Key of Knowledge

SR No.: 006702
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Champat Rai Jain
Publisher: ZZZ Unknown
Publication Year: 1919
Total Pages: 1204
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 25 MB

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THE KEY OF KNOWLEDGE.
We may profitably utilize the present opportunity to look into the nature of the discrepancies which have gathered round the personality of John, the Baptist, whose figure is one of the most puzzling in the whole Bible. The discrepancies which are found to exist in connection with him are so serious that it is impossible to look upon his doings as historical events, though it is not quite impossible that there should have been a man of the name of John who went about preaching the doctrine of repentance.
He is the cousin of the Messiah, to begin with, and jumps up with delight, while yet an unborn babe, on hearing the voice of his cousin's mother, though shortly afterwards he forgets all about him and actually sends his disciples to find out if he be the one who was to come (Matt. XI. 3). This is all the more remarkable, in view of the fact that John was fully aware of the status and dignity of Jesus at the time when he was asked to baptize him. According to Matthew (III. 14), he had refused to baptize Jesus at first, saying:
"I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?" It was only when he had been assured that it behove Christ to be baptized of him,
"Suffer it to be so now : for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness."-(Matt. III. 15),—
that he proceeded to baptize him. Upon this the heavens were opened unto Jesus, and the spirit of God alighted on him in the form of a dove. John actually saw all this, and declared:
" And I saw, and bear record that this is the Son of God."-(John, 1.34).