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s fraught with eternal results； that it is to be cherished as a treasure； and to be employed for holy purposes。 He passed by no human being as worthless； but sought to apply the saving remedy to every soul。 In whatever company He found Himself； He presented a lesson that was appropriate to the time and the circumstances。 He sought to inspire with hope the most rough and unpromising； setting before them the assurance that they might become blameless and harmless； attaining such a character as would make them manifest as the children of God。 Often He met those who had drifted under Satan's control； and who had no power to break from his snare。 To such a one； discouraged； sick； tempted； and fallen； Jesus would speak words of tenderest pity； words that were needed and could be understood。 Others
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He met who were fighting a hand…to…hand battle with the adversary of souls。 These He encouraged to persevere； assuring them that they would win； for angels of God were on their side； and would give them the victory。 Those whom He thus helped were convinced that here was One in whom they could trust with perfect confidence。 He would not betray the secrets they poured into His sympathizing ear。
Jesus was the healer of the body as well as of the soul。 He was interested in every phase of suffering that came under His notice； and to every sufferer He brought relief； His kind words having a soothing balm。 None could say that He had worked a miracle； but virtuethe healing power of lovewent out from Him to the sick and distressed。 Thus in an unobtrusive way He worked for the people from His very childhood。 And this was why； after His public ministry began； so many heard Him gladly。
Yet through childhood； youth； and manhood； Jesus walked alone。 In His purity and His faithfulness； He trod the wine press alone； and of the people there was none with Him。 He carried the awful weight of responsibility for the salvation of men。 He knew that unless there was a decided change in the principles and purposes of the human race； all would be lost。 This was the burden of His soul； and none could appreciate the weight that rested upon Him。 Filled with intense purpose； He carried out the design of His life that He Himself should be the light of men。
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Chapter 10
The Voice in the Wilderness
From among the faithful in Israel； who had long waited for the coming of the Messiah； the forerunner of Christ arose。 The aged priest Zacharias and his wife Elisabeth were 〃both righteous before God；〃 and in their quiet and holy lives the light of faith shone out like a star amid the darkness of those evil days。 To this godly pair was given the promise of a son； who should 〃go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways。〃
Zacharias dwelt in 〃the hill country of Judea；〃 but he had gone up to Jerusalem to minister for one week in the temple； a service required twice a year from the priests of each course。 〃And it came to pass； that while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his course； according to the custom of the priest's office； his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord。〃
He was standing before the golden altar in the holy place of the sanctuary。 The cloud of incense with the prayers of Israel was ascending before God。 Suddenly he became conscious of a divine presence。 An angel of the Lord was 〃standing on the right side of the altar。〃 The position of the angel was an indication of favor； but Zacharias took no
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note of this。 For many years he had prayed for the coming of the Redeemer； now heaven had sent its messenger to announce that these prayers were about to be answered； but the mercy of God seemed too great for him to credit。 He was filled with fear and self…condemnation。
But he was greeted with the joyful assurance： 〃Fear not； Zacharias： for thy prayer is heard； and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son； and thou shalt call his name John。 And thou shalt have joy and gladness； and many shall rejoice at his birth。 For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord； and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink； and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost。 。 。 。 And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God。 And he shall go before Him in the spirit and power of Elias； to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children； and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just； to make ready a people prepared for the Lord。 And Zacharias said unto the angel； Whereby shall I know this？ for I am an old man； and my wife well stricken in years。〃
Zacharias well knew how to Abraham in his old age a child was given because he believed Him faithful who had promised。 But for a moment the aged priest turns his thought to the weakness of humanity。 He forgets that what God has promised； He is able to perform。 What a contrast between this unbelief and the sweet； childlike faith of Mary； the maiden of Nazareth； whose answer to the angel's wonderful announcement was； 〃Behold the handmaid of the Lord； be it unto me according to thy word〃！ Luke 1：38。
The birth of a son to Zacharias； like the birth of the child of Abraham； and that of Mary； was to teach a great spiritual truth； a truth that we are slow to learn and ready to forget。 In ourselves we are incapable of doing any good thing； but that which we cannot do will be wrought by the power of God in every submissive and believing soul。 It was through faith that the child of promise was given。 It is through faith that spiritual life is begotten； and we are enabled to do the works of righteousness。
To the question of Zacharias； the angel said； 〃I am Gabriel； that stand in the presence of God； and am sent to speak unto thee； and to show thee these glad tidings。〃 Five hundred years before； Gabriel had made known to Daniel the prophetic period which was to extend to the coming of Christ。 The knowledge that the end of this period was near had moved Zacharias to pray for the Messiah's advent。 Now the very messenger through whom the prophecy was given had come to announce its fulfillment。
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The words of the angel； 〃I am Gabriel； that stand in the presence of God；〃 show that he holds a position of high honor in the heavenly courts。 When he came with a message to Daniel； he said； 〃There is none that holdeth with me in these things； but Michael ＇Christ＇ your Prince。〃 Dan。 10：21。 Of Gabriel the Saviour speaks in the Revelation； saying that 〃He sent and signified it by His angel unto His servant John。〃 Rev。 1：1。 And to John the angel declared； 〃I am a fellow servant with thee and with thy brethren the prophets。〃 Rev。 22：9； R。 V。 Wonderful thoughtthat the angel who stands next in honor to the Son of God is the one chosen to open the purposes of God to sinful men。
Zacharias had expressed doubt of the angel's words。 He was not to speak again until they were fulfilled。 〃Behold；〃 said the angel； 〃thou shalt be dumb； 。 。 。 until the day that these things shall be performed； because thou believest not my words； which shall be fulfilled in their season。〃 It was the duty of the priest in this service to pray for the pardon of public and national sins； and for the coming of the Messiah； but when Zacharias attempted to do this； he could not utter a word。
Coming forth to bless the people； 〃he beckoned unto them； and remained speechless。〃 They had waited long； and had begun to fear； lest he had been cut down by the judgment of God。 But as he came forth from the holy place； his face was shining with the glory of God； 〃and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple。〃 Zacharias communicated to them what he had seen and heard； and 〃as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished； he departed to his own house。〃
Soon after the birth of the promised child； the father's tongue was loosed； 〃and he spake； and praised God。 And fear came on all that dwelt round about them： and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judea。 And all they that heard them laid them up
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in their hearts； saying； What manner of child shall this be！〃 All this tended to call attention to the Messiah's coming； for which John was to prepare the way。
The Holy Spirit rested upon Zacharias； and in these beautiful words he prophesied of the mission of his son：
〃Thou； child； shalt be called the prophet of the Highest； For thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways； To give knowledge of salvation unto His people By the remission of their sins； Through the tender mercy of our God； Whereby the Dayspring from on high hath visited us； To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death； To guide our feet into the way of peace。〃
〃And the child grew； and waxed strong in spirit； and was in the deserts till the day of his showing unto Israel。〃 Before the birth of John； the angel had said； 〃He shall be great in the sight of the Lord； and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink； and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost。〃 God had call