p. 16 | Signs of the Times, Vol. 38, No. 5. (1/31/1911)

Shiloh: the Man of Sorrows

By Mrs. L. D. Avery-Stuttle

Chapter LI. In Joseph's Tomb

It was late in the evening of the day following the crucifixion — the evening after the Sabbath.

The great round moon hung in a cloudless sky, and looked down with her white face upon the "city of pilgrims' tents" — for we must not forget that it was Passover week, and Jerusalem was crowded with guests.

A little way outside the city walls, the craggy rocks of Golgotha gleamed white in the moonlight, and threw black shadows over the garden of death — skull-strewn and desolate.

Three massive crosses, stripped of their victims, bore mute testimony to the scenes of horror that had been so lately witnessed by the sympathizing heavens and the trembling earth, and, as if in agony, lifted their great arms toward the pitying face of the moon.

That Sabbath day had been unlike any other "since the flight of years began," and must forever stand by itself, — solitary and alone upon the great calendar of time. Not far away was the new tomb of the Arimathean councilor, within whose dark chambers lay, peacefully at rest, the Crucified of Calvary, — the Shiloh of Jacob, — the Messiah of the prophets; for the "midst of the week" had indeed fully come.

About the tomb, at the demand of the high priests, Pilate had thrown a cordon of a hundred Roman soldiers; and, trembling lest the Mighty One escape them even in death, they had placed upon the door of the rock-ribbed sepulcher the great seal of Rome — regal mistress of the world.

Heart-broken and scattered, the disciples of the crucified Nazarene wandered — sheep without a shepherd — throughout the dreary hours of that Sabbath of rest.

At the foot of Calvary, and not far from the closely guarded sepulcher, sat Matthias, and John, called the Beloved, the son of Zebedee. Now and again the dark form of a sentinel, guarding the tomb of the murdered Nazarene, was outlined against the dim sky, while the murmur of the voices of the soldiers discoursing to each other in the Latin tongue faintly reached the ear of the two men, as they whispered together.

"Thou seest, O John," said Matthias, "how that Pontius Pilate hath placed a guard about the sepulcher of the Master."

"Verily," replied the other, "Annas and Caiaphas fear the power of the Nazarene even in death."

"Thinkest thou they fear that we, His disciples, will steal away His body?"

"They fear not this, Matthias, even tho they have thus said unto the governor. Well they do know that His disciples be heart-broken, and that there remaineth no longer any courage among us. Even the man Bar-jona hath no more any courage, for his hope hath left him. But of a truth I have heard the priests and the Pharisees, and they do fear greatly. And behold, to-day," continued John, "even on the Sabbath day, they have held a council at the house of Joseph Caiaphas, to determine what shall be done with the body of the Man, — for verily, Matthias, these rulers of Israel fear not the disciples, but the disciples' Master; — even in death do they fear Him."

"Ah, thou son of Zebedee! my own heart sinketh with fear, and I am sore afraid; for Herod Antipas murdered my master, even the Baptizer, and now hath Pontius Pilate murdered thine. And we — whither shall we go? for we fear the Jews. Why then should we, we whose hope hath perished with the death of this our Master, seek to steal away His dead body?"

"But even thus did they say unto Pilate," replied John. "But O Matthias! what shall I do for the mother of my Lord? for the woman is now unto me even as mine own mother. For even this Sabbath day, as we hurried past the temple, one coming out of the court of the Gentiles said unto us: 'Behold, the veil of the temple is rent in twain from the top to the bottom, and the eyes of the common people may behold that which only the eyes of the high priests have ever seen. And thus hath it been since the Nazarene perished!' And when the mother of my Lord had heard the words of this man, she said, 'Even thus is mine own heart torn asunder.'" And the speaker sighed deeply.

"Sawest thou the multitude, O John, who came up to the temple yesterday that they might be healed — the sick and the lame and the blind? But the Healer was nailed to yonder cross on Golgotha, and their cry for pity and for mercy was in vain. Didst thou hear their voices as they cried for the Master even to-day?"

"Ah! but none regarded them. Rememberest thou the woman whom they called Rachel, who was in the house of Simon of Bethany on the day of the feast which he made for our Lord?"

"I remember the woman Rachel, of Damascus," replied Matthias; "she had a father, an old man who had the palsy; and when she had seen Lazarus at the feast, and heard of the loving-kindness of the Master, forthwith she took her way back to Damascus that she might bring her father to be healed. And yesterday she brought him, and sat in the court of the temple; and I heard her ask one of the priests as he passed out, 'Where is the Healer, even Jesus of Nazareth? for I have brought my father from afar, even from Damascus, that he may be healed.'"

"What said the priest unto her?" questioned the other.

"He said unto her, 'Go thou unto the physicians of Damascus, for this Fellow did miracles but by Beelzebub, the prince of devils.' 'Ah; but I have seen the Man, at the feast of Simon of Bethany saw I Him,' replied the woman, 'and His eyes were filled with Godlike love and pity as they looked into mine; and now, where is He, that I may go even unto Him, with this my father?'"

"Then," continued Matthias, "the scribes and Pharisees who stood by laughed her to scorn, and, — thou knowest Jazer the scribe, who now sitteth with the Sanhedrin, — this man answered her sternly, 'Take away this old man, thy father, that the holy temple be not defiled with his presence, — and behold, the Man, Jesus of Nazareth, hangeth upon the cross of Golgotha between two thieves, the companions of Barabbas!' and the scribe laid hold of the woman roughly."

" 'They have put Him to death, — the Desire of Israel,' said the old man; and I saw him sink back upon his couch whereon they carried him, with a gesture of despair. 'They have put Him to death, my Rachel, and I, alas! my daughter! how shall I return unto my home in Damascus? for thou hast spent all the living that we had in bringing me hither!'"

"Then the face of the old man grew ghastly white," continued Matthias, "and when I would have spoken unto him, behold, he was dead."

When Matthias had finished his story, the young man John was weeping. "O my Master!" he murmured, "O that I might rest my head upon Thy breast as aforetime! But they have crucified Thee, and my hope hath perished. Ah, Judas of Kerioth!" he continued, speaking more to himself than to Matthias, "Judas, thou false one! thou wast a thief and a traitor. With a kiss of treachery thou didst betray Him, my Master. But they have carried Him out at the southern gate of the city, even the gate that leadeth into the valley of Hinnom, and there have they left Thy festering body to be devoured by the birds of heaven!"

Meanwhile, even as the young men John and Matthias were conversing together at the foot of Calvary, another young man, clad in the garments of the priesthood, and with lantern in hand, made his way hastily up the slope, toward the lonely rock-bound tomb of Joseph of Arimathea, where still rested the Crucified of Calvary.

It is past the hour of midnight; and the Passover moon already rides low in the western sky. The shadows thrown by the gray rocks are dark and gruesome. The red light of the lantern flashes in and out among the tangle of vines and the dark green of the olive-trees. A startled night-bird shrieks a note of warning to her mate, and a noisy insect in the dewy shrubbery trills softly.

Past groups of watchful soldiers hurries the man, unchallenged; past the solemn guard who paces back and forth before the carefully sealed door of the tomb — unchallenged! for well do they know this man at whose insistent demand they have been placed in this garden of death, and commanded to watch the tomb of the Arimathean, where sleeps the Man of Nazareth. Unchallenged he walks even to the rock-bound entrance, sealed with the seal of Rome, and pauses before the door.

"Ho, Julius," addressing one of the guards, "hast thou seen any of the accursed followers of this Nazarene attempting to enter the garden?"

Without waiting for the soldier to reply, the sturdy centurion, whom they called Lucius, turned upon his heel and faced the questioner:

"What thinkest thou? art thou mad, O thou high priest of the temple! Why askest thou such question of a Roman soldier? Are there not here an hundred guards of Pontius Pilate? Is not this enough to beat back a dozen Galilean fishermen who might be so foolhardy as to attempt to steal away this Nazarene's dead body?"

"Verily," ventured the priest, "but thou knowest not the mighty power of this Man, and thou rememberest that He said that after three days He would rise again. Of a truth He was in league with Beelzebub, and so be His disciples."

"Was not this He who raised Lazarus of Bethany from the dead?" questioned another of the guards.

"Of a truth it is," replied a third; "and they tell me that the Man was betrayed by one of His fellows. In very deed I do remember that as I was passing through the outer court of the temple on Mount Moriah, on the day when this Nazarene was crucified, there came a man and entered the temple hurriedly. He was tall and dark, and his eyes seemed filled with a restless fire. He carried in his hand a bag of silver, and I saw him tremble as he threw down the silver upon the marble floor, and cried, saying, 'I have sinned in that I have betrayed innocent blood,' and he begged thee, O Caiaphas, to spare the Nazarene."

"The fellow was a lunatic; and he was from Kerioth of Judea," stammered Caiaphas, raising his lantern and carefully examining the seal placed upon the great rock at the entrance.

"If the man of Kerioth was indeed a madman, what art thou, O thou high priest of a rebellious people?" cried Lucius, the centurion, sneeringly; then turning to one of his companions, he continued:

"Seest thou this priest? Verily he is mad! Knoweth not this fellow that none dare lay finger upon the seal of Rome! And even so, am not I sufficient, with an hundred chosen men of the soldiers of Pilate, to prevent the taking away of this dead body? Moreover, if the cords of this seal be tampered with, shall I not know it? And if any Roman soldier sleepeth at his post, surely his life payeth the penalty!"

Meanwhile, beside the massive rock stood Joseph Caiaphas. Back and forth — back and forth crept the trembling fingers over the cords which stretched across the entrance of the tomb! Carefully he examined the seal by the light of his lantern; and finding it still untouched and unmolested, he heaved a deep sigh of relief, gathered up his priestly robes, and hurried away.

The hated Nazarene was still a prisoner within His rock-bound tomb.

(To be continued)

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By Editor

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GOSPEL STORIES

5 How Esther Read Her Bible . . . . . . . . . (A. G. L., 7) 5 Back to the Old Paths . . . . . . . . . . . . (A. G. L., 44)

BIBLE STUDY

2 Topical Bible Studies . . . . . . . . . . . (B. S. L., 185)

TEMPERANCE

5 The Name . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (A. G. L., 72) 5 It Doesn't Pay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (A. G. L., 82)

SPIRITUALISM

5 Spiritualism: Its Source and Character . . (B. S. L., 112)

MILLENNIUM

2 Temporal Millennium . . . . . . . . . . . . . (B. S. L., 121)

PROPHECY

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THE LAW

2 What Is Done Away in Christ . . . . . . . . (B. S. L., 149) 2 Relation of Law and Gospel . . . . . . . . . (B. S. L., 166) 2 Perpetuity of the Law . . . . . . . . . . . . (B. S. L., 178) 2 Ceremonial Law and Moral Law Distinguished . . (B. S. L., 195)

SECOND COMING OF CHRIST

5 We Would See Jesus . . . . . . . . . . . . . (B. S. L., 173) 5 Signs of the End . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (B. S. L., 194)

IMMORTALITY QUESTION

5 Is Man Immortal? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (A. G. L., 86) 5 Tormented Forever and Ever . . . . . . . . . (B. S. L., 111) 5 Rich Man and Lazarus . . . . . . . . . . . . (B. S. L., 146)

SABBATH QUESTION

5 From Sabbath to Sunday . . . . . . . . . . . (B. S. L., 95) 5 The Seal of God and the Mark of the Beast . (B. S. L., 130) 5 New Testament Sabbath . . . . . . . . . . . (B. S. L., 137) 5 Who Changed the Sabbath? . . . . . . . . . . (B. S. L., 187) 5 Elihu on the Sabbath . . . . . . . . . . . . (B. S. L., 192) 5 Day of the Sabbath . . . . . . . . . . . . . (A. G. L., 50) 10 Which Day Do You Keep and Why? . . . . . . (A. G. L., 75) 5 Sunday in a Nutshell . . . . . . . . . . . . (A. G. L., 88)

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By Editor

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DATE OF EXPIRATION

By C. H. Jones

The SIGNS wrapper bears date of last issue due on your subscription. Unless renewed in advance, paper stops with expiration date.

If herewith is an order-blank, you will know you have overlooked sending renewal. You will not wish to miss a single issue. Back numbers often can not be furnished.

C. H. Jones, Circulation Manager.

War Preparations Cannot Bring Peace

By Editor

The meaning of this last successful experiment is tremendous. To the enterprising officer and inventor of this bomb, and also of one far more deadly, it is at least one of the letters in the word "peace" for the world. We wish we could see it that way. We love peace. We honor the men who are working for it. But increased and superior war preparations will not bring it. They may delay, postpone, retard; but the conflict will be more sanguine and cruel when it comes. The breech-loader and repeating rifle did not stop war. The iron-clad war-ships did not check it. The great armor cased Dreadnoughts or the 13-inch fifty-foot rifle has not had that effect. All these have stimulated rivalry. If the soldiers had to settle the matter, we believe there would be peace. But in nine cases out of ten the soldier has little to say about it. The greed of commerce, the national bondage under [not bombs, but] iron-clad bonds, increasing taxation for war expenditures, ambition of rulers, earth hunger of government, religious and race antagonism, singly and together supply plenty of initial causes from which may spring world-wide war.

Jeffries and Johnson together in a logging-camp might never fight; but the managers of Jeffries and Johnson feel quite different. And if Johnson seems too strong to-day, the manager of Jeffries hopes he will make good to-morrow. And then, if Johnson is still superior, there are other men in the world who may easily be thought to be his superior. So among the nations national pride will not admit that another nation is superior, or if superior just now, that it will be to-morrow. And we know that skill, invention, bravery, are not confined to one nation. A call to close Port Arthur or Santiago would be answered to-morrow with as much alacrity and as numerously as it was yesterday.

It Is All the Fault of the Railroad

By Editor

"It is all the fault of the Railroad."—We have quoted that, but we do not know that any one used just those words. But you would think that that is about the way many felt to hear them talk; namely, that at the bottom of all the trouble that menaced people's prosperity was the Railway with a capital R,—a great big hobgoblin hoodoo meeting you at every street corner, destroying your crops, and making night hideous with its nocturnal ramblings. In California it is the Southern Pacific that is responsible for all the ills that flesh is heir to. Talking with a gentleman in Kansas, we were told emphatically that there was nothing equal in its

grasping, grinding, blood-sucking tendencies to the Santa Fe. Of course we could not dispute him; for we lived neither in Kansas nor Northern Texas, for which he spoke. In Northern New York it used to be the Rome, Watertown, and Ogdensburg Railway; and the people used to long for the New York Central; but a little while after that company leased for ninety-nine years the R. W. and O., they were wishing for the R. W. and O. back again. We have lived in California twenty-one years. We are glad the Southern Pacific is here. It has done great things for the development of the State. It gives good service. We are holding no pass; we are paying for our rides. We pay many large freight bills. It makes mistakes; it is a "soulless corporation," like a hundred others; but we think that it has done great things for this State. We know shippers complain, but when in Chicago we can buy oranges cheaper and better than where they are grown. Raisins can be bought in New York for what the dealers charge here. Prunes can be purchased in Boston and Chicago at about the same price. We believe the company is actuated by as high ideals and principles as the average business firm, and has a right to a fair profit on its investment.

Contained in This Issue

By Editor

General	PAGE
Israel and the Law	3
Friendship with Jesus	4
Lessons in Liberty	4
Studies on the Sabbath	5
The Revelation of Jesus Christ	6
Get Acquainted with God	7

Editorial

| The Sure Word of Prophecy | 9 | | Wrongly Dividing the Word of Truth | 9 |

Question Corner

| Questions Nos. 3334-3338 | 2 | | Our Bible Band | 2 |

Our Bible Reading

| What Christ's Coming Means to the Earth | 8 |

The Outlook

| The Great Eastern Powers | 10 | | The Aeroplane in Warfare | 11 | | Sleeping Sickness a Modern Plague | 12 |

The Story

Poetry

| Jesus Ever the Same | 7 |

Aeroplanes and Warfare.

By Editor

We are pleased to place before our readers photo-reproductions connected with the firing of an explosive projectile from a flying-machine for the first time in the history of man. One photo presents the actors as they were about to start; the other the hole in the ground made by the bomb. For the latter photo we are indebted to the San Francisco Examiner; for the former to Lieutenant Crissy himself, who devised the bomb and hurled it from the aeroplane. The interview he granted to our representative is given in connection with the illustration.

The Sleeping Sickness Mission

By Editor

In another column is an account of the "sleeping sickness," written by a missionary. It ought to appeal to devoted hearts. Remember those in that field in your prayers.

The Four Beasts of Revelation 4

By Editor

Read the meaning of the "four beasts" of Revelation 4 in this issue. The position may not appeal to you, but it is worthy of study.

To Avoid Mistakes and Explanations

By Editor

1. THE "Bible Band Booklet" is not the same as "Questions and Answers." The first is filled with facts of interest and profit to our Bible Band readers. The price of it is 10 cents post free.

2. "Questions and Answers" is a book of over 250 pages, bound in cloth, worth, as many books are selling, $1.25. But it is not for sale at any price. It is gotten out for the express purpose of increasing the subscription list of the SIGNS OF THE TIMES at the full retail price and twenty-five cents added.

3. The publishers feel that the paper is worth its price in the vast amount of good religious reading and instruction it gives every year. But to continue old subscribers and secure new subscribers, they are willing for the small sum of 25 cents to give the book "Questions and Answers," compiled from thousands of questions answered in the paper during the last twenty years.

4. A few have said, "I have subscribed for five copies of the special series, and I would like the book." But the five copies were furnished at reduced rates, and the publishers could not furnish with these the book without loss. If the editor had not given his time and the book published without royalty, we could not afford to furnish it as we do.

5. Therefore the book is furnished only to full yearly subscribers to the SIGNS OF THE TIMES at $2.00 a year. But one says, "I am now a subscriber." Good! subscribe a year in advance. The editor frequently does to get some valuable book premium. If you are in advance now, get some new subscriber, at regular price, pay the small difference yourself, and secure the book.

The book would not have had existence, in all probability, apart from the SIGNS OF THE TIMES; it is due the paper that it can only be secured with a full year's subscription at $2.00, and we do no injustice to any one.

The book will be ready for delivery about February 15, but orders may be sent now. In fact, we have already received many.

There Is More

By Editor

There Is More.—Then there is, what men may sneer at, but what has a hundred times demonstrated its truth and accuracy, “the more sure word of prophecy” divine. God told us 2700 years ago, 2500 years ago, more than eighteen centuries ago, of the war preparations of to-day and the sure harvest which would be reaped. Read Joel 3:9-14; Jer. 25:15-33; Rev. 16:14-16. The war preparation will go on; men expect it to. Armageddon will surely come. Men also expect that. But more, God’s Word has predicted it, and His Word can not fail.

A New Teaching Demanded.

By Editor

The Oregonian, speaking of a case of sexual depravity and deception in the East, well says: "There is always room for suspicion of immorality of the grossest sensual type when men and women proclaiming themselves 'seekers after truth' band themselves together under titles such as 'The Inner Thought Circle,' 'Absolute Life,' and similar appellations. . . . The new cult now under the lime-light of police investigation in Chicago, like other movements of its kind, scorns the conventionalities of marriage in the relations between the sexes, speaks in high-sounding words of 'perfect motherhood,' of the generation of 'a greater race,' and of a process of 'purification' that is to bring these conditions about, which being sifted reveal gross sensuality, ruined homes, and all the rest of the vile brood with which society has now and again been cursed under high-sounding but utterly meaningless names." All of which would be mightily helped if ministers and moral instructors in general taught in the old-fashioned way the authority and importance of the Ten Commandments.

The Sea of Life

By Editor

"The Sea of Life" is the name of a new and beautiful song which has come to us published by the singing evangelist and Bible worker Mr. C. P. Whitford. It is published on tinted coated paper with a portrait of the publisher. Besides this song and music the sheet contains the verses, "It Was You Who Invited Me Here," which can be sung to the familiar tune of "Tell Me of Heaven," 1008 in "Hymns and Tunes." Yet more, there is an instructive and earnest Bible reading and appeal from Brother Whitford, "The Secret of a Happy Life." All may be obtained, post-paid, for 25 cents. Remit by post-office money-order to C. P. Whitford, Arch Creek, Dade Co., Fla.

Splendid for Work Among Children.

By Editor

How many children there are who need religious instruction, but receive none! How many there are who would be delighted to have good papers to read! During several years past there have accumulated about 20,000 copies of Our Little Friend. We will send these to those who will use them, for 15 cents per hundred. This will pay postage and wrapping. What an opportunity this is for children living in our cities! Now is a good time to act. This is a good opportunity for those who live near homes for children.

The Baker Eddy Legacy Dispute

The counsel of the heirs of Mrs. Mary Baker Eddy hold that her legacy of $2,000,000 to the "Mother Church" of Boston is void, and that the money, under New Hampshire laws, passes on to her next of kin. The lawyers for the heirs are men of great repute, William E. Chandler, Haweis Taylor, and William L. Chambers.

International Sunday-School Association Convention

By Editor

The Thirteenth Triennial Convention of the International Sunday-School Association will be held in San Francisco, June 20-27, 1911.