For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. . . . even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.—St. Paul.
What did St. Paul mean by these words? Could or would he have said them before he took that wonderful journey down to Damascus? A young and eager man set out that day, full of zeal, enthusiastic, proud, and self-reliant. A Pharisee of the Pharisees! a "free born" Roman citizen, he was all that was exclusive, privileged, chosen of God, set apart, keen to set right what was wrong; sure that he was doing God's work.
The humble Galilean had dared to strike out into new lines; to overthrow the tables of the money changers, to unteach the law and lead the chosen people away from the traditional interpretation of Moses and the prophets. What cared the scribes and Pharisees that all groaned under the burden of the heaped-up ordinances? What if the spirit had been crushed by the letter? The cups and platters of sense must still be washed, the blood of beasts must be shed, the priests repeat the morning and evening sacrifice in patient expectation: for was not the Messiah coming? Would not the deliverer harmonize the discordant elements, and release the chosen of the Lord from bondage to their heathen conquerors? Was he not coming in power and majesty to conquer and destroy; would he not reign, and would not the people share his power, glory, yea omnipotence? Who was this strange teacher that claimed so much, and yet failed so conspicuously to substantiate his claims to the Messiahship by driving out the Romans?
