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THE KEY OF KNOWLEDGE.
“Now it seems absolutely impossible," writes Evanson " that John, after being from his earliest infancy personally acquainted with Jesus, and not only in possession of all the information respecting him, which he must have learnt from the two families, but so miraculously impressed with affection and reverence for him as to exult with joy, though but an embryo in the womb, at the mere sound of his mother's voice, could at any time have entertained the least doubt of Jesus being the messiah."-- The History of the New Testament Criticism,' page 91).
Even words have been put into the mouth of Jesus which, in all probability, he never uttered. Here is an instance which, if literally interpreted, is capable of a lot of mischief:--
“ And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying if thou be Christ save thyself and us. But the other answering rebuked him, saying dost thou not fear God seeing thou art in the same condemnation ? And we indeed justly for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this man hath done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, verily I say unto thee to-day shalt thou be with me in paradise."-Luke, XXIII. 39 to 43.
The italics are ours. No other gospel gives this account. On the contrary, Mark says:
"And they that were crucified with him reviled him."
Matthew, too, says that the thieves also cast the same in his teeth which was uttered by the Jews. Now, if both the thieves had reviled him, it is strange that he should have promised anything to one of them. It will be noticed that the number used by Matthew and Mark is plural, which clearly applies to both the thieves. A statement like the above which has been put into the mouth of Jesus is likely to do a lot of harm, for it is
liable to mislead one in the interpretation of his teach*ings. There are other items which are open to similar
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