My Dear Father:
"After the prophet had ended his second discourse, and baptized full
two hundred more in the sparkling waters of Jordan," resumed the
eloquent cousin of Mary, "he sent them away to the city to lodge
and buy meat; for few, in their eagerness to hear him, had brought
provisions with them. Many, before leaving him, drew near to receive
his blessing of love, and it was touching to see venerable men, with
locks shining like silver, and leaning upon the staff, bend their aged
heads before the youthful Elias, as if in acknowledgment of his divine
commission. Mothers also brought their infants, that he might bless
them; and youths and maidens knelt reverently at his feet in tears of
love and penitence. Calmly he stood upon the green shores, like an
angel alighted upon earth, and blessed them in words all new to our
ears, but which thrilled to our hearts with some secret power that
agitated us with trembling joy.
"'In the name of the Lamb of God I bless thee!'
"'What can be the meaning of these words?' asked Mary, with her gentle
earnestness. Her betrothed could only reply that he knew not.
"At length, one after another, the multitude departed, save a few who
encamped beneath trees on the banks of the river. Joseph of Arimathea
and I were left almost alone standing near the prophet, and regarding
him with reverential curiosity. The sun was just disappearing over the
distant towers of Jericho, and painting with the richest purple the
hills between the river and Jerusalem. Jordan, catching its reddening
radiance, rolled past like a river of liquid gold embanked in emerald.
The brow of the prophet, lighted up by a sun-ray that shone between
the branches of a pomegranate tree, seemed like the face of Moses
when he came down from Sinai, a glory of light. He appeared rapt in
heavenly meditation, and we stood silent and gazed upon him, not daring
to speak. At length he turned towards us, smiled, and, saluting us,
grasped the crook or staff on which he had been leaning--for he was
weary and pale with his labors of the day--and slowly walked down the
shore in the direction of the wilderness. He had not advanced many
steps when I felt an irresistible impulse to follow him. I therefore
said to my companion:
"'Let us follow him, and learn more of these great things which we have
this day heard.'
"We proceeded slowly after him, as he moved in a contemplative mood
along the desert path. The sun had already gone down, and the full moon
rose on the opposite shore, and the prophet stopped as if to gaze upon
its autumnal beauty. We drew near to him. He beheld us, but did not
avoid us; seeing which, I advanced with timid confidence, and said:
"'Holy prophet of the Most High God, wilt thou permit two young men of
Israel to speak to thee? for our hearts yearn towards thee with love.
And chiefly would we inquire of thee touching the advent of the mighty
Personage whose near coming thou dost foretell?'
"'Friends,' said the prophet, in a calm and serene manner, 'I am a
dweller in the desert, and alone, from choice. I approach men only to
proclaim my message. The delights of earth are not for me. My mission
is one. Its duration is short. Its aim worthy the greatest prophet of
God, yet am I, the least of them, not worthy to be called a prophet;
and before the splendor of him whom I announce to the world, I am the
dust of the balance. If thou hast sought me to search after knowledge,
come and sit down with me upon this rock, and let me hear what thou
hast to ask of me, that I may answer thee and go my way.'
"This was said softly, gently, almost sadly, and in a tone that made
me love him more and more. I could have cast myself upon his bosom and
wept there. We seated ourselves, one on either side of him. The scene
and the hour were well fitted for such a converse as we were about
to hold. The broad disc of the moon poured a flood of orange-tinted
radiance full upon us, and lent a hallowed softness to the divine
countenance of the youthful prophet. The Jordan, dark as India's dye,
darted swiftly past at our feet, between its deeply-shaded banks,
sending up to our ears the faintest murmur of its pebbly passage. Above
our heads swelled the vaulted arch of the Temple of Jehovah, with its
myriad of altar fires. Behind us stretched the desert waste, cheerless
and yet grand in its desolate distances.
"Afar off rose upon the air, and was borne to us at intervals, the
voice of a singer in one of the camps; and near us, upon an acacia
tree, sat a solitary bulbul, which ceaselessly sang its sweet and
varied hymn to the listening moon.
"'All things praise God; shall we be silent?' said the prophet. 'Let
us sing the evening hymn of the Temple.' He then commenced, in a rich,
melodious chant, such as I have never heard from the priests, our
sacred psalm to the whole creation of God. We joined our voices with
his, and the tide of praise floated over the waters, and echoed and
re-echoed from the opposing shores, as if the banks and stream, trees,
hills and sky had found voice as well as we:
"'Praise! praise! praise ye the Lord!
Praise him in the heights! Praise him in the seas!
Praise him, men of Israel! Praise ye the Lord!
For he exalteth high his people,
And reigneth evermore!
"'Praise him, all ye angels! Praise him, all ye hosts!
Praise him, sun and moon, and all ye stars of light!
Praise him, fire and hail! Praise him, storm and snows!
For he judgeth the earth in righteousness,
And reigneth evermore!
"'Praise! praise! praise ye the Lord!
Praise him, winged fowl, and herds, cattle, and all beasts!
Praise him, kings and people, princes, priests and judges!
Praise him, youths and maidens, old men and children!
"'Praise the name, let them praise the name,
Praise the name of the Lord God of Hosts!
For his name alone is excellent,
His glory above the heavens;
Israel is his first-born--a people well-beloved!
Praise! let Israel, therefore, praise him!
Praise him evermore,
Evermore,
Ever, evermore!'
"Never shall I forget the effect produced upon my inmost being by this
hymn. The prophet sang as if he were leading a choir of angels. My
heart leaped at the chorus, as if it would break out, take wing and
leave the earth. When we called on the winds and the fowls of the air
to praise Jehovah with us, the thrilling voice of the bulbul seemed
to pour from its throat a wilder, richer, more joyous tide of song,
and the audible wind bent the adoring trees, and mingled its mystic
whispers with the psalm of men. Surely, thought I, it is good for me to
be here, for this is none other than the gate of Paradise!
"After a few moments' silence, the prophet spoke and said:
"'You sought me, brethren of Israel; can I do aught for you?'
"'We would hear more, great prophet, touching this mighty One who is
to come after thee,' said Joseph.
"'I can tell thee but little, my brethren, save what thou hast heard
from me this day. The future is veiled. I bear a message, indeed, but
I may not break the seal and read. To you it will be given to know
what is now unknown to me. If it be permitted me to see him, it will
be but for a brief space, for when he cometh I depart--my errand is
done. Blessed are those who live to witness his glory, and to hear the
gracious voice of God that proceeds from his anointed lips.'
"'And when will be his advent, and with what form and power cometh this
divine Being?' I asked.
"'As a man, but not with comeliness of form that men should desire him.
His appearance will be humble, lowly and meek.'
"'Yet you said to-day, Rabbi,' I continued, 'that his power should be
infinite, and that of his kingdom there should be no end. You spoke
of the glory of his dominions, and the humiliation of Gentile kings
beneath his sceptre.'
"'This I cannot explain--it is a mystery to me. I speak as God, by whom
I am sent, gives me utterance. I know that he who cometh after me is
greater than I, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose.'
"'You taught us this evening, holy prophet, that he would be the Lord
from heaven; and yet that Esaias saith he will be despised and rejected
of men, wounded for our transgressions, and bruised for our iniquities.'
"'The spirit of God teaches me that these words apply to Shiloh; but
I cannot comprehend how these things can be,' he answered, with deep
sadness.
"'May I remind you, good Rabbi,' said Joseph, 'that you taught us how
this Divine Personage should die, though Lord of life, and be numbered
in his death with transgressors, though the Holy One of God?'
"'And such will be the events that are to happen; but seek not to know
what no man hath had revealed to him. The divine Messiah himself must
be his own interpreter. Blessed will be the eyes that behold him, and
listen to the wisdom of his mouth, and keep the law of his lips.'
"'May I ask you, holy prophet of the Lord,' said Joseph, 'how is
it that he whom you are sent by God to bear witness to can be the
Deliverer of Israel, when you predict for him so sad a fate? Messiah is
to restore Jerusalem and the glory of the Temple, so saith Esaias, so
say Ezra and Jeremiah. We therefore, in the Messiahs of the prophets,
have looked for a powerful potentate, who shall reign in Jerusalem over
the whole earth and subdue all nations.'
"'His kingdom is not of this earth,' answered the prophet, impressively.
"'How then can we interpret the prophet David, who maketh the Lord to
say: "I have set my King upon my holy hill of Zion"? Also, how shall
we interpret those sayings of Esaias who, prophesying of the blessed
Christ of God, hath these words: "Of the increase of his government
and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon
his kingdom, to order it and to establish it with judgment and with
justice, from henceforth, even forever"?'
"'I know not. These secrets are with God. This I know, that the least
child and the lowliest hireling that liveth in the day of Messias is
greater than I. I am the last of the prophets. It is for me to open the
last door that leads out from the night of prophecy into the glorious
dawn of the day of fulfillment; but I am not permitted to enter beyond
the threshold, or share in its blessings. All who come after me will be
preferred before me. But let me rejoice that the day-star is about to
rise, though his beams shine on all the earth but me!' This was said
with the most touching pathos.
"We were both deeply moved, I myself even to tears. I sank on my knees,
and kissing his hand, bathed it with my tears.
"He gently raised me, and said in a sweet voice:
"'Brother beloved, thou shalt see him to whom I bear witness, and he
will love thee, and thou shalt repose in his bosom!' I burst into
tears, and, rising, I walked a little ways apart, and lifting up my
eyes toward heaven, I prayed the God of our fathers that I might be
found worthy of this blessed honor.
"'And shall I also behold this mighty Son of God?' asked Joseph, with
solicitude.
"The prophet took his hand in his, and fixing upon him his eyes of
prophetic brightness, said slowly, and in tones awe-inspiring and
painfully sorrowful:
"'Thou shalt one day bear him in thine arms, and lay him upon a couch
which thou hast prepared for thine own repose. Thou knowest not now
what I say, but thou shalt remember it when it cometh to pass!'
"When he had thus spoken, he arose, and waving his hand to us both, he
walked rapidly away towards the darkening desert.
"'Didst thou hear him?' at length, after some minutes' pause, asked
Joseph of me. 'What can his words mean? They are prophetic of some
fearful event. His eyes betrayed some terrible meaning. My heart is
troubled.'
"'And mine rejoiceth.' I answered. 'We shall see him! I shall be near
him! Oh, if he be like this sweet prophet of God, I shall love him with
all my soul's being! How wonderful that we are to be thus associated
with this Divine Person! Welcome the hour of his blessed advent!'
"'Wilt thou welcome the advent of a sufferer?' said a voice so near
that it startled us by its abruptness, and, looking round, we saw,
standing within the shadow of a wild olive tree, a young man who was a
stranger, but to whom I afterwards became deeply attached. His face was
pale and intellectual, and his form slight but of the most symmetrical
elegance. His question at once made me sorrowful, for it recalled the
sad prophecy of Esaias.
"'He is also to be king and monarch of the world, and infinitely
holy and good,' I said. 'If thou hast been near, thou hast heard the
glorious things the prophet has spoken of him.'
"'I have been near--I was reclining beneath this tree when you seated
yourselves there. Be not deceived; the divine Man who is to come is to
be a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. He is to be rejected by
Israel and despised by Judah. Those whom he comes to bless will despise
him for his lowliness and obscurity. His life will be a life of tears,
and toil, and heaviness of heart, and he will at last be cut off from
among the living, with the ignominy due only to a transgressor. Dost
thou welcome the advent of a sufferer?'
"'But how knowest thou this? Art thou a prophet?' I asked with surprise
and admiration.
"'No, brother, but I have read the prophets. I heard, moreover, the
words of this holy man sent from God, and he dwells more on the
humility of the Christ than on his kingly grandeur. Believe me, the
kingdom of Shiloh is not of this world. It cannot be of this world, if
such is to be his life and death; and that it is to be his life, Esaias
clearly states. Let me read to you his words.' He then took a roll of
parchment from his bosom, and read by the clear tropical moonlight,
that mysterious and inexplicable passage which beginneth with the
words: 'Who hath believed our report?' When he had ended, he resumed:
'This is not the history of a prosperous earthly monarch, but rather
the painful record of a life of humiliation, of shame, and of contempt.'
"'But thou dost not say, brother,' said Joseph, with some warmth, 'that
the sacred Person borne witness to by this prophet is to be an object
of contempt?'
"'Does not Esaias say that he will be despised, beaten with stripes,
rejected of men, imprisoned, and put to death like a transgressor of
the law?'
"'There can be no question but that Esaias speaks of the Messiah,' I
remarked.
"'This prophet of Jordan now bears full testimony to Esaias, and
plainly maketh application of his words to him whom he has come
beforehand to proclaim,' answered the young man, with singularly
graceful eloquence in all he said. 'Let us who have been baptized this
day for the remission of our sins, expect a Messiah of sorrows, not a
conquering prince. Let us behold one who is to humble himself beneath
the yoke of human infirmities, that he may be exalted, and draw all men
after him to a kingdom in the heavens.'
"'But the throne of David--' objected Joseph.
"'Is at the right hand of God.'
"'But Jerusalem, and its rule over the nations--'
"'Jerusalem that is above, will be over all.'
"'But his kingdom that is to be everlasting--'
"'Is where life is everlasting. How can he rule an everlasting realm
here on earth without living forever, and his subjects also? Read not
the prophets so? As Adam fell and lost paradise, so Messias, like
a second Adam, must, as man, humble himself, in human nature, to
repurchase the kingdom of paradise for the race of man. It is this
kingdom which this prophet proclaims as being at hand. He being the
bearer of our iniquities, we shall thereby escape their chastisement.
Healed by his stripes, we shall be free from our sins. Laid upon him
will be the transgressions of the world; and by one mighty sacrifice
of himself, thus laden, as a sin-offering, he shall offer an atonement
to make one with Jehovah the great family of Adam. Such is to be our
looked-for Messiah. Alas, while we look for him, let us mingle tears
with our gladness, that one so holy and excellent should be destined to
endure these things for our sakes; and when we behold him, let us sink
at his feet in grateful adoration of his love.'
"When the young man had spoken, he walked away. Impelled by an
unconquerable impulse, I followed, and took him in my arms, and
embracing him, said: 'Of a truth thou art a prophet! Thy words come
home to my heart like the echo of ancient prophecy.'
"'Nay. I have learned these things from the study of the Scripture,'
he said, with angelic candor and modesty. 'But I have been aided, how
much I have no words to tell thee, by one who hath wisdom and truth
abiding in him above all men, and whom it is my happiness to have my
bosom friend, as he is near my own age. If I am wise, or virtuous, or
good, or know the Scriptures, it is that he hath been my counselor and
teacher.'
"'What is his name?' I asked, 'for I also would go and learn of him.'
"'He withdraws from the public eye, and hath little converse but with
few, and shuns all notice. Without his permission I could not take thee
to him.'
"'What is his appearance, and where doth he dwell?' I inquired, more
deeply interested.
"'He abides at present at Bethany, my own city. He is so beloved by
us, that we detain him as our guest. But he dwelleth at other times
with his mother, a holy widow of great sanctity and matronly dignity,
living at Nazareth in humble condition, and he contributes by labor
to her support, with the most exemplary filial piety. No person ever
approaches and speaks with him without leaving a wiser and better man.'
"'Verily,' said Joseph and I together, 'you have only increased our
desire to behold him. His appearance must be noble.'
"'There sits upon his brow a serene dignity, tempered with mildness,
that commands the respect of age, and wins the confiding love of
childhood. His eyes beam with a light, calm and pure, as if shining
from interior holy thoughts, and they rest upon you, when he speaks,
with a tenderness that is like the dewy light of the young mother's
gaze, when she bends in silent happiness and tears over the face of her
first-born. His face is one soft sunshine of smiling rays, tempered
in an indescribable manner with a settled look of sadness, an almost
imperceptible shade of permanent sorrow, that seems to foreshadow a
life of trial and suffering.'
"'He must be another prophet,' said Joseph, with deep earnestness.
"'He does not prophesy, nor preach,' answered the young man.
"'What is his name?' I asked.
"'Jesus, the Nazarene.'
"As the young man was then about to move away, I asked him his name,
as he had greatly drawn out my heart towards him, and I felt that if I
could be his friend, and the friend of the wise young man of Nazareth,
I should be perfectly happy and have no other desire--save, indeed, to
live till the Messiah came, that I might behold him, and lay my head
upon his sacred bosom.
"'My name is Lazarus, the Scribe,' he answered."
"What?" interrupted Mary. "Then I know him well. He is the brother of
Mary and Martha, my friends at Bethany, where I passed a week last
year, just before the Passover."
"The next day," continued John, "we renewed our acquaintance, and
after three days departed together homeward. Upon arriving at Bethany,
Lazarus learned that his friend had gone to Cana, in Galilee, on a
visit with his mother, to the house of one of her kinfolk, whose
daughter is soon to be married."
Having now, my dear father, communicated to you all that John related
to us, you will see what grounds there are to look upon the prophet of
Jordan as a man sent from God, or to believe that he is the true Elias,
whom Malachi hath foretold, and who, as the most learned of the Scribes
say, must first come to proclaim the approach of the Prince of Peace,
the Shiloh of Israel's hopes.
The account brought by John has set Rabbi Amos to studying the
Prophets, and indeed all men are looking into them with interest
unknown before. May God be indeed about to bless his people, and
remember his inheritance!
Your affectionate daughter,
Adina.