full month at the home of the widow Adah and her son Reuben, the cousins of Lazarus and his sisters, they saw Him not. The vast and lonely wilderness of Judea whither He had departed, with its gruesome shades, its desert wastes, its ferocious beasts of prey, and its inaccessible fastnesses, had swallowed Him up.

Bitter as was the disappointment, especially to Magdalene, still had they not had the opportunity of listening to the wonderful prophet? Day after day, and even far into the night, had this strange preacher of righteousness held the multitudes under the spell of his eloquence. Resistless, rapid, remorseless as a rushing torrent which swept all before it, thundered the message of the mighty mouthpiece of the Holy Ghost.

Let us visit the home of Adah and her son Reuben, of Bethabara. It was at the close of a short winter's day; but we must remember that the winters of Palestine are not severe. The day had set in chilly and rainy, but at set of sun the sky was clear and the air mild. Hindered by the storm of the morning, the two sisters had not ventured to the camp of the Baptist, whose voice neither the storms of winter nor the opposition of priest or prince could silence.

The sun was just sinking behind the mountains of Gilgal, and in the quiet home of Adah, the widow, supper was already spread.

"See, my cousin!" exclaimed Magdalene from her seat near the latticed window where she had stationed herself that she might watch for their coming. "Here are Lazarus and Simon. Now shall we hear news from the camp of the Baptist. Ho, Lazarus," she continued, hurrying to meet her brother and Simon in the outer court, "Ho, tell me, have ye yet seen Him for whom we tarry—even Shiloh, whose coming John preacheth?"

"Nay, my sister; He cometh not yet again from the wilderness of Judea whither He departed on the day of His baptism."

"What!" exclaimed Simon in a low voice, as he laid his hand familiarly upon Magdalene's shoulder, "What! woman, hast thou no word for me? I have seen thee not for many days, for I have tarried at Jericho; and now verily, thou askest of another,—but what word hast thou for me?"

"For thee? thou knowest my heart, Simon," answered the woman modestly; "but of a truth my soul longeth to behold the Deliverer of Israel."

"Yes, truly," declared Martha, as they seated themselves at supper, "we do all long to behold Him of whom the prophets have written," and she glanced uneasily at Lazarus, while the old troubled expression flitted across her face. "But surely on the morrow we must return to Bethany. What thinkest thou?"

"But, Martha," exclaimed Adah, the hostess, "fearest thou not the rain and the inclemency of the weather?" And at once the young man Reuben added with true Eastern hospitality, "Verily, Cousin Martha, thou art careful about the things in thy home at Bethany, but of a truth thou shalt not depart until thou hast seen the Shiloh."

"But list to me," interrupted Lazarus, "I have somewhat to say concerning the great preacher; for I have this day listened to the words of his mouth, which verily are wonderful. He declareth to the multitudes, even from the rolls of the prophets, that the time appointed for the Messiah to appear is fulfilled. And many people were also this day baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins. But when the aged high priest, Annas, and his son-in-law, Caiaphas, heard these things—for they were in the multitude—they said one to the other, 'Verily, if this humble Man of Galilee be the Messiah, the priests of the temple shall have small influence over these people. What shall we do, then?' and they agreed together—"

Banks of the Jordan Where John Is Supposed to Have Baptized Jesus

"Yes," interrupted Adah, "it hath been told me that the high priest Annas saw the baptism and the light, and that he heard also the voice, being much affected thereby."

"Verily," replied Lazarus, "but he hath hardened his heart."

All this time the young man Reuben sat quietly regarding his mother. "My mother," he demanded earnestly, "have I not heard thee and my father tell, even before his death, and while we yet dwelt in Beersheba, how many years ago two strangers, a man and a woman, bearing a beautiful Babe with them, came from the city of Heliopolis in Egypt, and sought lodging with thee while on their way to Bethlehem or Jerusalem? I can scarce tell thee why, O my mother, but in some way, this Man, whom the Baptist declareth to be the Messiah, and who is now in the wilderness of Judea,—this Man to whom came the mysterious voice from heaven, and upon whom rested the dovelike form,—this Man seemeth to me to be in some manner connected with the Babe thou hast so often told me about. Indeed my mother, might not He be the same? Nay, do not ridicule me," Reuben continued, as he saw an expression of incredulity upon the face of Simon of Bethany,—"do not ridicule me; it can not be a passing fancy; the impression is very strong;" and the young man glanced appealingly at his mother.

"Indeed, my son, I remember well the coming of the strangers from the land of Egypt; in truth, I can never forget the beautiful face of the young mother, or her sweet Babe. Many times have thy dead father and I repeated the story to thee while thou wast yet a little child; but," turning again to Lazarus, "we would not interrupt thee, for we are indeed glad to listen to the words of the prophet from thy mouth."

"Then will I speak of the meeting between Herod Antipas and the Baptizer."

"Herod the tetrarch!" exclaimed Martha in astonishment; "sayest thou that the tetrarch hath journeyed to Bethabara to see the prophet?"

"From his royal palace—yes, even from Tiberias. And it hath been told me that he hath made the journey once or twice before. He seemeth to be drawn by an irresistible impulse which is almost unaccountable; for we know that the tetrarch is a haughty man bent on pleasure. The prophet was about finishing his discourse this morning, when, despite the inclemency of the sky, I was surprised to see the gorgeous retinue of Herod Antipas approaching from the Jericho highway. He alighted from his chariot, and with his attendants made his way toward a large tent which I was told had been pitched for his accommodation. After the discourse was finished, in which the preacher failed not to mention the mysterious voice which had been heard from heaven, the tetrarch made his way to the side of the prophet, who was about preparing to baptize the people. The Baptizer saw the king approaching, but was not in the least affected thereby, nor did he cease conversing with those who came to him."

"Finally I heard the king address the prophet, for I was near at hand: 'Servant of the God of Israel,' he said, 'I would speak with thee; for—it may be—' he stammered, 'it may be that I am minded to be baptized of thee.'"

"At once the eagle eye of the prophet rested upon the tetrarch. For some moments he silently regarded him thus. It seemed that he was reading the hidden secrets of his life. I saw the bold, dark eye of Herod lower before the searching glance of the Baptizer, and seek the ground."

"Then the prophet spoke. His voice was earnest and low and very sad: 'Said I not unto thee, O king, Go, restore the woman Herodias to her lawful spouse, even to Philip thy brother? Verily thou hast not done this. Where is the daughter of Aretas the Arabian? Of a truth she hath left thine house—thine own wife—and thou, O Antipas! thou dost embrace the bosom of a stranger.'"

"For a moment," continued Lazarus, "it seemed that the tetrarch was so filled with rage that he could not reply. But while we waited, he bowed haughtily, gathered up his rich robes, and half turning his face, dark with pent-up wrath, toward the prophet, he made answer:"

"Who art thou that thou shouldst brave the anger of Herod Antipas? Behold, I had thought to become thy disciple,—but now—look well to thyself, thou son of Zacharias!"

(To be continued)