_THE SHADOW OF THE CROSS._
MATT. xi., xii.
I.--DISCOURAGEMENTS (xi).
Hitherto almost everything has been hopeful and encouraging in our
Evangelist's record of the Saviour's ministry. It began like daybreak
on the shores of the sea of Galilee. Great multitudes followed Him
wherever He went; and those whom He called to be with Him cheerfully
responded to the summons. When He preached the Gospel of the kingdom,
the people were astonished at His doctrine, and recognised that He
"taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes." His
works of healing were warmly welcomed, and to a large extent
appreciated by the people generally, though already it was apparent
that those whose selfish interests were touched by the progress of the
truth were ready to cavil and complain. Notwithstanding this, the work
has grown upon Him so, that He has found it necessary to arm His
twelve disciples with powers like His own, and send them forth as
heralds of His kingdom through the land.
But the path of the King is not to be a triumphal progress. It is to
be a _via dolorosa_, leading to a cross and a grave. Many prophecies
had been already fulfilled, as our Evangelist has shown again and
again; but there are others of a different sort which can as little
fail of their fulfilment,--like that which speaks of the Messiah as
"despised and rejected of men, a man of sorrows, and acquainted with
grief." It is not at all to be wondered at, then, that the Evangelist
should now give his readers some idea of the discouragements which met
the King in the setting up of His kingdom on the earth. The first of
these which he mentions comes from a quarter from which least of all
it might have been expected.