THE SPIRIT OF PROPHECY.
THE
GREAT CONTROVERSY
BITW.EM CRRIIT AND SATAN.
LIFE, TEACHINGS AND MIRACLES
OF OUR
LORD JESUS CHRIST.
BY ELLEN G. WHITE.
VOL. J:J:.
STEAM PRESS
OJ! THE SEVENTH·DAY ADVENTIST PUBLISHING ASSOCIATION,
BATTLE CREEK, MICH.
1877
PREFACE.
WHEN the Publishers issued the first volume of this
work, they felt that it supplied a want long realized
by the Christian world, in illuminating a subject which
is of great interest to the Christian mind, the relation
of the Son of God to the Father, and hi11 position in
Heaven, together with the fall of man and the Mediatorship of Christ between him and his Creator.
In this second volume the author continues with renewed interest the subject of the mission of Christ, as
manifested by his Miracles and Teachings. The reader
will find that this book furnishes invaluable aid in studying the lessons of Christ set forth in the Gospels.
The author, as a religious writer and speaker, has labored for the public during more than twenty years.
Being aided in the study of the Scriptures, and in her
work as a religious teacher, by the special enlightenment
of the Spirit of God, she is peculiarly qualified to present the facts of the Life and Ministry of Christ, in
connection with the divine· plan of human redemption,
and to practically apply the lessons of Jesus to the simple duties of life.
One of the most pleasing features of this book is the
plain and simple language with which the author clothes
thoughts that glow with. truth and beauty.
PUBLISHERS.
(5)
CONTENTS.
PAGE.
CHAPTER I.
THE FIRST ADVENT OF CHRIST, ••••••••• .••••• ••• •••• ••.•• •••••.
CHAPTER II.
THE LIFE OF CHRIST, •••.•••••••. ••••••••••·•••••·••••••••••••.•••.•
CHAPTER III.
LIFE AND MISSION OF JOHN,................ . .....................
CHAPTER IV.
THE MISSION OF CHRIST, ••••..... ......... .................. ......
CHAPTER V.
TuE DEATII or JoHN, .............................................
CHAPTER VI.
TEMPTATION OF CHRIST, ............................................
CHAPTER VII.
THE MARRIAGE AT CANA, .................... ............... ......
CHAPTER VIII.
~LEANBIO
THE TEMFLE, ....................... ....................
CHAPTER IX.
NICODEMUS COAIES TO CHRIST,...................................
CHAPTER X.
THE WOMAN OF SAMARIA, ........................................ .
CHAPTER XI.
THE CENTURION's SoN, ... ............... ...........................
CHAPTER XII.
Jl:sus AT BETHESDA, ................................................
CHAPTER XIII.
JESUS AT CAFERNAUM, .............................................
CHAPTER XIV.
CHOOSING TilE DISClPLE~,
.........................................
CHAPTER XV.
THE SABBATll, ........................................................
CHAPTER XVI.
SEBMON ON THE MOUNT, ...... ....... •••••••• ......... ............
9
30
41
68
74
85
98
115
124
140
151
156
173
182
193
200
CONT:&NTS.
viii
CHAPTER XVII.
THE LEPER Ih:AI.Ell, ••• ••••••••••••••••••••••••• ••••••••••••••••••••
226
CHAPTER XVIII.
PARABLE OF THE SOWER, .........................................
232
CHAPTER XIX.
OTI!Eit l'AiJ.E~
....................................................
242
CHAPTER XX.
THE LoAn:~
A Nil FISIIES, .........................................
258
CHAPTER XXI.
W.\lK~C:
ON THE
WATEit 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267
CHAPTER XXII.
CIR~T
IN TilE BY!'AOO(HIE, .......................... ••••••••••••
CHA PT~;Jt
274
XXIII.
THE l'AllALrnc:, ....................................................
292
CHAPTER XXIV.
WoMAN or CANAAN, .................................................
301
CHAPTBR XXV.
CHRIST STIL.~
THE TEMPEST, ....................................
305
CHAPTER XXVI.
!\!EN FRO)[ THE TO)[BS, ...........................................
311
CHAPTER XXVII.
.J AIRug'
DAucm-rER, .................................................
318
CHAPTER XXVIII.
THE TRA!i!;FIOURA'riON, ............................ . ...............
324
CHAPTBR XXIX.
FEAST O.Y TADERNACLES, ..........................................
337
CHAPTER XXX.
Go
AND
St!f
~o
MonE, ............................................. 349
CHAPTER XXXI.
RESlTCIO~
OF LAZARUS, .......................................
358
CHAPTER XXXII.
MARY's OFFER! NO, ..................................................
372
CHAPTER XXXIII.
RIDING INTO JBRUSALEM, ...........................................
382
THE GREAT CONTROVERSY.
CHAPTER I.
THE FIRST ADVENT QF CHRIST.
THE Son of God was next in authority to the
great Lawgiver. He knew that his life alone
could be sufficient to ransom fallen man. He
was of as much more value than man as his noble, spotless character, and exalted office as commander of all the heavenly host, were above the
work of man. He was in the express image of
his Father, not in features alone, but in perfection of character.
The blood of beasts could not satisfy the demands of God as an atoning sacrifice for the
transgression of his law. The life of a. beast was
of less value than the life of the offending sinner,
therefore could not be a ransom for sin. It could
only be acceptable with God as a figure of the offering of his Son.
Man could not atone for Ill&n. His sinful, fallen condition would constitute him an imperfect
offering, an atoning sacrifice of less value than
Adam before his fall. God made man perfect
and upright, and after his transgression there
could be no sacrifice acceptable to God for him,
unless the offering made should in value be superior to man as he was in his state of perfection
and innocency.
Grc:1t
Contr~y,
Vol. 2.
10
THE GREAT CONTROVERSY.
The divine Son of God was the only sacrifice of sufficient value to fully satisfy the
claims of God's perfect law. The angels were
sinless, but of less value than the law of God.
They were amenable to law. They were messengers to do the will of Christ, and before him to
bow. They were created beings, and probationers. Upon Christ no requirements were laid.
He had power to lay down his life, and to take
it again. No obligation was laid upon him to
undertake the work of atonement. It was a voluntary sacrifice that he made. His life was of sufficient value to rescue man from his fallen condition.
The Son of God was in the form of God, and
he .thought it not robbery to be equal with God.
He was the only one, who as a man walked the
earth, who could say to all men, Who of you convinceth me of sin?. He had united with the Father in the creation of man, and he had power
through his own divine . perfection of character to
atone for man's sin, and .to elevate him, and bring
him back to his first estate.
The sacrificial offerings, and the _priesthood of
the Jewish system, were instituted to represent
the death and mediatorial work of Christ. All
those ceremonies had no meaning, and no virtue,
only as they related to Clirist, who was himself
tho foundation of, and who brought into existence,
the entire system. The Lord had made known
to Adam, Abel, Seth, Enoch, Noah, Abraham,
and the ancient worthies, especially Moses, that
the ceremonial system of sacrifices and the priesthood, of themselves, were not sufficient to secure
the salvation of one soul.
The system of sacrificial offerings pointed to
TilE FIRST ADVENT.
11
Christ. Through these, the ancient worthies
saw Christ, and believed in him. These were
ordained of Heaven to keep before the people the
fearful separation which sin had made between
God and man, requiring a mediating ministry.
Through Christ, the communication which was
cut off because of Adam's transgression was
opened between God and the ruined sinner. But
the infinite sacrifice that Christ voluntarily made
for man remains a mystery that angels cannot
fully fathom.
The Jewish system was symbolical, and was to
continue until the perfect Offering should take
the place of the figurative. The Mediator, in his
office and work, would greatly exceed in dignity
and glory the earthly, typical priesthood. The
people of God, from Adam's day down to the
time when the Jewish nation became a separate
and distinct people from the world, had been instructed in regard to the Redeemer to come,
which their sacrificial offerings represented. This
Saviour was to be a mediator, to stand between
the Most High and his people. Through this
provision, a way was opened whereby the guilty
sinner might find access to God through the mediation of another. The sinner could not come in his
own person, with his guilt upon him, and with no
greater merit than be possessed in himself. Christ
alone could open the way, by making an offering
equal to the demands of the divine law. He was
perfect, and undefiled by sin. He was without
spot or blemish. The extent of the terrible consequences of sin could never have been known,
bad not the remedy provided been of infinite
value. The salvation. of fallen man was procured
at such an immense cost that angels marveled,
12
TilE GREAT CONTROVE!l.SY.
and could not fully comprehend the divine mystery that the Majesty of Heaven, equal with God,
should die for the rebellious race.
As the time drew near for the Son of God to
make his first advent, Satan became more vigilant in preparing the hearts of the Jewish people
to be steeled against the evidences he should bring
of his Messiahship. The Jews had become proud
and boastful. The purity of the priesthood had
not been preserved, but was fearfully corrupted.
They retained the forms and ceremonies of their
system of worship, while their hearts were no~
in
the work. They did not sustain personal piety
and virtuous characters. And the more they were
wanting in the qualifications necessary to the sacred work, as priests of the most high God, the
more tenacious were they of outward show of
piety, zeal, and devotion.
They were hypocritical. They loved the honors of the world, and were ambitious to become
exalted through riches. In order to obtain their
desire, they improved every opportunity to take
advantage of the poor, especially of the widow
and fatherless. They exacted heavy sums of money
of those who were conscientious, on various pretenses, for the Lord's treasury, and used the
means thus dishonestly obtained for their own
advantage. They were themselves rigorous to
outwardly keep the law. They appeared to show
great respect for traditions and customs, in order
to obtain money from the people to gratify their
corrupt ambition.
Traditions, customs, and needless- ceremonies,
were repeated to the people, which God had not
given them through Moses or any other one.
These originated from no higher source than man.
THE FIRST ADVENT.
13
The chief priests, scribes, and elders, forced these
upon the people as the comma.ndments of God.
Their hea.rts were hard and unfeeling.· They
showed no mercy to the poor a.nd unfortunate.
Yet, at the same time, while praying in the market-places, and giving alms to be seen of men,
and thus putting on the outward semblance of
goodness, they were devouring widows' houses by
their heavy taxes which they laid upon them.
They were apparently exact in outward forms
when observed of men; for they wished to give
impressions of their importance. They wished the
people to have exalted ideas of t~eir
zeal and devotion to religious duties, while they were daily
robbing God by appropriating the offerings of the
people to themselves. ·
The priesthood had become so corrupt that the
priests had no scruples in engaging in the most
dishonest and criminal acts to accomplish their
designs. Those who assumed the office of high
priest prior to, and at, the time of Christ's first
advent, were not men divinely appointed to the
sacred work. They had eagerly aspired to the
office through love of power and show. They
desired a position where they could have authority, and practice fraud under a garb of piety, and
thereby escape detection. The high priest held
a position of power and importance. He was not
only counselor and mediator, but judge; and
there was no appeal from his decision. The priests
were held in restraint by the authority of the Romans, and were :hot allowed the power of legally
putting any one to death. This power rested with
those who bore rule over the Jews. Men of corrupt hearts sought the distinguished office of high
priest, and frequently obtained it by bribery and
14
Tl!E GREAT CONTROVERSY.
·assassination. The high priest, clad in his consecrated and expensive robes, with the breastplate
upon his breast, the light flashing upon the precious stones inlaid in the breastplate, presented a
most imposing appearance, and struck the conscientious, true·hearted people with admiration, reverence, and awe. The high priest was designed
in an especial manner to represent Christ, who
was to become a high priest forever after the order of Melchisedec. This oraer of priesthood
was not to pass to another, or be superseded by
another.
The Jewish nation had corrupted their religion
by useless ceremonies and customs. This laid a
heavy tax upon the people, especially the poorer
classes. They were also urider bondage to the Romans, and required to pay tribute to them. The
Jews were unreconciled to their bondage, an~
looked forward to the triumph of .their nation
through the Messiah, the powerful deliverer foretold in prophecy. Their views were narrow.
They thought the Coming One would, at his ap~
pearing, assume kingly honors, and, by force of
arms, subdue their oppressors, and take the
throne of David. Had they, with humble minds
and spiritual discernment, studied the prophecies,
they would not have been found in so great error
as to overlook the prophecies which pointed to
his first advent in humility, and misapply those
which spoke of his second coming with power and
great glory. The Jewish people had been striving for power. They were ambitious for worldly
honors. They were proud and corrupt, and could
not discern sacred things. They could not distinguish between those prophecies which pointed
to the first adverit of Christ, and those that de-
TIIE FIRST ADVENT.
15
scribed his second, glorious appearing. The
power and glory described by the prophets as
attending his second advent, they looked for at
his first advent. Their national glory was to them
their greatest anxiety. Their ambitious desire
was the establishment of a temporal kingdom,
which they supposed would reduce the Romans to
subjection, and exalt themselves with authority
and power to reign over them. They had made
the proud boast to those to whom they were in
subjection, that they were not to . oppress them
long; for their reign would soon commence, which
would be more exalted and glorious than even that
of Solomon.
When the time was fulfilled, Christ was born
in a stable, and cradled in a manger, surrounded
by the beasts of the stall. And is this indeed the
Son of God, to all outward appeatance a frail,
helpless babe, so much resembling other infants?
His divine glory and majesty were vailed by humanity,-and angels heralded his advent. The tidings of his birth were borne with joy to the heavenly courts, while the great men of the earth knew
it not. The proud Pharisees and scribes, with
their hypocritical ceremonies, and apparent devotion to the law, knew nothing of the Babe of Bethlehem. They were ignorant of the manner of
his appearing, notwithstanding all their boasted
learning and wisdom in expounding the law and the
prophecies in the schools of the prophets. They
were devising means to advantage themselves.
Their study was as to the most successful manner
to obtain riches and worldly honor, and they were
wholly unprepared for the revelation of the Messiah. They looked for. a mighty prince, who
should reign upon David's throne, and whose
16
TUE GREAT CONTROVERSY.
kingoom should endure forever. Their proud and
lofty ideas of the coming of the Messiah were not
in accordance with the prophecies which they professed to be able ·to expound to the people. They
were spiritually blind, and were leaders of the
blind.
In Heaven it was understood that the time had
come for the advent of Christ to the world, and
angels leave glory to witness his reception by
those he came to bless and save. They had witnessed his glory in Heaven, and they anticipate
that he will be received with hon.or in accordance
with his character, and the dignity of his mission. ·
As angels approach the !earth, they first come to
the people God had separated from the nations of
the world as his peculiar treasure. They see no
especial interest among the Jews, no eager waiting and watching that they may be the first to receive the Redeemer, and acknowledge his advent.
In the temple, which had been hallowed by
daily sacrificial offerings, prefiguring his coming,
and symbolizing his death, no preparations are being made to welcome the Saviour of the world.
The Pharisees continue to repeat their long, meaningless prayers in the streets, to be heard of men,
in order to obtain the reputation of great piety
and devotion.
The angels from Heaven behold with astonishment the. indifference of the people, and their ignorance m regard to the advent of the Prince of
Life. The proud Pha.risees, claiming to be God's
chosen people, in their hypocritical devotions, are
proclaiming the law, and exalting traditions, while
men of other nations are dealing in fables, and
are worsQ.iping false gods. All alike were igno-
THE FIRST ADVENT.
17
rant of the great event which prophecy had foretold would transpire.
Angels behold the weary travelers, Joseph and
Mary, making their way to the city of David to be
taxed, according to the decree of Cresar Augustus.
Here, in the' providence of God, Joseph and Mary
had been brought ; for this was the place prophecy
had predicted that Christ should be born. They
seek a place of rest at the inn, but are turned
away because there is no room. The wealthy
and honorable have been welcomed, and find refreshment and room, while these weary travelers
are compelled to seek refuge in a coarse building
which shelters the dumb beasts.
Here the Saviour of the world is born. The
Majesty of Glory, who filled · all Heaven with admiration and splendor, is humiliated to a bed in a
manger. In Heaven, he was surrounded by holy
angels; but now his companions are the beasts of
the stall. What humiliation is this ! Wonder,
0 Heavens! and be astonished, 0 earth!
As there are none among the sons of men to
herald the advent of the Messiah, angels must now
do that work which it was the honored privilege of
men to do. But the angels, with the glad tidings
of the birth of the Saviour, are sent to the humble shepherds, and not to the learned Jews, who
profess to be the expounders of prophecy ; for
they have no heart to receive it.
"And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over
'their flock by night. And lo ! the angel of the
Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord
shone round about them, and they were sore
afraid." Humble shepherds, who are guarding
their flocks by night, are the ones who joyfully re-
18
TilE GREAT CONTilOVERSY.
ceive their testimony. Suddenly the heavens .are
lighted up with a brightness which alarms the
shepherds. They know not the reason of this
grand display. They do not at first discern the
myriads of angels that are congregated in the
heavens. The brightness and glory from the
heavenly host illuminate and glorify the entire
plain. While the shepherds are terrified at the
glory of God, the leading angel of the throng
quiets their fears by revealing himself to them,
saying, "Fear not; for behold I bring you good
tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
For unto you is born this day, in the city of David,
a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this
shall be a sign unto you: ye shall find the babe
wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth,
peace, good-will toward men."
As their fears are dispelled, joy takes the place
of astonishment and terror. They could not, at
first, bear the radiance of glory, which attended
the whole heavenly host, to break upon them suddenly. One angel only appears to the gaze of the
watching shepherds to dissipate their fears, and
make known their mission. .As the light of the
angel encircles them, the glory rests upon them,
and they are strengthened to endure the greater
light and glory attending the myriads of heavenly
angels. "And it came to pass, as the angels
were gone away from them into Heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even
unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come
to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
And they came with haste, and found Mary and
THE FIRST ADVENT.
19
Joseph, and the babe lying in a. manger. And
when they had seen it, they made known abroad
the saying which was told them concerning this
child. An~
all they that heard it, :wondered at
those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the
things that they had heard and seen, as it was told
unto them."
The shepherds are filled with joy, and as the
bright glory disappears, and the angels return to
Heaven, they are· all aglow with the glad tidings,
and hasten in search of the Saviour. They find
the infant Redeemer, as the celestial messengers
had testified, wrapped in swaddling clothes, and
lying in the narrow confines of a manger.
The events which had but just transpired,
have made indelible impressions upon their minds
and hearts, and they arc filled with amazement,
love, and gratitude for the great condescension of
God to man in sending his Son into the world.
The shepherds spread the joyful tidings everywhere, of the wondrous glory they had seen, and
the celestial praises they had heard from the lips
of the heavenly host.
The King of glory stooped low to take humanity; and angels, who had witnessed his splendor
in the heavenly courts, as he was worshiped by
all the heavenly hosts, were disappointed to find
their divine Commander in a position of so great
humiliation.
The Jews had separated themselves so far from
God by their wicked works, that angels could not
communicate to them the tidings of the advent of
20
THE GREAT CONTROVERSY.
the infant Redeemer. God chooses the wise men
of the East to do his will.
"Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of
Judea in th~
days of Herod the king, behold,
there came wise men from the East to Jerusalem,
saying, Where is he that is born King of the
Jews'! for we have seen his star in the east, and
are come to worship him." These men were not
Jews; but they had been waiting for the predicted
Messiah. They had studied prophecy, and knew
the time was at hand when Christ would come;
and they were anxiously watching for some sign
of this great event, that they might be among the
first to welcome the infant heavenly King, and
worship him. These wise men were philosophers,
and had studied the works of God in nature. In
the wonders of the heavens, in the glories of th~
sun, moon, and stars, they traced the finger of
God. They were not idolaters. They lived up
to the dim light which shone upon them. These
men were regarded by the Jews as heathen; but
they were more pure in the sight of God than
the Jews who had been privileged with great light,
and who made exalted professions, yet did not live
up to the light God had given them. These wise
men had seen the heavens illuminated with light,
which enshrouded the heavenly host who heralded
the advent of Christ to the humble shepherds. And
after the angels returned to Heaven, a luminous
star appea1:ed, and lingered in the heavens.
This light was a distant cluster of flaming angels, ·which appeared like a luminous star. The
unusual appearance of the large, bright star which
they had never seen before, hanging as a sign in
the heavens, attracted their attention. They
were not privileged to hear the proclamation of
THE FIRST ADVr:NT.
21
the ange1s to the shepherds. But the Spirit of
God moved them out to seek this heavenly Visitor
to a fallen world. The wise men directed their
course where the star seemed to lead them. And
as they drew nigh to the city of Jerusalem, the
star was enshrouded in darkness, and no longer
guided them. They reasoned that the Jews
could not be ignorant of the great event of the
advent of the Messiah, s.nd they made inquiries
in the vicinity of J erusa.lem.
The wise men are surprised to see no unusual
interest upon the subject of the coming of the
Messiah: They fear that after all they may not
have read the prophecies correctly. Uncertainty
beclouds their minds, and they become anxious.
They hear the priests repeating and enforcing
their traditions, and expounding the law, and exalting their religion, and their own piety. They
point to their phylacteries, and the borders of
their garments, upon which the precepts of the
law and their traditions are inscribed, as evidences of their devotion, while they denounce the
Romans and the Greeks as heathen and .sinners
above all men. The wise men leave Jerusalem
not as confident and hopeful as when they entered
it. They marvel that the Jews are not interested
and joyful in prospect of this great event of the
advent of Christ.
The churches of our time are seeking worldly
aggrandi_zement, and are as unwilling to see the
light of the prophecies, and receive the evidences
of their fulfillment, which show that Christ is
soon to come, as were the Jews in reference to his
first appearing. They were looking for the temporal and triumphant reign of Messiah in Jerusalem. Professed Christians of our time are ex-
22
TilE GREAT CONTROVERSY.
pecting the temporal prosperity of the church, in
the conversion of the world, and the enjoyment of
the temporal millennium.
The wise men plainly stated their errand.
They were in search of Jesus, the king of the
Jews, for they had seen his star in the east, and
had come to worship him.
The city of Jerusalem was thrown into great excitement by the sayings of the wise men. The
news was immediately carried to Herod. He was
exceedingly troubled, yet disguised the discomfiture, and received the men with apparent courtesy.
The advent of Christ was the greatest event
which had taken place since the creation of
the world. The birth of Christ, which gave
joy to the angels of Heaven, was not welcome to
the kingly powers of the world. Suspicion and
envy were aroused in king Herod, and his wicked
heart was pla.nning his dark purposes for the future. The Jews manifested a stupid indifference
to the story of the wise men. But Herod is intensely interested and excited. He summons the
scribes, arid the chief priests, and urges upon them
to search carefully prophetic history, and tell him
where the infant king was to be born. The careless indifference and a.p parent ignorance of the
scribes and chief priests, as they turn to their
books for the words of prophecy, irritate the fully
aroused king. He thinks they are trying to conceal from him the real facts in regard to the birth
commands them
of the Messiah. I~eauthorivly
to make close search in relation to their expected
king.
"And when he had gathered all the chief
priests and scribes of the pP.ople together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.
•rnE FIRST ADVENT.
23
And they said unto him; In Bethlehem of Judea;
for thus it is written by the prophet, And thou
Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least
among the princes of Juda; for out of thee shall
come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.
Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise
men, inquired of them diligently what time
the star appeared.. And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the
young child; and when ye have found him, bring
me word again, that I may come and worship him
also."
Although Herod received the wise men with
apparent respect, yet the intimation by them of
the birth of a king to reign in Jerusalem, excited
his envy and hatred against the infant whom he
thought might prove his rival, and drive him, or
his descendants, from the throne. A storm of
opposition and satanic fury took possession of
Herod, and he determined to destroy this infant
king. Yet he put on a calm exterior, and requested a private interview with the wise men. He
then inquired particularly the exact time the star
appeared. He apparently hailed the supposition
of the birth of Christ with joy, expressing a desire to be immediately informed by the wise men,
that he might be among the first to show him true
honor by worshiping him also. The wise men
were not able to read .the heart of the tyrant
Herod; but God, who is acqu:tinted with every
emotion of the soul, with the intents and purposes
of the heart, was not deceived by his hypocritical
pretenses. His power will protect and preserve
the precious infant Saviour from Satan's devices,
until his _mission on earth is accomplished.
"When they had heard the king, they departed;
24
TilE OREAT CONTROVERSY.
and lo ! the star which they saw in the east went
before them, till it came and stood over where
the young child was. When they saw the star,
they rejoiced with exceeding great joy."
After the wise men had left Jerusalem, they
again saw, to their great joy, the guiding star in
the heavens, which directed them to the birthplace
of our Saviour. "And when they were come
into the house, they S!tW the young child with
Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshiped
him. And when they had opened their treasures,
they presented unto him gifts ; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh." The wise men found no
loyal guard to debar _their entrance to the presence of Christ. The honorable of the world are
not in attendance. In place of the people who
should have wel'comed with grateful homage the
Prince of Life, he is surrounded with dumb beasts.
The glory of God attending the angelic host,
had scarcely disappeared from the plains of Bethlehem when the malice of envious Herod was
aroused in opposition to the infant Saviour. This
king understood that Christ was to reign over a
temporal kingdom, and he was utterly o.verse to
the idea of a Jewish king. The chief priests and
scribes had professed to understand the prophecies in reference to the appearing of Christ. They
had repeated to the people the prophecies which
relate to the second ·appearing of Christ in power
and great glory, to put down all authority, and
to rule over the whole earth. They had in a
boastful, resentful manner, asserted that Christ
was to be a temporal prince, and that every kingdom and na.tion was to bow in submission to his
authority.
These priests had not searched the proph-
THE FIRST ADVENT.
25
ecies with an eye single to the glory of God, or
with a desire to conform their lives to the high
standard marb:ld out by the prophets. They
searched the Scriptures to find ancient prophecies which they could in some way interpret to
sustain their lofty pride, and to show with what
contempt God regarded all the nations of the world
except the Jews. They declared that the power
and authority they were then compelled to r-espect
and obey, would soon come to an end; for Messiah would take the throne of David, and, by force
of arms, restore the Jews to their liberty, and to
their exalted privileges. The understanding of
the Jews was darkened. They had no light in
themselves. They were seeing the prophecies
through their own perverse understanding. Satan was leading them on to their own ruin. And
Herod was determined to !lefeat the purposes of
the Jews, and to humble these proud boasters, by
destroying Christ as soon as he should be found.
After the mission of the wise men had been accomplished, they were purposing to return, and
bear the joyful news to Herod of the success of
their journey. But God sent his angel in the
night season to turn the course of the wise men.
In a vision of the night they were plainly told
not to return to Herod. They obeyed the heavenly vision. "And being warned of God in a dream
that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way. And
when they were departed, behold the angel of the
Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying,
Arise, and take the young child and his mother,
and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I
bring thee word; for Herod will seek the young
Orcnt
Contrvc.:~y,
Yol. 2.
26
THE GREAT CONTROVERSY.
child to destroy him. When he arose, he took
the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt."
The Lord moved upon the wise men tQ go in
search of Jesus, and he directed their course by
a star. This star, leaving them when near Jerusalem, led them to make inquiries in Judah; for
they thought it was not possible for the chief
priests and scribes to be ignorant of this great
event. The coming of the wise men 1p.ade the
whole nation acquainted with the object of their
journey, and directed their attention to the important events which were transpiring. God well
knew that the adve-nt of his Son to earth would
stir the powers of darkness. Satan did not want
that light should come into the world. The eye
of God was upon his Son every moment. Th~
Lord had fed his prophet Elijah by a miracle when
upon a long journey. He could obtain food from
no other source. He rained manna from Heaven
for the children of Israel. The Lord provided
a way for Joseph to preserve his own life, and the
life of Jesus, ann that of the mother, by their fleeing into Egypt. He provided for the necessities
of their journey, and for their sojourn in Egypt,
by moving upon the wise men of the East to go in
search of the infant Saviour, and to bear him valuable offerings as a token of honor. The Lord is
acquainted with the hearts of all men. He directed the course of Joseph into Egypt, that he
might there find an asylum from the wrath of a
tyrannical king, and the life of the infant Saviour
be preserved. The earthly parents of Jesus were
poor. The gifts brought to them by the wise men
sustained them while in the land of strangers.
Herod waited anxiously for the return of the
THE FIRST ADVENT.
27
wise men; for he was impatient to carry out his
determined purpose to destroy the infant King of
Israel. After he had waited long for the knowledge he desired, he feared his purpo·se might be
thwarted. He reasoned thus: Could those men
have read the dark deed he premeditated?
Could they have understood his design, and purposely avoided him? This he thought was insult
and mockery. His impatience, envy, and hatred,
increased. He was stirred by his father, the devil,
to seek the accomplishment of his purpose by a
most cruel act. If he should fail in carrying out
his murderous intent by pretense and subtlety, he
would, by power and authority, strike terror to
the hearts of all the Jews. They should have an
example of what their king would meet, should they
seek to place one upon the throne in Jerusalem.
And here was a favorable opportunity to humble
the pride of the Jews, an.drbring upon them a calamity wh.ich should discourage them in their ambition to have a separate government, and become
the glory of the whole earth, as they had proudly
boasted. Herod issued a proclamation to a large
body of soldiers, whose hearts were hardened by
crime, war, and bloodshed, to go throughout
Bethlehem and all the coasts thereof, and massacre all the children from two years old and
under. Herod designed in this cruel act to
accomplish a double purpose: first, to exercise,
by this bold act, his power and authority over
the J ewe ; and, second, to silence their proud
boastings in regard to their king, and also make his
own kingdom secure, by murdering the infant
prince whom he envied and feared. This cruel work
was accomplished. The sword of unfeeling soldiers carried destruction eV'erywhere. The horror
28
TilE GREAT CONTROVE!tSY.
and distress of parents were beyond description.
The wailing cries of bereaved mothers, as they
clasped their expiring infants to their breasts,
rose above· the coarse jests and imprecations of
the soldiers, while they cried to Heaven for vengeance on the tyrant king.
All this terrible calamity was suffered of God,
to humble the pride of the Jewish nation. Their
crimes and wickedness had been so great that the
Lord permitted the wicked Herod to thus punish
them. Had they been less boastful and ambitious,
their lives pure, their habits simple and sincere,
God would have preserved them from being thus
humiliated and afflicted by their enemies. God
would, in a signal manner, have made the wrath
of the king harmless to his people, had they been
faithful and perfect before him. But he could not
especially work for them, for their works were abhorred by him.
The- Jews had excited the envy and hatred of
Herod against Christ, through their false interpretation of the prophets. They taught that Christ
was to reign over an earthly empire, in unsurpassed glory. Their proud boasting presented
the Saviour of the world, and his mission to the
earth, altogether in a false light. Their lofty
ideas o.nd their proud boasting did not result as
Satan had at first purposed they should, in the
destruction of the infant Saviour, but rebounded
back upon themselves, filling their homes with
mourning. Jeremiah, in prophetic vision, says :
"In Rams. was there a voice heard, lamentation
and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping
for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not." But Herod did not long
survive his cruel work. He died a fearful death.
THE FIRST ADVENT.
29
He was compelled to yield to a power he could
not turn aside or overcome.
After Herod was cut oir from the earth, the
angel again warned Joseph to return to the land
of Israel. He was desirous to make his home in
Judah or Bethlehem; but when he heard that the
son of the tyrannical Herod reigned upon his
father's throne, he was af;raid that the purposes of
the father might be carried out by the son in murdering Christ. While in his perplexity, not knowing where to locate, the Lord, through his angel,
again selected for him a place of safety. "And
he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth;
that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by
the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene."
This was the reception the Saviour met as be
came to a fallen world. He left his heavenly
home, his majesty, and riches, and high command,
and took upon himself man's naturtl, that he might
sa.ve the fallen race. Instead of men glorifying
G.od for the honor be had conferred upon them in
thus sending his Son in the likeness of sinful
flesh, by giving him a place in their affections,
there seemed to be no rest nor safety for the infant Saviour. Jehovah could not trust to the
inhabitants of the world his Son, who came into
the world that through his divine power he might
redeem fallen man. He who came to bring life
to man, met, from the very ones he came to benefit, insult, hatred, and abuse. God could not trust
his beloved Son with men while carrying on
his benevolent work for their salvation, and final
exaltation to his own throne. He sent angels to
attend his Son and preserve his life, till his mission
on earth should be accomplished, and he should
die by the hands of the very men he came to save.
30
TOE GREAT CONTROVERSY.
CHAPTER
II.
TilE LIFE OF CIIRIST.
Fno111 his childhood, Jesus conformed his life
strictly to the Jewish laws. He manifested great
wisdom in his youth. The grace and power of
God were upon him. The word of the Lord, by
the mouth of the prophet Isaiah, describes the
office and work of Christ, and shows the sheltering
care of God over his Son in his mission to earth,
that the relentless hatred of men, inspired by
Satan, should not be permitted to thwart the design of the great plan of salvation.
"Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine
elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my
Spirit upon him. He shall bring forth judgment
to the Gentiles. He shall not cry, nor lift up,
nor cause his voice to be heard in the street. A
bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking
flax shall he not quench. He shall bring forth
judgment unto truth. He shall not fail nor be
discouraged, till he have set judgment in the
earth."
The voice of Christ was not heard in the street,
in noisy contention with those who were opposed
to his doctrine. Neither was his voice heard in
the street in prayer to his Father, to be heard of
men. His voice was not heard in joyful mirth.
His voice was not raised to exalt himself, .and to
gain the applause and flattery of men. When engaged in teaching, he withdrew his disciples
away from the noise and confusion of the busy
city to some reti~d
place more in harmony with
the lessons of humility, piety, and virtue, which
THE LIFE OF CHRYST.
31
he would impress upon their minds. He shunned
human praise, and preferred solitude a'bd peaceful retirement to the noise and confusion of mortal life. His voice was often heard in earnest,
prevailing intercessions to his Father ; yet for
these exercises he chose the lonely mountain, and
frequently spent whole nights in prayer for strength
to sustain him under the temptations he should
meet, and to accomplish the important work he
came to do for the salvation of man. His petitions were earnest and mingled with strong cries
and tears. And notwithstanding the labor of
soul during the night, he ceased not his labor
through the day. In the morning he would quietly resume his work of mercy and disinterested
benevolence. The life of Christ was in marked
contrast to that of the Jews, and for this very reason they wished to destroy him.
The chief priests, and scribes, and elders, loved
to pray in the most public places ; not only in the
crowded synagogues, but in the corners of the
streets, that they might be seen of men, and
acts of
praised for their devotion and piety. ~heir
charity were done in the most public manner, and
for the purpose of calling the attention of the
people to themselves. Their voices were indeed
heard in the streets, not only in exalting themselves, but in contention with those who differed
with them in doctrine. They were resentful and
unforgiving, proud, haughty, and bigoted. The
Lord, through his faithful prophet, shows the life
of Christ in marked contrast to the hypocritical
chief priests, scribes, and Pharisees.
The parents of Jesus yearly visited Jerusalem,
in accordance with the Je:wish law. Their son,
Jesus, then twelve years old, accompanied them.
32
TilE GREAT CONTROVERSY.
In returning to their home, after they had gone
a day's journey, their anxiety was aroused, as they
missed Jesus. He had not been seen of them
since they 'left J erusa.lem. They supposed he
was with the company. Inquiry and search were
made among their acquaintances and relatives for
their much-loved son; but no trace could be
found of him. They hastened back to Jerusalem,
their hearts heavy with sorrow. For one day of
neglect they lost their son, Jesus, from their company, which cost them three days of anxious
search, with sorrowful hearts, before they found
him. This should be a lesson to those who are
following Christ. If they neglect watchfulness
and prayer, and become careless, they may, in
one day lose Christ; but it may take many days
of anxious, sorrowful search to find him again,
and to enjoy the peace of mind anJ consolation of
his grace that they lost through vain talking,
jesting, joking, and evil speaking, or even neglect
of prayer.
" And it came to pass, that after three days
they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst
of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking
them questions. And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers. And
when they saw him, they were amazed; and his
mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus
dea.lt with us ? behold, thy father and I have
sought thee sorrowing. And he said unto them,
How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I
must be about my Father's business? And they
understood not the saying which he spake unto
them. And he went down with them, and came
to Nazareth, and was subject unto them; but his
mother kept all these sayings in her heart. And
TSE LIFE OF CEIRIST.
33
Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man."
The doctors, and expounders of the law, always
taught the people publicly upon especial occasions. It was upon one of these occasions that
Jesus gave manifest proofs of superior wisdom,
penetration, and mature judgment. The people
were more surprised because the parents of
Christ were poor, and he had not received the
advantages of education. The question passed
from lip to lip, Whence has this youth such wisdom, having never learned? While the parents
of Christ were in search of him, they saw large
numbers flocking to the temple; and as they entered it, the well-known voice of their son arrested their attention. They could not get sight
of him for the crowd; but they knew that they
were not mistaken, for no voice was like hi~,
marked with solemn melody. The parents gazed
in. astonishment at the scene. Their son, in the
midst of the grave and learned doctors and scribes,
was giving evidence of superior knowledge by his
discreet questions and answers. His parents were
gratified to see him thus honored. But the mother
could not forget the grief and anxiety she had
suffered because of his tarry at Jerusalem, and
she, in a reproving maimer, inquired why he had
thus dealt with them, relating her fears and sorrow on his account.
Said Jesus, "How is it that ye sought me?"
This pointed question was to lead them to see that
if they had been mindful of their duty, they
would not have left Jerusalem without him. He
then adds, "Wist ye not that I must be about
my Father's business?" While they had been
unmindful of the responsible charge intrusted to
34
TilE GREAT CONTROVERSY.
them, Jesus was engaged in the work of his Father. Mary knew that Christ did not refer to his,
earthly father, Joseph, but to Jehovah. She laid
these things to heart, and profited by them.
In returning from Jerusalem with the crowd,
talking and visiting engrossed their minds, and
Jesus was forgotten for an entire day. His absence was not observed until the close of the day.
Joseph and Mary had been honored of God in a.n especial manner, in being intrusted with the responsible charge of the Saviour. Angels had heralded
his birth to the shepherds, and God had directed
the course of Joseph, to preserve the life of the
infant Saviour. But the confusion of much talk
had led to the neglect of their sacred trust, and
Jesus was not brought to mind for an entire day,
by those who should not have forgotten him for a
moment. They returned their weary way, sad
and fearful, to Jerusalem. They recalled the terrible massacre of innocent children by the cruel
Herod in hope of destroying the king of Israel.
When their anxiety was relieved by finding Jesus,
they did not acknowledge their own neglect of
duty, but their words reflected on Christ-" Why
hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father
and I have sought thee sorrowing." Jesus, in
most respectful language, inquires, " How is it
that ye sought me?" But these words modestly
reflect back the. censure upon themselves, in reminding them that, if they had not permitted themselves to be engrossed with matters of no special
importance, they would not have had the trouble
of searching for him. He then justifies his course:
"Wist ye not that I must be about my Father's
business?" While he was engaged in the work
he came to the earth to perform, they had neg-
THE LIFE OF CHRIST.
35
lected the work his Father had especially intrusted
to them. They could not fully comprehend the
words of Christ; yet Mary, in a great measure,
understood their import, and laid them away in
her heart to ponder over in the future.
It was so natural for the parents of Christ to
look upon him as their own child, as parents commonly regard their children, that they were in
danger of losing the precious blessing which daily
attended them in the presence of Jesus, the world's
redeemer. As Christ was daily with them, his
life in many' respects as other children, it was difficult to keep before them his sacred mission, and
the daily blessing of having committed to their
charge and parental care, for a while, the Son of
God, whose divinity was vailed with humanity.
His tarry in Jerusalem was designed of him as a
gentle reminder to them of their duty' lest they
should become.indifferent in a greater degree, and
lose the sense of the high favor God had conferred
upon them.
Not one act in the life of Christ was unimportant. Every event of his life was for the benefit
of his followers in future time. This circumstance
of the tarry of Christ in Jerusalem teaches an important lesson to those who should believe on him.
Many had come a great distance to keep the passover, instituted that the Hebrews might keep
in memory their wonderful deliverance from
Egypt. Thi~
ordinance was designed to call their
minds from their world-loving interests, and from
their cares and anxieties in relation to temporal
concerns, and to review the works of God. They
were to _call to mind his miracles, his mercies and
loving-kindneBB, to them, that their love and reverence for him might increase, and lead them to
36
THE OREAT CONTROVERSY.
ever look to him, and trust in him in all their trials,
and not turn to other gods.
The observance of the passover possessed a.
mournful interest to the Son of God. He saw in
the slain lamb a symbol of his own death. The
people who celebrated this ordinance were instructed to associate the slaying of the lamb with
the future death of the Son of God. The blood,
marking the door-posts of their houses, was the
symbol of the blood of Christ which was to be efficacious for the believing sinner, in cleansing him
from sin, and sheltering him from the wrath of
God which was to come upon the impenitent and
unbelieving world, as the wrath of God fell upon
the Egyptians. But none could be benefited by
this special provision made by God for the salvation of ma.n unless they should perform the work the
Lotd left them to do. They had a part to act
themselves, and by their acts to manifest their faith
in the provision made for their salvation.
Jesus was acquainted with hearts. He knew
that, as the crowd returned in company from J erusalem, there wonld be much talking and visiting
which would not be seasoned with humility and
grace, and the Messiah and his mission would be
nearly forgotten. It was his choice to return
from J erusaJem with his parents alone; for in
·being retired, his father and mother would have
more time for reflection, and for .meditation upon
the prophecies which referred to his future sufferings and death. He did not wish that the painful
events which they were to experience in his offering up his life for the sins of the world, to be new
and unexpected to them. He was separated from
them in their ::-eturn from Jerusalem. After the
celebration of the passover, they sought him sor-
TilE LIFE OF CHRIST.
37
rowing three days. When be should be slain for
the sins of the world, he would be separated from
them, lost to them, for three days. But after that,
he would reveal himself to them, and be found of
them, and their faith rely upon him as the redeemer
of the fallen race, the advocate with the Father in
their behalf.
Here is a lesson of instruction to all the followers
of Christ. He designed that none of these lessons
should be lost, but be written for the benefit of
future generations. ·There i::; necessity of carefulness of words and actions when Christians are
associated together, lest Jesus be forgotten of them,
and they pass along careless of the fact that Jesus
is not among them. When they are aroused to
their condition, they discover that they have journeyed without the presence of Him who could give
peace and joy to their hearts, and days are occupied in returning, and searching for him whom
they should have retained with them every moment. Jesus will not be found in the company of
those who are careless of his presence, and who
engage in conversation having no reference to
their Redeemer, in whom they profess their hopes
of eternal life are centered. Jesus shuns the company of such, so also do the angels who do his
commands. These heavenly messengers are not
attracted to the crowd where minds are diverted
from heavenly things. These pure and holy spirits cannot remain in the company where Jesus'
presence is not desired and encouraged, and his
absence not marked. For this reason, great mourning, grief, a.nd discouragement exist. Through
lack of meditation, watchfulness, and prayer, they
have lost all that is valuable. The divine rays of
light emanating from Jems are not with them,
38
THE GREAT CONTROVERSY.
cheering them with their loving, elevating influence.
They are enshrouded in gloom, because their careless, irreverent spirit has separated Jesus from
their company, and driven the ministering angels
from them.
Many who attend meetings of devotion, and
have been instructed by the servants of God, and
been greatly refreshed and blessed in seeking
Jesus, have returned to their homes no better than
they left them, because they did not feel the importance of praying and watching thereunto, as
they returned to their homes. They frequently
feel inclined to complain of others, because they
realize their loss. Some murmur against God,
and do not reproach themselves as being the cause
of their own darkness, and sufferings of mind.
These should not reflect upon others. The fault
is in themselves. They talked and jested, and
visited away the heavenly Guest, and themselves
they have only to blame. It is the privilege of
all to retain Jesus with them. If they do this,
their words must be select, seasoned with grace.
The thoughts of their hearts must be disciplined to
meditate upon heavenly and divine things.
The love of God, manifested toward fallen man
in the gift of his beloved Son, amazed the holy
angels. " God so loved the world that he gave
his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth
in him should not perish, but have everlasting
life." The Son was the Lrightness of the Father's
glory, and the express image of his person. He
possessed divine excellence and greatness. He
was equal with God. It pleased the Father that
in him all fullness should dwell. He "thought it
not robbery to be equal with God." Yet he" made
himself of no reputation, and took upon him the
THE LIFE OF CHRIST.
39
form of a servant, and was made in the likeness
of men. And being found in fa.Shion as a man,
he humbled himself, and became obedient unto
death, even the death· of the cross."
In Christ were united the human and the divine. His mission was to reconcile God to man,
and. man to God. His work was to unite the finite with the Infinite. This was the only way in
which fallen men could be exalted, through the
merits of the. blood of Christ, to be partakers of
the divine nature. Taking. h.uman nature fitted
Christ to understand the nature of man's trials,
and all the t~mpaions
wherewith he is beset.
Angels, who were unacquainted with sin, could
not sympathize with man in his peculiar trials.
Before Christ left Heaven and came into the
world to die, he was taller than any of the angels.
He was majestic and lovely. But when his ministry commenced, he was but little taller than the
common size of men then living upon the earth.
Had he come among men with his noble, heavenly
form, his outward appearance would have attracted
the minds of the people to himself, and he would
have been received without the exercise of faith.
It was in the order of God that Christ should
take upon himself the form and nature of fallen
man, that he might be made perfect through suffering, and himself endure the strength of Satan's
fierce temptations, that he might understand how
to succor those who should be tempted. The faith
of men in Christ as the Messiah was not to rest
on the evidences of sight, and they believe on him
because of his personal attractions, but because of
the excellence of character found in him, which
never had been found, neither could be, in an:>ther. All who loved virtue, purity, and holiness,
40
TilE GREAT CONTROVERSY.
would be drawn to Christ, and would see sufficient
evidence of his being the Messiah foretold by
prophecy that should come. Those who thus
trusted in the word of God, would receive the benefits of the teachings of Christ, and finally of his
atonement.
Christ came to call the attention of all men to
his Father, teaching them repentance toward God.
His work was to reconcile man to God. Although
Christ did not come as he was expected, yet he
came just as prophecy had marked out that he
would come. Those who wished to believe, had
sufficient grounds for their faith by referring to
prophecy which predicted the coming of the Just
One, and described the manner of his coming.
The ancient Jewish church were the highly favored people of God, brought out of Egypt and
acknowledged as his own peculiar treasure. The
many and exceeding great and precious promises
to them as a people, were the hope and confidence
of the Jewish church. Herein they trusted, and
believed their salvation sure. No other people
profes!>ed to be governed by the commandment£ of
God. Our Saviour came first to his own people,
but they received him not.
'l'he self-righteous, unbelieving Jews expected
their Saviour and King would come into the world
clothed with majesty and power, compelling all
Gentiles to yield obedience to him. They did not
expect any humiliation and suffering would be manifested in him. They would not receive the meek
and lowly Jesus, and acknowledge him to be the
Saviour of the world. Had he appeared in splendor, and assumed the authority of the world's
great men, instead of taking the form of a servant,
they woul<l have received and worshiped him.
LIFE AND liiSSION OF JOHN.
41
CHAPTER III.
LIFE AND MISSION OF JOHN.
ABOUT the time of the birth of John, the Jews
were in a deplorable condition. And in order to
keep down insurrection, they were allowed to have
a separate government, in name, while the Romans
virtually ruled them. The J ewl3 saw that their
power and liberty were restricted, and that, in reality, they were under the Roman yoke. The
Romans claimed the right to appoint men to the
priesthood, and to remove them from office at will.
Thus was there a door opened for the priesthood
to become corrupt. The priests, not being divinely appointed, abused their office, and were unfaithful in their ministrations. Men of corrupt
morals, with money and influence, obtained the
favor of those in power, and succeeded in attaining to the priesthood. The whole country felt
their oppression, and revolt and dissension were
the result of this state of things.
The pious Jews were looking, believing, and
earnestly praying, for the coming of the Messiah.
God could not manifest hie glory and power to hie
people through a corrupt priesthood. The set
time to favor hie people had come. The faith of
the Jews had become clouded, in consequence of
their departure from God. Many of the leaders
of the people brought in their own traditions, and
enforced them upon the Jews, as the commandments of God. The pious J ewe believed,. and
trusted in God that he would not leave his people
in this condition, to be a reproach to the heathen.
Great
Contr~e;
.
Vol. 2.
42
THE GREAT CONTROVERSY.
He bad, in time past, raised them up a deliverer
when in their distress they had called upon him.
From the predictions of the prophets, they thought
the time appointed of God had arrived when Messiah would come. And when he should come, they
would have a clear revelation of the divine 'vill,
and that their doctrines would be freed from the
traditions and needless ceremonies which had confused their faith. The pious, aged Jews waited
day and night for the coming Messiah, praying
that they might see the Saviour before they died.
They longed to see the cloud of ignorance and
of the people.
bigotry dispelled from the min~s
"Zacharias and Elizabeth were both righteous
before God walking in all the commandments and
ordinances of the Lord blameless." They were far
advanced in years. Zacharias ministered in the holy
office of the priesthood. "And it came to pass that
while he executed th.e priest's office before God in
the order of his course, according to the custom
of the priest's office, his lot was ~o burn incense
when he went into the temple of the Lord. And
the whole multitude of the people were praying
without at the time of incense. And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing
on the right side of the altar of incense."
And when Zacharias saw the angel of God, he
was surprised and troubled. This conscientious,
God-fearing soul questioned whether he h&d himself offended God, and that this divine messenger
had come to reprove, or in judgment, to condemn.
The heavenly messenger cheered him with these
words :
~
"Fear not, Zacharias, for thy prayer is heard;
and thy wife .Elizabeth shall bear thee a aoa, and
thou shalt call his name John. And thou shalt
LIFE AND MISSION OF JOllN.
43
have joy and gladness ; and many shall rejoice at
his birth. For he shall be great in the sight of
the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong
drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost:
And many of the children of Israel shall he turn
to the Lord their God. And he shall go before
him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the
hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready
a people prepared for the Lord."
In the above words the angel Gabriel enjoined
upon Zacharias that John should be brought up
with strictly temperate habits. This was to secure
to him physical, mental, and moral health, that he
should be qualified for the important mission of
making ready a people for the Lord. In order to
accomplish this great work, the Lord must work
with him. The Spirit of God would be with John
if he should be obedient to the requirement of the
angel.
A great work was before John, and in order for
him to have a. sound physical constitution, and
mental and moral power, to do this work, he must
control appetite and passion. John was to lead
out as a reformer, and by his abstemious life, and
plain dress, rebuke the intemperate habits, and
the sinful extravagance, of the people. The indulgence of appetite in luxurious food, and the
use of wine, were lessening physical strength, and
weakening the intellect, so that crime and grievous sins did not appear sinful. The angel Gabriel
gave special directions to the parents of John in
regard to temperance. A lesson was given . upon
health reform by one of the exalted angels from
the throne of Heaven. John was to reform the
children of Israel, and turn them to the Lord.
44:
THE GREAT CONTROVERSY.
He ba.d the promise that God would work with
him. He was " to turn the hearts of the fathers to
the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of
the just, to make ready a people prepared for the
Lord."
John was a. representative of the people of God
in the last days, to whom God has committed important a.nd solemn truths. The .world at large
are given to gluttony and the indulgence of base
passions. The light of health reform is opened
before the people of God at this day, that they
may see the necessity of holding their appetites
and passions under control of the higher powers of
the mind. This is also necessary, that they may
have mental strength and clearness, to discern the
sacred chain of truth, and turn from the bewitching errors and pleasing fables, that are flooding
the world. Their work is to present before the
people the pure doctrine of the Bible. Hence
health .reform finds its place in the preparatory
work for the second appearing of Christ.
Zacharias was as much astonished at the words
of the angel, as he was at his appearance. He
had so humble an opinion of himself that he thought
it could not be possible that he was thus to be
honored of the Lord. He inquired, Whereby
shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my
wife well stricken in years. Zacharias for a moment forgot the unlimited power of God, and that
nothing was impossible with him. He did not call
to mind the case of Abraham and Sarah, and the
fulfillment of the promise of God to them.
Zacharias received a confirmation. of the angel's
message, "Behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not
able to speak, until the day that these things
shall be performed, because thou believest not
LIFE AND MISSION OF JOHN.
45
my words which shall be fulfilled in their season."
He was soon made to realize the verity of the divine mission. The angel had no sooner departed
than he was struck dumb.
The particular office of Zacharias was to pray in
behalf of the people, for pardon of public and national sins, and to earnestly pray for the coming
of the long-expected Saviour whom they believed
must redeem his people. When Zacharias attempted to pray, he could not utter a word. The
people waited long for the appearance of Zacharias, to learn whether God had given them any
visible token of his approbation. They began to
fear from his long tarry that God had manifested
his displeasure. When Zacharias came out of the
temple, his countenance was shining with the light
which the heavenly angel had reflected upon him.
But he could not speak to the people. He made
signs to them that an angel had appeared to him
in the temple, and because of his unbelief he was
deprived of the power of speech, until the prediction of the angel should be fulfilled.
Soon after the birth of John, "the toneue of
Zacharias was loosed, and he spake and praised
God. And fear came on all that dwelt round about
them ; and all these sayings were noised abroad
throughout all the hill country of Judea. And
all that heard them, laid them up in their hearts,
saying, What manner of child shall this be? .And
the hand of th~
Lord was with him; and his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and
prophesied. And the child grew, and waxed
strong in spirit, and was in the deserts until the
day of his showing unto Israel."
The prophet John separated himself from his
friends and kindred, and made his home in the
46
THE GREAT CONTROVERSY.
wilderness. He denied himself of the ordinary
comforts of life. His food was simple. His
clothing was a garment made of hair-cloth, confined about the waist with a leather girdle. His
parents had in a most solemn manner dedicated
him to God from his birth.
The life of John, although passed in the wilderness, was not inactive. His separation from
society did not make him gloomy and morose,
neither was he unreconciled with his lonely life of
hardship and privation. It was his choice to be
secluded from the luxuries of life, and from de·
praved society. Pride, envy, jealousy, and corrupt passions seemed to control the hearts of men.
But John was separated from the influence of these
things, and, with discerning eye and wonderful discrimination, read the characters of men. He lived
in the quiet retreat of the wilderness, and occasionally he mingled in society; but would not remain long where the moral atmosphere seemed to
be polluted. He feared that the sight of his eyes
and the hearing of his ears would so pervert his
mind that he would lose a sense of the sinfulness
of sin. A great work was before him, and it was
necessary that he should form a character unbiased by any surrounding influence. It was necessary that his physical, mental, and moral conditions should be of that high and noble type that
would qualify him for a work which required firmness and integrity, that when he shoufd appear
among men he could enlighten them, and be instrumental in giving a new direction to their
thoughts, and awakening them to the necessity of
forming righteous characters. John would bring
the people up to the standard of divine perfctio~.
H~
studied the peculiarities of minds, that he
LH'E AND MISSION OF JOHN.
47
might know how to adapt his instructions to tbe
people.
John did not feel strong enough to stand the
great pressure of temptation he would meet in so·
ciety. He feared his character would be molded
according to the prevailing customs of the Jews,
and he chose the wilderness as his school, in
which his · mind could' be properly educated and
disciplined from God's great book of nature. In
the wilderness, John could the more readily deny
himself and bring his appetite under control, and
dress in accordance to natural simplicity. And
there was nothing in the wilderness that would
take his mind from meditation and prayer. Satan
had access to John, even after be had closed every
avenue in his power through which he would enter.
But his habits of life were so pure and natural
that he could discern the foe, and had strength of
spirit and decision of character to resist him.
The book of nature was open before John with
its inexhaustible store of varied instruction. He
sought the favor of God, and the Holy Spirit
rested upon him, and kindled in his heart a glowing zeal to do the great work of calling the people
to repentance, and to a higher and holier life.
John was fitting himself, by the privations and
hardships of his secluded life, to so control all his
physical and mental powers that he could stand
among the people as unmoved by surrounding circumstances as the rocks and mountains of the
wilderness that had surrounded him for thirty
years.
when John's work
The state of public af ~ tirs
commenced, was unsettled. Discord and insurrection were prevailing, when the voice of John
was first lifted up, like the sound of a trumpet
48
TllE OREAT CONTROVERSY.
pealing forth from the wilderness, thrilling the
hearts of all who heard with a new and strange
power. John fearlessly denounced the sins of the
people, saying, "Repent ye; for the kingdom of
Heaven is at hand." Multitudes answered to the
voice of the prophet, and flocked to the wilderness.
They saw, in the singular dress and appearance
of this prophet, a resemblance to the description
of the ancient seers, and the opinion prevailed
that he was one of the prophets risen from the
dead.
It was the purpose of John to startle and arouse
the people, and cause them to tremble because of
their great wickedness. In simplicity and plainness
he pointed out the errors and crimes of men. A
power attended his words, and, relculant as the people were to hear the denunciation of their unholy
lives, yet they could not resist his words. He
flattered none; neither would he receive flattery
of any. The people, as if with common consent,
came to him repenting, ar1d confessing their sins,
and were baptized of him in Jordan.
Kings and rulers came to the wilderness to hear
the prophet, and were interested, and deeply convicted as he fearlessly pointed out their particular
sins. His discernment of character and spiritual
sight read the purposes and hearts of those who
came to him, and he fearlessly told, both rich and
poor, the honorable and the lowly, Lhat without
repentance of their sins, and a thorough conversion, although they might claim to be righteous,
they could not enjoy the favor of God, and have
part in the kingdom of the Messiah, whose coming he announced.
In the spirit and with the power of Elijah, John
denounced the corruptions of the Jews, and raised
LIFE AND MISSION OF JOHN.
49
his voice in reproTing their prevailing sins. His
discourses were plain, pointed, and convincing.
Many were brought to repentance of their sins,
and, as evidence of their repentance, were baptized of him in Jordan. This wa.s the preparatory
work for the ministry of Christ. Many were
convicted because of the plain truths uttered by
this faithful prophet; but, by rejecting the light,
they became enshrouded in deeper darkness, so
that they were fully prepared to turn from the
evidences attending Jesus, that he was the true
Messiah.
As John looked forward to the ministry and miracles of Christ, he appealed to the people, " saying, Repent ye; for the kingdom of Heaven is at
hand." He was successful in his ministry. Persons of all rank, high and low, rich and poor,
submitted to the requirements of the prophet, as
necessary for them in order to participate in the
kingdom he came to declare. Many of.the scribes
and Pharisees came to him, confessing their sins,
and were baptized of him in Jordan. The confessions made by the Pharisees astonished the prophet;
for they had exalted themselves as better than other
men, and had maintained a high opinion of their
own piety and worthiness. As they sought to obtain
remission of their sins, and revealed the secrets of
their lives, which had been covered from the eyes
of men, the prophet was amazed. " But when he
saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come
to his baptism, he said unto them, 0 generation of
vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath
to come? Bring forth, therefore, fruits meet for
repentance. And think not to say within your·
selves, We have Abraham to our father; for I say
50
Til}; OREAT CONTROVERSY.
unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise
up children unto Abraham."
The whole Jewish nation seemed to be affected
by the mission of John. The threatenings of God
on account of their sins, repeated by the prophet,
for a time alarmed them. John knew that they
cherished the idea that, because they .were of the
seed of Abraham, they were securely established
in the favor of God, while their course of action
was abhorred of him. Their conduct wae, in many
respects, even worse than that of the heathen nations to whom they felt so much superior. The
prophet faithfully presented to them the ability of
God to raise up those who would take their place,
and would become more worthy children of Abraham. He told them plainly that God was not dependent upon them to fulfill his purposes ; for he
could provide ways and means independent of
them to carry forward his great work which was
to be accomplished in purity and righteousness.
John further adds: "And now also the ax is laid
unto the root of the trees; therefore every tree
which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down,
and cast into the fire." He impresses upon them
that the value of the tree is ascertained by the
fruit it produces. Though a tree may bear an
exalted name, yet if it produces no fruit, or if its
fruit ie unworthy of the name, the name will avail
nothing in saving the tree from destruction. " Of
thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramblebush gather they grapes."
The prophet of God was impressed by the holy
Spirit that many of the Pharisees and Sadducees
who asked baptism had no true ennvictions of their
sins. They had selfish motives. They thought that
if they should become friends of the prophet, they
LIF.E AND MISSION OF JOHN.
51
would stand a better chance to be personally fa.Tored of the coming Prince. In their blindness
they believed that he was to set up a temporal
kingdom, and bestow honors a.nd riches upon his
subjects.
John rebuked their selfish pride and avarice.
He warned them of their unbelief, and c.ondemned
~heir
hypocrisy. He told them tha.t they had not
fulfilled the conditions of the coven.a.nt on their
part, which would entitl6 them to the promises
God made to a faithful and obedient people. Their
proud boasts of being ·children . of Abraham did
not make them really such. Their exhibitions of
pride, their arrogance, jealousy, selfishness, and
cruelty, stamped their characters as a. generation
of vipers, rather than th<. .children of o.bedi<mt
and just Abraham. Their wicked works had diequalified them to claim the promises God made to
the children of Abraham. John assured them
that God would raise up children unto Abraham
from the very stones, to whom he could fulfill his
promise, rather than to depend on. the natural
children of Abraham who had neglected the light
God had · given them, and had become hardened
by selfish ambition. and wicked unbelief. He told
them tha.t if they were really the children. of
Abraham, they would do the works of their father
.i\.braham.. . They would have Abraha.m's faith,
love, and obedience. But they did not bear this
fruit. They had no claim to Abraham as their
father. or the promises God made .to the seed of
Abraham. "Every tree which bringeth not forth
good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire."
While they were professing to be God's commandment-keeping people, their works denied their
faith, and without true repentance for their sins
52
TRE GREAT CONTROVERSY.
they would have no part in the kingdom of Christ.
Justice, benevolence, mercy, and the love of God
would characterize the lives of his commandmentkeeping people. Unless these fruits were seen in
their daily life, all their profession was of no
more value than chaff which would be devoted to
the fire of destruction.
The Jews had deceived themselves by misinter- ·
preting the words of the Lord through his prophets, of his eternal favor to his people'Israel.
" Thus saith the Lord, which giveth the sun for
a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon
and of the stars for a light by night, which divideth the sea when the waves thereof roar; the
Lord of hosts is his name : If those ordinances
depart from before me, saith the Lord, then the
seed of Israel also shall cease from being a nation
before me forever. Thus saith the Lord: If
heaven above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, I will also
cast off all the seed of Israel for all that they have
done, saith the Lord." Jer. 31: 35-37.
These words the Jews applied to themselves. And
because God had shown them so great favor and
mercy, they -flattered themselves that, notwithstanding their sins and iniquities, he would still
retain them as his favored people, and shower especial blessings upon them. They misapplied th~
words of Jeremiah, and depended for their salvation upon being called the children of Abraham.
If they had indeed been worthy of the name of
Abraham's children, they would have followed the
righteous example of their father Abraham, and
would have done the works of Abraham.
This has been the danger of the people of God
in all ages ; and especially is this the danger of
LIFE AND MISSION OF JOHN.
!)3
those living near the close of time. We are cited
by the apostle to the unbelief, blindness, rebellion,
and repeated sins of the Hebrews, as a warning.
Paul plainly states that " all these things happened unto them for ensamples ; and fuey are
written for our admonition, upon whom the ends
of the world are come." If, in these last days of
peril,. for the encouragement of persons in responsible positions, God in mercy gives them a testimony of favor, they frequently become lifted up,
and lose sight of their frailties and weaknesse11,
and rely upon their own judgment, flattering themselves that God cannot accomplish his work without their especial aid. They trust in their own
wisdom ; and the Lord permits them, for a time, to
apparently prosper, to reveal the weakness and
folly of the natural heart. But the Lord will, in
his own time, and in his own way, bring down the
pride and folly of these deceived ones, and show
to them their true condition. If they will accept
the humiliatioo, and by confession and sincere repentance, turn unto the Lord, perfecting holiness
in the fear of God, he will renew his love to them.
But if they shut their eyes to their own sins, as
did the .J ewe, and choose their own w~ys,
the Lord
will give them up to blindness of mind, and hardness of heart, that they cannot discern the things
of the Spirit of God.
God cannot do much for man, because he misinterprets his blessings, and concludes that he· is
favored 9n account of some goodness in himself.
It is not safe to speak in the praise of mortals ;
for they cannot bear it. Satan has the special
work to do of flattering poor souls, and he needs
not the help . of the Lord's servants in this matter.
How few realize the weakness of human nature
54
THE GREAT CONTRoVERSY.
arid the subtlety of Satan. Many in these last
days are preparing themselves for affiiction and
sorrow, or for complete separation from the favor
of God, because of their pride and self-righteousness. They will fall through self-exaltation.
The prophet John impressed upon the people
the necessity of their profession being accompanied
with good works. Their words and actions would
be their fruit, and would determine the character
of the tree. If their works were evil, the truth
of God would testify against them. God would
in no wise excuse sin in a people who had been
enlightened, ev~n
if he had, in their days of faithfulness and purity, loved them, and given them
especial promises. These promises and blessings
were always upon condition of obedience upon
their part.
The Lord pronounced, by the mouth of Moses,
blessings upon the obedient, and curses upon the
disobedient. "Ye shall make you no idols," was
the command of God. "Y e shall keep my Sabbaths, and reverence my sanctuary. I am the
Lord. If ye walk in my statutes, .and keep my
commandments, and do them ; then I will give you
rain in due season, and the land shall yield her
increase, and the trees of the field shall yield
their fruit." Many and great blessings are enumerated, which God would bestow ; and then, above
all the other blessings, he promised, " I will set
my tabernacle among you; and my soul shall not
abhor you. And I will walk among you, and will
be your God, and ye shall be my people." "But
if ye will not hearken unto me, and will not do all
these commandments; and if ye shall despise my
statutes, or if your soul abhor my judgments, so
that ye will not do all my commandments, but
LIFE AND MISSION OF JOHN.
55
that ye break my covenant, I also will do this
unto you: I will even appoint over you terror,
consumption, and the burning ague, that shall consume the eyes, and cause sorrow of heart ; and ye
shall sow your seed in vain ; for your enemies
shall eat it. And I will set my face against you,
and ye shall be slain before your enemies. They
that hate you shall reign over you, and ye shall
flee :when none pul'Bueth you."
The Jews were experiencing the fulfillment of
the threatened curse of God for their departure
from him, and for their iniquity; yet they did not
lay these things to heart, and affiict their souls before God. A people that hated them ruled over
them. They were claiming the blessings God had
promised to confer upon them should they be obevery time they
dient and faithful. But at ~he
were suffering under the curse of God because of
disobedience. John declared to them that unless
they bore fruit, they would · be hewn down and
cast into the fire.
He specified the fruit they were required to bear
in order to become the subjects of Christ's kivgd{)m; which were works of love, mercy, and benevolence. They must have virtuous characters.
These fruits would be the result of genuine repentance and faith. If blessed with . plenty, 8Jld
they saw others destitute, they_should divide with
them. They must be workers. "He that hath
two coats, let him impart to him that hath ·none;
and he that hath meat, let him do likewise. Then
came also publicans.to be baptized, and said unto
him, Master, what shall we do? And he said unto
them, Exact no more than that which is appointed
you. And the soldiers likewise d.emanded of him,
!laying, And what shall we do ? And he said unto
56
TilE GREAT CONTROVERSY.
them, do violence to no man, neither accuse any
falsely; and be content with your wages."
John gave his !lisciples lessons in practical godliness. He showed them that true goodness, honesty, and fidelity, must be seen in their daily life,
and that they should be actuated by unselfish
principles, or they would be no better than common sinners.
Unless others should be made better within the
sphere of their influence, they would be like the
fruitless tree. Their wealth was not to be used
merely for selfish rurposes. They were to relieve
the wants of the destitute, and to make free-will
offerings to God to advance the interests of his
cause. They should not abuse their privileges, to
oppress, but should shield the defenseless, redress
the wrongs of the injured, and thus give a noble
example of benevolence, compassion, and virtue,
to those who were inferior and dependent. If they
made no change in their conduct, but continued
to be extravagant, selfish, and void of principle,
they would correctly represent the tree bearing no
good fruit. This lesson is applicable to all Christians. The followers of Christ should evidence to
the world a change in their life for the better, and
by their good works show the transforming influence of the Spirit of God upon their hearts.
But there are many who bear no fruit to the glory
of God; they give no evidence of a radical change
in their life. Although they make high profession, they have not felt the necessity of obtaining
a personal experience· for themselves, by engaging
in Christian duties with hearts of love, intensified
by their new and holy obligations, feeling no
weight of their responsibility in doing their Master's work with readiness and diligence.
LIFE AND MISSION OF JOHN.
67
The people thought that John might be the
promised Messiah. His life was so unselfish,
marked with humility and self-4enial. His teachings, exhortations, and reproofs, were fervent, sin':'
cere, and _courageous. In his mission, he turned
not to the right or to the left to court the fav.ors
or applause of any. He did not aspire to 'worldly
honor or worldly dignity, but was humble in heart
and life, and did not assume honors that did not
belong to him. He assured his followers that he
was not the Christ.
John, as a. prophet, stood forth as God's representative, to show the connection between the la"f
and prophets, and the Christian dispensation.
His work and ministry pointed back to the law
and the prophets, while he, at the same time,
pointed the people forward to Christ, as the Saviour of the world. He :~;aised
his voice and cried
to the people, " Behold the Lamb of God, which
taketh away the sin of the world."
Multitudes followed this singula-r prophet from
place to place, and many s&crificed all to obey his
instruction. Kings, and the noble of the earth,
were attracted to this prophet of God, and heard
him gladly. As John saw that the attention of
the people was dir~cte
to him, thinking that he
might be the Coming One, he s~mght
every opportunity to direct the attention of the people to
One mightier than himself.
Groat Cootrovoroy, Vol. 2.
5·
58
THE GREAT CONTRO"T"ERSY.
CHAPTER IV.
THE MISSION OF CHRIST.
CHRIST's life had been so retired and secluded
at Nazareth that John had not a personal acquaintance with him, and he did not positively
know that he was the Messiah. He wa.s acquainted with the circumstances of his birth, and
he believed him to be the promised One. The
secluded life of C.hrist for thirty years at Nazareth, in which he gave no special evidence of his
Messia.hship, suggested doubts to John whether he
wa.s indeed the One for whose coming he was to
prepa.re the way. John, however, rested the matter in faith, fully believing that God would in due
time make it plain. The Lord had shown- him
that the Messiah would be pointed out to him by
a distinct sign ; when this should be· done, then
John could present him to the world as the longexpected Messiah, the Lamb of God, that was to
take away the sin of the world.
John had. heard of the sinless character and
spotless purity of Christ. His life was in harmony with what the Lord had revealed to him respecting one that was among them whose life wa.s
without the taint of sin. John had also seen that
he should be the example for every repenting sinner. When Christ presented himself for baptism, John recognized him a.t once as the superior
one revealed to him. He discerned, in the person
and deportment of Christ, a character above every
other man he had ever seen. The very atmosphere of his presence was holy and awe-inspiring.
Although he knew him not as the Messiah, yet
THE MISSION 0.11' CHRIST.
59
never had such a holy influence been realized by
John from any ·one as ·when in the presence of
Christ. He felt the superiority of Christ at once,
and shrank from performing the rite of baptism
to one whom he knew to be sinless. Many had
come .to him to receive the baptism of repentance,
confessing their sins and crimes ; bnt John .:ould
not understand why the only sinless one upon the
earth should .ask for an ordinance implying guilt,
virtually confessing, by the symbol of baptism,
pollution to be washed away. He remonstrated
acknowledging his superiority; and
with Christ~
refused to administer the ordinance, saying, " I
have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou
to me?" With firm ap.d gentle authority Jesus
waives the refusal of John and his plea of unl_Vorthiness, saying, " Suffer it to be so now; for
thus it becometh us to fu~l
all righteousness."
his own sins ; but
Christ came not confes~ig
as the sinner's substiguilt was-imputed . to hi~
tute. He came not to repent on his own account;
but in behalf of the sinner. .AB man had transgressed tlie law of God, Christ was to fulfill every
requirement of that law, and thus show perfect
obedience. " Lo, I come to do th,y will, 0 God!"
Christ honored the ordinance of baptism by submitting to this rite. In this act he identified himself with his people ~ their representative and
head. As their substitute, he takes upon him
their sins, numbering himself with the trausgressors, taking the steps the sinner is required to
take, and doing the work the sinner must do. His
life of suffering and patient endurattc,e after his
baptism were an example to converted sinners of
what they should endure and patiently suffer in
consequence of their transgressions and sins.
60
TilE GREAT CONTROVERSY.
John finally yielded to the request of Christ, notwithstanding his feelings of unworthiness to baptize him, and performed the service. He led the
Saviour of the world down into the river Jordan
in the presence of a large concourse of people,
and buried him in the water.
Mter Christ rose up from the water and from
the hand of John, he walked out to the bank of
Jordan, and bowed in the attitude of prayer. The
eyes of John were fastened upon Christ with the
deepest interest and amazement. His heart was
stirred with emotion as he looked upon him thus
bowed as a suppliant: Christ's hands were raised
npwa.rd, and his gaze seemed to penetrate Heaven.
As the believer's example, his sinless humanity
supplicated support and strength from his !Ieavenly Father, as he was. about to commence his public
labors as the Messiah. Jesus poured out his soul
in earnest prayer. A new and important era was
opening .before him. His former peaceful, quiet
life is to here end. He had been happy in a life
of industry and toil, while fulfilling the duties devolving on a son. He was an example to those in
childhood, youth, and manhood. His deportment
showed that he felt the importance and solemnity
of the hour. He knew that trials, toils, conflicts,
sufferings, and death, were in the path his feet had
entered. He felt the weight of the responsibilities he must bear. He was about to engage in
new and arduous duties. A sense of the sinfulness of men, and the hardness of their hearts,
which separated them from God, convinced him
that but few would discern his merciful mission,
and accept the salvation he came from Heaven to
bring them.
Never before had angels listened to such a
1'RE MISSION OF CHRIST.
61
p~.:ayer
as Christ offered at his baptism, and they
were solicitous to be the bearers of the message
from the Father to his Son. But, no ; direct
from the Father issues the light of his glory. The
heavens were opened, and beams of glory rested
upon the Son of God, and assumed the form of a.
dove, in appearance like burnished gold. The
dove-like form was emblematica.l of the meekness
and gentleness of Christ. While the people stood
spell-bound with amazement, their eyes fastened
upon Christ, from the opening heaveilS came these
words : " This is my beloved Son, in whom I am
well pleased." The words of confirmation that
Christ is the Son of God was given to inspire
faith in those who witnessed the seene, and to
sustain the Son of God in his arduous work. No'iwithsta.nding the Son of God was clothed with
humanity, yet Jehovah, with his own voice, assures
him of his sonship with the Eternal. In this manifestation to his Son, God accepts humanity as
exalted through the excellence of his beloved
Son.
As John had now w:itnessed the heavenly dove
resting upon Jesus, which was the promised token
of the Messiah, he stretched forth his hand, and
with assurance proclaimed before the multitude,
"Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away
the sin of the world!" · From this time John
had no doubt in regard to Jesus being the true
Messiah.
After this, Jesus withdrew into the wilderness,
to be tempted of the devil forty days. His long
fast ended, the victory won, he returns to the
banks of the Jordan, mingling again with the disciples of John, yet giving no outward evidence of
62
TBE GREAT CONTROVERSY.
his special work, and taking no measures to bring
himself to notice.
Men were sent from the highest authority in
Jerusalem to inquire in regard to the great agitation John was creating. He was calling whole
cities and towns to listen to his voice of warning ;
and they would know the prophet's authority for
thus claiming the attention of the people, and
turQ.ing the world upside down. These messengers challenged John to tell them certainly if he
was the Messiah. John confessed, I am not the
Christ. And they asked him, What then ? Art
thou Elias ? And he saith, I am not. Art thou
that prophet ? And he answered, No. Then said
they unto him, Who art thou ? that we may give
an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou
of thyself? He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness. Make straight the way of
the Lord, as said the prophet Esa.ias. John is
then questioned as to his authority for baptizing,
and thus agitating the people, when he does not
claim to be Christ, or Elias, neither that prophet.
The words, "That prophet," has reference to
Moses. The Jews had beeri inclined to the belief
that Moses would be raised from the dead, and
taken to Heaven. They did not know that Moses
had already been resurrected.
When John came, baptizing with water, the
Jews thought that he might be the prophet Moses
risen from the dead; for he seemed to have a
thorough knowledge of the prophecies, and to understand the history of the Hebrews and their
wanderings in the wilderness in consequence of
their unjust murmurings and continual rebellion.
They also called to mind the peculiar circumstances of John's birth, and wonderful manifests.-
63
THE MISSION OJ' CHRIST.
tion of God to Zacharias, his father, i.n, the temple, by the visitation of the ~ngel
from t~e
p.resence of .God, and the p9wer of ~pech,
be~g
~ken
from ~ach.ris,
b.e.ca.use he .did not believe th~
words of the &lge~
an~
the unloosing of his
tongue at the birth of John. The~
i~portan
facts had in the past thirty y~s
been.mea,surably
forgt~.
B:ut w];len John tPP.eared as t1o pr.ophet,
the ri:u~n1festao
of the S~rit
of God at his birth
was. c~old
t;o mind.
When the m~snger
from t)lehjghes,t aQ.thority
in Jer~;am.
we:t"e com~\Uling
~ih
J'o.hn i,n refer-:ence to b,is -ion and wprk, he co,uld hav.e take~
honor tQ ·himself, had he been s<> dispo~!l:S~
h.e -wo-qld DQ* a.s&ume hon~a
th~
d,i,d not. belo.:r;lg
to hi~.
While co~yeTing
wit)l the mesngr~,
suddenly his eye kindled, hi~
counteJ;la.nce ligte~
up, and his whole beipg seellled stirred wit~
deep
emotion, as he discovered the perso.n, of Je.sus in
the concourse of people. He r~ed
.his han.d,
pointing to Christ, saying, There standeth One
among you whom ye know not. I have ~om.e
to
prepare the way before .him whom y.e now s~e.
He is the Messiah. He it is who comi~g
aft(lr me
is preferred before me, whose shoe's latchet I am
not worthy to unloose.
"The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto
him, and saith, Behold the Lamb cif God, which
take~h
away the sin of the world ! This il'
of
whom I said, After me cometh, a 111an which is
pr.eferred before me ; for h~ was before me. And
I knew him not ; but that ~e should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am 'I come baptizing with
water. And John .bare record, saying, I saw the
Spirit descending from Heaveillike a dove, and it
abode upon him. And I knew him not. Bot he
he
64
TITE GREAT CONTROVERSY.
that sent me to baptize with water, the same said
unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit
descending, and remaining on him, the same is he
which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. And I saw
and bare record, that this is the Son of God.
Again, the next day after, John stood, and two of
his disciples ; and looking upon Jesus as he walked,
he saith, Behold the Lamb of God !" And the
two disciples heard.him speak, and they followed
Jesus. Then Jesus turned and saw them folw~
ing, and saith unto them, What seek ye ? The
disciples confessed that they were seeking Christ,
and that they desired to become acquainted with
him, and to be instructed by him at his home.
charmed with the deeply
These two disciples w~re
impressive, yet simple and practical, lessons of
Christ. Their hearts had never been so moved
before. Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, was one
of these disciples. He was interested for his
friends and relatives, and was anxious that they
also should see Christ, and hear for themselves his
precious lessons. Andrew went in search of his
brother Simon, and with assurance claimed to have
found Christ, the Messiah, the Saviour of the
world. He brought his brother to Jesus, and as
soon as Jesus looked upon him, he said, Thou art
Simon, the son of J ona ; thou shalt be called
Cephas, which is by interpretation a stone. The
next day Christ selected another disciple, :Philip,
and bade him follow him. Philip fully believed
that Christ was the Messiah, and began to search
for others to bring them to listen to the teachings
of Christ, which had so charmed him. Then
Philip found Nathanael. He was one of the number who heard John proclaim, "Behold the Lamb
of God, which taketh away the sin of the world."
THE MISSION OF CHRIST.
85
He felt deeply convicted, and retired to a grove,
concealed from every human eye, and there meditated upon the announcement of John, calling to
his mind the prophe((ies relating to the coming of
the Messiah and his mission. He queried thus :
Could this indeed be the Messiah for whom: they
had so long waited, and were so desirous ~ see ?
Hope sprang up in the heart of Nathanael that
this might be the one that would save Israel. He
bowed before God and prayed that if the person
whom John had decJared to be the Redeemer of
the world was indeed the promised deliverer, that
it might be made known to him. The Spirit of the
Lord rested upon Nathanael in such a special.manner that he was convinced that Christ was the
Messiah. While Nathanael was praying, he heard
the voice of Philip calling him, saying, "We
have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and
the prophets did write, Jeans of Nazareth, the son
of Joseph. And Nathanael said unto him, Can
there any good thing come out of Nazareth?
Philip saith unto him, Come and ·see. Jesus saw
Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile !
Nathanael saith ~nto
him, Whence knowest thou
me ? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before
that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the
fig tree, I saw thee."
Nathanael's wavering faith was now strengthened, and he answered and said, " Rabbi, thou
art the son of God ; thou art the King of Israel.
Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said
unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree; believest
thou ? Thou shalt see greater things than these.
And he saith unto him, Yerily; verily, I say unto
you, Hereafter ye shall see Heaven open, and the
66
THE GREAT CONTROVERSY.
angels of God ascending and descending upon the
Son of Man."
In these first few disciples the foundation of the
Christian church was being laid by individual effort. John first directed two of his disciples to
Christ. Then one of these finds a. brother, and
brings him to Christ. He then calls Philip to
follow him, and he went in search of Nathanael.
Here is an instructive lesson for all the followers
of Christ. It teaches them the importance of
personal effort, making direct appeals to relatives,
friends, .a.nd acquaintances. There are those who
profess to be acquainted with Christ for a life
time who never make personal effort to induce one
soul to come to the Saviour. They have left all
the work with the minister. He may be w.ell
qualified for his work ; but he cannot do the work
which God has left upon the members of the
church. Very many excuse themselves from being interested in the salvation of those w~o
are out
of Christ, and are content to selfishly enjoy the
benefits of the grace of God themselves, while
they make no direct effort to bring others to
Christ. In the vineyard of the Lord there is a.
work for all to do, and unselfish, interested, faithful workers will share largely of his grace here,
and of the reward he will bestow hereafter. Faith
is called into exercise by good works, and courage
and hope are in accordance with working faith.
The reason many professed fellowers of Christ
have not a bright and living experience, is because
they do nothing to gain it. If they would engage
in the work which God would have them do, their
faith .would increase, and tlnly would advance in
the divine life.
Jesus was pleased with the earnest faith of N a-
THE MISSION OF CHRIST.
67
thanael that asked for no greater evidence than
the few words he had spoJCen. And he looked
forward w~th
pleasure to the work he was to do
in relieving the oppressed, healing the sick, and in
breaking the banda of Satan. In view of these
blessings which Christ came to bestow, he says to
Nathanael; in the presence of the other disciples,
"Hereafter ye shall see heaven opened, and the
angela of God ascending and descending upon the
Son of Man."
Christ virtually says, On the bank of Jordan
the heavens were opened before me, and the Spirit
descn~
like a dove upon me. That soene at
Jordan was but a token to evidence that I was
the Son of God.. If you believe in me as such,
your faith shall be quickened, and you shall see
that the heavens will be opened, and shall never
be closed. I have opened them for you, and the
angels of God, that are united with me in the reconciliation between earth and Heaven, uniting the
believers on the earth with the Father above, will
be ascending, bearing the pray~s
of the needy
and distressed from the earth to the Father above,
and descending, bringing blessings of hope, courage, health, and life, for the children of men.
The angels of God are ever moving up ~nd
down from earth to Heaven, and from Heaven to
earth. All the miracles of Christ performed for
the afllicted and sufer~g
were, by the power of
God, through the ministration of. angels. Christ
condescended to take humanity, and thus he unites
his interests with the fallen sons and daughters of
Adam here below, while his divinity grasps the
throne of God. And thus Christ opens the communication of man with God, and God with man.
68
THE GREAT CONTROVERSY.
All *e blessings from God to man are through
the ministration of holy angels.
Disciples were being daily added to Christ, and
people flocked from cities and villages to hear him.
Many came to him for baptism ; but Christ baptized none. His disciples performed this ordinance. And while .Christ's disciples were baptizing large numbers, there arose a question
among the Jews and the disciples of John, whether
the act of baptism purified the sinner from the
guilt of sin. The disciples of John answered that
John baptized only unto repentance, bnt Christ's
disciples unto a new life. John's disciples were
jealous of the popularity of Christ, and said to
John, referring to Christ, " He that was with thee
beyond Jordan, to whom thou bearest witness, behold the same baptizetl)., and all men come to him.
John answered and said, A man can receive nothing except it be given him from Heaven."
In this answer John virtually says, Why should
you be jealous on my account? "Ye yourselves
bear me witness that I said, I am not the Christ,
but that I am sent before him. He that hath the
bride is the bridegroom ; but the friend of the
bridegroom which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice.
This my joy. therefore is fulfilled.
John, so far from .being jealous of the prosperity of Christ's mission, rejoices as he witnesses. the success of the work he came to do.
He assures li.is disciples that his special mission
was to direct the attention of the people to Christ.
" He must increase ; but I must decrease. He
that cometh from above is above all. He that is
of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth.
He that cometh from Heaven is above all. And
THE MISSION OF CHRIST.
69
what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth;
and no man receiveth his testimony."
John assured his disciples that Jesus was the
promised Messiah, the Saviour of the world. As
his work was closing, he taught his disciples to
look to Jesus, and follow him as the great teacher.
John's life, with the exception of the joy he experienced in witnessing the success of his mission,
was without pleasure. It was one of sorrow and
self-denial. He who heralded the first advent of
Christ, was not permitted to personally hear, nor
to .witness the power manifested by him. John's
voice was seldom heard, except in the wilderness.
His life was lonely. Multitudes had flocked to
the wilderness to hear the words of the wonderful
prophet. He had laid the ax at the root . of the
tree. He had reproved sin, fearless of the consequences, and prepared the way for the ministry
of Christ.
Herod was affected as he listened to the pointed
testimony of John, and, with deep interest, he inquired what he must do to become his disciple.
He was convicted by the plain truths uttered by
John. His conscience condemned him, for a woman of vile passions had gained his affections and
controlled his mind. This unprincipled woman
was ambitious for power and authority, and
thought if she became the wife of Herod her object would be gained. As Herod listened to the
practical truths proclaimed by John, reproving
the transgression of the law of God, and setting
forth the future punishment which the guilty must
suffer, he trembled, and greatly desired to break
the chain of lust which held him. He opened his
mind to John, who brought Herod to the law of
God, face to face, and told him it would be im-
70
THE GREAT CONTROVERSY.
possible for him to have part in the kingdom of
the Messiah unless he should break away from the
unlawful connections with his brother's wife, and,
with his whole heart, obey the commandments of
God.
Herod was inclined to act upon the advice· of
John, and stated to Herodias that he could not
marry her in defiance of the law of God. But
this determined woman would not be thwarted in
her designs. Intense hatred was awakened in her
heart toward ·John. Herod was weak in principle,
vacillating in mind, and Herodi3S had no great difficulty in re-establishing herself in his favor, and
holding her influence over him. Herod yielded
to the pleasures of sin, rather than submit to the
restrictions of the law of God.
When Herodias had gained influence over
Herod, she determined to be revenged upon the
prophet for his daring to reprove their course of
crime. And she influenced him to imprison John.
But Herod intended to release him. While confined in prison, John heard, through his disciples,
of the mighty works of Jesus. He could not personally listen to his gracious words ; but the disciples informed him, and comforted him with a.
relation of what they had seen and heard.
John having spent his life in tQ.e open air, in
active, persevering labor, enduring privations,
hardship, and toil, he had never before experienced
the trials of confined living. He therefore became
desponding, and even doubts troubled him whether
Christ was indeed the Messiah. His disciples had
brought to him accounts of the wonderful things
they had witnessed in the ministry of Christ.
But he concluded that if Christ was indeed the
THE MISSION OF CHRIST.
71
Messiah, he would publicly proclaim himself as the
Saviour of the world.
John had indistinct ideas of the kingdom Christ
came to establish, as also had the disciples of
Christ. They thought Christ would establish a.
temporal kingdom, and reign upon the throne of
David in Jerusalem. He became impatient because Christ did not immediately make himself
known, assume kingly authority, and subdue the
Romans. He hoped th!J.t if Christ established
his ~ingdom,
he would be brought out of prison.
He decided that if Jesus was really the Son of
God, and could do all things, he would exercise
his power arid set him at liberty.
John sent his disciples to inquire of Christ,
" Art thou he that should come, or do we look
for another ?" The disciples sought the presence
of Christ·; but they. could not communicate with
him immediately, because of the crowd who were
bearing the sick to Jesus. The a.fHicted, blind,
and lame were passing through the throng. The
disciples of John saw the miracles of Christ, and
that at his word the lifeless clay became animate,
and the glow of health took the place of tlie pallor
of death. Jesus said to the disciples of John,
"Go and show John again those things which ye
do hear and see. The blind receive their sight,
the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the
deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor
have the gospel preached to them. And blessed
is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me."
In these words John is gently reproved for his
impatience. -The cautious reproof returned to
John ·was not lost upon him. He then better understood the character of Christ's mission. And
with submission and faith, he yielded himself into
72
TllE GREAT CONTROVERSY.
the hands of God, to live, or to die, as should best
advance his glory.
After the disciples of John had departed, Jesus
addressed the multitude concerning John, "What
went ye out into the wilderness for to see? A reed
shaken with the wind?" Jesus knew that a reed
trembling in the wind was the very opposite of
John's character. John could not be moved by
flattery, nor be deceived by prevailing errors.
Neither could he be turned aside from the work he
came to do by rewards, or worldly honors. He
would preserve his integrity at the expense of his
life. Steadfast as a rock stood the prophet of
God, faithful to rebuke sin and crime in all their
forms, in kings and nobles, as readily as in the unhonored and unknown. He swerved not from
duty. Loyal to his God, in noble dignity of moral
character, he stood firm as a rock, faithful to
principle.
"But what went ye out for to see? A man
clothed in soft raiment? Behold they that wear
soft clothing are in kings' houses. But what went
ye out for to see? A prophet? Yea, I say unto
you, and more than a prophet. For this is he of
whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger
before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. Verily I say unto you, Among them
that are born of women there hath not risen a
greater than John the Baptist; notwithstanding,
he that is least in the kingdom of Heaven is
greater than he. And from the days of John the
Baptist until now, the kingdom of Heaven suffereth
violence, and the violent take it by force."
The people whom Christ addressed well knew
that the apparel worn by John was the opposite
of that worn in royal palaces. Christ virtually
THE MISSION OF CHRIST.
73
asked: What motive induced you to flock to the
wilderness to hear the preaching of John? The
wilderness is not the place to find those who live
delicately, and who clothe themselves in rich, soft
apparel. Christ wished them to observe the contrast between the clothing of John and -that of
the Jewish priests. The prophet wore a plain,
tough garment, possessing no beauty, but answering the purpose for which clothing was first designed. In marked contrast to the garments· of
John, was the gorgeous apparel of the Jewish
priests and elders.
These officials, thinking that they would be
reverenced in accordance with their external appearance, adopted great splendor of dress, making a rich display of costly robes and dazzling
breastplates. They were more anxious to win
the admiration of men than to obtain spotless.
purity of character and holiness of life, that
would gain the approval of God.
Christ admonished his disciples, and also the
multitude, to follow that which was good in the
teachings of the scribes and Pharisees, but not to
imitate their wrong examples, nor be deceived by
their ambitious pretensions.
He says, "All, therefore, whatsoever they bid
you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye
after their works; for they say, and do not. For
they bind heavy burdens, and grievous to be
borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but
they themselves will not move them with one of
their finger!!. But all their works they do to be
seen of men; they make broad their phylacteries,
and enlarge the borders of their garments, and
love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief
Crest. Contronr,.y, Yot 2,
74
THE
GR~:AT
CONTROVERSY.
seat8 in the synagogues, and greetings in the
market8, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi."
John sa.w that these proud Jews were exalting
and glorifying themselves by parading their ostentatious piety before the public. They bound
portions of the law upon thei;r foreheads and
about their wrists, that all might recognize and
pay deference to their assumed sanctity. True,
God had commanded the children of Israel to
place a ribbon of blue in the border of their garmenU!, upon which the ten commandmenta, in
brief, should be embroidered. This was to continually remind them of their duty to love God
supremely, and their neighbor as themselves.
But the fartl}er they had departed from their
primitive purity and simplicity, and the more directly their daily lives were opposed to the law
~f
God, the more particular were they to make
broad their phylacteries; and add to the words
which <1od had specified should be traced on the
ribbon of blue. Outwardly they were expressing the deepest devotion, while their acts were
in strong contrast with their profession.
UHAPTER V.
THE DEATH OF JOliN.
THE spirit of reform stirred the soul of John.
The light of wisdom and the power of God were
upon him. Inspiration from Heaven kindled a
holy zeal that led him to denounce the Jewish
priest.c;, and pronounce the curse of God upon
THE DEATH OF JOliN.
75
them. They made high pretensions to godliness
while they were strangers to charity, mercy, and
the love of God. They sought, by·the gorgeousness of their apparel and their lofty manners, to
inspire awe and command the respect of men,
while they were abhorred by the Most High.
Though their hearts and lives were contrary
to the will of God, they deceived themselves with
the vain supposition that eternal blessings were
theirs by virtue of the promises made to Abraham, the father of the faithful. They were not
clothed with humility. They were destitute of
the faith and piety of Abraham. They had not
earned by integrity and purity of life, the moral
worth which would ally them to him as his children, yet they expected to share the promises
given him of the Lord. The fearless manner in
which the prophet John had denounced the
Pharisees and exposed theif iniquity and hypocrisy, startled those who bad been accustomed to
seeing them honored and\exalted.
His preaching had arc;msed intense interest
everywhere. His earnest appeals and denunciatiolls had stirred the consciences of men. People
had flocked from towns, cities, and villages, attracted to the wildern,ees by his earnest and fervent exhortations, his courageous warnings and
reproofs, such as they had never before heard.
There was no outward display in the dress of
John to attract, or to awaken admiration. Heresembled the prophet Elijah in the coarseness of
his apparel, and in his plain and simple diet.
He fed upon locusts and wild honey, which the
wilderness afforded, and drank the pure water
flowing from the eternal hills.
Yet so great ha.d been the crowds that listened
76
~ rHE
GRI'.AT CONTROVERSY.
to him that his fame bad spread throughout the
land. And now that he was imprisoned, the
people waited with interest to see what· would
be the result, never thinking that he would be
visited with any severe punishme~,
as his life
was without blame.
Herod's purpose to release J obn from prison
was delayed from time to time through fear of
displeasing Herodias, who was determined be
should be put to death. While he was delaying,
she was active, planning how to l:>e revenged in
the most effectual manner on the prophet, because he had ventured to tell the truth, and
reprove their unlawful life. She knew that
although Herod kept J obn in prison, he designed
to release him, for he honored and feared him,
and believed that he was a true prophet of God.
John had made known to Herod the secrets of
his heart and life, and his reproofs had struck
terror to the guilty conscience of the king.
In many things Herod had reformed his dissolute life. But the use of luxurious food and
stimulating drink was constantly enervating his
moral as well as physical powers, and warring
against the earnest appeals of the Spirit of God,
which had struck conviction to his heart, and
was urging him to put away his sins. Herodia.s
was acquainted with the weak points in the character of Herod. She knew that under ordinary
circumstances, while his intelligence controlled
him, she could not compass the death of John.
She had tried, but unsuccessfully, to gain the
consent of Herod to have John slain. Her revengeful spirit was now at work to accomplish her
inhuman design by strategy. She knew that the
only way to accomplish her purpose would be
THE DEATII OF JOliN'.
77
through the gratification of the king's intemperate appetite. So she covered her hatred as best
she could, looking forward to the royal birthday,
which she knew would be an occasion of gluttony
and intoxication. The king's love of luxurious
food and wine would give her an opportunity to
throw him off his guard. She would entice him
to indulge his appetite, which would arouse passions of the baser order, subvert the finer sensibilities, produce a recklessness of consequences,
and an inability to exercise his proper judgment
and decision.
She was acquainted with the effect of these
carnivals upon the intellect and morals. · She
knew that the unnatural exhilaration of the spir.:.
its induced by intemperance lowers the moral
standard of the mind, making it impossible for
holy impulses to enter the heart and govern the
excited passions, that festivities and amusements,
dances, and free use of wine, cloud the senses, and
remove the fear of God; therefore she prepared
everything to flatter his pride and vanity, and indulge his passions. She made the most costly
preparations for feasting, and voluptuous dissipation.
When the great day arrived, and the king with
his lords was feasting and drinking in the banqueting hall, Herodias sent her daughter, dressed
in a most enchanting ma!lller, into the royal
presence. Salome was decorated with costly
garlands and flowers, sparkling jewels and fla..qhing bracelets. With little covering, and less modesty, she danced for the amusement of the royal
guests. To their perverted senses, she seemed a
vision of beauty and loveliness, and charmed
away the last remnants of self-respect and pro-
78
TUF: OREAT CONTRO\"ERSY.
priety. Instead of being governed by enlightened reason, refined taste, an.d sensitive conscience, the baser qualities of the mind held the
guiding reins. Virtue and principle had no controlling power.
The mind of Herod was in a whirl. His fac-ulties were confused, judgment and reverence
were dethroned. He saw only the hall of pleasure, with his reveling guests, the banquet table,
sparkling wine and flashing lights, and the young
girl in her voluptuous beauty dancing before
him. In the recklessness of the moment he was
desirous to make some display whic}l would exalt him still higher before the great· men of his
promised, and conkingdom ; and he r~hly
firmed his promise with an oath, to give the
daughter of Herodias whatever she might ask.
The object for which she had been sent into
the royal presence was now gained. Having obtained so wonderful a promise, she ran to her
mother, desiring to know what she should ask.
The mother's answer was ready-the head of
John tbe Baptist in a charger. Salome was
shocked. She did not understand the hidden revenge in her mother's heart, and at first refused
to present such an inhuman request; but the determination of the wicked mother prevailed.
Moreover, she bade her daughter make no delay,
but hasten to prefer her request before Herod
would have time for reflection. Accordingly Salome returned to Herod with her terrible petition: " I will that thou give me, by and by, in a
charger, the head of John the Baptist. .And the
king was exceeding sorry; yet for his oath's
sake, and for their sakes which sat with him, he
would noli reject her."
TilE DEATH OF JOliN.
79
Herod was astonished and confounded. The
riotous mirth ceased, for his guests were thrilled
with horror at this inhuman request. An on:P,nous silence settled down upon the scene of. revelry. The king, though drunken and confused,
endeavored to summon reason to his aid.
He bad been exalted for constancy and superior
judgment, and be did not wish to appear fickle
or rash in character. The oath had been made
in honor of his guests, and had one of them offered a word of remonstrance against the fulfillment of his promise, he would gladly have saved
the life of J obn. He gave them opportunHy to
speak in the prisoner's behalf. They had traveled
long distances to the mountains in the wilderness to listen to his powerful discourses, and
they knew be was a man without crime, and a
prophet of God. Herod told them if it would
not be considered a. special mark of dishonor to
them, he would not abide by his oath.
But though at first they were horror-stricken
at the unnatural demand of the girl, they were
so far intoxicated that they sat in silent stupor,
without reason, reverence, or thought. Though
they were invited to release the monarch from
his oath, their tongues were dumb. No voice in
all that company was raised to save the life of an
innocent mau, who had never done them harm.
Herod, still under the delusion that, in order to
maintain his reputation, he must keep an oath
made under the influence of intoxication, unless
formally released from it, waited in vain for a
dissenting voice, but there was none. The life
of God's prophet was in the hands of a company
of drunken revelers. These men occupied · high
positions of trust in the nation, and grave re-
80
THE GREAT CONTROVERSY.
sponsibilities rested upon them, yet they had
gorged themselves with dainty food, and added
drunkenness to surfeiting, until their mental
powers were enervated by the pleasure of sense,
their brains turned with the giddy scene of music and dancing, and conscience lay dormant.
By their silence they pronounced tho sentence
of death upon the anointed of the Lord, to gratify the horrible caprice of a wicked woman.
Too often in these days the · mo~;t
solemn responsibilities rest upon those who, from their intemperate habits, are not in a condition to exercise the calm judgment and keen perceptions of
right and wrong with which their Creator endowed them. The guardians of the people, men
in authority, upon whose decisions hang the
lives of their fellow-creatures, should be subject
to severe punishment if found guilty of intemperance. Those who enforce laws should be lawkeepers. They should be men of self-government, in full harmony with the laws governing
their physical, mental, and moral powers, that
they may possess full vigor of intellect and a
high sense of justice. In the martyrdom of
John we have a result of intemperance among
those invested with great authority. This eventful birthday feast should be a lesson of warning
to the lovers of pleasure, and an exhortation to
Christian temperance.
Herod waited in vain to be released from his
oath, then reluctantly commanded the executioner to take the life of John. The head of the prophet was soon brought in before the king and his
guests. Those lips were now forever sealed that
had faithfully declared to Herod the reform he
must make in his life, when that monarch in-
I
I
I
THE DEATH OF JOHN.
81
quired why he could not be the prophet's disciple. Never more would that voice be heard in
trumpet notes calling sinners to repentance. The
frivolities and dissipation of a. single night ha.d
caused the sacrifice of one of the greatest prophets that ever bore a message from God to men.
Herodias received the gory head with fiendish
satisfaction. She exulted in her revenge, a.nd
thought that Herod's conscience would be no
more disturbed. But her calculations were
greatly in error; no happiness resulted to her
.through her crime. Her name became notorious
and abhorred because of her inhuma.n act, while
the heart of Herod was more oppressed by remorse than it had been by the condemnation of
John. And the very act which she imagined
would rid the world. of the prophet's influence,
enshrined him as a holy martyr, not only in the
hearts of his disciples, but of those who had not
before ventured t.o stand boldy out as his followers. Many who had heard his message of warning, and had been secretly convinced by his teachings, now, spulTed on by horror at his coldblooded murder, publicly espoused his cause a.nd
declared themselves his disciples. Herodias utterly failed to silence the influence of John's tea.chings ; they were to extend down through every
generation to the close of time, while her corrupt
life and Satanic revenge would reap a harvest of
infamy.
After the feast of Herod had ended, a.nd the
effects of his intoxication had passed away, reason again resumed her throne, and the king was
filled with remorse. His crime was ever before
him, and he was constantly seeking to find relief from the stings of a guilty conscience. His
tl2
TI!E GREAT <:ONTROYE!tSY.
faith in John as an honored prophet of God,
was unshaken. As he reflected upon his life of
self-denial, his powerful discourses, his solemn,
earnest. appeals, his sound judgment as a con~
selor, and then reflected that he had put him to
death, his conscience was fearfu!ly troubled. Engaged in the affairs of the nation, receiving honors from men, he bore_a smiling face and dignified mien, while he concealed an anxious, aching
heart, and was constantly terrified with fearful
forebodings that the curse of God was upon
him.
When Herod heard of the wonderful works of
Christ in healing the sick, casting out devils, and
raising the dead, he was exceedingly troubled
and perplexed. His convictions were that God,
whom John preached, .:Wt¥! indeed present in
every place, and that he ha.d witnessed the wild
mirt.h and wicked dissipation in the royal banqueting room, and that his ear had heard his
command to the executioner to behead John, that
his eye had seen the exultation of Herodia.s, and
the taunting and insult with which she had reproached the severed head of her enemy. And
many things which he had heard from the lips of
the prophet now spoke to his conscience in louder
tones than the preaching in the wilderness. He
had heard from John that nothing could be hidden from God, therefore. he trembled lest some
terrible punishment should be visited upon ·him
for the sin he had committed.
When Herod heard of the words of Christ, he
thought that God had resurrected John, and sent
him forth with still greater power to condemn sin.
He was in constant fear that John ~ould
avenge
his death by passing condemnation upon him and
TllE DEATH OF JODN.
l:!3
his house. " And king H~rod
heard of him
[Christ] (for his name was spread abroad) ; and
he said, That John the Baptist was risen from the
dead, and therefore mighty works do show forth
themselves in him. Others said, That it is Elias.
And others said, That it is a prophet, or as one of
the prophets. But when Herod beard thereof, be
said, It is John, whom I beheaded; he is risen
from the dead."
The Lord followed Herod as is described in
Deuteronomy: "The Lord sha.ll give thee there a
trembling heart, and failing of eyes, and sorrow
of mind. And thy life shall hang in doubt before thee; and thou sba.lt fear, day and night, and
shalt have none assurance of thy life. In the morning thou shalt say, Would God it were even l and
at even thou shalt say, Would God it were morning ! for the fear of thine heart wherewith thou
shalt fear, and for the sight of thine eyes which
thou shalt see."
In these words is presented a vivid picture of
the crimina.l's life. His own thoughts are his accusers, and there can be no torture keener than the
stings of his own guilty conscience, which give
him no rest night nor day.
The prophet John was the connecting link between the two dispensations. He was the lesser
ligbtwhichwasto be followed byagreater. Hewas
to shake the confidence of the people in their
traditions, call their sins to their remembrance,
and ]ead them to repentance; tba.t they might be
prepared to appreciate the work of Christ. God
communicated to John by inspiration,.illuminating the understanding of the prophet, that he
might remove the superstition and darkness from
the minds of the honest Jews, which bad, through
84
TIIE GREAT CONTROVERSY.
false teachings, been gathering upon them for
generations.
But the least disciple who followed Christ, witnessing his miracles, and receiving his divine lessons of instruction and the comforting words that
fell from his lips, was more privileged than John
the Baptist. No light had ever shone or ever
will shine so clearly upon the mind of fallen man,
as that which emanated from the' teachings and
example of Jesus. Christ and his mission had
been but dimly understood and typified in the
shadowy sacrifice. Even John was for a time deceived, and thought he would become a temporal
ruler over subjects who were just and holy, not
then ·fully comprehending the future immortal
life. through the Saviour. "The light shone in
the darkness, and the darkness comprehended it
not."
Although not one of the prophets had a higher
mission: or greater work to perform than had
John, yet he was not to see even the result of his
own laborR. He was not privileged to be with
Christ and witne,ss the divine power attending
the greater light. It was not for him to see the
blind restored to sight, the sick healed, and the
dead raised to life. He did not behold the light
which shone through every word of Christ, reflecting glory upon the promises in prophecy.
The world was illuminated with the brightness
of the Father's glory in the person of his Son;
but the solitary prophet was denied the privilege
of seeing and understa.Bding the wisdom and
mercy of Qod through a personal knowledge of
the ministry of Christ.
In this sense, many who were favored by the
TEUPTATION OF CHRIST.
1.!"
<..
•, )
teachings of Christ and saw his miracles, were
greater than John.
Those who were with Christ when he walked
a man among men, and listened to his divine
teachings under a variety of circumstances-while
preaching in t~e
temple walking in the streets,
teaching the multitudes by the way, and by the
sea-side, and while an invited guest at the table
of his host, ever giving words of instruction to
meet the cases of all who needed his help; healing, comforting, and reproving, as circumstances
required-were more exalted than John the Baptist.
CHAPTER VI.
TEMPTATION OF CHRIST.
AFTER the baptism of Jesus, he was led by the
Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the
devil. When he came up out of Jordan, he
bowed and plead with the great Eternal for
strength to endure the conflict with the fallen
foe. The opening heavens and the descent of
the excellent glory attested his divine character ;
and the Father's voice declared the close relationship of Christ to his Infinite Majesty : " This is.
my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."
The mission of Christ was now about to begin ;
but he must first withdraw from the busy scenes
of life to a desolate wilderness for the express
purpose of bea:r;ing a three-fold temptation in behalf of those whom he had come to redeem.
Let us pause in the history of Christ's earthly
8G
THE GREAT CONTUOVERSY.
life, and briefly notice the events prior to his advent in a world of sin. Satan, after compassing
the fall of .Adam and Eve, had boasted that he
was monarch of the earth, and it was true that
in all ages of the world he had found many followers. But he had failed to unite fallen man
with him as he had hoped to do, and thus reign
supreme over the whole earth. Though man in
his fallen state was suffering the consequence of
his disobedience, yet he was not without hope.
He was unable, because of his guilt, to come directly before God with his supplications, but the
plan of redemption, devised in Heaven, transferred the sentence of death from the obedient
and faithful, to a substitute. There must be the
shedding of blood, for death was the consequence
of man's sin. In the slain victim, man was to see
for the time being the fulfillment of God's word :
"Ye shall surely die." The flowing blood also
signified an atonement, and pointed fo1·ward to a
Redeemer who would one day come to the world
and die. for the sins of man, thus fully vindicating his Father's law.
The hope of salva\ion through Christ led fallen
man to be exceedingly faithful in the matter of
sacrifices. Satan watched with intense interest
every circumstance connected with these sacrificial ceremonies, and soon learned that they typified a future atonement for the human race.
This caused him great uneasiness, as it threatened
to frustrate his cherished plan of gaining dominion over the whole world and its inhabitants.
But, instead of desponding under his discouragements, he redoubled his efforts to accomplish his
purpose, and the ages were marked with his
hellish triumphs. Indulgence of appetite and
TEMPTATION OF CIIRIST.
87
passion, war, intoxication, and crime spread over
the earth as its inhabitants increased. God destroyed the people with the waters of a. great
flood, and rained fire and death upon the wicked
cities; but the great adversary was still free to
pursue his scheme of demoralization.
Satan is a diligent student of the Bible, .and
much better acquainted with the prophecies than
many religious teachers. He has ever kept wellinformed concerning the revealed purposes of
God, that he might defeat the plans of the Infinite. It was plain to Satan that the sacrificial
offerings were typical of a coming Redeemer who
was to ransom man from the powers of darknes8,
and that this Redeemer was the Son of God.
Therefore he laid deep plans to control the hearts
of men from generation to generation, and to
blind their understanding of the prophecies, that
when Christ should come the people would refuse
to accept him as their Saviour.
From the time when ·Christ was born in Bethlehem, Satan had never lost sight of him. He had
set on foot various plans to destroy him, in· all of
which he was unsuccessful, as the Son of God
was upheld by the strong arm of his Father.
Well-aware of Christ's position in Heaven, Satan
was filled with apprehension when this powerful
Prince of light left the royal courts .of his glory
and became a simple man on earth. Sat~
now
feared that, not only would he fail in his cherished purpose of reigning supreme over the whole
earth, but that the power he already possessed
would be wrested from him. Therefore when be
went out into the wilderness to beset Christ with
temptations, he brought every force and artifice
ss
THE GllEA'l' <.:ONTRO\'ERSY.
at his command to bear upon the Son of God that
he might allure him from his allegiance.
The great work of redemption could be carried
out only by the Redeemer taking the place of
fallen man. Burdened with the sins of the
world, he must go over the ground where Adam
stumbled. He must take up the work just
where Adam failed, and endure a test of the
same character, but infinitely more s2vere than
that which had vanquished him. It is impossible for man to fully comprehend the. strength of
Satan's temptations to our Saviour. Every enticement to evil, which men find so difficult to
resist, was brought to bear upon the Son of God
in as much greater degree as his character was
superior to that of fallen man.
When Adam was assailed by the tempter he
was without the taint of sin. He stood before..Pod
in the strength of perfect manl10od, all the organs
and faculties of his being fully developed and
harmoniously balanced; and he was surrounded
with things of beauty, and conversed daily with
the holy angels. What a contrast to this perfect
being did the second Adam present, as he entered
the desolate wilderness to cope with Satan, single-handed. For four thousand years the race
had been decreasing in size a~d
physical strength,
and deteriorating in moral worth ; and, in order to
elevate fallen man, Christ must reach him where
he stood. He assumed human nature, bearing
the infirmities and degeneracy of the race. He
humiliated himself to the lowest depths of human woe, that be might fully sympathize with
man ancl rescue him from the degradation into
which sin had plunged him.
"For it became Him, for whom are all thing~.
TEMPTATION OF CHRIST.
89
and by whom are all things, in bringing' many
sons unto glory, to make the Captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings." "And being
made perfect, he became the author of eternal
salvation tin to all them that obey him." "Wherefore in all things it behooved him to be made like
unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful
and faithful high priest in tl~ings
pertaining to
God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the
people. For in that he himself hath suffered,
being tempted, he is able to succor them that
are tempted." "For we have not an high priest
which cannot be touched with the feeling of our
infirmities; but was in all points te~pd
like
as we are, yet without sin."
When Christ entered the wilderness his countenance was changed, its glory had departed,
the weight of the sins of the world was pressing
upon his soul, and his features expressed unutterable son-ow, a depth of anguish that fallen
man had never realized. The indulgence of appetite had increased with every successive gener.:.
ation since Adam's transgression, until the race
was so feeble in moral.Power that they could not
overcome in their own strength. Christ in behalf of the race was to conquer appetite, by enduring the most powerful test on that point. He
was to tread the path of temptation alone, with
none to help or comfort him. Alone he was to
wrestle with the powers of darkness, and exercise a self-control stronger than h1,1nger or death.
The length of this fast is the strn~e
evidence
of the great sinfulness of debased appetite, and
its power over-the human family.
Through appetite, Satan had accomplished the
Grcnt Controver,:y, YoJ, 2,
90
TIIE GREAT CONTROYERSY.
ruin of Adam and Eve, and through all succeeding generations, this bad been his strongest
weapon in corrupting the human race. As
Christ had taken the form of man, and was subject to his infirmities, Satan hoped to conquer
him through this powerful medium, and laid his
plans accordingly. As soon as Christ's long. fast
commenced, he was at band with his temptations.
He came clothed in light, claiming to be. an angel
sent from the throne of God to sympathize with
Christ and relieve him from his suffering condition. He represented to him that God did not
desire him to pass through the pain and self-denial which he bad anticipated. He claimed to
bear the message from Heaven that God only
designed to prove the willingness of Christ to endure his test.
Satan told him that he was to set his feet in
the blood-stained path, but not to travel it, that,
like Abraham, he was tried to show his perfect
obedience. He claimed to be the angel who
stayed the hand of Abraham, as the knife was
raised· to slay Isaac, and that he had now come
to save the life of the Son of God, deliver him
from a painful death by starvation, and assist
him in the plan of salvation.
Satan is to-day deceiving many as he attempted to deceive Christ, claiming that he is Heavensent and doing a good work for humanity. And
the masses of the people are so blinded by sophistry that they cannot discern his true character)
and they honor him as a messenger of God, while
he is working their eternal ruin.
But Christ turned from all these..arlful temptations, and rt>mained steadfast in his purpose to
carry out the divine plan. Foiled at one point·,
TEl!PTAT!ON OF CllRIST.
Dl
Satan now tried another expedient. Believing
that the angelic character he had assumed defied
detection, he now feigned to doubt the divinity
of Christ, because of his emaciated appearance
and uncongenial surroundings.
In taking the nature of man, Christ was not
equal in appearance with the angels of Heaven,
but this was one of the necessary humiliations
that he willingly accepted when he became man's
Redeemer. Satan urged that if he was indeed
the Son of God he should give him some evidence of his exalted character. He suggested
that God would not leave his Son in so deplorable a condition. He declared that ·one of the
heavenly angels bad been exiled to earth, and
his appearance indicated that instead of being
the King of Heaven he was that fallen angel.
He called attention to hi~
own beautiful appearance, clothed with ligbtand strength, and insultingly contrasted the wretchedness of Christ with
his own glory.
He claimed direct authority from Heayen to
demand proof of Christ 'that he was the Son of
God. He taunted him with being a poor representative of the angels, much lP..ss their high Commander, the acknowledged King in the royal
courts; and insinuated that his present appearance indicated that be was forsaken of God and
man. He declared that if he were the Son of
God be was equal with God and should evidence
this by working a miracle to relieve his hunger.
He then urged him to change the stone at his
feet to bread, and agreed that if this were done
he would at once yield his claims to superiority,
and the contest between the two should be forcvet· cn<lctl.
!1:2
' ri~
GREAT CONTROYERSY.
Satan thus hoped to shake the confidence of
Christ in his Father, who had permitted him to
be brought into this condition of extreme suffering in the desert, where the feet of man had never trodden. The arch-enemy hoped that under
the force of despondency and extreme hunger, he
could urge Christ to exert his miraculous power
in his own behalf, and thus take himself out of
the Father's hands.
The circumstances and surroundings of Chris!;
were such as to make temptation upon this point
peculiarly aggravating. The long fast had physically debilitated him, the pangs of hunger consumed his vitals, his fainting system clamored
for food. He could have wrought a miracle in
his own behalf, and satisfied his gnawing hung-:r; but this would not have been in accordance
with the divine plan. It was no part of his
mission to exercise divine power for his own benefit ; th!s he never did in his earthly lite ; his
miracles were all for the good of others.
Suffering humiliation, hunger, and contempt,
Jesus repulsed Satan with the same scripture he
had bidden Moses repeat to rebellious Israel: "Man
shall not live by bread alone, but by every word
that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." In
this declaration, and also by his example, Christ
showed that wanting temporal food was a much
less calamity than meeting the disapprobation of
God.
In becoming man's substitute, and conquering
where man had been vanquished, Christ was not
to manifest his divine power to relieve his own
suffering; for fallen man could work no miracles
in order to save himself from pain, and Christ., as
his representative, was to"bear his trials as a man,
TEllPTATION OF CIIU!ST.
!)3
leaving an example of perfect faith and trust in
his Heavenly Father.
Christ recognized Satan from the beginning,
and it required strong self-control to listen to the
propositions of this insulting deceiver, and not
rebuke his bold assumption. But the Saviour of
the world was neither provoked to give him evidence of his divine power, nor to enter into controversy with one who had been expelled from Heaven tor leading a rebellion against the supreme
Huler of the universe, and whose very crime had
been a refusal to recognize the dignity of the
Son of God. Armed '"ith faith in his Heavenly
memory
Father, bearing in his mind the pre~ious
of the words spoken from Heaven at his baptism,
Jesus stood unmoved in the lonely wilderness, before the mighty enemy of souls.
It was not for the Son of God to descend from
his lofty mission to prove his divinity to Sa.tan,
nor did he condescend to explain the reason of
his present humiliation, and the manner in which
he was to act as man's Redeemer. If the children of men would follow the example of their
Saviour, and hold no converse with Satan, they
would be spared many a defeat at his hands.
Six thousand years has this arch-enemy been
warring against the government of God, and continued practice has increased his skill to deceive
and allure.
But Satan had too much at stake to lightly
give up the battle. He knew that, if Christ
came off victor, his influence would be lessened.
So, in order to awe Christ with his superior
·strength, he carried him to Jerusalem and placed
him on a pinnacle of the temple. He now deif he were indeed the Son of God,
manded tha~.,
~-!
Tin: C:HEAT CONTRO\' EllSY.
he sb.ould cast himself from that dizzy height,
and thus indicate entire confidence in his Father's
preserving care.
The sin of presumption lies close beside the
virtue of perfect faith and confidence in God, and
Satan endeavored to take advantage of Christ's
humanity and urge him over the line of trust
into presumption. He now admitted that Christ
was right in the wilderness, when he placed such
perfect confidence in the Father, and he now
urged that one more proof should be given of his
entire faith in God, by casting himself fi·om the
temple. He assured him that if he were indeed
the Son of God he had nothing to fear, for the
angels would uphold him. Satan was well aware
that if Christ could be prevailed upon to fling
himself from the temple, in order to prove his
claim to the protection of his Heavenly Father,
he would, hy that very act; exhibit the weakness
of human nature.
But Jesus came off victor from the second
temptation, by spurning the sin of presumption.
While manifesting perfect trust in his Father, he
refused to voluntarily place himself in such peril
that it would be necessary for thEl Father to display divine power in order to save his Son from
death. This would have been forcing Providence
to come to his rescue, and thus he would fail to
give his people a perfect example of faith and
trust in God.
Our Saviour showed entire confidence that his
Heavenly Father would not suffer him to be
tempted above what he should give him strength
to endure. Christ had not willfully placed himself in danger, and he knew that if ·he preserved
his integrity, an angel of God would be sent to
TE~IPAON
OF CHRIST.
!J5
deliver him from the tempter's power if it were
necessary.
Finding that he prevailed nothing with Christ
in the second great temptation, Satan began to
be alarmed for the result of his efforts. The 'continued steadfastness of the Son of God filled him
with apprehension, for he had not expected so
strenuous an opposition. He now called all the
resources of his Satanic nature to his aid in one
last mighty effort to baffi.e and defeat the Saviour. In his first two temptations, he had concealed his true character and purpose, claiming
to be an exalted messenger from the courts of
Heaven. But he now throws off all disguise,
avowing himself the Prince of Darkness, and
claiming the earth for his dominion.
He took Jesus up into a high mountain and
showed him the kingdoms of the world, spread
out in a panoramic view before his eyes. The
sunlight lay on templed cities, marble palaces,
fruitful fields and vineyards, gilding the dark
cedars of Lebanon and the blue waters of Galilee.
The eyes of Jesus, so lately greeted by gloom and
desolation, gazed upon a scene of unsurpassed
loveliness and prosperity. Then the tempter's
voice was heard : "All this power will I give thee,
and the glory of them; for that is delivered unto
me, and to whomsoever T will, I give it. If thou
therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine."
Satan brought all his strength to· bear upon
this last inducement, for upon the result of this
effort depended his destiny. He claimed the
world as his dominion and himself to be the
Prince of the power of the air. He promised to
put Christ in possession of all the kingdoms without suffering or peril, if he would make one con-
96
TilE GREAT CO:STROVERSY.
cession, and that was to acknowledge Satan his
superior, and pay him homage. This last temptation was designed to be the most alluring of
all. Christ's life wa'3 one of sorrow, hardship,
and conflict. Poverty and privation attended
him; even the beasts and the birds had their
homes, but the Son of Man had not where to lay
his head. Homeless and friendless as he was,
there was offered him the mighty kingdoms of
the world and the glory of them for a single consideration.
The eyes of Jesus rested for a moment upon
the scene before him ; he then turned resolutely
from it,-refusing to dally with the tempter by
even looking upon the enchanting prospect he
had presented to him; but when Satan solicited
his homage, Christ's divine indignation was
aroused, and he could no longer tolerate his blasphemous assumption, or even permit him toremain in his presence. He exercised his divine
authority, and commanded Satan to desist, saying,
"Get thee hence, Satan; for it is written, Thou
shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only
shalt thou serve."
Satan had asked Christ to give him evidence
that he was the Son of God, and he had, in this
instance, the proof he asked. He had no power
to withstand his peremptory dismissal, and was
compelled to- obey the divine command. Writhing with baffled hate and rage, the rebel chief retired from the presence of the world's Redeemer.
The contest was ended. Christ's victol"'J was as
complete as had been the failure of Adam.
But the conflict had been protracted and trying, and Christ was exhausted and fell fainting
to the ground, with the pallor of death upon his
TE~I'AON
OF CllRIST.
97
countenance. Then the heavenly angels, who
had bowed before him in the royal courts, and
who bad watcheq his conflict with painful interest, ministered unto him, strengthening him with
food, as he lay like one dying. They bad beheld
with awe and amazement their heavenly Commander passing through inexpressible suffering
to achieve the salvation of man. He had endured a more severe test than man would ever be
called to bear. But, as he lay emaciated and.
suffering, the angels brought messages of love
and comfort from the Father, and an assurance
that all Heaven triumphed in the victory he had
gained for man. Thus the great heart of Christ
warmed to life again, and became strengthened
for his coming work.
The cost of the redemption of the race can
never be fully realized by men until t.he redeemed
shall stand with the Redeemer by the throne of
God. Then, as the glorious value of the eternal
reward opens upon their enraptured senses, and
their eyes behold the wondrous glories of immortallife, they will swell the song of victory, " W orthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power,
and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor,
and glory, and blessing!" "And every.creature,"
says John, "which is in Heaven, and on the
earth, and under the earth, ~d
such as are in the
sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying,
Blessing, and honor, ·and glory, and power, be
unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto
the Lamb forever and ever!"
'
Although Satan had failed in his most powerful temptations, yet he had not given up all hope
that he might, at some future time, be successful
in his efforts. He looked forward to the period
us
THE GllEAT COXTROYERSY.
of Christ's ministry, when he should have opportunities to try his artifices against him. Baffied
and defeated, he had no sooner retired from the
scene of conflict than he began to lay plans for
blinding the understanding of the Jews, God's
chosen people, that they might not discern in
Christ the world's Redeemer. He determined to
fill their hearts with envy, jealousy, and hatred
against the Son of God, so that they would not
receive him, but would make his life upon earth
as bitter as possible.
Satan held a counsel with his angels, as to the
course they should pursue to prevent the people
from having faith in Christ as the Messiah whom
the Jews had so long been anxiously expecting.
He was disappointed and enraged that he had
prevailed nothing against Jesus by his manifold
temptations. But he now thought if he could
inspire in the hearts of Christ's own people, unbelief as to his being the Promised One, he might
discourage the Saviour in his mission and secure
the Jews as his agents to catTy out his own diabolical purposes. So he went to work in his subtle manner, endeavoring to accomplish by strategy
what he had failed to do by direct, personal
effort.
CHAPTER Vll.
THE MARRIAGE
AT CANA.
AFTER this, Jesus returned to Jordan, as has
been previously stated, and was declared by John
to be the" Lamb of God that taketh away the
)IARRIAGE A'l' CANA.
99
sin of the world." At this time, also, he chose
John, Andrew, Simon, Philip, and Nathanael, for
his disciples, all of which has been recotinted in
connection with the history of John the Baptist.
Jesus now entered upon the great work of his
life.
There was to be a marriage in Cana of Galilee.
The parties were relatives of Joseph and Mary.
Christ knew of this family gathering, and that
many influential persons would be brought together there, so, in company with his newly:made disciples, he matie his way to Cana. As
soon as it was known that Jesus had come to the
place, a special invitation was sent to him and
his friends. This was what he had purposed,
and so he graced the feast with his presence.
He had been separated from his mother for
quite a length of time. Du1ing this period he
had been baptized by John and had endured the
temptations in the wilderness. Rumors had
reached Mary concerning her son and his sufferings. John, one of the new disciples, had searched
for Christ and had found him in his humiliation,
emaciated, and bearing the marks of great physical and mental distress. Jesus, unwilling that
John should witness his humiliation, had gently
yet firmly dismissed him from ·his presence. He
wished to be alone; no human eye must behold
his agony, no human heart be called out in sympathy with his distress.
The disciple had sought Mary in her home and
related to her the incidents of this meeting
with Jesus, as well as the event of his baptism, when the voice of God was heard in acknowledgment of his Son, and the prophet
John had pointed to Christ, saying, "Behold the
100
THE GREAT CONTROVERSY.
Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the
world." For thirty years this woman had been
treasuring up evidences that Jesus was the Son
of God, the promised Saviour of the world. Joseph was dead, and she had no one in whom to
confide the cherished thoughts of her heart. She
had fluctuated between h0pe and perplexing
doubts, but always feeling more or less of an assurance that her son was indeed the Promised
One.
She had been very sorrowful for the past two
months, for she had been separated from her son,
who had ever been faithful and obedient to her
wishes. The widowed mother had mourned over
the sufferings that Jesus had endured in his
loneliness. His Messiahship had caused her
deep sorrow as well as joy. Yet strangely, as it
appears to her, she meets him at the marriage
feast, the same tender, dutiful son, yet not the
same, for his countenance is changed ; she sees
the marks of his :tierce conflict in the wilderness
of temptation, and the evidence of his hjgh mission in his holy expression and the gentle dignity of his presence. She sees that he is accompanied by a number of young men who address
him with reverence, calling him Master. These
companions tell Mary of the wonderful things
they have witnessed, not only at the baptism,
but upon numerous other occasions, and they
conclude by saying, "We have found Him of
whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did
write, Jesus of Nazareth, who is the long-looked,.
for Messiah."
The. heart of Mary was made glad by this assurance that the cherished hope of long years
of anxious waiting was indeed true. It would
)!ARRIAGE AT CA:NA.
101
have been strange enough if, mingled with this
deep and holy joy, there had not been a trace of
the fond mother's natural pride. ·But the guests
assembled and time passed on. At length an inci(\ent occurred that caused much perplexity and
regret. It was discovered that from some cause
the wine had failed. The wine used was the
pure juice of the grape, and it was impossible to
provide it at that late hour. It was unusual to
dispense with it on these occasions; so the mother of Christ, who, in her capacity of relative had
a prominent part to perform at the feast, spoke
to her son, saying, "They have no wine." In
this communication was a hidden request, or
rather, suggestion, that He to whom all things
were possible would relieve their wants. But
Jesus answered, "Woman, wba~
have I to do
with thee ? mine hour is not yet come."
His manner was respectful, yet firm; he designed to teach :rvla.ry that the time for her to
control him as a mother, was ended. His mighty
work now lay before him, and no one must direct concerning the exercise of his divine power.
There was danger that :rvlary would presume upon her relationship to Christ, and feel that she
had special claims up<:m him and special rights.
As Son of the Most High, and Saviour of .the
worlq, no ear~hly
ties must hold him from his
divine mission, nor influence the course he must
pursue. It was needful that he should stand
free fi·om every personal consideration, ready to
do the will of his Father in Heaven.
Jesus loved his mother tenderly; for thirty
years he had been subject to parental control;
but the time had ~ow
come when he was to go
about his Father's busine1:s. In rebuking his
102
THE GREAT CONTROVERSY.
mother, Jesus also rebukes a large class who have
an idolatrous love for their family, and allow the
ties of relationship to draw them from the service of God. Human love is a sacred attribute ;
but should not be allowed to mar our religious
experience, or draw our hearts from God.
The future life of Christ was mapped out before him. His divine power had been hidden,
and he had waited in obscurity and humiliation
for thirty years, and was in no haste to act until
the proper time should arrive. But Mary, in the
pride of her heart, longed to see him prove to the
compa.Jl.Y that he was really the honored of God.
It seemed to her a favorable opportunity to convince the people present of his divine power, by
working a miracle before their eyes, that would
place him in the. position he should occupy before
the Jews. But he answered that his hour had
not yet come. His time to be honored and glorified as King was not yet come; it was his lot
to be a Man of sorrows and acquainted with
grief.
The earthly relation of Christ to his mother
was ended. He who had been her submissive
son was now her divine Lord. Her only hope,
in common with the rest of mankind, was to believe him to be the Redeemer of the world, and
yield him implicit obedience. The fearful delusion of the Homan church exalts the mother of
Christ equal with the Son of the Infinite God;
but he, the Saviour, places tbe matter in a vastly different light, and in a pointed manner indicates that the tic of relationship between them
in no wa.y raises her to his level, or insures her
future. Human sympathies must no longer affect the One whose mission is to the world.
MARRIAGE AT CANA.
103
The mother of Christ understood the character
of her Son, and bowed in submission to his will.
She knew that he would comply with her request if it was best to do so. Her manner evidenced her perfect faith in his wisdom and power,
and it was this faith to which Jesus responded in
the miracle that followed. :Mary believed that
Jesus was able to do that which she bad desired
of him, and shE;! was exceedingly anxious that everything in regard to the feast should be properly ordered, and pass .off with due honor. She
said to those serving at table, "Whatsoever he
sayeth unto you, do it." Thus she did what she
could to prepare the way.
At the entrance of the dwelling there stood
six stone water-pots. Jesus directed the servants
to fill these pots with water. They readily
obeyed this singular order. The wine was
wanted for immediate use, and Jesus commanded," Dra.w out now, and bear unto the governor
of the feast." The servants beheld with astonishment, that instead of the crystal water with
which they had just £lled those vessels, there
flowed forth wine. Neither the ruler uf the
feast nor the guests generally were aware that
the supply of wine had failed ; so, upon testing
it, the ruler was astonished, for it was superior to
any wine he had ever before drank, and vastly different fioni that which had been served at the
commencement of the feast.
He addressed the bridegroom, saying, "Every
man at the beginning doth set forth good wine;
and when men have well drunk, then that which
is worse; but thou hast kept the good wine until
now." In this miracle, Jesus illustrates the
truth that while the world presents it'3 best gifts
10-l
TIIE C:ItF.AT CONTROVERSY.
first, to fascinate the senses and please the eye,
he gives good gifts, ever f:r;esh and new unto the
end. They never pall upon the taste, the heart
never sickens and tires of them. The pleasures of
the world are unsatisfying, its wine turns to bitterness, its gayety to gloom. That which was begun
with songs and mirth ends in weariness and disgust. But Je~us
provides a feast of the soul that
never fails to give satisfaction and joy. Each
new gift increases the capacity of the receiver to
appreciate and enjoy the blessings of his Lord.
He gives, not with stinted measure, but above
what is asked or expected.
This donation of Christ to the marriage supper
was a symbol of the means of salvation. The
water represented baptism into his death, the
wine, the shedding of his blood for the purifying
of the sins of the world. The provision made
for the wedding-guests was ample, and not less
abundant is the provision for blotting out the
iniquities of men.
J esns had just come from his long fast in the
wilderness, where he had suffered in order to
break the power of appetite over man, which,
among other evils, had led to the free use of intoxicating liquor. Christ did not provide for
the wedding guests wine that from fermentation
or ·adulteration was of an intoxicating character,
but the pure juice of the grape, clarified andrefined. l ts efleCt was to bring the taste into harmony with a healthful appetite.
The guests remarked upon the quality of the
wine, and presently inquiries were made that
drew from the servants an account of the wonderful work that the youthful Galilean had performed . The company listened with unbounded
)!AURIAGE AT CANA.
105
amazement, and exchanged words of doubt and
surprise. At length they looked for Jesus, that
they might pay him due respect and learn how
he had accomplished this miraculous conversion
of water i:uto wine; but he was not to be found.
He had, with dignified simplicity, performed· the
miracle, and had th~n
quietly withdrawn.
When it was ascertained that Jesus had really
departed, the attention of the company was directed to his disciples who had remained behind.
For the first time they had the opportunity of
acknowledging themselves to be believers in Jesus of Nazareth as Saviour of the world. John
related what he had heard and seen of his teachings. He told of the wonderful manifestations
at . the time of the baptism of Jesus, by the
prophet John, iq the river Jordan; how the light
and glorylrom Heaven had descended upon him in
the form of a dove, while a voice from the cloudless heavens proclaimed him to be the Son of the
Infinite ]'ather. John narrated these facts with
convincing clearness and accuracy. The curiosity
of all present was aroused, and many anxious
ones who were looking and longing for theMessiah, thought it was indeed possible that this
might be the Promised One of Israel.
The news of this miracle wrought by Jesus
spread through all that region and even reached
Jerusalem. The priests and elders heard with
wonder. They searched with new interest the
prophecies· pointing to the coming of Christ.
There was the most intense anxiety to know the
aim and mission of this new Teacher, who came
among the people in so unassuming a manner,
yet did that which no other man had ever done.
Grent
. Contrve~
,
Yol. 2.
106
THE GREAT CONTROVERSY.
Unlike the Pharisees and other dignitaries who
preserved an austere seclusion, he had joined the
mixed assembly of a festal gathering, and, while
no shadow of worldly levity marred his conduct,
he had sanctioned the social gathering with his
presence.
Here is a lesson for the disciples of Christ
through all time, not to exclude themselves from
society, renouncing all social communion and
seeking a strict seclusion from their fellow-beings. In order to reach all classes, we must meet
them where they are; for they will seldom seek
us of their own accord. Not alone from the pulpit are the hearts of men and women touched by
divine truth. Christ awakened their interest by
going among them as one who desired their good.
He sought them at their daily avocations, and
manifested an unfeigned interest in their temporal affairs. He carried his instruction into the
households of the people, bringing whole families in their own homes under the influence of his
divine presence. His strong personal sympathies
helped to win hearts to his cause.
This example of the great :Master should be
closely followed by his servants. However instructh·e and profitable may be their public discourses, they should remember there is another
field of action, humbler it may be, but full as
promising of abundant harvests. It is found in
the lowly walks of life, as well as the more pretentious mansions of the great, at the board of
hospitality and gatherings for innocent social
enjoyment.
The course o( Jesus in this respect was in direct contrast to that of the exclusive leaders of
the Jews. They shut themselves up from sym-
3IARRIAGE AT CANA.
107
pathy with the people, and sought neither to
benefit them nor win their friendship. But
Christ linked himself with the interests of humanity, and so should those who preach his
word. This should not be, however, from a desire to gratify the inclinations for personal enjoyment, or love of change and pleasure; but for
the purpose of embracing every opportunity to
do good, and shed the light of truth upon the
hearts of men, keeping the life pure and uncorrupted by the follies and vanities of society.
The special object of Jesus in attending this
marriage feast was to commence the work of
breaking down the exclusiveness which existed
with the Jewish people, and to open the way for
their freer mingling with the people. He had
come not only as the Messiah of the Jews, but
the Redeemer of the world. The Pharisees and
elders refrained from associating with any class
but the~r
own. They held themselves aloof, not
only from the Gentiles, but from the majority of
their own people; and their teaching led all classes
to separate themselves from the rest of the world,
in a manner calculated to render them self-righteous, egotistical, and intolerant. This rigorous
seclusion and bigotry of the Pharisees had narrowed their influence and created a prejudice
which Christ would have removed, that the influence of his mission might be felt upon all
classes.
Those who think to preserve their religion by
hiding if; within stone walls to escape the contamination of the world, lose golden opportunities to enlighten and benefit humanity. The
Saviour sought men in .the public streets, in private houses, on the boats, in the synagogue,. by
108
THE GREAT CONTitOYimSY.
the shores of lakes, and at the marriage feasts.
He spent much time in the mountains, engaged
in earnest prayer, in order to come forth braced
for the conflict, strengthened for his active toil
among men in real life, enlightening and relieving the poor, the sick, the ignorant, and those
bound by the chains of Satan, as well as teaching the rich and honorable.
The ministry of Christ was in marked contrast
with that of the Jewish elders. They held themselves aloof from sympathy with men; considering that they were the favored ones of God, they
assumed. an undue appearance of righteousness
and dignity. The Jews had so far fallen from
the ancient teach in gil of Jehovah that they held
that they would be righteous in the sight of
God, and receive the fulfillment of his promises,
if they strictly kept the letter of the law given
them by Moses.
The zeal with which they followed the teachings of the elders gave them an air of great piety.
Not content with performing those services
which God had specified to them through ::M:oses,
they were continually reaching for more rigid
and difficult duties. They measured their holiness by the multitude of their ceremonies, while
their hearts were filled with hypocrisy, pride, and
avarice.. The curse of God was upon them for
their iniquities, while they professed to be the
only righteous nation upon earth.
They had received unsanctified and confused
interpretations of the law, they bad added tradition to tradition, they had restricted freedom of
thought and action, till the commandments,
ordinances, and service of God, were lost in a
ceaseless round of meaningless rites and ceremo-
~IARGE
AT CANA.
lOD
nies. Their religion was a yoke of bondage.
They had become so fettered that it was impossible for them to attend to the essential duties of
life, without employing the Gentiles to do many
necessary things which were forbidden .the Jews
to do for fear of contamination. They were in
continual dread that they should become defiled.
Dwelling constantly upon these matters had
dwarfed their minds and narrowed the orbit of
their lives.
Jesus commenced the work of reformation by
bringing himself into close sympathy with humanity. He was a Jew, and he designed to leave
a perfect pattern of one who was a :Jew inwardly. While he rebuked the Pharisees for their
pretentious piety, endeavoring to free the people
from the senseless exactions that bound them, he
showed the greatest veneration for the Jaw of
God, and taught obedience of its precepts.
J'esus rebuked intemperance, self-indulgence,
and folly; yet he was social in his nature. He
accepted invitations to dine with the learned and
noble, as well as the poor and afflicted. On
these occasions, his conversation was elevating
and instructive, holding his hearers entranced.
He gave no license to scenes of dissipation and
revelry, yet innocent happiness was pleasing to
him. A Jewish marriage was a soler:::m and impressive occasion, the pleasure and joy of which
were not displeasing to the Son of Man. This
miracle pointed directly toward breaking down
the prejudices of the Jews. The disciples of J esus learned a lesson of sympathy and humanity
from it. His relatives were drawn to him with
warm affection, and when he left for Capcrnaum,
they accompanied him.
110
TIH: mmAT CONTRO\"F.RSY.
By attending this feast, Jesus sanctioned marriage as a divine institution, and through all his
subsequent ministry, he paid the marriage covenant a marked respect in illustrating many important truths by it.
Jesus next proceeded t.o introduce himself to
his own people in his true character. He went
to Nazareth, where he was known as an unpretending mechanic, and entered a synagogue upon
the Sabbath. As was customary, the elder read
from the prophets, and exhorted the people to
continue to hope for the Coming One, who
would bring in a glorious reign, and subdue all
oppression. He sought to animate the faith and
courage of the Jews, by rehearsing the evidences
of .Messiah's soon coming, dwelling especially upon
the kingly power and glorious majesty that would
attend his advent. He kept before his hearers
the idea that the reign of Christ would be upon
an earthly throne in Jerusalem, and his kingdom
would be a temporal one. He taught them that
Messiah would appear at the head of armies, to
conquer the heathen and deliver Israel from the
oppression of their enemies.
At the close of the service, Jesus rose with
calm dignity, and requested them to bring him
the book of the prophet Esaias. "And when he
had opened the book, he found the place where it
was written, The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he bath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the
broken-hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set
at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the
acceptable year of the Lord. And he closed the
book, and he gave it again to the minister, and
~IAP.lt!GE
A1' GANA.
Ill
~at
down. And the eyes of all them that were
in the synagogue were fastened on him. And
he began to say unto them, This day is this
scripture fulfilled in your ears. And all bare
him witness, and wondered at the gracious words
which proceeded out of his mouth."
The scripture which Jesus read was understood by all to refer to the coming Messiah and
his work. And when the Saviour explained the
words he had read, and pointed out the sacred
ofiice of the Messiah,-a reliever of the oppressed,
a liberator of the captives, a healer of the afflicted, restoring sight to the blind, and revealing
to the world the light of truth,-the people
were thrilled with the wisdom and power of
his words and responded to them with fervent
amens and praises to the Lord. Jesus l1ad not
been educated in the school of the prophets, yet
the most learned Habbis could not speak with
more confidence and authority than did this
young Galilean.
His impressive manner, the mighty import of
his words, and the divine light that emanated
from his countenance, thrilled the people with a
power they had never experienced before, as
Jesus stood before them, a living expositor of
the ;prophet's words concerning himself. But
when he announced: "This day is this scripture
fulfilled in your ears," the minds of his hearers
were brought back to consider what were . this
man's claims to the Messiahsbip-the l1ighest
position that man could occupy.
The interest of the congregation bad been
thoroughly awakened, and their hearts had been
stirred with joy; but Satan was at hand to
suggest doubts and unbelief, and they remem-
112
THE GREAT CONTIW\'EP.SY.
bered who it was that addressed t-hem as the
blind, and the captives in bondage who needed
special aid. l\lany of those present were acquainted with the humble life of Jesus, as the
son of a carpenter, working at his trade with his
father J oscph. He had made no claims to distinction or greatness, and his home was among
the poor and lo\vly.
In marl<;ed contra5t with this humble man
was the expected Messiah of the Jews. They
believed that he would come with honor and
glory, and set up, by power of arms, the throne
of David. And they murmured: This cannot be
the One who is to t·eJeem Israel. Is not this
Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother
we know ? And they refused to believe him unless he gave them some marked sign. They
opened their hearts to unbelief, and prejudice
took possession of them, and blinded their judgment, so that they made no account of tlw evidence already given when their hearts bad
thrilled with the knowledge that it was their
H.edeemer who addressed them.
But Jesus now showed them a sign of his divine character by revealing the secrets of their
minds. "And he said unto them, Ye will surely
say unto me this proverb, Physician, heal thyself; whatsoever we have heard done :irl Capr·nl:lmn, Jo also here in thy country. And he
said, Verily I say unto you, No prophet is accepted in hi:> own country. But I tell you of
a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days
of Elias, when the heaven was shnt up three
years and six months, when great famine was
throughout all the land ; but unto none of them
was Elias sent., sM·c unto Sarepta., a_cit.y of Sidon,
~IARGE
AT CANA.
113
unto a woman that wa.~
a widow. And many
lepers were in Israel in the time of Eliseus the
prophet; and none of them was cleansed, saving
N aaman the Syrian."
Jesus read the inmost thoughts of those who
were before him, and met their questioning with
this relation of events in the lives of the prophets. Those men whom God had chosen for a
special and important work were not allowed to
labor for a l1ard-hearted and unbelieving people.
But those who had hearts to feel, and faith to
believe, were specially favored with evidences of
God's power displayed through his prophets.
By tho apostasy of Israel in Elijah's day, Jesus
illustrated the true state of the people whom he
was addressing. The unbelief and self-exaltation
of the ancient Jewish nation caused God to pass
over the many widows in Israel, and the poor and
alllicted there, to find an aflylum for his .s ervant
among a heathen people, and to place him in the
care of a heathen woman; but she who was thus
especially favored had lived in strict accordance
with the light she possessed. God also passed
over the many lepers of Israel, because their unbelief and abuse of precious privileges placed
them in a position where he could not manifest
his power in their behalf. On the other hand, a
heathen nobleman, who had lived faithful to his
convictions of right, and fully up to his highest
privileges, but who felt his great need of help,
and whose heart opened to receive the lessons of
Christ, was, in the sight of God, more worthy of
his special favors, and was cleansed from his leprosy, as well as enlightened in regard to divine
truth.
Here Je~uB
taught an important lesson that
114
TilE GREA'l' VONTROYERSY.
should be received by all who profess his name
to the end of time. It was this: Tha.t even the
heathen, who live according to the best light
they have, doing right ~o far as they are able to
distinguish· right from wrong, are regarded with
greater favor by God than those who, having
great light, make high pretensions to godliness,
but whose daily lives contradict their profession.
Thus Jesus stood before the Jews, calmly revealing their secret thoughts, and pressing home upon them the bittf'r truth of their unrighteousness.
Every word cut like a knife as their corrupt lives
and wicked unbelief were laid }?efore them. They
now scorned the faith and reverence with which
Jesus had at first inspired them, and they refused
to acknowledge that this man, who had sprung
from poverty and lowliness, was other than a
common man. They would own no king who
came unattended by riches and honor, and who
stood not at the head of imposing legions.
Their unbelief bred malice. Satan controlled
their minds, and they cried out against the Saviour with wrath and hatred. The assembly
broke up, and the wicked people laid hands
upon Jesus, thrusting him from the synagogue,
and out of their city, and would have killed
him if they had been able to do so. All seemed
eager for his destruction. They hurried him to
the brow of a steep precipice, · intending to cast
him headlong from it. Shouts and maledictions
filled the air. Some were ca5ting stones and
dirt at him; but suddenly he disappeared out
of their midst, they knew not how, or when.
Angels of God attended Jesus in the midst of
that infuriated mob, and preserved his life. The
heavenly messengers were by his side·in the syn-
CLEANSING TilE TEMPLE.
115
agogue, while he was speaking; and they accompanied him when pressed and UTged on by
the unbelieving, infuriated Jews. These angels
blinded the eyes of that maddened throng, and
conducted Jesus to a place of safety.
CHAPTER VIII.
CLEANSING THE TEMPLE.
AT the time of the passover, when Jerusalem
was crowded with people who had come from
a distance to celebrate this great annual festival,
Jesus with his disciples mingled with the gathering throng. It was early in the morning, yet
large crowds were already repairing to the temple. As Jesus entered, he was indignant to find
the court of the temple arranged as a cattle market and a place of generaL traffic. There were
not only stalls for the beasts, but there were tables where the p:riests themselves acted as
money-brokers and exchangers. It was customary for each person who attended the passover to
bring a piece of money, which was paid to the
priests upon entering the temple.
From the changing of foreign coins and different denominations of money to accommodate
strangers, this matter of receiving these offerings
had grown into a disgraceful traffic, and a source
of great profit to the priests. Many came from
a great distance and could not bring their sacrificial offerings. Under the plea of accommodating such persons, in the outer court were cattle,
116
THE GltEAT CONTROVERSY.
sheep, doves, and sparrows for sale at exorbitant
prices. The consequent confusion indicated a
noisy cattle market, rather than the sacred temple of God. There could be heard sharp bargaining, buying and selling, the lowing of cattle, the
bleating of sheep, and cooing of doYes, mingled
with the chinking of coin, and angry disputation.
A great number of beasts were annually sacrificed at the passover, which made the sales at
the temple immense. The dealers realized a
large profit, which was shared with the avaricious
priesthood and men of authority among the
Jews. These hypocritical speculators, under
cover of their holy profession, practiced all manner of extortion, and made their sacred office a
source of personal revenue.
The babel of voices, the noises of animals, and
the shouts of their drivers created such a confusion just without the sacred precincts that the
worshipers within were dil:;turbed, and the words
addressed to the Most High were "drowned in the
uproar that invaded the temple erected to his
glory. Yet the Jews were exceedingly proud of
their piety, and tenacious of outward observances
and forms. They rejoiced over their temple,
and regarded a word spoken in its disfavor as
blasphemy. They were rigorous in the performance of ceremonies connected with it, yet allowed
the love of money and power to overrule their
scruples, till they were scarcely aware of the distance they had wandered from the original purity of the sacrificial ceremony instituted by God
himself.
When the Lord came down upon Mount Sinai,
th·e place was consecrated by his presence. A
divine command was given Moses to 'J>Ut bounds
(!LEANSING TilE TEllPLE.
11 i
around the mount and sanctify it, and the word
of God was heard in warning : "Take heed to
yourselves, that ye go not up into the mount, or
touch the border of it. Whosoever toucheth the
mount shall be surely put to death. There shall
not a hand touch it, but he shall surely be
stoned, or shot through; whether it be beast or
man, it shall not live." All the people were
cleansed and sanctified for the presence of the
Lord. In direct contrast to this example, the
sacred temple, dedicated to the Almighty, was
made a market-place and a house of merchandise.
As the youthful Galilean entered the enclosure, he stooped and picked up a whip of small
cords that had been used in driving some of the
animals. Jesus ascended the steps ·of the temple
and surveyed the scene with a calm and dignified look. He saw and heard the traffic and bartering. His expression became stern and terrible. The eyes of many turned instinctively to
look at this stranger; their gaze became riveted
upon him. Others followed their example till
the whole multitude were regarding him with a
look of mingled fear and amazement.
They felt instinctively that this man read their
inmost thoughts and their hidden motives of action. Some attempted to conceal their faces as
if their evil deeds were written upon their countenances to be scanned by those ·searching eyes.
The confusion was hushed. The sound of
traffic and bargaining ceased. The silence became painful. A sense of awe overpowered the
entire assembly. It was as if they were arraigned
before the tribunal of God to answer for their
deeds. The Majesty of Heaven stood as the
Judge will stand at the last day, and every one of
118
THE GREAT CONTROVERSY.
that vast crowd for the time acknowledged him
their Master. His eye sw~pt
over the multid~,
taking in every indvua~.
His form seemed to
tower above them in commanding dignity, and
a divine light illuminated his countenance. He
spoke, and his clear, ringing voice, echoing
through the arches of the temple, was like the
voice that shook Mount Sinai, of old : "}ly house
shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have
made it a den of thieves."
He slowly descended the steps, and, raising the
whip, which in his hand seemed changed to a
kingly scepter, bade the bargaining company to
quit the sacred limits of the temple, and take
hence their merchandise. With ri. lofty zeal, and
a severity he had never before manifested, he
overthrew the tables of the money-changers, and
the coin fell, ringing sharply upon the marble
floor. The most hardened and defiant did not
presume to question his authority, but, with
prompt obedience, the dignitaries of the temple,
the speculating priests, the cattle traders and
brokers, rushed from his presence. The most
avaricious did not stop to gather up their idolized money, but fled without a thought of their
ill-gotten gains.
The beasts and birds were all hurried beyond
the sacred portals. A panic of fear swept over
the multitude who felt the over-shadowing of
Christ's divinity. Cries of terror escaped from
hundreds of blanched lips as the crowd rushed
headlong from the place. Jesus smote them not
with the whip of cords, but, to their guilty eyes,
that simple instrument seemed like gleaming, angry swords, circling in every direction, and threatening to cut them down. Even tho disciples
CLEANSING TllE TEMPLE.
11!)
quaked with fear, and were awe-struck by the
words and manner of Jesus, so unlike the usual
demeanor of the meek and lowly man of Galilee.
But they remembered that it.was written of him,
"The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up." Soon
the multitude, with their cattle, their sheep, doves,
and sparrows, were far removed from the temple
of the Lord. The courts were free from unholy
commerce, and a deep silence and solemnity settled upon the late scene of confusion. If the
presence of the Lord sanctified the mount, his
presence made equally sacred the temple reared
to his honor.
How easily could that vast tl1rong have resisted the authority of one man; but the power
of His divinity overwhelmed them with confusion and a sense of their guilt. They had no
strength to resist the divine authority of the
Saviour of the world. The desecrators of God's
holy place were driven from its portals by the
lvin:jesty of Heaven.
After the temple was cleansed, the demeanor
of Jesus changed; the terrible majesty of his
countenance gave place to an expression of tenderest sympathy. He looked after the flying
crowd with eyes full of sorrow and compassion.
There were some who remained, held by the irresistible attraction of his presence. They were
unterrified by his awful dignity, their hearts were
drawn toward him with love and hope. The~
people were not the great and powerful, who expected to impress him with a sense of their
grandeur; they were the poor, the sick, and the
afflicted.
After tlie buyers and sellers, and the promiscuous crowd with their merchandise, were driven
120
'filE GREAT CONTJtOYF.RSY.
out, J csus healed the stricken ones who flocked
unto him. The sick were relieved, the blind received their sight, the dumb praised God with
loosened tongues, the lame leaped for joy, and
demons were ca.c;t out from those they had long
tormented. Mothers, pale with anxiety and
'\Vatching, brought their dying infants to receive
his blessing. He folded them tenderly to his bosom, and returned them to their mothers' arms
well and strong.
This was a scene worthy of the temple of the
Lord. He who, a short time before, had stood
upon the steps like an avenging ang~l,
had now
become a messenger of mercy, soothmg the sorrows of the oppressed, encouraging the despairing, relieving the suffering. Hundreds returned
to their homes from the passover sound in body
and enlightened in mint!, who had come there
feeble and desponding.
During this time the people were slowly drifting back. They bad partially recovered from
the panic that had seized them, but their faces
expressed an irresolution and timidity that coul9.
not be concealed. They looked with amazement
upon the works of Jesus, beholding more wonderful cures than had ever been accomplished before. The Jews knew that the act of Jesus in
purging the temple of its sacrilegious speculators,
was not the exhibition of human po\\•er.' The
divine authority that inspired Jesus, and lifted
him above humanity, was felt and realized by
them, and should have been sufficient to bring
them as worshipers at his feet. But they
were determined to disbelieve him. They feared
that this humble Galilean would take from them
their power over the people, by his greater
·.
CLEANSING THE TEMPLE.
121
works and super-human authority. Their haughty spirits had looked for a king who would come
with great pomp and heraldry, au bduing the nations of the earth, and raising them to a much
loftier station than they now occupied. This
Man, who came teaching humility and love,
aroused their hatred and scorn.
When he arose in the majesty of his sacred
mission, they were stricken with sudden fear and
condemnation. But, after the spell was broken,
in the hardness of their hearts, they wondered
why they had been so terror-stricken and fled so
precipitately from the presence of a single ma.n.
What right had this youthful Galilean to interfere with the dignitaries of the temple ? After a
time they returned, but did not dare at once to
resume their former occupation.
The crowd were comparatively innocent, for it
was by the arrangement of the chief authorities
of the temple that the outer court was turned
into a market-place. The great sin of desecration lay upon the priesthood, who had perverted
and disgraced their sacred office. The chief
priests and elders counseled among themselves as
to what course should be pursued toward Jesus,
and what his conduct could mean, assuming an
authority greater than their own, and rebuking
them openly.
They went to Jesus with a deference born of
the fear that still hung over them; for they concluded that he must be a prophet sent of God to
restore the sanctity of the temple. They asked
him, "What sign showest thou unto us, seeing
that thou doest these things?" Jesus had already
given them the strongest proof of his divine comGre:~.t
ControTcray, Vol. 2.
122
THE GREAT CONTROVERSY.
miSSion. He knew that no evidence he could
present to them would convince them that he
was the lt-Iessiah if his act of cleansing the temple had failed to do so. Therefore he answered
their challenge with these words, "Destroy this
temple, and in three days I will raise it up."
They supposed he referred to the temple at. Jerusalem, and were astounded at his apparent presumption. Their unbelieving minds were unable
to discern that he referred to his own body, the
earthly temple of the Son of God. With indignation they answered, "Forty and six years was
this temple .in building, and wilt thou rear it up
in three days?"
Jesus did not design that the skeptical Jews
should discover the hidden meaning of hi'> words,
nor even his disciples at that time. After his
resurrection they called to mind these ~ords
he
had uttered, and they then understood them correctly. They remembered that he had also said
that be had power to lay down his life and to
take it again. Jesus was acquainted with the
path his feet had entered upon, even unto the
end. His words possessed a double meaning, referring to the temple at Jerusalem as well as his
own material body.
Christ was the foundation and life of that temple. His crucifixion would virtually destroy it,
because its services were typical of the future
sacrifice of the Son of God. They pointed to
the great antitype, which was Christ himself.
When the Jews should accomplish their wicked
purpose, and do unto him what they listed, fi·om
that day forth sacrificial offerings, and the services connected with them, would be valueless in
CLEANSING THE TEMPLE.
123
the sight of God, for type would have met antitype in the perfect offering of the Son of God.
The whole priesthood was established to represent the mediatorial character and work of
Christ; and the entire plan of sacrificial worship
was a foreshadowing of the death of the Saviour
to redeem the world from sin. There would be
no more need of burnt-offerings and the blood
of beasts when the great event toward which
they bad pointed for ages was consummated.
The temple was Christ's; its sei'Vices and ceremonies · referred directly to him. What then
must have been his feelings when be found it
polluted by the spirit of avarice and extortion, a
place of merchandise and traffic !
When Christ was crucified, the inner vail of
the temple was rent in twain from top to bottom, which event signified that the ceremonial
system of the flacrificial offerings was at an end
forever,. that the one great and final sacrifice
was made in the Lamb of God, slain for the sins
of the world.
In the defilement and cleansing.of the temple
we have a lesson for this time. 'rhe same spirit
that existed among the Jews, leading them to
substitute gain for godliness, and outward pomp
for inward purity, curses the Christian world today. It spreads like a defiling leprousy among
the professed worshipers of God. Sacred things
are brought down to a level with the vain matters of the world. Vice is mistaken for virtue,
and righteousness for crime. Temporal business
is mingled with the worship of God. Ext.orti.on
and wicked speculation are practiced by those
who profess to be servants of the Most High.
Said the inspired apostle, " Know ye not that ye
124
TilE GREAT CONTROVERSY.
are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God
dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple
of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of
God is holy, which temple ye are." It is necessary that Jesus should occupy his temple in the
human heart every day, and cleanse it from the
defilement of sin.
CHAPTER IX.
NICODEliiUS COlliES TO CHRIST.
THE great authority Jesus had assumed in tbe
temple, in condemning the practices of the Jewish
dignitaries, was freely commented upon by Pharisees, priests, and elders. His appearance, and the
tones of his voice, together with the irresistible
power he bad exercised over the multitude, were
such ·as to lead many of them to believe that he
was indeed the }.{essiah whom they had so long
expected and desired to see.
A portion of the Jews had ever been fearful
of opposing one who seemed to possess any remarkable power or seemed to be influenced by
God's Spirit. Many messages had ·been given to
Israel by the mouths of prophets. Yet some of
these holy men bad been slain through the instigation of the leaders in Israel, because they
had denounced the sins of those in authority.
The captivity of the Jews to a heathen nation,
was their punishment for refusing to be reproved
of their iniquities, slighting the warnings of God,
and folding their sins still closer to their hearts.
The Jews, in the days of Chriat, lamented
NICODE)!US COliES TO CHRIST.
125
their humiliation to the Romans, and condemned
the acts of their fathers in stoning the prophets
who were sent to con-ect them. Yet their nriests
and elders cherished the spirit in their ~hearts
which would lead them to commit the same
cnmes.
The dignitaries of the temple consulted together in regard to the conduct of Jesus, and
what course 'WaS best for them to pursue. One
of their number, Nicodemus, advised moderation
both in their feelings and acts. He argued that,
if Jesus was really invested with authority from
God, it would be perilous to reject his warnings,
and the manifestations of his power, He could
not look upon him as an impostor, nor join the
rest of the Pharisees in their derision of him.
He himself had seen and heard Jesus, and his
mind was much diRturbed in consequence. He
anxiously perused the scrolls containing the
prophecies 1·ela.ting to the coming of the Messiah.
He sought earnestly for clear light upon the subject, and the more he searched the stronger was
his conviction tl1at this man was the one described by the prophets. If he was indeed the
Christ, then this was an eventful epoch in the
history of the world and especially of the Jewish
nation.
During the entire day after Christ had cleansed
the desecrated courts of the temple, he was healing the sick and relieving the afflicted. Nicodemus had seen with what pitying compassion he
had received and ministered unto the poor and
the oppressed. With the demeanor of a loving
father toward his suffering children, he had
wrought cures and removed sorrow. No suppliant was sent unrelieved from his presence. Moth-
l:!G
1'1IE <..:I!F:AT C:O~'fRYEltS
.
crs were made glad by the restoration of their
babes to health, and voices of thanksgiving bad
taken the place of weeping and moans of pain.
All day, Jesus had instructed the restless, curious
people, reasoning with the scribes, and silencing
the caviling of the haughty rulers by the wisdom of his words. Nicodemus, after seeing and
hearing these wonderful things, and after searching the prophecies that pointed to Jesus as the
looked-for Messiah, dared not disbelieve that he
was sent of God.
When night came on, Jesus, pale v1ith the
weariness of his long-continued labors, sought
for retirement and repose in the Mount of Olives.
Here Nicodemus found him and desired a conference. 'l'bis man was rich and honored of the
Jews. He was famous throughout Jcmsalem
for his wealth, his learning and benevolence, and
especially for his liberal offerings to the temple
to carry out its sacred services. He was also one
of the prominent members of the national council. Yet when he came into the presence of Jesus,
a strange agitation and timidity assailed him,
which he essayed to conceal beneath an air of
composure and dignity.
He endeavored to appear a.~ if it were an act
of condescension on the part· of a learned ruler, to
seek, uninvited, an audience with a young stranger at that unseasonable hour of night. He began
with a concilis.ting address, "Rabbi, we know
that thou art a teacher come from God ; for no
man can do these miracles that thou doest, except
God be with him." But instead of acknowledging
this complimentary salutation, Jesus bent his
calm and searching eye upon the speaker, as if
reading his very soul; then, with a sweet a.nd
NICODmms COliES TO CHRIST.
127
solemn voice, be spoke and revealed tl1e true condition of Nicodemus. "Verily, verily I say unto
you, Except a man be born again, he cannot see
the kingdom of God."
The ~Pharise
was surprised out of his selfpossession by these words, the meaning of which
l1e partially comprehended; for he had heard
J olm the Baptist preach repentance and baptism,
and also the coming of One who should baptize
with the Holy Ghost. Nicodemus had long felt
that there was a want of spirituality among the
Jews ; that bigotry, pride, and worldly ambition
guided their actions in a great measure. He had
hoped for a better state of things when the Messiah should come. But he was looking for a Saviour who would set up a temporal throne in J erusalem, and who would gather the Jewish nation
under his standard, bringing the Roman power
into su~jection
by force of arms.
This learned dignitary · was a strict Pharisee.
He had prided himself upon his own good works
and exalted piety. He considered his daily life
perfect in the sight of God, and was startled
to hear Jesus speak of a kingdom too pure for
him to see in his present state. His mind misgave him, yet he felt irritated by the close application of the words to his own case, and he answered as if he had understood them in the most
literal sense, " How can a man be born when
he is old 1"
Jesus, with solemn emphasis, repeated, " Verily,
verily I say unto thee, Except a man be born of
the water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into
the kingdom of God." The words of Jesus could
no longer be misunderstood. His listener well
knew that he referred to water baptism and the
128
'l'JIE GREAT CONTROVERSY.
grace of God. The power of the Holy Spirit
transforms the entire man. This change constitutes the new birth.
Many of the Jews had acknowledged John as
a prophet sent of God, and had received baptism
nt his hands unto repentance; meanwhile he had
plainly taught them that his work and mission
was to prepare the way for Christ, who was the
greatel' light, and would complete the work which
he had begun. Nicodemus had meditated upon
these things, and he now felt convinced that he
was in the presence of that One foretold by John.
Said Jesus, "That which is born of the flesh
is flesh; and that which is born of the Spil'it is
spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Y e
must be born again. The wind bloweth where
it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and
whither it goeth; so is every one that is born
of the Spirit." Jesus here seeks to impress
upon Nicodemus the positive necessity of the
influence of the Spirit of God upon the human
heart to purify it preparatory to the development of a righteous and symmetrical character.
"Out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness,
blasphemies." This fountain of the heart being
purified, the stream thereof becomes pure.
This new birth looks mysterious to Nicodemus.
He asks, "How can these things be?" Jesus, bidding him marvel not, uses the wind as an illustration of his meaning. It is heard among the
branches of the trees, and rustling the leaves
and flowers, yet it is invisible to the eye, and
from whence it comes and whither it goeth, no
man knoweth. So is the experience of every one
NICODE!tUS COlliES TO CHRIST.
129
who is born of the Spirit. The mind is an invisible agent of God to produce tangible ·results.
Its influence is powerful, and governs the actions
of men. If purified from all evil, it i!l the motive
power of good. 1'he regenerating Spirit qf God,
taking possession of the mind, transforms the life ;
wicked thoughts are put away, evil deeds are renounced, love, peace, and humility take the place
of anger, envy, and strife. That power which no
human eye can see, has created a new being in
the image of God.
The necessity of the new birth was not so
strongly impressed upon Nicodemus as the manner of its accomplishment. Jesus reproves him,
asking if be, a master and teacher in Israel, an
expounder of the prophecies, can be ignorant of
these things. Has he read those sacred writings
in vain, that be has failed to understand from
them that the heart must be cleansed from its
natural defilement by the Spirit of God before it
can be fit for the kingdom of Heaveh 1 Christ
made no reference here to the resurrection of the
body from the grave, when a nation shall be born
in a day, but he was speaking in regard to the inward work of grace upon the unregenerate heart~
He had just been engaged in cleansing the
temple, by driving from its sacred courts those
who had degraded it to a place of traffic and extortion. Not one who had fled that day from
the presence of Jesus was fitted by the grace
of God to be connected with the sacred services
of the temple. True, there were some honorable
men among the Pharisees, who deeply regretted
the evils that were corrupting the Jewish nation
and desecrating its religious rites. They also
saw that traditions and useless forms had taken
130
THE GREAT CONTROVERSY.
the place of true holiness, but they were powerless to prevent these growing evil~.
Jesus had comme!l.ced his work by striking
directly at the selfish, avaricious spirit of the
Jews, showing that while professing to be the
children of Abraham they refused to follow his
example. They were zealous for an external appearance of righteousness while they neglected
internal holiness. They were sticklers for the
letter of the law, while they grossly transgressed
its spirit every day. The law forbade hatred
and theft, yet Christ declared that the Jews had
made his Father's house a den of thieves. The
great necessity of the people was a new moral
birth, a removal of the sins that polluted them,
a renewal of true knowledge and genuine holiness.
This purifying of the temple illustrates the
work that must be accomplished in eve1y one who
would secure eternal life. Patiently Jesus unfolded the plan of salvation to Nicodemus, showing him how the Holy Spirit bringil light and
transforming power to every soul that is born of
the Spirit. Like the wind, which is invisibleyet the effects of which are plainly seen and
felt-is the baptism of the Spirit of God upon
the heart, revealing itself in every action of him
who experiences its saving power.
He explained how Christ, the burden-bearer,
lifts the burden from the oppressed soul, and bids
it rejoice in deliverance from bondage. Joy takes
the place of sadness, and the countenance reflects
the light of Heaven. Yet no one sees the hand
that lifts the burden, nor beholds the light descend from the courts of God. The blessing
comes when the soul, by faith, surrenders itself to
NIUODE~HJS
COMES TO CDRIST.
131
the Lord. This mystery exceeds human knowledge, yet he who thus passes from death to life
realizes that it is a divine truth.
The conversion of the soul through faith in
Christ was but dimly comprehended by Nicodemus, who bad been accustomed to consider cold
formality and rigid services as true religion. The
great Teacher explained that his mission upon
earth was not to set up a temporal kingdom, emulating the pomp and display of the world, but to
establish the reign of peace and love, to bring
men to the Father through the mediatorial agency of his Son.
.
Nicodemus was bewildered. Said Jesus, "If I
have told you earthly things and ye believe not,
how shall ye believe if I tell you of heavenly
things?" If Nicodemus could not receive his
teachings illustrating the work of grace upon the
human heart, as represented by the figure of the
wind, how could he comprehend the character of
his glorious heavenly kingdom should he explain
it to him ? Not discerning the nature of Christ's
work on earth, he could not understand his work
in Heaven. Jesus referred Nicodemus to the
prophecies of David and Ezekiel:" A.nd I will give them one heart, and I will
put a. new spirit within you; and I will take the
stony he~t
out of their :fiesh, and will give them
an heart of flesh; that they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them;
and they shall be my people, and I will be their
God." "And they shall come thither, and they
shall take away all the detestable things thereof
and all the abominations thereof from thence."
"Therefore, I will judge you, 0 house of Israel,
every one according to his ways, saith the Lord
132
THE GREAT CONTROVERSY.
God. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your
transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your
ruin. Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye l1ave transgressed; and make
you a new heart and a new spirit." "Create in
me a clean heart, 0 God ; and renew a right spirit
witbin me. Cast me not away from thy presence ; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and
uphold me with thy free spirit. Then will I
teach transgressors thy ways ; and sinners shall
be converted unto thee." "A new heart also
will I give you, and a new spirit will I put withiu you ; and I will take away the stony heart
out of your flesh, and I will give yo•1 an heart of
flesh."
The learned Nicodemus had read these pointed
prophecies with a clouded mind, but now he began to comprehend their true meaning, and to
understand that even a man as just and honorable
as himself must experience a new birth through
Jesus Christ, as the only condition upon which
he could be saved, and secure an entrance into
the kingdom of God. Jesus spoke positively that unless a man is born again he cannot discern the kingdom which Christ came upon earth
to set up. Rigid precision in obeying the law
would entitle no man to enter the kingdom of
Heaven.
There must be a new birth, a new mind
through the operation of the~
Spirit of God,
which purifies the life and ennobles the character. This connection with God fits man for the
glorious kingdom of Heaven. No human invention can ever find a remedy for the sinning soul.
Only by repentance and humiliation, a submis-
NICODE!IUS COMES TO CHRIST.
133
sion to the divine requirements, can the work of
grace be performed. Iniquity is so offensive in
the sight of God, whom the sinner has so long
insulted and wronged, that a repentance commensurate with the character of the sins committed often produces an agony of spirit hard to
bear.
Nothing less than a practical acceptance and
application of divine truth opens the kingdom
of God to man. Only a pure and lowly heart,
obedient and loving, firm in the faith and service
of the Most IDgh, can enter there. Jesus also
declares that as "Moses lifted up the serpent in
the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be
lifted up, that whosoever believeth in him should
not perish, but have eternal life." The serpent
in the wilderness was lifted upon a pole before
the people, that all who had been stung unto
death by the fiery serpent might look upon this
brazen serpent, a symbol of Christ, and be instantly healed. But they must look in faith, or
it would be of no avail. Just so must men look
upon the Son of Man as their Saviour unto eternal life. Man had separated himself from God
by sin. Christ brought his divinity to earth,
veiled by humanity, in order to rescue man from
his lost condition. Human nature is vile, and
man's character must be changed before it can
harmonize with the pure and holy in God's immortal kingdom. This transformation is the
new birth.
If man by faith takes bold of the divine love
of God, he becomes a new creature through Christ
Jesus. The world is overcome, human nature is
subdued, and Satan is vanquished. In this important sermon to Nicodemus, Jesus unfolded before
134
THE GREAT CONTROVERSY.
this noble Pharisee the whole plan of salvation,
and his mission to the world. In none of his
subsequent discourses did the Saviour explain so
thoroughly, step by step, the work necessary to
be done in the human heart, if it would inherit
the kingdom of Heaven. · He traced man's salvation directly to the love of the Father, which
led him to give his Son unto death that man
might be saved.
J·esus was acquainted with the soil into which
he cast the seeds of truth. For three years there
was little apparent fmit. Nicodemus was never
an enemy to Jcsm:, but he did not publicly acknowledge him. He was weighing matters with
an exactitude that accorded with his nature. He
watched the life-work of J csus wit.h intense interest. He pondered over his teachings and beheld his mighty \vorks. The raising of Lazarus
from the dead was n.n evidence of his Messiahship that could not be disputed in the mind of
the learned Jew.
Once, when the Sanhedrim council was planning the most eflectual way of bringing about
the cQndemnation and death of Jesus, his authoritative voice waR heard in protest, "Doth our law
judge any man, before it hear l1im, and know
what he doeth?" This brought a sharp rebuff
frow the chief priest, "Art thou also of Galilee "!
Search :mel look, for out of Galilee arisetb no
prophet." Yet the council dispersed, fo•· they
could nut obtain a unanimous af!sent to the condemnation of J esu:::.
The Jews suspected both Joseph and Nicodemus of being in sympathy with the Teacher of
Galilee, and these men were not summoned when
the council met that decided the fate of Jesus.
NICODE)!US C03IES TO CHRIST.
135
The words spoken at night to a single man in the
lonely mountain were not lost. When Nicodemus saw Jesus upon the cross, hanging like a
malefactor between heaven and earth, yet praying for his murderers ; when he witnessed the
commotion of nature, in that awful hour when
the sun was hidden and the earth reeled in space,
when the rocks were split in sunder and the vail
of the temple rent irt twain; then he remembered
tl1e solemn teaching in the mountain: "As Moses
lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so
must the Son of }.fan be lifted up."
The scales fell from his eyes,. and faith took tl1e
place of doubt and uncertainty. 'Beams of light
streamed from the secret interview in the mountain and illuminated the cross of the Saviour. In
that time of discouragement and danger, when
the hearts of the disciples were failing them
through doubt and fear, Joseph of Arimathea., a
secret disciple of Jesus, came fonyard and obtained the Lord's body from Pilate, and Nicodemus, who at the first came to Jesus by night,
brought a hundred pounds' weight of myrrh and
aloes. These two men with their own hands
performed the last sacred rites, and laid the body
of the Saviour in a new sepulchre where never
man lay before. These lofty rulers of the Jews
mingled their tears together over the sacred form
of the dead.
Now, when the disciples were scattered and
discouraged, Nicodemus came boldly to the front.
He was rich, and he employed his wealth to sustain the infant church of Christ, that the Jews
thought would be blotted out with the death of
Jesus. He who had been so cautious and questioning, now, in the time of peril, was firm as the
136
THE <.mEAT CONTROVERSY.
granite rock, encouraging the flagging faith of
the followers of Christ, and furnishing means tQ
carry on the cause. He was defrauded, persecuted, and stigmatized by those who had paid
him reverence in other days. He became poor in
this world's goods, yet he faltered not in the faith
that had its beginning in that secret night conference with the young Galilean.
~ico.demus
related to John the story of that
interview, and his inspired pen recorded it for
the instruction of millions. The vital truths there
taught areas important to-day as they were that
solemn night in the shadowy mountain, when the
mighty Jewish ruler came to learn the way of
life from the lowly carpenter of Nazareth.
" When therefore the Lord knew how the
Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John (though Jesus
himself baptized not, but his disciples), he left
Judea, and departed again into Galilee."
The prejudice of the Jews was aroused because
the disciples of Jesus did not use the exact words
of John in the rite of baptism. John baptized
unto repentance, but the disciples of Jesus, on
profession of the faith, baptized in the name of
the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The teachings
of John were in perfect harmony with those of
Jesus, yet his disciples became jealous for fear his
influence was diminishing. A dispute arose between them and the disciples of Jesus in regard
to the form of words proper to use at baptism,
and finally as to the right of the latter to baptize at all.
John's disciples came to him with their grievances, saying, "Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, be-
NICODEllUS CO~IES
TO CHRIST.
}3 7
hold, the same baptizeth, aud all men come to
him." John possessed the common infirmities of
human nature. In this matter he was subjected
to a severe trial. His influence as the prophet
of God had been greater than any other man's,
until the ministry of Christ commenced; but
the fame of this new teacher was drawing the attention of all people, and in consequence, the
popularity of John was waning. His disciples
brought to him the true statement of the case,
Jesus baptizeth, and all men come to him.
John stood in a dangerous position; had be
justified the jealousy of his disciples by a word
of sympathy or encouragement in their murmurings, a serious division would have been created. But the noble and unselfish sph·it of the
prophet shone forth in the answer he gave to
his followers :"A man can receive nothing, except it be
given him from Heaven. Ye yourselves bear me
witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but
that I am sent before him. He that hath the
bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the
bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice;
this my joy therefore is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease."
Had John manifested disappointment or grief
at being superseded by Jesus ; had he allowed
his sympathies to be aroused in his own favor,
when he perceived that his power over the people was waning; had he for a moment lost sight
of his mission in this hour of temptation, the result would have been disastrous to the establishment of the Christian church. The seeds of disGrc:t.t Contro,·ersy , Y o!. 2.
138
THE GltEAl' <:O~THYERS.
sension would have been sown, anarchy would
have sprung up, and the cause of God would
have languished for want of proper workers.
But John, irrespective of personal interest,
stood _np in defense of Jesus, testifying to his superiority as the Promised One of Israel, whose
way he had come to prepare. He identified
himself fully with the cause of Christ, n.nd declared that his greatest joy was in its success.
Then, rising above all worldly considerations, he
gave this remarkable testimony-almost the counterpart of that which Jesus had given to Nicodemus in their secret interview:"He that cometh from above is above· all; he
that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of
the earth ; he that cometh from Heaven is above
all. And what he hath seen and heard, that lie
testifieth ; and no man receiveth his testimop.y.
He that bath received his testimony hath set to
his seal that God is true. For he whom God
hath sent speaketh the words of God ; for God
giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him. The
Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things
into his hand. He that believeth on the Son
hath everlasting life; and he that believeth not
the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God
abideth on him."
What a sermon was this to the Pharisees,
clearing the way for the ministry of Christ.
The same spirit that actuated Jesus, controlled
the mind of John the Baptist. Their testimony
corresponded; their lives were given to the same
reformatory work. The prophet points to the
Saviour as the Sun of Righteousness rising with
splendor, and soon to eclipse his own light, then
NICODEMUS CO)!ES TO CHRIST.
139
growing pale and dim in the glory of a greater
light. John, by his unselfish joy in the successful ministry of Jesus, presents to the world
the truest type of nobility ever exhibited by morto.l man. It carries a lesson of submission and
self-sacrifice to those whom God ha.~
placed in responsible positions. It teaches them never to
appropriate to themselves undue honor, nor let
the spirit of rivalry dif'grace the cause of God.
The true Christian should vindicate the right at
the expense of all personal considerations.
The news that had been carried to John concerning the success of Jesus, was also borne to
J erusa.lem, and there created against him jealousy,
envy, and hatred. Jesus knew the h~rd
hearts
and darkened minds of the Pharisees, and that
they would spare no pains to create a. division
between his own disciples and .those of John that
would greatly injure the work, so he quietly
ceased to baptize and withdrew to Galilee. He
knew that · the storm was gathering which was
soon to sweep away the noblest prophet God had
ever given to the world. He \Vished to avoid
all division of feeling in the great work before
him, and, for the time, removed from that region
for the purpose of allaying all excitement detrimental to the cause of God.
Here is a lesson to the followers of Christ., that
they should take every proper precaution to
avoid disagreement; for in every division of interest., resulting in disputation and unhappy differences in the church, souls are lost that might
have been saved in the kingdom of Heaven. In
the occurrence of a religious crisis, leading men
who profess to be God's instruments should follow the example of t.hc great Master nnd t.hat. of
140
TllE GREAT CONTROVERSY.
the noble prophet John. They should stand
firm and united in defenso of the truth, while
they carefully labor to avoid all injurious dissensions.
CHAPTER X.
THE WOMAN OF SAl\f.A.RIA.
As Jesus pursued his way to Galilee, his course
lay through Samaria. He embraced every opportunity to teach as he traveled on foot from
place to place. The Saviour was weary, and he
sat on Jacob's well to rest, while his disciples
went in search of food with which to refresh
themselves and their Master. As he sat there
alone, a woman of Samaria drew near as if unconscious of his presence; but his eye was upon
her, and after she had drawn the water he asked
her to give him a drink.
The Samaritan woman was surprised at this
request from a Jew, and answered, "How is it
that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me,
which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews
have no dealings with the Samaritans." Jesus
answered, "If thou knewest the gift of God, and
who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink,
thou wouldst have asked of him, and he would
have given thee living water." He here referred
to the divine grace which he alone could bestow,
and which is as living water, purifyina, refreshing,
and invigorating the soul.
"'
But the woman's understanding did not comprehend the meaning of Christ; she supposed
TliE
WO~IAN
OF SAMARIA.
141
that he was speaking of the well before them,
and answerd,·~
Sir, thou hast nothing to draw
with, and the well is deep ; from whence then hast
thou that living water? Art thou greater than
our father Jacob, which gave us the w·ell, and
drank thereof himself?" She saw before her only
a weary, thirsty traveler, wayworn and dusty;
and her mind instinctively comparP.d this humble
stranger with the great and worthy J~cob.
Jesus did not immediately satisfy the woman in
regard to himself, but with solemn earnestness.
saiu, "Whosoever drinketh of this water shall
thirst again; but whosoever drinketh of the
water that I shall give him shall never thirst;
but the water that I shall give him shall be in
him a well of water springing up into everlasting
life."
The woman looked upon him with wondering
attention; he had succeeded in arousing her interest and inspiring respect for himself. She
now perceived that it was not the water of Jacob's well to which Jesus alluded, for of this she
used continually, drinking, and thirsting again.
With remarkable faith she asked him to give her
the water of which he spoke, that she might not
thirst nor come to draw from the well.
Jesus did not intend to convey the idea that
simply one draught of the water of life would
satisfy the receiver, but that whoever is united
with Christ, has within his soul a living fountain
from which to draw strength and grace sufficient
for all emergencies. Words and deeds of righteousness flow from it and refresh the hearts of
others, as well as the soul from which it springs.
Jesus Christ., the never-failing source of this
fountain, cheers the life and brightens the path of
1·1:.!
TIH: taU: ,\ 'i' CO:s'TllO\' EHSY'.
all who come to him for n.i.d. Love to GoJ, the
satisfying hope of Heaven, springs up in good
works unto etC! nal life.
Jesus now abruptly changed the subject of
conversation, and bade her call her husband.
The woman answered frankly that she had no
husband. J ef;US had now approached the desired
point where he could convince her that he had
the power to read her life history, although previously unacquainted with her. He addressed
her thus: "Tbou hast well said, I have no husba.nd; for thou hast !tad five husbands; and he
whoni thou now ha.<st is not thy husband; in that
sn.ifist thou truly."
Jesus had a double object in view; l1e wished
to arouse her conscience as to the sin of her manner of life, as well as to prove to her that a sight
wi:;er than human eyes bad read the secrets of
lJCr life. But the woman, although not fully realizing the guilt of her manner of living, was
greatly astonished that this stranger should posse~
such knowleuge. With profound reverence
she said," Sir, I perceive tl1at thou art a prophet."
Her personal feelings were now lof3t in anxiety
concerning religious matters. Slw proceeded,
" Onr fathers worshiped in this mountain ; and
ye say, that in J crnsa.lcm is the place where men
ought to worship."
Just in sight was :Mount Gerizim, its temple
demolished, and only the altar remaining. 'l'he
place of worship had been a subject of contention between the Jews and Samaritans. The
latter people had once belonged to Israel, but
had become divided from them because of their
transgressions in neglecting to obey the statutes
of God. The Lord suffered them to be overcome
'l'IIB
\'O~iA
01' SA)IAHTA.
u ::
hy un idola.trous nation, whose religion had gradually contaminated their own. Still preserving
their reverence for the true God, they represented him by images of wood and stone, before
which they bowed in worship.
When the temple was rebuilt at Jerusalem, the
Samaritans wished to join the Jews in its erection. This pri,rilege was refused them, and, in
consequence, a bitter animosity sprang up between the two people, which result~d
in the Samaritans building a rival temple on Mount Gerizim, where they worshiped according to the ceremonies that God gave unto Moses,·but mingled
with their worship the taint of idc•latry. But
disasters attended the Samaritans, their temple
was destroyed by the enemy, and they seemed
to be under a cmse.
They were forced to believe that God was
punishing them for their apostasy. They determined to reform, and solicited teachers from the
Jews to instruct them in the true religion.
Through this teaching, their views of God and
his requirements became clearer, and their religious service resembled more nearly that of the
Jews. But to a certain degree they still clung
to their idolatry, and there was a lack of harmony between them and the Jews. The Samaritans would not respect the temple of worship
at Jerusalem, and refused to admit that it was
the true place of worship.
Jesus answered the woman by saying that the
time was at hand when they should neither
worship the Father in that mountain nor in J erusalern. Said he, "Ye worship ye know not.
what; we know what we worship; for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour cometh, and
144
'l'llE I!IREA'l' CONTROVERSY.
now is, when the true worshipers shall worship
the Father in spirit and.in truth; for the Father
seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit;
and they that worship him must worship him in
spirit and in truth."
This was a plain statement that the Jews
were more nearly correct in the p1inciples of
their religion than any other nation. Jesus also
alluded to the faith of the Samaritans being amalgamated with the worship of graven images.
True, they held that these idols were only to remind them of the living God, the Ruler of the
universe; but, nevertheless, the people were led
to reverence these inanimate figures.
Jesus, who was the foundation of the old dispensation, identified himself with the Jews, sanctioning their views of God and his govexnment.
He opened great and important truths before this
woman. He declared to her that the time had
arrived when the true worshipers need not seek
a holy mountain nor sacred temple, but were to
worehip the :Father in spirit and in truth. Religion was not to be confined to external forms
and ceremonies, but was to be throned in the
heart, puri(ying the life and actuating to good
works.
The words of truth that fell from the lips of
the divine Teacher stirred the heart of his listencr. Never had she heard such sentiments, either
from the priests of her own people or the Jews.
The impressive teachings of this stranger carried
her mind back to the prophecies concerning the
promised Christ; for the Samaritans as well as
the Jews looked for his coming. " I know that
Mc::;sias comctl1," ~aiel
she; "when he is come,
THE WOMAN OF SAMARIA.
145
he will tell us all things." Jesus answered, "I
that speak unto thee am he."
Blessed woman of Samaria! She had felt during the conference as if in the presence of divinity; now she gladly acknowledged her Lord.
She required of him no miracle, as did the
Jews, to prove his divine character. She accepted his assertion, feeling perfect confidence in his
words, and not questioning the holy influence
that emanated from him.
The disciples, returning from their errand, were
surprised to find their·:Master conversing with a
Samaritan woman;. yet they did not inquire her
errand, nor ask Jesus why he talked with her.
'!'he woman left her water-pot, forgetting her errand to tl~e
well, and went her way into the city,
saying to all whou1 she met, and the men of the
city," Come, see a man who told me all things
that ever I did. Is not this the Christ?"
This woman, though so sinful, was still in a
more favorable condition to become an heir of
Christ's kingdom than those of the Jews who
made exalted professions of piety, yet trusted
their salvation to the observance of outward
forms and ceremonies. They felt that they
needed no Saviour and no teacher. But this
poor woman hungered and thirsted after righteousness. She was eager for instruction, waiting
for the consolation of Israel, and ready to accept
the Saviour when he was 1·evealed. Jesus, who
explained not his character to the proud and
skeptical Pharisees and rulers, declared himself
to this humble person who was ready to believe
on him.
As yet he had not taken the refreshing draught
that he desired, nor tasted the food that his
J .jlj
TilE mmA'r CONTROYEltSY.
disciples had brought him. The salvation of perishing semis so absorbed his attention that his
physical wants were forgotten. But his followers anxiously entreated him to eat. Still contemplating the great o~ject
of his mission, he answered them, "I have meat to eat that ye know
not of." His disciples were surprised, and began
to wonder among themselves who could have
brought him food in their absence. But Jesus
explained, "1\!y med is to do the will of Him
that sent me, and to finish his work."
It was not temporal food alone that sustained
him in his arduous life; but. the accomplishment
of the work which he left the royal courts of
Heaven to perform, strengthened him for his labors, and lifted him above the necessities of humanity. To minister to a soul hungering and
thirsting for the truth waH more satisfying to the
Son of Man than eating or drinking. He pitied
sinne::rs; his heart went out in sympathy for the
poor Samritn~,
who felt their ignorance and
WTetchedness, and were eagerly looking for the
advent of Messiah, who would enlighten them
and teach them the true religion.
The Jews felt secure in their self-righteousness, they desired no enlightenment; but they
looked for a Saviour who would release them
from the bondage of the Roman yoke, and exalt
them above their oppressors. They could not
receive one who reproved their sins and condemned their selfish, hypocritical lives. They
looked for a 'Messiah who would reign with
worldly power and glory, confound and defeat
the Romans, and exalt the Jews to a nation of
princes.
Jesus sawn field of labor among the Sa.mari-
TIIE WOllAN OF SA~IR!.
147
tans. Before him lay the fields of grain, their
tender green -lit by the golden sunlight. Viewing
the beautiful scene, he employed it as a symbol,
''Say not ye there are yet four months, and then
cometh harvest? Behold, I say unto you, Lift up
your eyes, and look on the fields ; for they arc
white already to harvest." He here referred to
the gospel field, to the work of Christianity
among the poor, despised Samaritans. His hand
reached out to gather them into the garner; they
were ready for the harvest.
The Saviour was above all prejudice of nation
or people ; he was willing to extend the blessings
and privileges of the Jews to all who would accept the light which he came to the world to
bring. It caused him great joy to behold even
one soul reaching out to him from the njght of
spiritual blindness. That which Jesus had withheld from the Jews and enjoined upon his disciples to keep secret, was distinctly opened before
the inquiring woman of Samaria; for He who
knew all things perceived that she would make
a right use of her knowledge and be the means
of leading others to the true faith.
It was not merely the fact that Jesus told hei"
conceming the secrets of her life which inspired
the confidence of this woman in him, but it was
also his look and his solemn words that reached
her soul and convinced her that he was a superior
being. At the same time she felt that he was her
friend, pitying and loving her. This is the character of the world's Redeemer; while he condemned
her life ofsin, he directed her to his divine grace
as the sure and perfect remedy. The pitying love
of the Saviour is not confined to sect or party.
As the woman of Samaria ha:>tened back to
148
THE GHEAT CO)STROVERSY.
her friends, !'ublishing as she went the wonderful news, many left th/3 highway and the town
to go and ascertain if she indeed spoke the truth.
Numbers of the citizens left their employments
and hastened to Jacob's well to see and hear this
remarkable man. They surrounded Jesus and
listened attentively to his instruction. They
plied him with questions, and eagerly received
his explanation of matters that had perplexed
their understan.dings. They were like a people
in great darkness tracing up a sudden ray that
had pierced their gloom and which they were
eager to follow to its source, that they might
bask in the light and warmth of day.
The Samaritans were attracted and interested
by the teachings of Jesus. But they were noh
satisfied with this short conference; they were
anxious to hear more and to have their fellowcitizens also listen to this wonderful teacher.
They begged him to tarry with them and instruct them. For two days he remained in Samaria teaching the people. Many believed on
him and accepted his words. Jesus was a Jew,
yet he mingled freely with tl!ese Samaritans, setting at naught the custom and bigotry of his na,..
tion. He bad already commenced to break down
the partition wall between Jew and Gentile, and
preach salvation to the world.
These Samaritan listeners were in darkness
and superstition; but they were not contented
with their condition, and the words of Jesus relieved them of many doubts and uncertainties
that had harassed their minds. . Many who had
come from curiosity to see and hear this remarkable person were convicted of the truth of his
teachings, and acknowledged him as their Sav-
THE WOMAN OF SAMARIA.
149
iour. Eagerly they listened to the words he
spoke in reference to the kingdom of God. In
their new joy they said unto the woman, "Now
we believe, not because of thy saying; for we
have heard him ourselves, and know that this is
indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world."
Christ, at the very beginning of his ministry,
openly rebuked the superficial morality and ostentatious piety of the Jews. He did not conform his life and his work to their customs and
regulations. He was not influenced by their unreasonable prejudices against the Gentiles. He,
on the contrary, sternly rebuked their conceit
and selfish seclusion. The Pharisees rejected
Christ. They ignored his miracles and the truthful simplicity of his character. They refused
to recognize his pure and elevated spirituality
and all evidences of his divinity. They scornfully demanded of him a sign that they might
know that he was indeed the Son of God.
But the Samaritans asked no sign, and Jesus
performed no miracles among them; yet they received his teachings, were convicted of their
great need of a Saviour, and accepted him as
their Redeemer. They were therefore in a much
more favorable position before God than the Jewish nation, with its pride and vanity, blind bigotry, narrow prejudice, and bitter hatred of every
other people on the earth. Jesus, in face of all
these prejudices, accepted the hospitality of this
despised people; slept under their roofs, ate with
them at their tables-partaking of the food prepared and served by their hands-taught in their
streets, and treated them with the greatest kindness and courtesy.
In the temple at Jerusalem there was a parti-
150
TIJE GREAT CONTROVERSY.
tion wall separating the outer court from the inner one. Gentiles were permitted to enter the
outer court, but it was only lawful for the Jews
to penetrate to the inner inclosure. Had a
Samaritan passed this sacred boundary, the temple would have been desE'crated, and his life
would have paid the penalty of its pollution.
But Jesus, who was virtually the foundation ar.d
originator of the temple-the services and ceremonies of which were but a type of his great sacrifice,
pointing to him as the Son of God-encircled the
Gentiles with his human arm of sympatlty and
association, while, with his divine arm of grace
and power, he brought to them the salvation
which the Jews refused to accept.
Jesus had spent several months in Judea, giving the rulers of Israel a fair opportunity of proving his character as the Saviour of the world.
He had performed many mighty works in their
midst; but be was still treated by them with
suspicion and jealousy. In passing through Samaria on l1is way to Galilee, his reception among
the Samaritans, and the eagerness with which
they listened to ltis teachings, were in marked
contrast with the incredulity of. the Jews, who
had misinterpreted the prophecies of Daniel,
Zechariah, and Ezekiel, confusing the first advent
of Christ with his second majestic and glorious
appearing.
Their blindness was in consequence of their
lofty pride and arrogance, looking only for worldly station and emolument. They urged their interpretation of the prophecies U!JOn the Samaritans, who believed that Messiah was to come not
only as a Redeemer of the Jews, but of the world.
hitterncRs towarrl them from
This enuRed ~rea.t
TilE CENTURION'S SON.
151
the Jews, who contended that Christ would come
to exalt Israel and to bring into subjection all
other nations. This perversion of the prophecies
led the Samaritans to discard all the sacred writings but those of Moses. But their minds were
open to enlightenment, and they received the
Saviour's instruction joyfully and accepted him
as the promised Messiah.
CHAJlTER XI.
THE CENTURION'S SON.
AFTER laboring two days with the Samaritans,
Jesus left them to continue his journey to Galilee. He made no tarry at Na.zareth, where he
had spent his youth and early . manhood. His
rect:ption in the synagogue there, when he announced himself as the Anointed One, was so
unfavorable that he decided to seek more fruitful fields, to preach to ears that would listen, and
to hearts that would receive his message. He
declared to his disciples th~
a prophet hath no
honor in his own country. This saying sets forth
that natural reluctance which many people have
to acknowledge any wonderfully admirable development in one who has unostentatiously lived
in their midst, and whom they have intimately
known from childhood. At the same time, these
same persons might become wildly excited over
the pretensions of a stranger and an adventurer.
The miracle that Jesus had performed in Cana
prepared the way for his cordial 1·eception. The
people who had returned from the passover had
152
THE CllEAT COXTROYERSY.
brought back the report of his marvelous cleansing of the desecrated temple, followed by his
miracles of healing the sick and restoring sight
to the blind and hearing to the deaf. The judgment passed upon his acts by the dignitaries of
the temple, opened his way at Galilee; for many
of the people lamented the abuse of the temple
and the lofty arrogance of the priests, and hoped
that this man, who had the power to put these
rulers to flight, might indeed be tl:ie looked-for
Deliverer.
The news that Jesus had returned from Judea
to Cana soon spread throughout Galilee and the
region round about. It reached the ears of a nobleman in Capernaum, who was a Jew of some
honor. He was much interested in what he had
heard of the power of Jesus to heal the sick, for
he had a son suffering with disease. The father
had consulted the most learned physicians among
the Jews, and they l1ad pronounced the case incurable, and told him that his son must soon die.
But when he heard that Jesus was in Galilee.
his heart was encouraged ; for he believed that
one who could miraculously change water into
wine, and drive out the desecrators of the temple,
could raise his son to health even from the brink
of the grave. Capernaum was quite a distance
from Cana, and the centurion feared that, if he
left his home to seek Jesus and present his plea
to him, the child, who was very low, might die
in his absence. Yet he dared not trust this errand to a servant; for he hoped that the prayers
of a fond parent might touch the heart of the
great Physician with pity, and induce him to accompany the father to the bedside of his dying
son.
THE CENTURION'S SON.
153
He went to Cana, hastening for fear of being
too late. Forcing a passage through the crowd
that surrounded Jesus, he at length stood before
him. But his faith faltered when he saw only a
plainly dressed man, dusty and worn with tra~el.
He doubted that this person could do what he
had come to ask of him ; yet he determined to
make a trial. He secured a hearing from Jesus,
told him his errand, and besought the Saviour to
accompany him to his home for the purpose of
healing his son. But Jesus already knew of his
sorrow. Even before the centurion had left his
home, the pitying Redeemer had read the father's
grief, and his great heart of love had gone out in
sympathy for the suffering child.
But he was also aware that the father had
made conditions in his mind concerning his belief in the Saviour. Unless his petition should
be granted he would not have faith in him as the
Messiah. While the father waited in an agony
of suspense, Jesus add1·essed him, "Except ye see
signs and wonders, ye will not believe." He here
revealed the superficial faith of the centurion,
that would lead him to accept or reject Christ
according as he did or did not perform the work
required of him.
Jesus designed, not only to heal the child, but
to illuminate the darkened mind of the father.
He saw unbelief struggling with his faith. He
knew that this man had sought his help as a. last
and only hope. In this centurion he saw represented the condition of many of his nation. They
were interested in Jesus from selfish motives ;
they desired some special benefit that they hoped
to receive through his power, but they were igcre:lt.
C n nt
ro
'te
r~
y.
VoJ.
2 ~
154
'!'liE GREAT CONTP.OVERSY,
norant as to their spiritual disease, and saw not
their terrible need of divine grace, but staked
their faith on the granting of some temporal favor. Jesus met this case as illustrating the position of many of the Jewish people. He contrasted this questioning unbelief with the faith
of the Samaritans, who were ready to receive him
as a teacher sent by God, and to accept him as
the promised Messiah without a sign or miracle
to establish his divinity.
The father's soul was stirred to its depths with
the thought that his doubts might cost him the
life of his son. The words of Jesus bad the desired effect; the centurion saw that his motives
in seeking the Saviour were purely selfish; his
vacillating faith appeared before him in its true
light; he realized that he was indeed in the presence of One who could read the hearts of men, and
to whom all things were possible. This thought
brings his sufiering child to his mind with new
vividness, and he cries out in an agony of supplication, "Sir; come down ere my child di.e ! "
He fears that while he has been doubting and
questioning, death may have closed the scene.
This was enough. The father in his need seizes
the merits of Jesug as his Saviour. In demanding him to come down ere his child dies, he clings
alone to the strength of Jesus as. his only hope.
His faith is as imperative as was that of Jacob,
when, wrestling with the mighty angel, he cried,
"I will not let thee go, except thou bless me ! "
J e~us
responds to the demands of the centurion by commanding him, "Go thy way; thy son
liveth." These brief and simple words th1ill
through the heart of the father; he feels the
lloly rowrr of tho ::;penker in eYery tone .. In-
THE CENTURION'S SON.
155
stead of going to Capernaum, Jesus, by a flash of
divine telegrap:by, sends the message of healing
to the bedside of the suffering son. He dismisses
the suppliant, who, with unspeakable gratitude,
and perfect faith in the words of the Saviour,
turns his steps homeward with a peace and joy
he has never felt before.
At the e;ame hour the watchers stood around
the dying child, in the distant home of the centurion. The form that had been so strong and
symmetrical in its youthful grace, was now worn
and emaciated. The hollow cheeks burned with
a hectic fire. Suddenly the fever leaves him, intelligence beams from his eyes, his mind becomes
clear, and health and strength return to his body.
The fever has left him in the very heat of the day.
The attendants behold the change with amazement; the family is summoned, and great is the
rejoicing. No signs of his malady linger about
the child, J1is burning flesh has become soft and
moist, and he sinks into the peaceful slumber of
childhood.
Meanwhile the father hastens on his way wHh
a hopeful heart. He went to Jesus with grief
and trembling. He leaves him in joy and confidence. He feels the ~olemn
assurance that he
has talked with One whose power is unlimited.
No doubt crosses his mind that Jesus bas really
healed his son at Capernaum. While still some
distance from home, his servants meet him with
the glad tidings · that his son has recovered.
\Vith a light heart he hurries on, and, as he approaches his house, is met by the child, bounding
out to receive him, radiant in health and beauty.
He clasps laim to his heart as one restored from
156
TliE GREAT CO:STROVERSY.
the dead, and thanks God again and again for
this miraculous restoration.
The centurion and all his household become
disciples of Jesus. Thus their afiliction was
sanctified tb. the conversion of the entire family.
They published this miracle through all Capernaum, and thus opened the way for Chl'ist's further labors there. Many of his most wonderful
works were done at that place.
This case of the centurion should be a lesson
to all the followers of Christ. He would have
them place implicit faith in him as their Redeemer, ready and willing to save all who come
unto him. But he sometimes delays bestowing
his precious gifts, in order to impress our hearts
with a sense of our deep need of that true piety
which entitles us to ask of him what we will.
'\Ve are to lay by the selfishness that is frequent1y the sole cause of seeking him, and, confessing
QUr helplessness and bitter need, trust in his
promises. He invites all to come unto him who
are weary and heavy-laden, and he will give
them rest.
CIIAPTEH XII.
JESUS AT BETHESDA.
":AFTER this there was a feast of the Jews ; and
Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is at
Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is
called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having
five porches. In these lay a great multitude of
impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for
JESUS AT llETHESDA.
157
the moving of the water. For an angel. went
down at a certain season into the pool, and
troubled the water; whosoever then first after
the troubling of the water stepped in was made
whole of whatsoever disease he had."
Jesus did not hold himself aloof from the poor,
the suffering, and sinful. His great heart of love
went out in yearning tenderness for wretched
objects who needed his help. He was acquainted
with the sufferers who had learned to look forward to the period wl1en it was thought that the
waters were agitated by a supernatural power.
Many suffering from different maladies visited
the pool;· but so great was the crowd at the appointed time, that they rushed forward, trampling under foot men, women, and children weaker
than themselves.
Hundreds were pressed back and could not
get near the water. Many disappointed sufferers, who had, by great pains and effort, succeeded
in reaching the pool, died upon its brink without
being able to make the first plunge into its
depths. Shelters had been erected about the
place that the sick might be protected from the
scorching rays of the sun and the chilliness of tho
night. Some wretched sufferers spent their
nights in the porches, and· would drag their diseased bodies to the favored spot day after day in
the vain hope of obtaining relief.
One man had been afflicted by an incurable disease for thirty-eight years, and he had repeatedly
visited the pool. Those who pitied his helplessness would bear him to and fro at the time when
the waters were supposed to be troubled. But
those stronger than himself would rush in before
him and seize the opportunity that he coveted.
1;38
TIIF. r.RF.AT CONTROYEnSY.
Thus the poor, palsied sufferer waited by the
pool day and night, hoping that the favored
moment would at length come when he could
plunge into the water and be healed. His pet·sistent efforts toward this object, and the doubt
and anxiety of his mind, were fast wearing away
the poor remnant of his strength.
.
Jesus visited this retreat of misery, and his
eye rested upon this helpless invalid. The poor
creature wa.c; weak and despairing, bnt ns the
looked-for moment arrived, he gathered his feeble
energies in a last effort to read1 the water, but,
just as he had almost gained his object, another
stepped in before him. He crept back to his
pallet to die. But a pitying face bends over him,
saying, " Wilt thou be made whole ?" The desponding man looked up, thinking it might be
some one who had come to assist him into the
pool; but the faint glow of encouragement faded
out of his heart when he remembered that it was
too late, his opportunity for that time was gone,
and, in his state of sickness and exposure, he could
scarcely hope that be might live to see another.
He turned away wearily, saying, "Sir, I have
no man, when the water is troubled, to put me
into the pool; but while I am coming, another
steppeth down before me." Poor man ! how
could he hope to contend successfully with the
selfish, scrambling crowd! Jesus did not ask
this wretched sufferer to exercise faith in him;
but with a voice of command said, "Rise, take up
thy bed, and walk." A sudden vigor was communicated to the paralyzed cripple. His whole
being was stirred with a healing power, new blood
and strength leaped into every limb and member. He bounded to his feet in obedience to the
JESUS AT BETHESDA.
15D
Saviour's command, and stooped to take up his
bed, which was only a simple rug and blanket.
As he straightened himself again, with a sense
of delight at standing upon his feet after so many
years of helpless infirmity, he looked around for
his deliverer, but he was nowhere to be seen.
Jesus was lost in the crowd, and the restored paralytic feared that he would not know him again
if he should see him. He was disappointed, for
l1e longed to pour forth his gratitude to the stranger. As he hurried on toward J erusalcm, with
firm, free step, praising God as he went., and rejoicing in his new-found strength, he met the
Pharisees, and immediately related to them the
wonderful cure he had experienced. He was
surprised at the coolness with which they listened
to his story.
Presently they interrupted him by asking why
he was carrying that bed on the Sabbath day.
They sternly reminded him that it was not lawful for him to bear burdens upon the Lord's day.
In his joy the man bad forgotten that it was the
Sabbath; yet he felt no condemnation for obeying the command of one who had power from
God to perform so wonderful a miracle. He answered boldly, "He that made me whole, the
same said unto me, Take up thy bed,,and walk."
The Pharisees were not delighted at the cure
which had been effected upon this poor invalid of
thirty-eight years. They overlooked the object
of the wondrous miracle, and, with their characteristic bigotry, seized upon the act as a violation
of the Sabbath law.
They excused the restored man from blame,
but appeared shocked at the guilt of him who
had assumed the responsibility of ordering a man
HiO
Tin: t:nEAT co:sTUOVEKSY.
to take up his· bed upon the Sabbath day. They
asked him who it was that had done this thing,
but· he could not enlighten them on that subject..
These rulers knew very well that only one person had shown himself able to do this deed; but
they wished to get direct proof that it was Jesus,
for they then hoped to be able to condemn him
as a Sabbath-breaker. They considered that he
bad not only broken the law in healing the sick
man on the Sabbath, but had committed an act of
sacrilege in bidding him take up his bed and
bear it away.
Jesus did not come into the world to lessen
the dignity of the law, but to exalt it. The Jews
had perverted it by their traditions and misconceptions. 'l'hey had made it a yoke of bondage.
Their meaningless exactions and requirements
had become a by-word among all other nations.
Especially was the Sabbath hedged in by all
manner of senseless restrictions which made that
holy day almost unendurable. A Jew was not
allowed to kindle a fire upon the Sabbath, nor
-even to light a candle on that day. The views of
the people were so narrow that they had become
slaves to their own useless regulations. As a consequence, they were dependent upon the Gentiles
to do many services which their rules forbade
them to do for themselves.
They did not reflect that if these necessary duties of life were sins they were full as guilty in
employing others to perfor:t;n them as in doing
them themselves. They thought salvation was
restricted to the Jews, and the condition of all
others, being entirely hopeless, could neither be
improved nor made worse. But a just God has
given no commandment which cannot be con-
JESUS AT BETHESDA.
IGI
sistently kept by all. His laws sanction no
meaningless usages nor clumsy restrictions.
Soon after, Jesus met the man he had healed
in the temple. He had come to bring a trespassoffering, a sin-offering, and a thank-offering for
the great mercy he had received. ,Jesus, finding
him among the worshipers, made himself known
to him. The great Physician addressed him with
a timely warning, "Behold, thou art made whole;
sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee."
He who had suffered for thirty-eight years, as
the result, in part, of his own dissipation, was
thus plainly warned to avoid the sins that had
caused him such suffering.
The healed man was overjoyed to behold his
deliverer, and, ignorant of the malice which the
Jews held against · Jesus, informed the Pharisees,
who had before questioned him, that this was he
who had wrought the wondrous cure. The Jewish dignitaries had only waited for proof that it
was Jesus; from the first they had been confident that it could be no other. Now, a. great
uproar ensued in the court of the temple; for
they sought to slay Jesus, but were prevented by
the people, many of whom recognized in hin:i a
friend who had healed them from their infirmities and relieved their sorrows.
A controversy now took place in regard to the
true claims of the Sabbath law. Jesus had purposely chosen the Sabbath day upon which to
perform the miracle at the pool. He could have
healed the sick man as well on any other day of
the week; also he might have simply cured him,
and avoided arousing the indignation of the Jews,
by bidding him take up his bed and depart, But
a. wise purpose underlay every act of Christ's
1G~
TIIE C:REAT CONTROVERSY.
life on earth ; everything he did was important
in itself and its teaching. He came to vindicate
his Father's law and make it honorable. The
Sabbath, instead of being the blessinf{ it was designed to be, had become a curse through the
added requirements of the Jews. Jesus wished
to rid it of these incumbrances and leave it standing upon its own holy dignity.
Therefore he chose the Sabbath for this special
work. He selected the worst case among the af·
flicted ones at the pool of Bethesda upon whom
to exercise his miraculous healing power, and
bade him carry his bed through the city in order
to publish the great work that bad been wrought
upon him, to call the attention of the people to
his case, to the circumstances attending his cure,
and to Him by whom it had been accomplished.
This would raise the question of wbat it was
lawful to do on the Sabbath day, and would
give him an opportunity to denounce the narrow prejudice and restrictions of the Jews in regard to the Lord's day, and declare their bigotry
a.nd traditions void.
Jesus stated to them that the work of relieving the suflerings of the afflicted was in harmony .with the Sabbath law, whether it was relative
to the salvation of souls or the removal of physical pain. Such work was in harmony with that
of God's angels, who were ever descending and
ascending between HeavE:n and earth to minister to 1mflering humanity. Jesus answered their
accusations by declaring, "My Father worketh
hitherto, an<l I work." All days are God's, in
which to carry out his · great plans for the human race. If the Jews' interpretation of the
law was correct, then Jehovah was at fault,
JESUS AT BETHESDA.
163
whose work had upheld and quickened creation
since first he laid the foundations of the earth,
when the morning stars sang together, and all
the sons of God shouted for joy. He who pronounced his work good, and established the i.n stitution of the Sabbath to commemorate its
completion, must put a period to his labor, and
stop the never-ending routine of the universe.
Should God forbid .the sun to do its office upon the Sabbath, cut off its genial rays from warming the earth· and nourishing vegetation ? Must·
the system of worlds stand still through that holy
day ? Should be command the babbling brooks
to stay their course from ·watering the fields and
forests, and bid the advancing and receding waves
to still their ceaseless ebbing and flowing? Must
the wheat and com stop growing, and the ripening cluster defer its purple bloom for a single
day 1 Must the waving trees a,nd the delicate
flowers put forth no bud nor blossom on the Sabbath?
Surely in such a case man would miss the
fruit of the earth and the blessings that make
life desirable. Nature must continue her unvarying course; God must not stay his hand a
single moment, or man would faint and die.
And, in a like proportion, man has a labor to
perform on this day. The necessities of life
must be attended to, the sick must be cared
for, the wants of the needy must be met. God
does not hold him guiltless who stays his hand
from relieving the suffering on the Sabbath day.
The holy Sabbath was made for man, and acts
of mercy and benevolence are always in order
upon that day. God does not desire his crea-
164
TJIE GREAT CONTROVERSY.
tures to suffer an hour's pain that may be relieved upon the Sabbath or any other day.
. Jesus sought to impress upon the narrow minds
of the Jews a. sense of the folly of their view of the
Sabbath. He showed them that God's work never ceases. It is even .greater upon the Sabbath
than upon ordinary occasions, for at that time
his people leave their usual employments and
spend the time in prayerful meditation and worship. They ask more favors of him upon the
Sabbath than upon other days, they demand his
special attention, they crave his choicest blessings, they offer importunate prayers for special
favors. God does not wait for the Sabbath to
pa.~s
before he grants those requests, but he deals
to the petitioners, with judicious wisdom, whatever is best for them to have.
Heaven's work never ceases for a moment,
and men should never rest from doing good.
The Sabbath law forbids labor on the sanctified
rest-day of the Lord. The toil that gains a livelihood must cease; no labor for worldly pleasure
or profit is lawful upon the Lord's day; but the
work of Christ in healing the sick did honor to
the holy Sabbath. Jesus claimed equal rights
with God in doing a work equally sacred and of
the same character with that which engaged his
Father in Heaven. But the Pharisees were still
more incensed, because he had not only broken
the law, according to their understanding, but
added to this offense the heinous sin of declaring
himself equal with God. Nothing but the interference of the people prevented the Jewish
authorities from slaying him on the spot. "Then
answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of
JESUS AT BETHESDA.
165
himself, but what he seeth the Father do; for
what things soever l1e doeth, these also doeth
the Son likewise. For the Father loveth the
Son, and sheweth him all things that himself
doeth; and he will show him greater works than
these, that ye may marvel. For as the Father
raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them ; even
so the Son quickeneth whom he will."
Here Jesus elevated himself to his true station
before the Jews, and declared himself to be the
the Son of God. He then, in mild and dignified
language, instructed them regarding the Sabbath.
He told them that the rest-day which Jehovah
had sanctified and set apart for a special purpose,
after he had completed the work of creation, was
not intended to be a period of useless inactivity.
As God ceased his labor of creating, and rested
upon that day and blessed it, so man was to leave
the occupation of his daily life, and devote those
sacred hours to healthful rest, to worship, and to
holy deeds.
'l'he rulers of the people could not answer these
elevated truths that were brought home to their
consciences. They had no arguments with which
to meet them ; they could only cite their customs
and traditions, and these seemed weak and vapid
compared with the strong arguments that Jesus
had drawn from the work of God and the unceasing round of nature. Had they felt any desire to receive light, their hearts would have
been convinced that Jesus spoke the truth. But
they evaded the points he made concerning the
Sabbath, and sought to stir up anger against him
because he had made himself equal with God.
The fury of the rulers knew no bounds, and it
lGG
TilE GREAT CONTROVERSY.
was with difficulty that they were prevented
from seizing upon Jesus to put him to death.
But the people were not excited to violence,
and put the rulers to shame by the candor with
which they listened to the words of Jesus. They
justified hirn in healing the poor sufferer who
had been afflicted for thirty-eight year3. So the
priests and elders were obliged to restrain their
hatred for the time, and wait for a more favorable opportunity to carry out their evil designs.
Jesus declared that he could do nothin::r of
himself" but what he seeth the Father do." His
relationship with God forbade him from working
independent of him, and he could do nothing_
against his will. What a rebuke were these
words to men, and especially to those who were
calling the Son of God to task for the very work
that he was sent upon earth to do. They had
separated themselves from God by wicked acts,
and, in their pride and vanity, were moving independent of him, feeling sufficient in themselves
for all things, and realizing no need of a higher
wisdom tl1an their own, to aid them in the direction of their act8.
Few realize the full force of Christ's words in
regard to his connection with the Father. They
teach man that he should consider himself insepcrably bound to his Heavenly Parent, that, whatever position he may occupy, he is responsible
to God, who holds all destinies in his hands. He
lms appointed man to do his work, he has endowed him with faculties and means for that
pUipose, and so long as man is faithful to his high
stewardship, he. may feel warranted in claiming
the blessings and promises of his Master. But
if, when raised to a position of f':tcrrd trust, he
JESUS AT DETIIESDA.
167
becomes exalted in his own estimation,-depending upon his own wisdom and power, taking affairs into his own hands, and separating himself
from Him whom he professes to serve,-God will
call him to an account for his unauthorized acts;
l1e has not worked in unison with his Commander.
Jesus now stood before the Jews in his true
character. He declared that whatsoever things the
Father did, thQse did also the Son in like manner,
by the exercise of a like power, and with like resulls. He also promised those who heard him that
they should witness greater acts than he had yet
performed in healing the sick, the lame, and the
blind. 'l'he Sadducees were in opposition to the
Pharisees regarding the resurrection of the dead.
The former claimed that there would be no resurect~on
of the body. But Jesus tells them that
one of the greatest works of his Father is raising
up the dead, and even so the Son of God has
power in himself to raise from the dead. " Marvel not," said he, "at this; for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall
hear his voice, and shall come forth ; they that
have done good, unto the resurrection· of life;
and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation."
The humble Nazarene asserts his real nobility.
He rises above humanity, throws off the guise of
sin and shame, and stands revealed, the Honored
of the angels, the Son of God, equal with the
Creator of the universe. The ruler.::; of the Jews,
and the listening multitude are spell-bound before his mighty truths, and the lofty' dignity of
his bearing. No man bad ever spoken words
like these, nor borne himself with such a kingly
majesty. His utterance:; were clear and plain,
"168
TllE GREAT CONTROVERSY.
fully declaring his mission and the duty of the
world. "For the Father judgeth no man, but
hath committed all judgment unto the Son,
that all men should honor the Son, even as they
honor the Father. He that honoreth not the
Son honoreth not the Father who hath sent him.
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth
my word, a.nd believeth on Him that sent me,
hath everlasting life, and shall not .come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the
voice of the Son of God, and they that hear shall
live. For as the Father hath life in himself, so
hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;
and hath given him authority to execute judgment nl11o, because he is the Son of man."
Here Jesus throws back upon the rulers their
accusations against him, and their attempts to prescribe his work, and to judge, by their narrow bigotry, his acts of mercy and benevolence. He declared himself their Judge, and the Judge of all
the world. When he came to earth as the Redeemer, it was given into his hands, and all men
are responsible unto him. He took the burden
of humanity that he might save men from the
consequences of their sins. He is in one their
Advocate and Judge. Having tasted the very
dregs of human ailiiction and temptation, he
is qualified to understand the frailties and sins
of men, and to pronounce judgraent upon them.
Therefore, ~be
Father has given this work into
the hands of his Son, knowing that He who victoriously withstood the temptations of Satan,
in behalf of man, will be all-wise, just, and gracious in his dealing with him.
JESUS AT BETHESDA.
16!)
The words of Jesus were more impressive because the controversy had risen very high. He
was virtually summoned before the dignitaries of
the Jews to be tried for his life. He, the Lord of
the Sabbath, was arraigned before an earthly tribunal, to answer to the charge of breaking the
Sabbath law. When he so boldly made known
his mission and work, his judgeS looked upon
him with mingled astonishment and rage, but his
words were unanswerable and they could not
condemn him.
He denied the right of the Pharisees to question him or to interfere with his business. The
Jewish system invested them with no such authority; their claims were based upon their own
pride and arrogance. He refused to plead guilty
to any wrong or submit to being catechised by
them.
After presenting before them these grand truths
concerning his work in connection with the Father, he binds his assertions with the testimonies
that have been borne of him: "I can of mine
own self do nothing; as I hear, I judge; and my
judgment is just; because I seek not mine own
will, but the will of the Father which hath sent
me. If I bear witness of myself, my witness is
not true. There is another that beareth witness
of me ; and I know that the witness which he
witnesseth of me is true. Ye sent unto John,
and he bare witness unto the truth. But I receive not testimony from man; but these things
I say, that ye might be saved. He was a burning and a shining light; and ye were willing for
a season to rejoice in his light." From his sublime height he reads the secrets of their hearts
Gre:~.t
CQntroTeray, Vol. 2.
170
TilE GREAT CONTROVERSY.
and reminds them that for a time they had accepted John as a prophet of God and rejoiced in
the message that he brought them. He affirms
that the mission of John was solely.to prepare
the way of himself, whom the prophet testified
was the Christ, the Redeemer of the world.
But no man could witness concerning the mysterious connection of Jesus with the Father; human knowledge cannot reach the courts of Heaven. Jesus assures them that he does not refer
to the testimony of John in order to sustain his
claims, but only that his persecutors may be convinced of their blindness and inconsistency in defiantly opposing him whom John had stated was
the Son of God. They were not in ignorance
regarding the evidence of J obn, for they bad sent
a deputy to him who had brought back his statement of the baptism of Jesus and the wonderful
manifestations of God at that time.
Jesus speaks of John that they may see how,
in rejecting himself, they also reject the prophet
whom they had received with joy. He further
declares : "But I have greater witness than that
of J obn; for the works which the Father bath
given me to finish, the same works that I do,
bear witness of me, that the Father bath sent
me." Had not the heavens opened and light from
the throne of God encircled him with glory, while
the voice of Jehovah proclaimed, "This is my
beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased"? Besides all this, his own works declared his divinity.
He who had been arraigned as a Sabbath-breaker
stood before his accusers clothed with divine
grace, and uttering words that pierced them like
arrows of truth. Instead of apologizing for the
act of which they complained, or explaining his
JESUS AT BETHESDA.
171
purpose in doing it, he turns upon the rulers, and
the accused becomes the accuser.
He rebukes them for the hardness of their
hearts, for the blind ignorance with which they
read the Scriptures, while they boasted of their
superiority over every other people. They who
assume to be teachers of the Scriptures and expounders of the law are themselves basely ignorant of its claims. He denounces their worldliness, their love of praise and power, their avarice
and want of compassion. He charges them with
disbelieving the Scriptures which they profess to
revere, carrying out its forms and ceremonies
while ignoring the great principles of truth that
are the foundation of the law. He declares that
they have rejected the word of God, inasmuch
as they have rejected him whom God has sent.
He commands them to "search the Scriptures;
for in them ye think ye have eternal life; and
they are they which testify of me."
The truth spoken by Jesus collided with their
prejudices and customs, and they cast H from
them, hardening their hearts against it. They refused to listen to the teachings of Christ, because
those teachings directly condemned their cherished sins. Had the Son of Man come flattering their pride and justifying their iniquity, they
would have hastened to do him honor. Said Jesus, "I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not; if another shall come in his own
name, him ye wiH receive." Pretenders, who
could present no evidence of divine authority,
might arise, who by prophesying smooth things,
and gratifying the vanity of the rich and unsanctified, might secure their firm allegiance. These
1 i2
TilE GJn:AT CONTROVERSY.
fa.lse prophets would lead their followers to eternal ruin.
Jesus declared that there wns no necessity for
him to accuse them to the Fa.ther, for Moses,
whom they professed to believe, had already accused them. "For," said he, " had ye believed
Moses, ye would have believed me; for he wrote
of me. But if ye believe not his writings, how
shall ye believe my words 1" Jesus knew that
the Jews were determined to take his life, yet in
this discourse he fully explained to them his
Sonship, the relation he bore to the Father and
his equality with him. This left them without
an excuse for their blind opposition and insane
rage against the Saviour. But, though baffled in
their designs, and overawed by his divine eloquence and truth, the murderous hatred of the
priests and elders was not quenched. Fear seized
them, for they could not close their understanding to the .convincing power which attended the
ministry of Christ. But they were so bound by
the chains of pride and. arrogance that they rejected the evidence of his divine power, resisted
his appeals, and locked themselves in darkness.
They had signally failed to subvert the authority of Jesus, or to tum from him the respect
and attention of the people, many of whom were
powerfully affected, and deeply convicted, by his
impressive discourse. His mighty works had
first arrested their notice and aroused their wonder, and when his searching words disclosed his
true character, they were ready to acknowledge
his divine authority. On the other hand, his
words had thrilled the hearts of the rulers with
condemnation for their course. He had pressed
their guilt. home upon their consciences, yet this
JESUS AT
CAPERNU~r.
173
only made them more bitter against him, and
they were fully determined to take his life.
They sent messengers all over the country to
warn the people against Jesus, whom they denounced as an impostor. Spies were sent to
watch him and report what he said and did. The
precious Saviour was now most surely standing
under the shadow of the cross.
CHAPTER XIII.
J E S U S AT
C A P E R N A U M.
AFTER the work of healing that Jesus had
performed upon tpe Sabbath at the Pool of Bethesda, the malice of the leading Jews was so kindled against him that they plotted against his life,
and it was no longer safe for him to remain in
Jerusalem. Therefore he repaired to Galilee, making Oapernaum the scene of his labors. At this
place he taugllt; and upon the Sabbaths, multitudes gathered to listen to his doctrine. Here
his way seemed to be unobstructed, although
spies were upon his track, watching for something whereof they might accuse him.
The heart.s of the common people were open to
receive his divine instruction. His heart was
overflowing with sympathy for suffering humanity, and it was with joy that he saw men respond
to his teachings of love and benevolence. His
hearers were charmed with the eloquent simplicity with which he preached the truth. His illustrations were drawn from scenes transpiring in
1i 4
TilE GllEAT l!ONTROYERSY.
their every-day lives. He adapted his langunge
to all classes and conditions of men.
Jesus did not go to Capernaum to avoid society nor to find rest from his labors. Capernaum
was a great thoroughf:1.re of travel; people from
many countries passed through the city, or tarried there for rest in their journeyings to and
fro. Here the great Teacher could meet all nations
and all ranks. He could give lessons that would
not only be received by those present, but would
be carried to other countries and into many
households. Investigations of the prophecies
would thus be excited, notice would be directed
to the Saviour, and his work and mission would
be brought before the world.
Here he had a better opportunity than elsewhere of meeting the representatives of all classes, as thf:'y mingled together, every one intent upon
his own errand. The rich who were courted for
their wealth could here be reached by his ministrations, as well as the poor and needy. Christ
presented himself to the people as the Saviour
of the world. As soon as it was known that he
was in Capernaum, multitudes crowded to hear
his words of heavenly wisdom. Jesus had taken his disciples up into a mountain for a little
season of retirement, but when he saw the people flocking to him he had not the heart to turn
them away.
The feast of tho Jews was near, and many had
come in from the region about Jerusalem, seeking Jesus, of whose wonderful mhacles they had
heard. 'l.'he sick and the afHicted were brought
to him, and he healed their maladies. As he witnessed the joy of those whom he bad relieved, his
with those who had reown heart of love r~joiced
JESUS AT
C'APER~Uf
.
175
ceived his blessing. He made many families hapPY by restoring their suffering ones to health.
He caused light to dawn upon households that
had been plunged into the shadows of affliction.
The sorrowing were comforted, the ignorant instructed, and hope was wakened in the hearts
of the despairing.
The people received the message that he brought
them, and believed his words. None were more
willing to accept the truth than the poor and
humble, who were not separated from their Saviour by vanity and pride, the treasures of this
world, or the praise of men. They found in him
a consolation for all their toil and privations.
He turned none away. He was touched with
tender pity for the distress of those who sought
his aid, and they len his presence, bearing evidence in their own persons of his healing and
life-giving power. The hearts of the people
went out in reverential love for their Benefactor, and he was a partaker of their joy. His labors while in Capernaum resulted in great good,
and many were led to believe on him. His acts
of matchless mercy won the hearts of the multitudes.
The scribes and Pharisees were confounded ;
their purposes in regard to Jesus were defeated.
They had listened to his teachings in order to
catch him in his words, and turn the minds of
the people from him to themselves. They knew
that since the ministry of Jesus had commenced,
their own influence over the people had greatly
decreased. The sympathetic hearts of the multitude accepted lessons of love and kindly benevolence in preference to the cold forms and rigid
ceremonies exacted by the priests.
176
THE GREAT CONTROVERSY.
Although the Pharisees were astonished by the
miracles thl!.t Jesus wrought, they were all the
more anxious to remove one, who, by his great
power, was most dangerous to their claims and
pretensions.
Bodily diseases, however aggravated and apparently hopeless, were met and bafiled by his
divine power; but the disease of the soul, fastened in unbelief and blind prejudice, took firmer
hold upon those who closed their eyes against
the light. The most powerful evidence that
could be produced only strengthened their opposition. Leprosy and palsy were not so terrible
as bigotry and unbelief. Jesus turned from the
teachers of Israel, and their chains of darkness
and skepticism tightened about them.
The inhabitants of Capernaum had been greatly astonished by the sudden and eff.ectual cure
of the ruler's son at a word from Jesus, when he
was more than twent.y miles. distant from the sufferer. They were rejoiced to learn that he who
possessed such miraculous power was in their
own city. On the Sabbath day, the synagogue
where he spoke ~as
packed with people, and
yet many who desired to enter were unable to
do so. As usual, a great number came through
curiosity, but there were many who earnestly desired to learn regarding the gospel of the kingdom
of God.
All who heard him were astonished, "for he
taught them as one having authority, and not
a.~
the scribes." His words were a demonstration of the Spirit of God, and they struck home
to the souls of men with divine power. The
teaching of tne scribes and elders was cold and
formal, like a lesson learned by rote. They ex-
JESUS AT CAPERNAU}I,
177
plained the law as a matter of custom, but no
authority from God sanctified their utterances,
no holy inspiration stirred their own hearts .and
those of their hearers.
Jesus bad nothing to do with the various subjects of dissension among the Jews. His words
were so simple that a child could understand
them, yet lofty enough in their grand simplicity
to charm the highest mind with their noble truths.
He spoke of a new kingdom which he came to
set up among them, in opposition to the kingdom
of this world, and of his power· to wrest from
Satan his dominion, and deliver the captives
bound by his power.
There was a man in the synagogue who was
possessed of the spirit of Satan. He broke in
upon the discourse of Jesus with a piercing shriek,
that chilled the blood of the hearers with a nameless terror. "Let us alone !" he cried. "What
have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth?
.Art thou come to destroy us ? I know thee,
whl) thou art., the Holy One of God!"
Devils even believed and trembled, but the Israel of God had closed their eyes and ears to divine evidences, and knew not the time of their
visitation. Satan's object in leading his wretched
victim to the synagogue, was to distract the attention of the people from Jesus to the paroxysms
of the poor sufferer and prevent the words of
truth from reaching the hearts of the people.
But the darkened understanding of the man comprehended that t.he teachings of Jesus were from
Hea.ven. The power of divinity aroused the
terror of the demon which controlled his mind,
and a conflict ensued between it and his remnant
of reason.
17~
1'1IE GREAT l'ONTIW\'ERSY.
As the victim realized that the Healer was
near to release him, his heart was aroused to
long for freedom from Satan's power. The demon
resisted this power and held control over the poor
wretch who was wrestling against him. The sufferer tried to appeal to Jesus for help, but when
he opened his lips, the demon put words in his
mouth so that he shrieked out in an agony of
fear, "Let us alone! what have we to do with
thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth ?" The darkened reason of the poor man partially comprehended that
he was in the presence of one who could free him
from the bondage that had so long enslaved him;
but when he sought to come within reach of that
mighty hand, another's will held him back, another's words found utterance through him.
By his own sinful course, this man had placed
himself on the enemy's ground, and Satan had
taken possession of all his faculties, so that when
the gloom of his understanding was pierced by
feeble rays of light from the Saviour's presence,
the conflict between his desire for freedom and
the devil's power threw him into terrible contortions, and drew from him unearthly cries. The
demon exerted all his hellish power to retain the
control of his victim. To lose ground here would
be to give Jesus a victory. He who had, in his
own person, conquered the prince of the power
of darkness in the wilderness of temptation, was
now again brought face to face with his enemy.
It seemed that the tortured man must lose his
life in tho terrible struggle with the demon that
had been the ruin of his manhood. Only one
power could break this cruel tyranny. Jesus
spoke with a voice of authority and set the captive free. The demoniac spirit made a last effort
JESUS AT
CAI'ER!<U~f.
li!J
to rend the life from his victim before he was
forced t<;> depart. Then the man who bad been
possessed stood before the wondering people hapPY in the freedom of self-possession. In the synagogue on the Sabbath day, before the assembled
congregation, the prince of darkness was again
met and conquered. And even the demon had
testified to the divine power of the Saviour, crying," Thou Jesus of Nazareth! Art thou come
to destroy us ? I know thee, who thou art, the
Holy One of God!"
The man whose reason was thus suddenly restored praised God for his deliverance. The eye
that had so lately glared with the frre of insanity,
now beamed with intelligence and overflowed
with grateful tears. The people were dumb with
amazement. As soon as they recovered speech
they marveled one with another, saying, "What
a word is this ! for with authority and power
he commandeth the unclean spirits, and they
come out!"
It was not according to the will of God that
this man should be visited with so terrible an
affliction as to be delivered wholly into the
hands of Satan. The secret source of his calamity, which had made him a fearful spectacle to
his friends and a burden to himself, was in his
own life. The pleasures of sin bad fascinated
him, the path of dissipation bad looked bright
and tempting, he had thought to make life a
grand carnival. He did not dream of becoming
a disgust" and terror to the world and the reproach of his family. He thought his time could
be spent in innocent folly; but once on the
downward path, his feet 1·apidly descended till
he had broken the laws of health and morality.
180
1'HE GREAT CONTROVERSY,
Intemperance and frivolity chained his senses,
the fine qualities of his mind were perverted,
and Satan stepped in and took absolute control
of him.
Remorse came too late, and though he would
then have sacrificed wealth and pleasure to re.:.
gain his lost manhood, he had become helpless in the hands of the evil one. Satan had
allured that young man with many charming
presentations; he had cloaked vice with a flowery mantle that the victim might clasp it to his
breast; but when his object was once accomplished and the wretched man was in his power,
the fiend had become relentless in his cruelty,
and terrible in his fierce and angry visitations.
So it is ever with those who succumb to evil; the
fascinating pleasure of their early career ends in
the darkness of despair, or the madness of a lost
and ruined soul.
But he who conquered the arch-enemy in the
wilderness, wrested this writhing captive from
the grasp of Satan. Jesus well knew that although assuming another form, this demon was
the same evil spirit that had tempted him in the
wilderness. Satan seeks by various devices to
gain his object. The same spirit that saw and
recognized the Saviour, and cried out to him,
"Let; us alone! What have we to do with thee?"
possessed the wicked Jews who rejected Christ
and scorned his teachings. But with them he
assumed an air of piety and learning, seeking to
deceive them as to their real motives hi refusing
the Saviour.
Jesus then retired from the synagogue while
the people were still spell-bound with wonder and
admiration. This miracle was then followed by
JESUS AT CAPERNAmi.
181
another quite as wonderful. Jesus sought the
house of Peter for a little rest; but there was no
rest for the Son of Man. He was told that the
mother of Peter's wife was sick with a fever. His
sympathetic heart was at once called out to relieve the suffering woman. He rebuked the
disease, and it was at once removed from her.
She rose from the bed, filled with joy and gratitude, and ministered with willing hands to the
wants of the Master and his disciples.
These miracles and works of healing were
spread abroad throughout the city. Yet these
acts of mercy only made the bitterness of the
Pharisees more intense. They closely watched
all the movements of Jesus, seeking for cause to
accuse him. Their influence prevented many from
applying to Jesus for relief from their infirmities
upon the Sabbath day. They feared being stigmatized as transgressors of the law. But no sooner
had the sun passed out of sight in the west than
a great commotion ensued. The diseased flocked
to Jesus from every quarter. Those who had suf.;
ficient strength came by themselves, but a much
larger number were borne by their friends to the
great Physician.
They were in every condition of helplessness
and approaching death. Some were burning
with fevers, others were paralyzed, stricken with
dropsy, blind, deaf, and lame. And in the distance was heard the pitiful cry of the leper, U nclean! Unclean! · as he stretched his decaying
hands toward the Healer. The work of Jesus
commenced when the first a:ffiicted one was
brought before him. The supplicants were
healed by a word from his lips or a touch of his
hand. With gratitude and rejoicing they re-
182
TilE GREAT CONTROVERSY.
turned to gladden with their enlightened minds
and healthy bodies the homes that they had so
recently left as helpless invalids.
Those who had carefully borne them from their
couches to the presence of Jesus returned with
them, weeping tears of joy, and shouting the
praises of the Saviour. Little children were not
overlooked, but the puny sufferers were handed
back to their happy mothers rosy with life and
health. These living evidences of the divine
power of Jesus created a great excitement in all
tha~
region. Never before had Capernaum witnessed a day like this. The air was filled with
the voice of triumph and shouts of deliverance.
The heart of the blessed Saviour, who had
worked so great cures, was joyful in the joy he
had awakened in the hearts of suffering humanity. He bad healed every one who had applied
to him for help. His great love for man was
stirred to its very depths as he witnessed the
suffering of those who had come to him, and he
rejoiced in his power to restore them to health
and happiness.
CHAPTER XIV .
CHOOSING THE DISCIPLES.
THE disciples had not yet fully joined themselves to Jesus to be co-laborers with him. They
had witnessed many of his miracles, and their
minds had been enlightened by the discourses
they had heard from his lips ; but they had not
entirely left their employment as fishermen.
CHOOSING THE DJSGIPLES.
183
Their hearts were filled with grief by the death
of John, and they were troubled with conflicting
thoughts. If the life of John had been permitted
to end so ingloriously, what would be the fate
of their Master, when the scribes and Pharisees
were so bitter against him ? Amid their doubt
and fear, it was a relief for them to return once
more to their fishing, and, for a brief space, find
in their old employment a diversion from their
anxiety.
Jesus frequently dismissed them to visit their
homes and rest; but he gently though firmly resisted all their entreaties that he should himself
rest. At night he found the seasons of prayer for
which he could not claim time during the day.
While the world he had come to save was wrapped
in slumber, the Redeemer, in the 'sanctuary of
the mountains, would intercede for man with
the Father. Often he spent entire nights in
prayer and meditation, going back in the morning to his active work.
It was morning on the Lake of Galilee, and
the fishermen were in their boats, weary with
a long night of fruitless toil.. But, with the
dawn, Simon discovered the form of Jesus walking upon the beach. He directed the attention
of his disciples to their beloved Teacher, and they
all pulled for the shore. It seemed impossible
for the Saviour to obtain any retirement. Already
the crowd had gathered thickly about him as he
walked on the shore. The sick and afflicted were
brought for him to relieve. At length the people had pressed so closely about him that they
scarcely left him comfortable standing-room. It
was just at this time that the fishermen were
nearing the shore. Jesus requested Peter to take
18·1
THE GREAT CONTROVERSY.
him in his boat, and, immediately, upon entering it, directed the disciple to pull out a little
from the land. Then, being removed a short
distance from the people, he was in a better position to be seen and heard by them, and from
the boat upon the lake he preached in regard to
the mysteries of the kingdom of God. His language was simple and earnest, appealing to the
minds of the people with convincing power.
The discourse ended, Jesus turned to Peter and
bade hirn launch out into the deep, and let down
llis net for a draught. But Peter was thoroughly
disheartened; not only was he sorrowful because
of the death of John the Baptist, and his mind
tortured with unbelief in consequence of that
event, but he was discouraged in regard to his
temporal prospects. He had been unsuccessful
in his fishing, and the past night had been spent
in unavailing labor. It was therefore in a desponding tone that he replie'd to the command of
Jesus : "Master, we have toiled all night, and have
taken nothing; nevertheless, at thy word I will let
down the net."
He called his brother to his aid, and together
they let down the net into the deep water, as
Jesus had directed. When they came to draw
in the net they were unable to do so because of
the great quantity of fish it contained, and they
were obliged to summon James and John to their
aid before they could draw in the net and unload
it. When this was done the boat was so heavily
laden that there was danger of its sinking.
Peter had seen Jesus perform wonderful miracles, but none made so strong an impression upon his mind as this miraculous draught of fish,
after a night of disappointment.. The unbelief
CHOOSING THE DISCIPLES.
185
and discouragement that had been oppressing
the disciples through the long, weary night, now
gave way to awe a.nd amazement. Peter was
thrilled with a sense of the divine power of his
Master. He felt ashamed of his sinful unbelief.
He knew that he was in the presence of the Son
companof God, and felt unworthy to be in su~h
iom;hip. He impulsively :flung himself at the
feet of Jesus, crying, "Depart from me ; for I am
a sinful man, 0 Lord ! " But even as he spoke,
he was clinging to the feet of Jesus, and would
not have been willing for the Saviour to take
him at his word, even if he had attempted to
do so.
But Jesus understood the conflicting emotions
of the impetuous disciple, and said to him, "Fear
not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men."
Similar words were afterward addressed to the
three other fishern~
when they were all upon
the shore. .AJ3 they were busily employed in
mending their nets, which had been broken by
the great weight of the Bah they had taken,:Jesus said to them, "Follow me, ap.d I will make
you fishers of men." Immediately after this they
left their riets and boats and followed the Saviour. These humble fishermen recognized the
divine authority of Jesus, and forthwith gave up
tl~eir
regular occupation and left their worldly
possessions in obedience to the command of their
Lord.
These four disciples were more closely associated with Jesus in his earthly life than any of
the others. Christ, the light of the world, was
abundantly able to qualify these unlearned fishermen of Galilee for the high commission he had
Grel.t Contronrey, Vol . 2.
186
TUE GREAT CONTROVERSY.
chosen for them. The words spoken to these
lowly men were of mighty signification ; they
were to influence the world through a.ll time.
It seemed a. simple thing for Jesus to ca.ll those
poor, discouraged men to follow him; but it wa.~
an event productive of tremendous results; it
wa.s to shake the world. The quickening power
of God, enlightening the minds of those illiterate
fishermen, wa.s to enable them to spread the doctrines of Christ far and wide, and others were to
take up the task, until it would reach all lands,
and be taught in all ages; winning many to salvation. Thus would the poor fishermen of Galilee be, indeed, ''fishers of men."
Jesus did not oppose education. The highest
culture, if sanctified by the love and fear of God,
receives his approbation. An objection is sometimes brought agin~;t
education because Jesus
chose ignorant fishef!Den for his disciples. But
these men were subject to his refining influence
for three years, and the Saviour was the most
perfect educator the world has ever known. The
Prince of Life did not choose the learned lawyers,
the scribes and elders, for his disciples, because
they would not follow him. Therefore he chose
the humble peasants for his helpers. The rich
and educated among the Jews were exalted by
their own worldly wisdom and self-righteousness,
and felt all-sufficient in themselves, realizing ·no
special need of a Redeemer. Their characters
were fixed, and they would not receive the
teachings of Christ. But the humble fishermen
were rejoiced to be connected with the Saviour,
and become co-laborers with him.
As Jesus passed on his way to Jerusalem, he
saw Matthew engaged in his business of tax-
CHOOSING TilE" DISCIPLES.
187
gathering. He was a Jew, but when he became
a publican his brethren despised him. The Jewish people were continually irritated on account
of the Roman ypke. That a despised and heathen nation should collect tribute of them was a
constant reminder that their power and glory as
an independent nation had departed. Their indignation knew no bounds when one of their own
people so far forgot the honor of his exalted race
as to accept the office of tax-gatherer.
Those who thus assisted to sustain the Roman
authority were considered apostate. The Jews
regarded it as degrading to associate in any way
with a publican. They considered the office identical with oppression and extortion. But the
mind of Jesus was not molded after the prejudices of the Pharisees. He looked below the surface and read the heart. His divine eye saw in
Matthew one whom he could use for the establishment of his church. This man had listened to
th~
teachings of Christ, and had been attracted
to him. His heart was full of reverence for the
Saviour, but the thought had never entered the
mind of :M:atthew that this great Teacher would
condescend to notice him, much less choose him
as a disciple. Therefore his astonishment was
great when Jesus addressed him with the words,
" Follow me."
Without a doubtful murmur, or question as
to his consequent pecuniary loss, Matthew rose
up and followed his Master, and united his interest with the few disciples of Jesus. The despised
publican felt that the Saviour had bestowed upon
him an honor which he did not deserve. He
gave no thought to the lucrative business he had
exchanged for poverty and fatigue.· It wat;
181:1
THE GltEAT CON'l'ROYERSY.
enough that he would be in the presence of Christ,
that he could learn wisdom and godne~:s
from
his lips, behold his marvelous works, and be a
co-laborer with him in his arduous toil.
Mathe~
was wealthy, but he was willing to
sacrifice all for his Master. He had many friends
and acquaintances whom he was anxious should
become followers of Jesus, and he was desirous
that they should have an opportunity to meet
him. He felt. certain that they would be charmed
with his pure and simple doctrine, taught without ostentation or display.
He accordingly made a feast at his own house
and called together his friends and relatives,
among whom were a number of publicans. J esus was invited as a guest, in whose honor the
feast was prepared. He, with his disciples, accepted the courteous invitation,. and graced the
banquet with his presence. ..The envious scribes
and Phar.isees, who were ever watching and following the movements of Jesus, did not lose this
opportunity of seeking to condemn the cause of
Christ.
They were highly indignant that one who
called himself a Jew should mingle with publicans. Though they refused to acknowledge him
the Messiah, and would accept none of his teachings, yet they could not shut their eyes to the fact
that he had great influence over the people; this
being the case they were chagrined that he
should, by his example, ignore their prejudices
and traditions. When Jesus called Matthew to
follow him their anger knew no bounds that he
should thus honor a hated publican. They openly
attacked the disciples on the subject, and accused
them of eating with publicans and sinners.
CHOOSING THE DISCIPLES.
}8!)
"And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in
the house, behold, many publicans .and sinners
came and sat down with him and his disciples.
And when the Pharisees saw it, they sfl.id unto
his disciples, Why eateth your Master. with publicans and sinners?" It was with bitter contempt
that they asked this question. Jesus did not wait
for his disciples to answer this scornful charge, but
himself replied, "They that be whole need not a
physician, but they that are sick. But go ye and
learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and
not sacrifice; for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." He here explained his course by taking the case of a physician, whose work is not among the well, but
among those who are diseased. He who came
to save the sin-sick soul must go among those
who most need his forgiving mercy and pitying
love.
Those poor publicans and sinners, although
stained with guilt, felt their need of repentance
and pardon. It was the mission of Heaven to relieve just such want as theirs. Although these
persons apparently disregarded religious rites and
observances, yet in heart and life they were better fitted to become sincere Christians than the
Pharisees and priests who scorned them. M:any
of them were possessed of noble integrity, and
would not wrong their conscience by rejecting a
doctrine which their rea.son declared to be true.
Jesus had come to heal the wounds of sin
among his own nation, but they refused his proffered aid ; they trampled upon his teachings and
made light of his mighty works. The Lord turned,
therefore, to those who would hear his words.
:Matthew and his associates obeyed the summons
190
Til~
GREAT CONTROVERSY.
of the Master and followed him. The despised
publican became one of the most devoted evangelists. His unselfish heart was drawn out for
souls that needed the light. He did noli repulse
sinners by magnifying his own piety, and contrasting it with their sinfulness; but linked them
to himself through kindly sympathy, as he presented to them the precious gospel of Christ.
His labors were attended with marked success.
Many of those who sat at that feast, and listened
to the divine instruction of Jesus, became instruments of enlightenment to the people.
The pointed words addressed by Jesus to the
Pharisees on the occasion of this feast silenced
them, but did not remove their prejudice nor
soften their hearts. They went away and complained to the disciples of John concerning the
practices of Jesus and his follower$. They dilated upon the dangerous influence that he exerted over the people, setting at naught their ancient traditions, and preaching a doctrine of mercy and love to the world. They sought to arouse
dissatisfaction in the minds of John's disciples by
contrasting their austere piety and rigorous fasting with the example of Jesus in feasting with
publicans and sinners.
The feelings of John's disciples were stirred,
and they complained to the disciples of Jesus concerning the course of their Master, whir:h was so
contrary to the teachings of John. If John was
sent of God, and taught according to his Spirit,
how could the practices of Jesus be right? The
followers of the Saviour, being unable to answer
these questions, brought the matter to their Master. "And they said unt:> him, Why do the disciples of John fast 'often, and make prayers, an<.l
VIIOOSING TilE DISCIPLES.
1(.1}
likewise the disciples of the Pharisees; but thine
eat and drink? And he said unto them, Can ye
make the children of the bridechamber fast,
while the bridegroom is with them 1 But the
days will come, when the bridegroom shall be
taken away from them, and then shall they fast
in those days."
Jesus had come to the world, bringing the
light of Heaven. He came as the Redeemer of
mankind, to limit the power of Satan and set the
captive free. At his birth the heavenly messengers had borne the glad tidings of great joy to the
humble shepherds upon the plains of Bethlehem,
" Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace,
good will toward men!"
The greatest gift of Heaven ha.d been given to
the world. Joy to the poor, for Christ has come
to make them heirs of his kingdom ! Joy to the
rich, for he will teach them how to apply their
earthly treasure that it may secure for them
eternal riches in Heaven ! Joy to the ignorant,
for he has come to give them wisdom unto salvation ! Joy to the leamed, for he will open to their
understanding deeper mysteries than they have
ever before fathomed !
Said the Saviour, "Blessed are your eyes, for
they see; and your ears, for they hear. For verily I say unto you, that many prophets and righteous men have desired to see these things which
ye see, and have not seen them, and to hear these
things which ye hear, and have not heard them."
The mission of Christ opened to the minds of
men truths that had been hidden from the foundation of the world.
Every human enterprise sinks into insignificance when compared with the advent of Christ
102
THE GllEA1' CONTllOVERSY.
upon the earth. What occasion for joy had the
disciples who were permitted to walk and talk
with the Majesty of Heaven! Happy were they
who had the Prince of Peace in their very midst,
bestowing upon them daily new mercies and
blessings. Why should they mourn and fast ?
It was more fitting for them to mourn w4o rejected the Saviour and closed their eyes and ears
to his divine teachings, who turned from the
peace and joy of infinite love and truth. The
treasure of Heaven was entrusted to them for a
time, and they, heedless of the gift, chose bondage
and darkness rather than freedom and light
through Ghrist.
In the synagogue at Nazareth Jesus had announced himself the Redeemer of mankind. Said
he, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because
he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the
poor; be hath sent me to heal the broken-hearted,
to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them
that are bruic;ed ; to preach the acceptable year
ofthe Lord."
How could the children of the bridechamber
fast when the bridegroom was yet with them ?
But when he should go back to Heaven, leaving
his disciples to meet alone the unbelief and darkness of the world, then it would be fitting for the
church to fast and mourn, until her absent Lord
should return the second time.
The jealous Pharisees misinterpreted all the
actions of our Lord. The very deeds that should
have melted their hearts and won their admiration, only served as an excuse to charge him with
immorality. These self-righteous men had so
often been rebuked by Jesus for their iniquity,
THE SABBATH.
193
and exposed in their evil purposes and wicked
natures, that they did not dare to bring their
complaints to him, but carry them where they
will be most likely to create prejudice and unbe· lief. Had the disciples of Jesus listened to these
insinuations, they would have ceased from following their Master. But they heeded not the
base charges of impiety and evil associations
against him by those who were themselves filled
with malice and hatred.
The Saviour ate with sinners, he spoke to them
the words of life, and many accepted him as their
Redeemer. The feast of Christ was holy; but
the fasting Pharisees will have their portion with
the hypocrites and unbelievers, when Christ shall
come in his glory, and those whom they scorned
will be gathered into his kingdom.
CHAPTER XV
TilE SABBATH.
NoTHING so distinguished the Jews from surrounding nations, and designated them as true
worshipers of the Creator, as the institution of
the Sabbath. Its observance was a continual
visible token of their connection with God, and
separation from other people. All ordinary labor
for a livelihood or for worldly profit was forbidden upon the seventh day. According to the
fourth commandment the Sabbath was dedicated
to rest and religious worship. All secular employment was to be suspended; but works of
l !)4
THE GREAT CONTROVERSY.
mercy and benevolence were in accordance with
the purpose of the Lord. They were not to be
limited by time nor place. To relieve the afflicted,
to comfort the sorrowing is a labor of love that
does honor to God's holy day.
The work of the priests in connection with the
sacrificial offerings was increased upon the Sabbath, yet in their holy work in the service of
God they did not violate the fourth commandment of the decalogue. As Israel separated
from God, the true object of the Sabbath institution became less distinct in their' minds. They
grew careless of its observance, and unmindful of
its ordinances. The prophets testified to them
of God's displeasure in the violation of his Sabbath. Nehemiah says : " In those days saw I in
Judah some treading wine-presses on the Sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and lading asses;
as also wine, grapes, and figs, and all manner of
burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on
the Sabbath-day, and I testified against them in
the day wherein they sold victuals."
And Jeremiah commands them : u Take heed
to yourselves, and bear no burden on the Sabbath day, nor bring it in by the gates of J erusalem ; neither carry forth a burden out of your
houses on the Sabbath day, neither do ye any
work, but hallow ye the Sabbath day, as I commanded your fathers."
But they heeded not the admonitions of the
inspired prophets, and departed more and more
from the religion of their fathers. At length calamities, persecution, and bondage came upon
them in consequence of their disregard of God's
requirements.
Alarmed at these visitations of divine 'Punish-
THE SABBATH.
195
ment, they returned to the strict observance of
all the outward forms enjoined by the sacred
law. Not satisfied with this, they made burdensome additions to those ceremonies. Their pride
and bigotry led them to the narrowest interpretation of the requirements of God. As time passed
they gradually hedged themselves in.with the traditions and customs of their ancestors, till they regarded them with all the sanctity of the original
law. This confidence in themselves and their
own regulations, with its attendant prejudice
against all other nations, caused them to resist
the Spirit of God, and separated them still farther from his favor.
Their e:x:a.ctions and restrictions were so wearisome that Jesus declared: "They bind heavy
burdens, and grievous to be borne, and lay them
on men's shoulders." Their false standard of duty,
their superficial tests of piety and godliness, obscured the real and positive requirements of God.
Heart service was neglected in the rigid performance of outward ceremonies. The Jews had so
perverted the diYine commandments, by heaping
tradition upon tradition, that, in the days of
Christ, they were ready to accuse him of breaking the Sabbath, because of his acts of mercy
upon that day.
The grain was ready for the sickle when Jesus
and his disciples passed through the com fields
on the Sabbath. The disciples were hungry, for
their Master had extended his work of teaching
and healing to a late hour, and they had been
without food for a long time. They accordingly
began to pluck the ears of corn and to eat, rub·
bing them in their hands, in accordance with the
law of Moses, ;which provides that: "When thou
196
THE GREAT CONTROVERSY.
comest into the standing corn of thy neighbor,
then thou ma.yest pluck the e&-s with thine
hand ; but thou shalt not move a sickle unto thy
neighbor's standing com."
But spies were continually upon the track of
J csus, watching for some o·ccasion to accuse and
condemn him. When they saw this act of the
disciples, they immediately complained to him,
saying, "Behold thy disciples do that which is
not lawful to do upon the Sabbath day." In
this they expressed their own narrow views of
the law. But Jesus defended his followers thus:
"Have ye never read what David did, when he
had need, a.n.d was a hungered, he, a.n.d they that
were with him 1 how he went into the house of
God in the days of Abiathar the high priest, and
did eat the shewbread, which is not lawful to eat
but for the priests, and gave alSo to them which
were with him ? And he said unto them, The
Sabbath was made for ma.n and not man for the
Sabbath. Therefore the Son of Man is Lord also
of the Sabbath."
If excessive hunger excused David for violatsanctuary, a.n.d made
ing even the holiness of t~e
his act guiltless, how much more excusable was
the simple act of the disciples in plucking the
grain and eating it upon the Sabbath day. Jesus would teach his disciples and his enemies
that the service of God was first of all; and, if
fatigue and ;hunger attended the work, it was
right to satisfy the wants of humanity, even upon the Sabbath day. That holy institution was
not given to interfere with the needs of our being, bringing pain, and discomfort, instead of
blessings. "The Sabbath was made for man," to
give him rest a.n.d peace, and remind him of the
TilE SABBATII.
lUi
work of his Creator, not to be a. grievous burden.
The work done in the temple upon the Sabbath was in harmony with the law; yet the
same labor,· if employed in ordinary business,
would be a viola.tion of it. The act of plucking
and eating the grain to sustain the bodily
strength, to be used in the service of God, was
right and lawful. Jesus then crowned his argument by declaring himself the "Lord of the Sabbath,"-One above all question and above all
law. This Infinite Judge acquits the disciples
from blame, appealing to the very statutes they
are accused of violating.
But Jesus did not let the matter drop without
administering a rebuke to his enemies. He declared that in their blindness they had mistaken
the object of the Sabbath. Said he: ·~But
if
ye had known what this meaneth, I will have
mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless." He then contrasted their
many heartless rites with the truthful integrity,
and tender love that should characterize the true
worshipers of God: "For I desired mercy, aud
not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more
than burnt-offerings. But they like men have
transgressed the covenant; there have they dealt
treacherously against me."
Jesus was reared among this people, so marked
with bigotry and prejudice; and he therefore
knew that in healing upon the Sabbath day, he
would be regarded as a transgressor of the law.
He was aware that the Pharisees would seize upon such acts with great indignation, and thereby
seek to influence the people against him. He
knew that they would use these works of mercy
as strong arguments to affect the minds of the
198
TIIE GREAT CONTROVERSY.
masses, who had all their lives been bound by
the Jewish restrictions and exactions. Nevertheless he was not prevented by this knowledge
from breaking down the senseless wall of superstition that barricaded the Sabbath, and teaching men that charity and benevolence were lawful upon all days.
He entered the synagogue, and saw there a
man who had a withered hand. The Pharisees
watched him, eager to see what he would do
with regard to this case-whether or not he
would heal the man upon the Sabbath day.
Their sole object was to find cause for accusation
against him. Jesus looked upon the man with
the withered band, and commanded him to stand
forth. He .then asked, "Is it lawful to do good
on the Sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life,
or t.o kill? But they held their peace. And
when he had looked round about on them with
anger, being grieved for the hardness of their
hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth
thine hand. And he stretched it out; and his
hand was restored whole as the other."
He justified this work of healing the paralytic,
as in perfect keeping with the principles of the
fourth commandment. But they questioned him:
"Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath days?" J esus made them the clear and forcible answer;
" What man shall there be among you, that shall
have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the
Sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift
it out? How much then is a man better than a
sheep ? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the
Sabbath days."
The spies upon our Saviour's words dared not,
in the presence of the multitude answer this
TilE SADnATli.
1()!)
question for fear of involving themselves in difficulties. They knew that while they would leave
men to suffer and die rather than to violate their
traditions by relieving them upon the Lord's day,
a. brute which had fallen into danger would be
at once relieved, because of the loss that would
accrue to the owner if he was neglected. Thus
the dumb animal was exalted above man, made
in the image of God.
Jesus wished to correct the false teachings of
the Jews in regard to the Sabbath and also to
impress his disciples with the fact that deeds of
mercy were lawful on that day. In the matter
of healing .the withered hand he broke down the
custom of the Jews, and left the fourth commandment standing as God bad given it to the world.
By this act he exalted the Sabbath, sweeping
away the senseless restrictions that encumbered
it. His.act of mercy did honor to the day, while
those who complained of him, were, by their
many useless rites and ceremonies, themselves
dishonoring the Sabbath.
There are ministers to-day who teach that the
Son of God · broke the Sabbath and justified his
disciples ill doing the same. They take the same
ground as did the caviling Jews, although ostensibly for another purpose, since they hold that
Christ abolished the Sabbath.
Jesus in turning upon the Pharisees with the
question whether it was lawful to do good upon
the Sabbath day or evil, to save life or to kill,
confronted them with their ~wn
wicked purposes.
They were following upon his track to find occasion for falsely accusing him; they were hunting
his life with bitter hatred and malice, while he
was saving life and bringing happiness to many
200
TIIE GREAT CONTROVERSY,
hearts. Was it better to slay upon the Sabbath,
as they were planning to do, than to heal the
afflicted as he had done? Was it more righteous to have murder in the heart upon God's
holy day, than love to all men which finds expression in deeds of charity and mercy ?
CIIAPTER XVI.
SERllrON ON THE MOUNT.
THE Redeemer of the world sought to make
his lessons so simple that all could understand
who heard them. It was not his choice to teach
within walls or temples. True, he often did so
in order to reach a class whom he would not be
likely to me~t
while speakmg in the open air,
but Jesus prefe1Ted the fields, the groves, and the
lake-sides for his temples. There were also his
favorite resorts for meditation and prayer.
He had special reasons for choosing these natural sanctuaries in which to give instruction to
the people. The landscape lay before him, rich
in scenes and objects familiar alike to the lofty
and the humble. From these he drew illustrations that simplified his teachings, and impressed
them firmly upon the minds of his hearers. The
birds caroling in the leafy branches, the glowing
flowers of the valley, the spotless lily resting on
the bosom of the lake, .the lofty trees, the· fruitful
lands, the waving grain, the barren soil, the tree
that bore no fruit, the mighty hills, the bubbling
brooks, the setting sun that tinted and gilded the
heavens, all served as means of instruction, or as
SERMON ON THE MOUNT.
201
emblems by which he taught the beauties of
divine truth. He connected the visible works of
the Creator with the words of life which.hespoke,
and thu~
led the mind from the contemplation of
Nature unto Nature's God.
The malic~
of the Jews was so great in consequence of the miracle of Jesus in healing the
roan with the wither.ed P,and on the Sabbath day,
that he with his disciples · withdrew to a more
favorable field of labor. They went to the seaside of Galilee, and great multitudes followed him,
for this new miracle wrought u,pon the Sa~b.th
day was noised abroad through. all that region .
.AP. Jesus taught, many of .the .sick, and those possessed with demons, were brought to him, and he
made them whole. His great heart of love was
filled with divine pity for the poor sufferers, many
of whom sought only to draw near enough to
touch him, believing that in so doing they would
be healed, and in this they were not disappointed,
for the touch of faith brought healing power from
the gre'a.t Physician, and their distress 8lld gloom
were changed tq joy ari~
thanksgiving. He also
~y'
demons, who, in leaving their viccast o~t
tims, acknowledged Christ, saying, "Thou a.it the
Son of God."
The people of Galilea were greatly aroused, and
fl.pcked to the presence of the Saviour. At length
the .crowd so increased that he scarcely had room
to stand, and therefore entered a snia.ll ship,
which was near the shore, and there preached to
the crowd that thronged upon the beach. So he
labored uninterruptedly in teaching the people
and in healing the sick. But when the day was
far spent he stole away and hid himself .in the
Oreat
Con~reYP.y,
VoJ. 2.
202
TUE GREAT CONTROVERSY.
solitude of the mountain, to commune with his
Father in secret. Jesus spent the entire night in
prayer, while his disciples slept at the foot of the
mountain·. About dawn he came and .wak~ned
them. The disciples were now about to receive
an office of sacred responsibility, second only to
that of Christ himself. They were to be set
apart for the gospel work. They were to be
linked with Jesus, to be with him, to share his
joys and trials, to receive his teachings, and be
faithful witnesses of his mighty works, that they
might be able to impart the instruction thus
gained to the world. They were to be qualified
so that Jesus could at times send them forth alooe
to teach and work even as\he taught and worked.
Jesus wished his disciples to gain an experience
in the gospel labor while he.was on earth to comfort and direct ·them, so that they would be able
to successfully continue·the work after his death,
and lay the foundation of the Christian church.
While Jesus was preparing his disciples for
th~ir
ordination, and instructing them as to the
duties of the great wo:r:k that lay before them,
Judas urgf\d his presence among them. This
man made great professions of devotion to Jesus,
and proposed to become one of h_is disciples.
Said he, " :Master, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest." Jesus did not warmly receive
him, neither did be repulse him, but ~dres
him with these words of mournful pathos, ''The
foxes have holes, and the birl3s of the air, have
nests; but the Son of Man hath not where to lay
his head." Judas was selfish, and his main object
in seeking a; connection with Christ was to obtain
temporal advantages through him; but Christ:s
reference to his own poverty, contrasting hla con-
SERUo.!~
ON THE !lOUNT.
203
dition with that of the foxes and the birds, was
designed to cut off any hope Judas might cherish
of securing earthly gain by becoming a follower
of Christ. Judas was a man of acknowledged
executive ll.bility, and possessed of no small .influence. For these reasons t.he disciples were anxious that he should form one of their number.
They commended him in the highest· terms to
Jesus, as one who would greatly assist him in his
work. They were therefore surprised that .he
reciv~
him so coolly; but the Saviour read the
heart of Judas, and ·knew, eventhen, the part he
was. to act in his future betray~
and · execution.
Still, Jesus wished to connect this
with himself, that he might learn his' divine mission, and
gain moral strength to overcome the defects in
his character, and experience an entire change of
heart that would ensure his salvation. This it
was possible for him to do, through the help of
Christ.
Had Jesus repulsed Judas, the disciples, who
regarded hil;Il with such favor, would hav·e questioned, in their own ·minds, t4e wisdom of their
Master. In receiving him, Jesus avoided this, and
also placed the selfish and avaricious Judas in the
most favorable J.>Osition to develop qualities of
mind and heart that would eventually gain for
him a place in the kingdom of Heaven. But
not~ihsadg
these precious opportunities
Judas chose a course that covered him with
everlasting infamy.
Gathering his discple~
about him, Jesus bowed
in their midst, and, laying his hands upon their
heads, offered a prayer, dedicating them to his
sacred work. Thus were the Lord's disciples ordained to the gospel ministry. This being il.c-
man
204
THE GREAT . CONTROVERSY.·
complished, Jesus with his companions returned
to .the sea-side, where the multitudes were already
gathering to hear him. Many of them were there
for the purpose of being relieved of various maladies. Here he healed the sick and comforted
the sorrowing, until the crowd increased so that
there wa.s not room for them upon the narrow
beach. Jesus therefore moved up the mountain
to a. level spa.ce where the people could be accommodated. Here Jesus called his disciples nea.r
hiin, that the great truths he uttered might not
fail to be indelibly impressed upon theii minds,
and that nothing might divert their attention
from his words.
Though the disciples were close about him,
and his words seemed specially addressed to
them, yet they were also designed to. reach the
hearts and consciences of the mixed crowd there
assembled. At every large gathering of this
kind, the· people still expected that Jesus would
make some great display of power in regard to
~be
new kingdom of which he had spoken. The
believing Jews looked for him to free them from
the yoke of bondage a.nd reinstate them in their
ancient glory. But in his sermon on the mount
Christ disappointed their hopes of earthly glory.
He opened his discourse by stating the principles
that should govern his kingdom of divine grace,
a.s conta.ined.in the several beatitudes.
" Blessed a.re the poor in spirit ; for theirs is the
kingdom of Heaven." The poor in spirit are
those who claim no personal merit, and boa.st of
no virtue in themselves. Realizing their utter
helplessness, and deeply convicted of sin, they
put no faith in mere outward ceremonies, but
ca.st themselves upon Jesus who is all-righteous
SERMON ON THE MOUNT.
205
and all-compassionate. The Christian can only
rise through humility. The proud heart strive~
in vain to earn salvation by good works; for
though one cannot be saved without good works,
yet these alone will not suffice to win eternal life.
After he has done all he can, Christ must impute
to him his own righteousness.
In Christ, God has bestowed Heaven's best gift
to redeem man, and, as the ~
is full and infinite, so is saving grace boundless and all-sufficient. This saying of Christ struck at the very
root of the self-righteousness of the Pharisees,
who felt themselves already rieh in spiritual
knowledge, and did not realize their need to
learn more. .Such characters could have no part
in the kingdom of Christ.
"Blessed are they that mourn ; for they shall
be comforted." In pronouncing a. blessing upon
those who mourn, Jesus did not design to teach
that there is any virtue in living under a. perpetual cloud, nor that selfish sorrow and repining
has any merit of itself to remove a. single stain of
sin. The mourning spoken of by Christ is a. godly sorrow for sin, that works repentance unto
eternal life. Many grieve when their guilt is
discovered, because the result of their evil course
has brought them into disagreeable circumstances.
It was thus that Esau mourned the sin of despising and selling his birth-right; but it was the
unexpected consequences of that sin which
caused his grief. So Pharaoh regretted his stubborn defiance of God, when he cried for the
plagues to be removed from him ; but his heart
was unchanged, and he was ready to repeat his
crime when tempted. Such mourning is not unto repentance.
20G
TIIE <:REAT CO:o!TROYERSY
He who is truly convicted of sin feels l1is
whole life to have been one continued scene of
ingratitude. He feels that he has ro.bbed his
best friend of the time and strength which was
bought for him at an infinite price. His whole
soul is filled with unutterable sorrow that he has
slighted and grieved his compassionate Saviour.
Stich mourning is precious, for it will yield the
peaceable fruits of righteousness. The worldling. from his stand-point, may pronounce this
sorrow a weakness; but it is the strength which
binds the penitent to the Infinite One with links
that cannot be broken. It reveals that the angels of God are bringing back to his soul the
graces which were lost through hardness of heart
and transgression. To confess and deplore one's
errors evinces an excellence of character capable of discerning and correcting them. The tears
of the penitent are only the clouds and the raindrops that precede the sunshine of holiness, the
sorrow that heralds a joy that will be a living
fountain in the soul. Men are sowing in God's
great field with toil and tears, yet with patient
expectation : and they will be blessed, for the
heavens will open and the rain will fall, insuring
a bountiful harvest. Then when the Reaper
comes, he will return with joy bringing home his
sheaves.
"Blessed are the meek; for they shall inherit
the earth." The difficulties that the Christian
encounters may be very much lessened by that
meekness of character which hides itself in Christ.
Jesus invites all the weary and heavy laden to
come unto him who is meek and lowly in heart,
that they may find rest. If the Christian possesses the humility of his Master, he will rise
SER~!ON
<JN THE MOUNT.
20i
above the slights, the rebuff..,, and annoyances to
which he is daily exposed, and they will cease
to cast a gloom over his spirit. That meekness
which Jesus blessed, operates amid the scenes of
domestic life ; it makes the home happy, it provokes no qu11.rrels, gives back no angry answers,
but soothes the irritated temper, and diffuses a
gentleness which is felt by all within its charmed
circle. It calms the inflammable spirit of retaliation, and mirrors forth the character of Christ.
Far better would it be for Christians to suffer
under false accusations than to.inflict upon themselves the torture of retaliation against their enemies. Hatred and revenge are instigated by Satan, and bring only remorse to him who cherishes
them. Lowliness of heart is the strength that
gives victory to the Christian. His reward is
an inheritance of glory.
"Blessed are they who do hunger and thirst
after righteousness; for they shall be filled." As
the body feels the necessity for temporal food to
supply the waste of the system, and preserVe the
physical strength, so the soul should long for that
spiritual nourishment that increases the . moral
strength, and satisfies the cravings of the mind
and heart.. .A13 the body is continually receiving
the nutriment that sustains life and vigor, so
should the soul constantly receive the heavenly
food which gives nerve and muscle to spirituality. As the weary traveler eagerly seeks the
spring in the desert, and, finding it, quenches his
burning thirst with its cool and sparkling water,
so should the Christian thirst for and Eleek the
pure water of life, of which Christ is the fountain.
There the soul may be satisfied, there the fever
born of worldly strife is allayed, and the spirit is
208
TilE GREAT CONTROVERSY.
forever refreshed. But a majority of those who
listened to Jesus hungered only for worldly advantages and honor. Especially did the selfexaltation of the Pharisees prevent them from
longing for any higher attainments than they
had already reached, for in their own estimation
they were at the very'pinnacle of perfect righteousness. However, there were many who heard
thankfully the lessons of Jesus, and from that
time, shaped their lives according to his teachings.
"Blessed aro the merciful; for they shall obtain mercy." Here Jesus struck a blow at the
arrogance and cruel intolerance of the Jews. Both
priests and people were, as a rule, overbearing,
quarreling with all who opposed them, severely
critical and resentful of any reflection cast upon
their own acts. Jesus said of the Pharisees, " Ye
tithe mint, and rue, and all. manner of herbs, and
pass over judgment and the love of God." The
Saviour desired to teach his followers a lesson of
mercy that they sl10uld not be wanting in that
tender compassion wh~cb
pities and aids the suffering and erring, and avoids ~agnify
the
faults of others.
"Blessed are the pure in heart; for they shall
see God." The Jews were so exacting in regard
to ceremonial purity that their regulations were
extremely burdensome. Their· minds were so
occupied with rules and restrictions, and the
fear of outward defilement, that they lost sight
of the necessity for purity of motive and nobility of action. They did not perceive the stain
that selfishness, injustice, and malice, leave upon
the soul.
.Jesus declared that the pure in heart should
SERMON ON TRE MOUNT.
209
see God. They would recognize him in the person of his Son, who was sent to the world for the
salvation of the human race. Their minds, being
cleansed and occupied with p"ure thopghts, would
more clearly discover the Creator in the works
of his mighty hand, in the things of beauty and
magnificence which comprise the universe. They
would liv.e 88 in the visible presence of the Almighty, in a world of his creation, during the
time that he apportions them here. They would
also see God in the future immortal state, as did
Adam when he walked and talked with God in
Eden. Even now the pure in heart see God
"through a glass darkly, but then face to face."
" Blessed are the peace-makers ;. for they shall
be called the children of God." Our Heavenly
Father is a God of peace. When he created man
he placed him in an abode of peace and security.
All was unity and happiness in. the garden of
Eden. Those who are partakers of the divine
nature will love peace and contentment; they
will cultivate the virtues that insure those results. They will seek to allay wrath, to quiet
resentment and fault finding, and all the evil
passions that foster quarrels and dissensions. The
more men unite with the world, and fall into its
ways, the less they have of the true elements of
peace in their hearts, and the more they are
leavened with the . bitterness of worldly strife,
jealousy, and evil thoughts toward each pther,
which only needs certain circumstances to develop them into active agents Cor evil. Those
whose anger kindles at slight provocations, and
those who watch the words and acts of others
to secretly report them where they will stir up
210
THE GREA'P CONTROVERSY.
enmity, are the direct opposite of the peace-makers who are called the children of God.
The true Christian will in his intercourse with
men suppress words that would tend to produce
unnecessary anger and strife. All Heaven is at
peace, and those who are closely connected with
Christ will be in harmony with Heaven. Jesus
declared: "In the world ye shall have tribulation; but in me ye shall have peace." Those
who are in sympathy with the Saviour will not
be restless and dissatisfied. They will partake
of the nature of Christ, and their lives will emulate his example.
The multitudes were amazed at this doctrine,
so at variance with the precepts and example of
the scribes and Pharisees. The people had im..:
bibed the idea from them that happiness consisted in the possession of the things of this world,
and that tame and the honor of men were much
to be coveted. It was very pleasing to be called
"Rabbi," and to be extolled as very wise and religious, having their virtues paraded before the
public. This was considered the crown of happiness. But Jesus, in the presence of that vast
throng, declared that earthly gain and honor was
all tho reward such persons would ever receive.
Jesus spoke with certainty, and a. convincing
power attended his words. The people were
silenced, and a feeling of fear crept over them:
They looked at each other doubtfully. Who of
them would be saved if this man's teachings were
true ? Many were deeply convicted tba.t this remarkable teacher was actuated by the Spirit of
God, and that the sentiments he uttered were
divine.
These lessons of instruction were particularly
SERMON ON THE MOUNT.
211
calculated to benefit the disciples, whose lives
would 'be governed by the principles therein
taught.. n was to be their work to impart the
divine knowledge they derived from Jesus, to
the world. It was their task to spread the gospel fa.r and wide among the people of all lands,
and it was very important that a.ll the lessons of
Jesus should be plain to their minds, stamped
upon their memories, and incorporated in their
lives. Every truth was to be stored away in
their minds and hearts for future use.
.After Jesus had explained to the people what
constituted true happiness, and how it could be
obtained, he more definitely pointed out the duty
of his disciples, as teachers chosen of God to lead
others into the path of righteousness and eternal
life. He knew that they would.often suffer from
disappointment and discouragement, that they
would meet with decided opposition, that . they
would be insulted, and their testimony rejected.
His penetrating eye looked down the coming
years of their ministry, and saw: the sorrow and
abuse that would attend their efforts to lead men
to salvation. Well he knew that the humble
men who listened so attentively to his words
were to bear, in the fulfillment of their mission,
calumny, torture, imprisonment and death, and
he continues :"Blessed are . they which are persecuted for
righteousness' sake ; for theirs is the kingdom of
Heaven. Blessed a.re ye when men shall revile
you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner
of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad; for great is your
reward in Heaven; for so persecuted they the
prophets which were before you." Jesus here
212
THE GREAT COin'ROVERSY.
shows them that at the very time when they are
experiencing great suffering iri his cause, they
have reason to be glad, and recognize that their
afflictions are profitable to them, having an influence to wean their affections from the world
and concentrate them upon Heaven. He taught
them that their losses and disappointments
would result in actual gain, that the severe trials
of their faith and patience should be cheerfully
accepted, rather than dreaded and avoided. These
afflictions were God's agents to refine and fit them
for their peculiar work, and would add to the precious reward that awaited them in Heaven. He
charged them, when persecuted by men, not to
lose confidence, nor become depressed and moum
over their bard lot, but to remember that righteous men of the past had likewise suffered for
their obedience. .Anxious to fulfill their duty to
the· world, fixing their desire upon the approbation of God, they were calmly and faithfully to
discharge every duty, irrespective of the fear or
favor of man.
Those things which seem to the Christian
most grievous to be borne often prove his greatest blessing. Reproach and falsehood have ever
followed those who were faithful in the discharge
of duty. A righteous character, though blackened in reputation by slander and falsehood, will
pr.eserve the purity of its virtue and excellence.
Trampled in the mire, or exalted to heaven, the
Christian's life should be the same, and the proud
consciousness of innocence is its own reward:
The persecution of enemies tests the foundation
upon which the reputation really rests. Sooner
or later it is revealed to the world whether or
not the evil reports were true, or were the poi-
SERMON ON THE MOUNT.
213
soned shafts of malice and revenge. Constancy
in serving God is the only safe manner of settling such questions. Jesus would have his people use great care to give the enemies of his
cause no ground to condemn their holy faith.
No wrong action should cast a. stigma. upon its
purity. When all arguments fail, the slanderers
frequently open their galling fire upon the besieged servants of God; but their lying tongues
eventually bring curses upon themselves. God
will finally vindicate the right, honor the guiltless, and hide them in the secret of his pavilion
frohl the strife of tongu£.S.
God's servants have always suffered reproach;
but the great work moves on, amiJ persecution,
imprisonments, stripes, and death. The character
of the persecution changes with the times, but
the principle-the spirit that underlies it-is the
same that stoned and beat and slew the chosen
of the Lord centuries ago.
There was never one who walked a man among
men more cruelly slandered than the Son of God.
He was met at every point with bitter reproaches. They hated him without a cause. The Pharisees even hired men to repeat from city to city
the falsehoods which they themselves fabricated
to destroy the influence of Jesus. Yet he stood
calmly before them declaring that reproach
a
part of the Christian's legacy, counseling his
followers how to meet the arrows of malice, bidding them not to faint under persecutions, but,
"Rejoice, and be exceeding glad;" "for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you."
Jesus continued to impress upon the minds of his
disciples the responsibility of their relation to tlle
world. Said be :-
was
2l.J:
THE GREAT CONTROVERSY.
"Ye are the salt of the earth; but if the salt
have lost its savor, wherewith shall it be salted 1
it is thenceforth good for nothing but to be cast
out, and to be trodden under foot of men." The
people could see the white salt, glistening in tbe
pathway, where it had been cast out because it had
lost its savor and was therefore useless. Jesus
used salt as an illustration of the Christian's life
and teachings upon the world. Were it not for
the few righteous who inhabit the earth, the wrath
of God would not be delayed a moment from punishing the wicked. But the prayers and good
works of the people of God preserve the world;
they are the savor of life. But if Christians
are only so in name, if they have not virtuous characters and godly lives, they are like the
salt tbat has lost its savor. Their influence upon
the world is bad; they are worse than unbelievers.
Jesus took objects in the view of l1is listeners as
emblems by which to teach his truth. The people
had come together to hear him while it was yet
early morning. The glorious sun, climbing higher
and higher in the blue sky, was chasing aw~y
the
shadows that lurked in the valleys and among
the narrow defiles of the mountains. The glory
of the eastern heavens had not yet faded out.
The sunlight flooded the land with its splendor,
the placid surface of the lake reflected the golden
light, and mirrored the rosy clouds of morning.
Every bud and flower and leafy spray glistened
with dew-drops. Nature smiled under the benediction of a new day, and the birds sang sweetly
among the spreading trees. The Saviour looked
upon the company before him, and then upon the
rising sun, and said to his disciples, "Ye are the
SERMON ON THE ~lOUNT.
.
215
light of the world." The figure waH peculiarly
striking. A13 the sun lit up the landscape with
his genial rays and scattered the shades of night,
so the disciples were to diffuse tlre light of truth,
and scatter the moral darkness that brooded over
the world. In the brilliant light of morning the
towns and villages situated upon the surrounding hills stood forth clearly and made an attracti ve feature of the scene. Jesus, pointing to them
said, "A city tliat is set on a hill can not be hid.
Neither do men light a candle, and put it under
a bushel, but on a candlestick, and it giveth
light unto all that are in the house. Let your
light so shine before men that they may see your
good works, and glorify your Father which is in
Heaven." In these words Jesus taught his disciples that if they wished to direct others in the
path of righteousness, their own example should
be correct, and their acts reflect the light of
truth.
Moral disease abounds, and darkness covers the
earth; but the disciples of Christ are represented
as lights shining amid the gloom of night. Those
rays reveal the dangers that lie in the sinner's
path, and point the true way to righteousness
and safety. If those who profess to be Christ's
followers, and to have the light of truth, are not
careful to present that truth to others in a proper
manner, those who are in the darkness of error
will see no beauty in it. In carrying a lantern
on a <lark night, to light the way for one who is
following, the bearer sometimes becomes careless,
and permits his person to interpose between the
light and the one whom he is guiding, and the
darkness of the way is rendered more intense to
him from the temporary light that has been shed
216
TilE GREAT CONTROVERSY.
upon it. So with many who essay to present
the truth of God to others; they bide the precious light with their own defective characters,
which stand out darkly conspicuous in their deformity, and tum many from the truth. The
characters of the professed followers of Christ
should be so admirable, and their deeds so exemplary, that the world will be attracted toward a
religion that bears such fruits of righteousness.
They will thus be led to investigate and embrace
its principles from the fact that the liyes of its
representatives shine forth with such holiness
that they are the beacon lights of the world.
The Pharisees shut themselves away from the
world, and thereby made it impossible for them
to exert an influence over the people of the
world; but Jesus names his disciples the "light
the world." Their teachings and example are to
scatter the clouds of error, and all nations and
people are to feel their influence. The religion
of the Bible is not to be confined between two
covers nor within the walls of a church. . It is
not to be brought out only occasionally simply
for our own benefit, and then carefully laid aside
again, but it is to sanctify the daily life, to manifest itself in every business transaction and in all
the social relations of life. Such a. religion was
in marked contrast with that of the Pharisees,
which consisted only in the hollow observance of
rules and ceremonies, and shed no ennobling influence over their lives.
Jesus was closely watched by spies, who were
ready to seize any unguarded word that might
drop from his lips. The Sa..."'i.our was well aware
of the prejudice existing in the minds of many of
his hearers. He said nothing to unsettle the
SERMON ON THE MOUNT.
217"
faith of the Jews in the religion and institutions
of Moses. The same voice that deelared the
moral and ceremonial law, which was the foundation of the whole Jewish system, also uttered
the words of instruction on the mount. it was
because of his great reverence for the law and
the prophets that Jesus sought to break through
the wall of superstitious exactions that hemmed
in the Jews. He wished them" not only to observe the law, but to develop the principles of
that law and the teachings of the prophets.
Jesus severely criticised the f;~.lse
interpretations which the Jews had giveh to the law, yet
he sufficiently guarded his disciples against the
danger of yielding up the vital truths given to
the Hebrews. Jesus came not to destroy ·their
confidence in the instruction which he himself had
given them through Moses in the wilderness.
But, while he taught them due rev.erence for that
law, be desired to lead them on to higher truths
and a greater knowledge, that they might advance into clearer light.
As Jesus explained the duty of his disciples
in the works of righteousness, the Pharisees saw
that the doctrines taught condemned their course,
and, in order to prejudice the people against the
great Teacher, whispered to one another that the
lessons of Jesus were in opposition to the law of
Moses, in that he made no mention of that law.
In this way they designed to arouse the indignation of the people against Christ. But Jesus,
perceiving their intent, in the presence of the
vast multitude, and in a clear and distinct voice,
declared, to the utter discomfiture of his enemies,
these words :Great Controversy, Vul. 2.
218
TII·E GREAT CONTROVERSY.
"Think not that I am come to destroy the
law, or the prophets; I am not come to destroy,
but to fulfill. For verily, I say unto you, Till
heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall
in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled."
Here Jesus refutes the charge of the .Pharisees.
His mission to the world is to vindicate the
claims of that sacred law which they charge him
with breaking. If the law of God could have
been changed or abolished, then Christ need not
have come to a fallen world to suffer the consequence of man's transgression. Jesus came .to
explain the relation of the law of God to man,
and to illustrate its precepts by his own example of obedience. He further declares that,
" Whosoever therefore shall break one of these
least commandments, and shall teach men so, be
shall be called the least in the kingdom of
Heaven." Thus did the Saviour declare the validity of the moral law. Those who disobey the
commandments of God, and teach others to do
the same by their example and doctrine, are condemned by Christ. They are the children of the
wicked one, who was the first rebel against the
law of God. Having explicitly declared his reverence for his Father's law, Jesus in these words
condemns the practices of the Pharisees, who
were strict in their outward observance of tbat
law while their hearts and. lives were con-upt :"For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the
scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter
into the kingdom of Heaven." The righteousness
here taught was conformity of the heart and life
to the revealed will of God. Jesus taught that
the law of God should regulate the thoughts and
SEmiON ON THE
~IOUNT.
21!)
purposes of the mind. True godliness elevates
the thoughts and actions; then the external
forms of religion accord with the Christian's internal purity; then those ceremonies required
in the service of God are not meaningless rites,
like those of the hypocritical Pharisees.
Many religious teachers of to.day are themselves breaking the commandments of God, and
teaching others to do so. In place of those holy
commandments, they boldly teach the customs
and traditions of men, regardless of the direct
testimony of Christ that such ones should be
"least in the kingdom of Heaven." Jesus declareJ to the multitude assembled to hear him,
to the Pharisees, who sought to accuse him of
lightly regarding the law, and to the p~ole
of
all time, that the precepts of Jehovah were immutable and eternal.
The report had been brought of murder and
robbery in ~he
wild region near Capernaum, and
there was a general expression of indignation
and horror in consequence among those who
were assembled to hear Jesus. The divino
Teacher took advantage of this circumstance to
poiut an important lesson. Said he :" Ye have heard that it was said by them of
old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever
mall kill shall be in danger of the Judgment.
But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry
with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the Judgment; and whosoever shall say to
his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council; but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be
in danger of hell fire." Here J'esus descr:ibes
murder as first existing in the mimi. That malice and revenge which would delight in deeds of
220
TilE GRF.AT CON1'ROYETISY.
violence is of itself murder. Jesus goes further
still, and says," Whoever is angry with his brother
without a cause shall be in danger of the Judgment." There is an anger that is not of this Climinalnature. A certain kind of indignation is justifiable, under some circumstances, even in the followers of Christ. When they sec God dishonored,
his name reviled, and the precious cause of truth
brought into disrepute by those who profess to
revere it, when they see the innocent oppressed
and persecuted, a righteous indignation stirs their
soul; such anger, born of :;ensitive morals, is not
a sin. Among the listeners are those who congratulate themselves upon their righteousness
because they have committed no outward crime,
while they are cherishing in their hearts feelings
of the same nature as that which prompts the
assassin to do his fearful deed. Yct these men
make professions of piety, and conform to the
outward r~quicments
of religion. To such Jesus addresses these words :"Therefore if thou bring thy gift. to the altar,
and there rememberest that thy brother hath
aught against thee, leave there thy gift before
the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to
thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift."
He thus shows that crimes originate in the mind,
and those who permit hatred and revenge to
find a place in their hearts have already set their
feet in the path of the murderer, and their offerings are not acceptable to God. The only remedy is to root out all bitterness and animosity
from the heart. But the Saviour even goes further than this, and declares that if another bas
aught against us, we should endeavor to relieve
his mind, and, if possible, remove those feelings
SERMON ON TilE MOUNT.
221
from it, before our offering can be acceptable
with God. This lesson is of special importance
to the church at this time. Many are zealous in
religious services while unhappy differences exist between them and their brethren which it is
in their power to remove, and which God requires them to remove before he will accept their
services. Christ has so clearly ·pointed out the
Christian's course in this matter that there should
be no question in his mind as to his duty.
\Vhile Jesus is teaching, there are pleasureboats upon the water, and it is evident to all that
the idlers who occupy them are disreputable characters. The listening people expect Jesus to
severely denounce this class, bnt are surprised
when he declares: "Ye huve heard that it was
said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit
adultery. But I say unto you, That whosoever
looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart."
Those who have looked upon the guilty characters who lead lives of sensual dissipation as sinners above all others, are astonished to hear Jesus
a~;:sert
that those who cherish lascivious thoughts
are as guilty at heart as the shameless violators
of the seventh commandment. Jesus condemned
the custom then existing of a man putting away
his wife for trivial offenses. This practice led to
great wretchedness and crime. Jesus strikes at
the primary cause of the laxness with which the
marriage relation was held, when he condemns
the unholy passions which find the marriage institution a barrier to the gm.tification of their
lust. Christ would have the marriage relation
hedged auout with judicial restrictions, so that
:!2:!
'I' HE <:RF.AT CONTRO\"F.RSY.
there could l•e no lcga.l separation between hns1and and wite, save for the cau!le of adultery.
:Many who had regarded the commandments as
prohibiting actual crime but reaching no farther,
now perceive that the law of God should be obeyed
in spirit as well as in letter. In this manner
Jesus takes up the commandments separately
and explains the depth and breadth of their requirements, exposing the fatal mistake of the
Jews in their merely outward obedience. Jesus
gives a lesson upon oath-taking, saying, "Let
your communication be Yea, yea; Nay, nay;
for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil."
'l'he third commandment condemns the pi·ofane
swearer, but the spirit of the precept reaches farther still, and forbids that the name of God be introduced into the conversation in a careless or
irreverent manner. Many, even of the professed
followers of Christ, are in the habit of using
lightly the name of God, and, even in their prayers and exhortations, do not use the Supreme
name with a proper solemnity.
A detachment of the Roman troops was encamped near by, on the sea-3hore, and Jesus is
now interrupted by the loud blast of the trumpet
which is the signal for the soldiers to assemble
on the plain below. They form in the regular
order, bowing in homage to the Roman standard
which is uplifted before them. With bitteme:;s
the Jews look upon this scene which reminds
them of their own degradation as a nation. Presently messengers are dispatched from the army,
with orders to various distant posts. .As they
toil up the abrupt bank that borders the shore,
thE-y are brought near to the listening crowd that
S'G rrounds Jesus, and they force some of the Jew-
SF.R~ION
ON TilE )IOUNT.
223
ish pt'asants to carry their burdens for them up
the steep ascent. The peasants resist this act of
oppression, and address their persecutors with
violent language; but they are finally compelled
to obey the soldiers, and perform the menial task
required of them. This exhibition of Roman authority stirs the people with indignation, and
they turn ea.gerly to hear what the great Teacher
will say of this cruel act of oppression. With
sadness, because of t}le sins which had brought
the Jews into such bondage, Jesus looks upon
the shameful scene. He also notes the hatred
and revenge stamped upon the faces of the Jews,
and knows how bitterly they long for power to
crush their oppressors. Mournfully he says;" Ye have heard that it bath been said, An eye
for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth. But I say
unto you, That ye resist not evil ; but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to
him the other also. And if any man will sue
thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him
have thy cloak also. And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. Give to
him that asketh thee, and from him that would
borrow of thee turn not thou away."
The example of Jesus was a practical illustration of the lesson here taught; contumely and
persecution never caused him to retaliate upon
his enemies. But this was a hard saying for the
revengeful Jews, and they murmured against it
among themselves. Jesus now makes a still
stronger declaration :" Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou
shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy.
But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless
them that curse you, do good to them that hate
:!~-1
'l'llE GREAT CONTROYERSY.
you, and pray for them which despitefully nse
you, and persecute you; that ye may be the
children of your Father which is in Heaven; for
he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the
good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the
unjust. For if ye love them that love you, what
reward. lmve ye? do not even the publicans the
same ? And if ye ealute your brethren only,
what do ye more than others ? do not even the
publicans so ? "
The manifestation of hatred never breaks down
the malice of our enemies. But love and kindness beget love and. kin<lness in return. Although God faithfully rewards virtue and punishes guilt, yet he does not withhold his blessings
from the wicked, although they daily dishonor his
name. He allows the sunshine and the showers
to fall upon the just and the unjust, bringing
alike worldly prosperity to both. If a holy Gotl
exercises such forbearance and benevolence toward the rebellious and the idolatrous, how necessary it is that erring man should manifest a
like spirit toward his fellow-men. Instead of
cursing those who injure him, it is his duty to
seek to win them from their evil ways by a kindness similar to that with which Christ treated
them who persecuted him. Jesus taught his followers that they should exercise a Christian
courtesy toward all who came within their influence, that they should not be forgetful in <leeds
of mercy, and .that when solicited for favors, they
should show a benevolence superior to that of
the worldling. The children of God should represent the spirit that rules in Heaven. Their
principles of action should not be of the same
character with the narrow, selfish spirit of the
·.
TUE LEPER UEALED.
225
world. Perfection alone can meet the standard
of Heaven. As God himself is perfect in his
exalted sphere, so should his children be perfect
in the humble !;phere they occupy. Thus only
can they be fit for the companionship of sinless
beings in the kingdom of Heaven. Christ addresses to his followers these words that establish the standard of Christian character : " Be ye
therefore perfect, even as your Father which is
in Heaven is perfect."
CHAP1'ER XVII.
THE LEPER HEALED.
JESUS was frequently obliged to hide himself
from the people ; for the crowds collected so
densely about him to witness his miracles, and
the enthusiasm ran so high, that it became necessary to take precautions, lest the priests and
rulers should take advantage of the great assemblies to arouse the Roman authorities to fear an
insurrection.
Never had there been such a pe1iod as this for
the world. Heaven was brought down to men.
All who came to Jesus for the purpose of instruction realized indeed that the Lord was gracious
and full of wisdom. 'fhey received preciou~
lessons of divine knowledge from the great source
of intelligence. Many hungering and thirsting
souls that had waited long for the redemption ot
Israel now feasted upon the bounteous grace
of a merciful Saviour. Tho expc~d
Teacher
had come, and a favored people were living un-
2:JG
TllE GREAT CONTROVERSY.
der the full splendor of his light, yet many comprehended it not, and turned from the divine radiance with indifference or unbelief.
Jesus healed many and various cases of bodily
disease, while he was preaching and ministering
to sin-sick souls. Many hearts were liberated
from the cruel bondage of sin. Unbelief, discouragement, and despair, gave place to faith,
hope, and happiness. But when the sick and
wretched applied to the Saviour for help, he
first relieved the po·or, suffering body before he
attempted to minister to the darkened mind.
When the present misery of the suppliant was
removed, his thoughts could better be directed
into the channel of light and truth.
Leprosy was the most fearful and loathsome
disease of the East. It was looked upon with
great dread by all classes on account of its contagious character and its horrible effect upon its
victim. Great precautions were taken to prevent the disease from spreading among the people: With the Hebrews the leper was pronounced unclean. He was isolated from his
family, restricted from the privileges of society,
and cut off from the congregation of Israel. He
was doomed to associate only with those who
were similarly afflicted with himself.
Away from his friends and kindred he must
bear the curse of his terrible malady. No affectionate hands could soothe his pain. He was
obliged to publish his own calamity, to rend his
garment, and sound the alarm, warning all to flee
from his polluted and decaying body. The cry,
Unclean ! Unclean ! coming with mournful tone
from the lonely exile, was a signal heard with
fear and abhorrence.
TilE LEPER JIEAJ.ED.
227
There were many of these loathsome subject!'!
in the region of Christ's ministry. The news of
the great Healer had reached even them in their
isolation, and a gleam of hope sprang up in their
hearts that if they could come into the presence of
Jesus he might relieve them. But as they were
debarred from entering any city or village, it
seemed impossible for them to reach t~e
great
Physician, whose chief work lay among the populace.
There was one leper who had been a man of high
distinction. It wa.s with the greatest grief that
he and his family had become convinced that
he wa.s a victim to the fatal disease. Physicians
of note had been consulted, and they had examined his case thoroughly, and anxiously searched
their books to obtain further knowledge ; but
they were reluctantly compelled to acknowledge
that their skill was bafHed, the disease was incurable. It wa.s then the duty of the priest to
make an examination ; this resulted in a decision
that his was the worst form of leprosy. This
verdict sentenced him to a living death separated
from his friends and the society in which he had
held so lofty a position. But now thoso who
had courted his favor and accepted his hospitality fled from his presence with horror. He
went out an exile from his home.
Jesw'l was teaching by the lake outside the city
limits, and many were gathered to hear his words.
The leper, who in his seclusion had heard of some
of his mighty works, came out to see him, and
drew as near as he dared. Since his exile, the
disease had made fearful inroads upon his system.
He was now a loathsome spectacle, his decaying
body was horrible to look upon. Standing afar
228
TIIE GREAT CO~TJtVERSY.
off, he heard some of the words of Jesus, and saw
him laying hands upon the sick to heal them. He
beheld, with amazement, the lame, the blind, the
paralytic, and those dying of various maladies,
rise up ali a word from the Saviour, restored to
health and praising God for their salvation. He
looked upon his own wretched body and wondered
if this great Phys~cian
could not cure even him.
'l'he more he heard, and saw, and con~'>iderl
the
matter, the more he was convinced that this was
really the promised Sn.viour of the world, to whom
all things were possible. None could perform such
miracles but Him who was authorized of God,
and the leper longed to come into his presence
and be healed.
He had not intended to approach neat· enough
to endanger the people ; but now his mind was
so powerfully wrought upon that he forgot the
restrictions that bad been placed upon him, the
safety of the people, and the horror with which
they regarded P,im. He thought only of his
blessed hope that the power of Jesus could set
him free from his infirmity. His faith laid hold
of the Saviour, and he pressed forward, heedless
of the frightened multitude that fell back as he
approached and crowded over. and upon ('ach other to a void him.
Some thought to prevent him from ::.pproacbing Jesus, but their efforts we1·e in vain. He
neither saw nor heard them. The expressions
of loathing and looks of hmTor that greeted his
appearance were lost upon him. He saw only
the Son of God, he heard only the voice that was
giving health and happiness to the suffering and
unfortunate. As he came before Jesus, his pentup feelings found vent., he prostrated his foul,
TilE LEPER HEALED.
22!)
decaying body before him, crying out, "Lord, if
thou wilt, thou canst make me clean." His words
were few, but comprehended his great need. He
believed that Christ was able to give him life
and health.
Jesus did not shrink from his approach, but
drew near him. The people fell back, and even
the disciples were filled with terror, and would
fain have prevented their Master from touching
him; for by the law of Moses he who touched a
leper was himself unclean. Buli Jesus, with calm
fearlessness, laid his hand upon the supplicant
and answered his petition with the magic words,
"Be theu clean !"
No sooner were these life-giving words spoken
than the dying body of corruption was changed
to a being of healthy flesh, sensitive nerves, and
firm muscle. The rough, scaly surface peculiar to
leprosy was gone, and a soft glow, like that upon
the skin of a healthy child, appeared in its place.
The eager multitude now lose their terror, and
crowd a.round to behold this new manifestation
of divine power.
Jesus charged the cleansed leper not to make
known the work he had wrought upon him, saying, " See thou say nothing to any man; but go
thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer for
thy cleansing those things which Moses commanded, for a.testimony unto them." According..,
ly the now happy man went to the same priests
who had previously examined him, and whose ·
decision had banished him from his family and
friends.
Joyfully he presented his offering to the priests
and magnified the name of Jesus who had restored him to health. This irrefutable testimony
230
THE GREAT CONTROVERSY.
convinced the priests of the divine power of J esus, although they still. refused to acknowledge
him as the Messiah. The Pharisees had asserted
that his teachings were directly opposed to the
law of l\Ioses, a'nd for the purpose of exalting
himself; yet his special direction'& to the cleansed
leper to make an offering to the priest according
to the law of Moses, evidenced to the people that
these accusations were false.
The priests were not allowed to accept an offering from the hands of one who bad been afflicted with leprosy, unless they first thoroughly
examined him and proclaimed to the people that
he was entirely free from the infectious disease,
was in sound health, and could agai.q. unite with
his family and friends without enda.ngering them.
However unwilling the priest might have been
to accredit this marvelous cure to Jesus, he could
not evade an examination and decision of the
case. The multitude were anxious to learn the
result of the investigation, and when he was pronounced free from disease, and privileged to return to his family and friends, great was the excitement. Such a thing had never before been
known.
But notwithstanding the caution of Jesus to
the cleansed leper he published the matter abroad.
Conceiving that it was only the retiring modesty
of Jesus that laid these restrictions upon him, he
went about proclaiming the mighty power of this
great Healer. He did not understand that every
new manifestation of divine power on the part of
Jesus only made the chief priests and elders more
determined to destroy him. The restored man
felt the boon of health was very precious. The
pure blood coursing through his veins quickened
THE LEPER HEALED.
231
l1is entire being with a new and delightful animation. He rejoiced in the full vigor of manhood and in his restoration to his family and society. He felt it impossible to refrain from giving full glory to the Physician who had made
him whole.
But the publicity of this affair created so grea.t
a commotion that Jesus was obliged to retire
beyond the city. "And they came to him from
every quarter." These miracles were not worked
were in direct confor display; the acts of Chri~t
trast to those of the Pharisees, whose greatest
ambition was to secure the praise and honor of
men. Jesus well knew that if the fact of his
cleansing the leper was noised abroad, those in
a similar condition would be urgent to obtain
the same cure. This would raise the cry that
the people would be contaminated by contact
with the loathsome disease of leprosy. His enemies would sei;;o;e such an opportunity to accuse
and condemn him.
Jesus knew that many of the lepers who would
seek him did not deserve the blessing of health,
nor would they use it to the honor and glory of
God should they obtain it. They had no real
faith nor principle, but only a strong desire to
be delivered from the certain doom that awaited
them. The Saviour also knew that his enemies
were ever seeking to limit his work and turn the
people from him. If they could use the case of
the cleansed leper for that purpose they would
do so. But in directing the healed man to present his offering to the priest, as enjoined by the
law of Moses, he would convince them that he.
was not opposed to the Jewish code, if their
minds were open to conviction.
~3
THE GRE.\T (;0Nl'ROYERSY.
CHAPTER XVIII.
rARAB .L E OF
THl~
SOWER..
J Esn; had spent the entire night iu prayer, and
he came down to the beach in the early morning
to look for his disciples who were fishing near
the shore. He could not long remain undisturbcdby the people. As soon as it was known
that Christ was by the sea-side, the multitude
flocked to him. Their numbers increased so that
he was pressed upon all sides. As he stood
teaching them, the crowd became so dense that
he stepped into a boat, and pulling out a little
from the shore, gave the people a better opportunity to sec and hear him, as he continued his
discourse.
He frequently adopted this plan to escape from
the eager throng that crowded upon each other
to get into his presence. In tl1is way he could
speak tl1e things that he desired them to hear
without interruption. The Saviour, seat-ed in
the rude boat of a fisherman, taught the wqrds of
life to the listening people upon the beach. He
was patient with those who were laboring ·under
temptation, tender and kind to the sorrowing
and disheartened. His words found a response
in many hearts, and light from his divine instruction poured. in upon many darkened minds.
What a scene ,...-as this for angels to contemplate ! Their glorious Commander, sitting in a
fisherman's boat, swayed to and fro by the restless water, and preaching salvation to the listening crowd that are pressing down to the water's
edge ! He who was the honored of Heaven
PARABLE OF TilE SOWER,
233
teaches his grand doctrine of deliverance in the
open air to the common crowd. Yet he could
have no more magnificent scene for his labors.
The lake, the mountains, the spreading fields,
the sunlight flooding the earth, all furnish subjects by which his lessons can be impressed upon
the human mind.
In plain sight are the sowers and the reapers,
side by side, the one casting the seed, and the
other harvesting the early grain. The fruitful
valleys, and the hill sides are clothed in beauty.
The barren rocks are seen upon the beach, and the
birds make the air vocal with their music. The
sea-fowls skim upon the surface of the water.
Jesus takes this opportunity to draw lessons from
nature that Will sink into the mind's of his lis.:.
teners. He employs the scenery about him to
illustrate his doctrine, so that in the future, whenever these objects are presented to their eyes, their
thoughts will revert to the lessons of truth drawn
from them by Jesus. They will be daily reminders of the precious instruction which they had received from him.
Sitting thus, and looking upon the -animated
scene before him, Jesus uttered the ·par.a.ble that
has been banded down to us through the ages, as
pure and beautiful to-day in its unadorned simplicity as when it was given that morning on
the Sea of Galilee more ·than eighteen hundred
years ago:" Hearken; ·behold,· there went out a sower to
sow. And it came to pass; as he f:I.Owed, some fell
by the wayside, and the fowls of the air came and
devoured it up." And some fell on stony ground,
where .it had not much earth; and immediately
Gred Cou·tro"rcnr, Vol. 2.
234
THE GREAT CONTROVERSY.
it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth ;
but when the sun was up, it was scorched;· and
because it had no root, it withered away. And
some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up,
and choked it, and it yielded no fruit. And
other fell on good ground, and did yield f111it that
sprang up and increased, and brought forth, some
thirty, and some sixty, and. some an hundred.
And he said unto them, He that hath ears to
hear, let him hear."
of the spreading
This striking ilustrao~
abroad of the gospel of the Son of God engaged
the earnest attention of the people. The speaker carried with him the minds of his hearers.
Their souls were stirred, and many a heart
throbbed with the animation of a new purpose.
They were charmed with a doctrine so ennobling
in its principles, yet so easilyunderstood. The high
spiritual attainments which Jesus taught seemed
then very desirable. But how soon the impressions there received were to pass from the minds of
many, when they again mingled with the world.
The sins that had seemed so heinous under the
holy light of the Master's presence, would be
clasped again to their erring hearts: Unfavorable sun-oundings, and worldly cares and temptations would cause them to relapse again into indifference.
But others who listened commenced from that
moment a holier life, carrying out daily the principles of Christ's teachings. The subject matter
of his discourse, illustrated by the scene before
them, would never be effaced from their minds.
The varied ground, some producing only thistles
and noxious weeds, the ledges of rock covered
wit.h a surface of earth, the sowers with their
PARABLE OF THE SOWER.
235
seed, all being before their eyes, fastened his
words in their minds as nothing else could have
done.
The existing state of things led Jesus to give
the parable of the sower. The people who followed Christ had been disappointed that he did
not set up a new kingdom. Long had they
looked for a Messiah who would exalt and glorify them as a nation, and now that their expectations were not realized, they refused to receive
him as their Redeemer. Even his chosen disciples were becoming impatient that he did not assume temporal authority, and his relatives were
disappointed in him and rejected him. They had
addressed him in these words: "Depart hence,
and go into Judea, that thy disciples may see
the works that thou doest. For there is no man
that doeth any thing in secret, and he himself
seeketh to be known openly. If thou do these
things, show thyself to the world."
His followers were mortified that the learned
and wealthy were not the most willing to accept
Jesus as their Saviour. They felt the stigma
that attached to their Master, because it was the
poor, the a:ffi.icted, and the humbler class generally, who became his disciples. Why, they asked
themselves, did not the scribes and Pharisees, the
teachers in the schools of the prophets, acknowledge that he was the long-looked-for Mes!liah ?
It was to meet this doubt and discontent that Jesus spoke this parable. When the mulliitude
had departed, the twelve with the other believers
gathered about him, and asked him to explain it
to them. ".And he said unto them, Unto you it
is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of
God; but unto them that are without, all these
236
THE GREAT CONTROVERSY.
things are done in parables ; that seeing they
may see, and not perceive; and hearing they
may hear, and not understand; lest at any time
they should be converted, and their sins should
be forgiven them. And be said unto them, Know
ye not this parable ? . and how then will ye know
all parables ?" In these words he explained that
his illustrations were to awaken thought in the
minds of his hearers. If they desired a fuller explanation of his words they could ask it of him,
as the disciples had done, and receive it.
The Pharisees understood the parable, but affected not to perceive its meaning. They closed
their eyes lest they should see and their ears lest
they should hear ; therefore their hearts cotlld
not be reached. They were to suffer retribution for their willful ignorance and self-imposed
blindness. One reason why he taught so much
in parables was that the spies of the Jews were
ever watching to find cause for complaint against
him. Jesus designed to expose their hypocrisy
and evil deeds without laying himself liable to
the danger of being arrested and imprisoned by
them, and thus cut off from the work which he
came to do among the people.
He could speak cutting truths in parables,
reveal the iniquity that it was necessary to expose, without any fear of their laws. They could
make the application, for they could not fail to
recognize his meaning, yet they were powerless
to condemn him for using a simple illustration in
his discourse.
The words of Jesus implied a reproof to his
disciples, because of their dullness to comprehend his meaning; for in the parable of the sower, he had illustrated the doctrine he had come
PARADLE OF THE SOWER.
237
to the world to teach. If they could not discern
things so easily to be understood, how could they
fathom greater truths that he would declare to
them in parables ? He also said that he would
reveal greater mysteries concerning the kingdom
of God unto them who followed him so closely
and obeyed him than unto those who were outside of his companionship. They must open
their minds to instruction and be ready to believe.
Those who had hardened their hearts to love
pomp and ceremony did not wish to understand
his teachings nor desire the work of God's grace
within their hearts. This class would remain in
ignorance of their own choosing. Those who
connected with Heaven, and received Christ, who
is the source of light and truth, would understand his words and gain practical knowledge
concerning the kingdom of God. But those who,
for any reason, neglected their present opportunities of acquaintance 'Yith the truth, and did
not rightly use their powers of comprehension,
but refused to be convinced by what their eyes
saw and their ears heard, would be left in
darkness; seeing they would not perceive, and
hearing, they would not understand. ·The truths
of God involved too much self-denial and personal purity to a~trc
their carnal minds, and they
closed their hearts with bigotry and unbelief.
The great Teacher blessed his disciples because
they both saw and heard with eyes and ears that
believed. Said he, "Many prophets and righteous men have desired to see these things which
ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear the
things which ye hear, and have not heard them."
Jesus then explained to his disciples the differ-
:338
TIIE GREAT CON·fROVERSY.
ent classes represented in the pal'ablc he had
given them.
Christ, the Sower, scatters the seed. There
are the woi·ldly ones, whose hearts are like the
hard-beaten highway, insensible to the teachings
of divine wisdom. They love not the requirements of God, and follow their natural impulses.
Many are convinced as they listen to the important lessona of Christ. They believe his words,
and resolve to lead holy lives, but when Satan
comes with his evil suggestions, they are overcome before the good seed has fairly sprung into
life.
Had the soil of the heatt been broken up by
deep repentance for sin, they would have seen
how wicked was their selfish love of the world,
their pride and avarice, and would have put
them away. The seeds of truth would have
struck deep into the fallow ground prepared for
them in the heart, and would have sprung up
and borne fruit. But evil habits had so long held
sway over their lives that their good resolutions
had vanished before the voice of the tempter.
"And these are they by the wayside, where the
word is so.w n; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the
word that was sown in their hearts."
There are those who receive the precious truth
with joy; they are exceedingly zealous, and express amazement that all cannot see the things
that are so plain to them. They urge others
to embrace the doctrine that they find so satisfying. They hastily condemn the hesitating
and those who carefully weigh the evidences of
the truth and consider it in all its bearing:~.
They call such ones cold and unbelieving. But in
PARAJ.lT,E OF THE SOWER.
23!)
the time of trial these enthusiastic persons falter
and fail. They did not accept the cross as a part
of their religious life, a.Iid they tum from it with
dampened ardor, and refuse to take it up.
If life moves smoothly with this class, if their
way is never crossed, if all things are in harmony
with their inclinations, they appear to be consistent Christians. But they faint beneath the
fiery test of temptation; they cannot endure reproach for the truth's sake. The good seed that
had sprung into so :flourishing a plant, withers
and dies because it has no root to sustain it
in the time of drought. The very thing w4ich
should have caused the fibers to strike down
deeper and send up · more vigorous growth,
parches and kills the whole plant. Just so the
hot summer sun, that strengthens and ripens the
hardy grain, withers and destroys that which,
though fresh and green, has no depth of ro.ot, because the tender fibers cannot pierce the hard
and stony ground.
.
These persons could cultivate and enrich the
soil of their hearts, if they would, so that the
truth would take deeper hold; but this involves
too much patience and self-denial. It costs them
too much efiort to make a radical change in their
lives. They are easily offended by reproof, and
ready to say with the disciples who le£t Jesus,
" This is a hard saying ; who can hear it ? "
"And these are they likewise which are sown on
stony ground ; who, when th~y
have heard the
word, immediately receive it with gladness; and
have no root in themselves, and so endure but
for a time; afterward, when affiiction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately
they are offended."
210
TilE GREAT CONTROVERSY.
Jesus represents the seed as falling. into neglected borders and patches covered with rank
weeds which choke the precious plants that
spring up among them ; they grow sickly and
perish. Many hearts respond to the voice of
truth, but they do not properly receive and cherish it. They give it a place in the soil of the
natural heart, without preparing the ground and
rooting out the poisonous weeds that flourish
there, and watching every hour in order to destroy them should they again appear. The cares
of life, the fascination of riches, the longing for
forbidden things, crowd out the love of righteousness before the good seed can bear fruit. Pride,
passion, self-love, and love of the world, with envy and malice, are no companions for the truth of
God. As it is necessary thoroughly to cultivate
the soil that bas once been overgrown with
weeds, so it is necessary for the Christian to be
diligent in exterminating the faults that threaten his eternal ruin. Patient, earnest effort in the
name and strength of Jesus, can alone remove the
evil tendencies of the natural heart. But those
who have allowed their faith to be overcome by
the growth of Satan's influences, fall into a worse
state than that which they ocupi~d
before they
heard the words of life. " And these are they
which are sown among thorns; such as hear the
word, and the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things
entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful."
Few hearts are like the good soil, well-cultivated, and receive the seeds of truth and
bring forth abundant f111it to the glory of God.
But Jesus finds some earnes.t Christians, rich in
PARABLE OF TilE SOWER.
241
good works and sincere in their endeavors.
"And these are they which are sown on good
ground; such as hear the word, and receive it,
and bring forth fruit, some thirty-fold, some sixty, and some an hundred."
Thus Christ represents the characters of those
whon:i he came to teach, in a brief and comprehensive parable. The worldly-minded, the evildisposed, the bard-hearted, are all exhibited to
the minds of his hearers. He thus answers the
question that we often hear to-day: Why was
the work of Christ productive of such meager results, during his personal ministry upon earth?
"Miracles of goodness and mercy marked his life ;
but while he healed the afflicted, and cast out the
demons that persecuted men, he left to themselves
the work of correcting the evils of their natures.
He instructed them how to unite their human
efforts with his divine power, and triumph
through his strength over the sins that beset
them.
This experience was necessary in order to give
moral power to the Christian character and fit it
for the courts of Heaven. Jesus employed no
miraculous agency to compel men to believe in
him. They were left to choose or reject him, of
their own free will. No direct power was to
force them into obedience, and destroy the free
moral agency that God has given to man. The
parable of the sower plainly sets forth the tendencies of the human heart, and the different classes with which Christ had to deal, and also explains the reasons that·his ministry was not more
successful in its immediate effects.
The parables of Jesus were designed t{) arouse
a spirit of inquiry which would result in a clearer
:H2
THE GHF.AT CO:KTROVERSY.
exposition of the truth. As he was thus instructing his disciples in the meaning of his words,
the people again gathered about to listen, and
his teachings were received and cherished in the
minds of many who heard them. These discourses of Jesus were not merely to a class .of inferior minds; but there were intelligent and cultivated persons present who were capable of the
closest criticism. Scribes, Pharisees, doctors, rulers, lawyers, and the representatives of all nations, were there to hear ; yet there were none to
gains?-y his words in all that vast assembly.
CHAPTER
XIX.
OTHER PARABLES.
THERE was much curiosity and questioning
among the people concerning this kingdom which
they could not see with their material eyes. J esus knew every perplexity that agitated the
minds of his bearers, and as the multitude again
thronged about him, :he continued to teach them
in parables. " And he said unto them, Is a candle brought to' be put under a bushel, or under a
bed ? and not to be set on a candlestick ? For
there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that
it should come abroad. If any man have ears to
hear, let him hear. And he said unto them, Take
heed what ye hear; with what measure ye mete,
it shalt be measured to you ; and unto you that
hear shall more be given. For he that hath, to
OTHER PARABLES.
243
him shall be given; and he that hath not, from
him shall be taken even that which he hath."
Jesus used the light of a candle to represent
his doctrines, which illuminate the souls of those
who accept them. This light is not to be hidden from the world, but should shine forth to
enlighten and bless those who behold it. The
instruction received by those who listened to Jesus was to be communicated by them to others,
and thus handed down to posterity. He also
declared that there was nothing hidden that
should not be manifested. Whatever was in the
heart would sooner or later be revealed by the
actions ; and these would determine whether the
seed sown had taken root in their minds and
borne goodly fruit, or whether the thorns and
brambles had won the day. He admonished
them to hear and understand him. To improve
the blessed privileges then extended to them,
would result in their own salvation and through
them would benefit others.
And with what · measure of sincere attention
they listened to his instructions, they would receive like measure of knowledge in return. All
who truly desired to understand his doctrines
would be fully satisfied; their Heaven-given privileges would increase; their light would brighten
unto the perfect da.y. But those who did not
desire the light of truth would grope in darkness
and be overcome by the powerful temptations of
Satan. They would lose their dignity and selfcontrol, and the little knowledge of which they
bad boasted when they declared that they had
no need of Christ, and scorned the guidance of
Him who left a. throne in Heaven to save them.
Following the thread of his discourse, the Di-
244
THE GREAT CONTROVERSY.
vine Teacher uses another parable, saying, "So
is the kingdom of God, as if a. man should cast
seed into the ground ; and should sleep, and rise
night and day, and the seed should spring and
grow up, he knoweth not how. For the earth
bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade,
then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.
But when the fruit is bro.ught forth, immediately
he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is
come." The seed here spoken of is the .wqrd of
God sown in the heart and made fruitful by divine grace. If the truth takes root in the heart,
it will sooner or later spring into life and bear
fruit. The life and character will show the
nature and quantity of the seed sown. But
the work of cultivating is the work of a life-time.
The principles of truth once planted in the soul,
are to be ca:rried out in the daily duties of life.
The growth of Christian character is graduallike the advancement of the natural plant
through its various stages of development. But
nevertheless the progress is continual. As in
nature, so it is in grace, the plant must either
grow or die.
Day by day the sanctifying influence of the
Spirit of God almost imperceptibly leads those
who love the ways of truth toward the perfection of righteousness, till finally the soul is ripe
for the harvest, the life-work is ended, God gathers in his grain. There is no period in the
Christian life when there is no more to learn, no
higher attainments to reach. Sanctification is
the work of a life-time. First the blade, then
the ear, then the full corn in the ear, then the
ripening and the harvest ; for when the fruit is
perfect, it is ready for the sickle.
OTIIER PARABLES.
245
This figure presented a most marked contrast
to the condition of the Jews. Their religion
was cold and formal, the Holy Spirit had no
place in their hearts; therefore, instead of growing in grace, and advancing in the knowledge of
God, they were continually becoming more callous and bigoted, retreating farther and farther
from the presence of the Lord. The proud, caviling Pharisees looked around upon the vast numbers gathered to hear Jesus, and noted contemptuously how few there were who acknowledged
him as the Messiah. There were many educated
and influential men who had come to hear the
prophet whose fame had spread far and near.
Some of these looked with curious interest upon
the throng, which was composed of all classes of
society and every nationality. There were the
poor, the illiterate, the ragged beggar, the robber
with the seal of guilt upon his face, the sick, the
maimed, the dissipated, high and low, rich and
humble, jostling each other for a place to stand
and hear the words of Jesus.
As they gazed, they asked themselves incredulously, Is the kingdom of God composed of such
material as this.? Jesus read their thoughts, and
replied to them by another parable:" Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of
God? or with what comparison shall we compare it? It is like a grain of mustard seed,
which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than
all the seeds that be in the earth. But when it
is sown, it groweth up, and becometh greater
than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches;
so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the
shadow of it." Far and near the mustard lifted
itself above the grass and grain, waving its
2·lG
TilE GREAT CONTROVERSY.
branches lightly in the air. Birds flitted from
twig to twig and sang amid its leafy foliage.
Yet the seed from which sprang this giant plant,
was the least of all seeds. At first it had sent
up a tender shoot; but it was of strong vitality,
and grew and flourished till it was of large proportions, and the birds lodged under its shadow.
The people look upon the mustard, growing
so vigorously about them, and their mindl'l are
vividly impressed by the illustration Jesus has
used to point the truths of his doctrine. He
thus declares that not by force of arms, and the
pomp and heraldry of war, is the kingdom of
Christ to be set up. But the work is of gradual devlopmnt~
Though the beginning may be
small, it will grow and strengthen till, like the
grain of mustard seed, it will reach, through imperceptible stages of development, the majesty
of greatness.
Jesus takes this poor little seed to illustrate
his mighty truths. The merest trifle is not beneath the notice of the great Teacher. Many
were there whose Christian experience began
that day, and would be like the symbol he had
used, growing into strength and beauty, trampled
upon, yet still maintaining its vigorous life. This
£gure was indelibly written upon the minds of
hundreds who listened to the words of Jesus.
Never would 'they behold the rank-growing mustard, so plentiful in that region, but they would
be reminded of this parable of the Saviour, and
their hearts would remember the lesson that he
taught concerning the mysterious influence of
divine grace upon the human soul, and the quickening 11ower of the word that declares itself in
the daily life.
OTHER
r ARADLES.
247
"Another parable spake he unto them : The
kingdom of Heaven is like unto leaven, which a
woman took, and hid in three measures of mea],
till the whole was ltlavened." The leaven in the
meal represents the progressive work of divine
grace in the human heart. The leaven was not
naturally in the meal, but being placed in it
gave rise to fermentation which resulted in a
radical change of the whole mass. So the principles of God's truth, hidden in the heart of an
individual, change his entire nature, and influence his life. The natural feelings a.re transformed, the affections are consecrated, and the
mind elevated. Physically, the man appears the
same; but inwardly, he has become renewed by
the heavenly principles that animate his life.
Again Jesus took the fields before him and the
sowers and reapers to illustrate his truths, saying, "The kingdom of Heaven is likened unto a
man which sowed good seed in his field. But
while men slept, his enemy came and sowed
tares among the wheat, and went his way. But
when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth
fruit, then appeared the tares also.
The tares were noxious weeds, very annoying
to the cultivator of the soil, for they sprang up
together with the good grain. There was danger
of disturbing the roots of the wheat, and destroying the young blades, if the weeds were rudely
pulled from among them ; besides this, the tares
so closely resembled the grain, while growing,
that it was hard to distinguish the one from the
other.
·w hen the servant.'3 of the householder came
and asked him from whence the tares had come,
seeing he had sown good seed in his field, he told
2·18
THE GREAT CONTROVERSY.
them that an enemy bad sowed the weeds among
his grain to injure him. Then they inquired if
they might not gather out the tares and leave
the wheat free. "But he said, Nay; lest while
ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat
with them. Let both grow together until the
harvest; and in the time of harvest I will say to
the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares and
bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather
the wheat into my barn."
The enemy sowing the troublesome seeds, is an
illustration of Satan's work upon the human mind.
Christ is the Sower, who scatters the precious
grain in the fallow ground of the heart; but the
enemy of souls steals in secretly and sows the
seeds of evil. These germs of error spring up
abundantly and bear their noxious fruit, sometimes crowding out and destroying the precious
plants about them. The soil that should have
produced goodly grain for the nourishment of
man, runs to waste, and the seedf! of sin are carried from that to other fields.
The growth of the tares among the wheat
would draw special attention to it. The grain
would be subjected to severe criticism. Indeed,
the whole field might be set down as worthless by
some superficial observer, or by one who delighted
to discover evil. The sower might be condemned
by him, as one who had mingled the bad seed
with the good for his own wicked purpose. Just
so the erring and hypocritical ones who profess
to follow Jesus bring reproach upon the cause of
Christianity, and cause the world to doubt concerning the truths of Christ. As the presence of
the tares among the wheat counteracted to a. great
degree the work of the sower, so sin among the
OTHER PARABLES.
249
people of God, frustrates, in a ·measure, the plan
of Jesus to save fallen man from the power of
Satan and render the barren ground of the human
heart fruitful of good works.
.
The tares so closely resembled the wheat that
the laborers might easily be deceived when the
blades were green, and root out the good plants.
But when the field was white for the harvest, then
the worthless weeds bore no resemblance to the
wheat that bowed under the weight of its full, ripe
heads. Then the tares were ruthlessly plucked
up and destroyed, while the precious grain was
gathered into 'barns. Sinners who make false
pretensions of .Piety mingle together for a time
with the true followers of Christ, and this ext~al
semblance of Christianity is calculated to deceive
many. But in the harvest of the world there
will be no likeness between good and evil. The
wicked will be gathered from the righteous, to
trouble them no more forever.
After Jesus had sent the multitude away, and
had retired with his disciples into the house, they
asked him to explain the parable that he had
given them, and h_e answered, "He that soweth
the good seed is the Son of Man. Th.e field is the
world ; the good seed are the children of the
kingdom; but the tares are the children of the
wicked one ; the enemy that sowed them is the
devil; the harvest is the end of the world ; and
the reapers are the angels. As therefore the tares
are gathered and burned in the fire, so shall it
be in the end of this world. The Son of Man
shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather
out of his kingdom all things that offend, -an9.
them which do iniquity, and shall cast them
Gre!\t Controveny, Vol . 2.
250
THE GREAT CONTROVERSY.
into a furnace of tire ; there shall be wailing and
gnashing of teeth. Then shall the righteous shine
forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father.
Who hath ears to hear, let him hear."
These words of Christ are meaningless to those
who are looking for a temporal millennium, when
all the world will be converted. He expressly
states that the wheat and tares shall grow together till the harvest, which is the end of the
world. Then the tares are to be gathered out of
the field ; but they are not to be transformed by
a mighty miracle into wheat. They are to remain
ta.res, and are to be ca.st into the fire and utterly
destroyed.
Jesus, in his explanation of the parable, brings
distinctly before his disciples the great difference
between the treatment of the wicked and the
righteous in that time when men shall be judged
for their deeds. Reaching down to the end of
time, he corrects the false doctrines of those
who rise up to deceive the people. He would
teach men that God, who rained a. fiery tempest
upon the cities of the plains and destroyed them
because ofthe iniquity in their midst, will surely
punish the sinner. He holds the destiny of men
and nations in his hands, and he will not always
be mocked. Jesus himself declares that there is
a ·g reater sin than that which brought destruction upon Sod om and Gomonah; it is the sin of
those who see the Son of God and listen to his
teachings, yet turn from his salvation, and reject
his offered mercy. But the righteous shall be rewarded with eternal life.
Jesus, in his teachings on this ocCMion, spoke
many parables to the people, that he might forcibly impress his truths upon their minds. Our
OTHER PARABLES.
251
Saviour's mission to the world was to bring to
light hidden mysteries which finite man could
never fathom, divine problems which the human mind is unable to solve. "Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched
diligently, who prophesied of the grace that
should come unto you." "Which things the angels desire to look into." The Son of God
came to be a light to the world, to reveal
wonders to the children of men that even the
angels had vainly longed to understand. He
patiently explains the marvelous transformation of sinful mortals into children of God and
heirs with himself in the kingdom of Heaven.
The introduction of sin had opened the door to
every species of suffering and wretchedness, till
moral darkness shrouded the earth like a funeral
pall; but Jesus, the Restorer, brings man into
connection with himself and re-creates him in the
divine image.
The Saviour continued his parables to the listening people, saying, "Again, the kingdom of
Heaven is like unto treasure hid in a. field ; the
which when a man hath found, he hideth, and
for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath,
and buyeth that field. Again, the kingdom of
Heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking
goodly pearls; who, when he had found one
pearl of great price, went and sold all that he
had, and bought it." In those days there were
many who searched for treasure which was supposed to be buried in certain localities where
great cities had once stood. In the ~reat
thoroughfare of travel, where Jesus was then teaching, it was not unusual to meet persons who had
come long distances on their way to where jt.
252
TIU: GREAT CONTROVERSY
was supposed hidden treasure could be found.
The desire for great riches led them upon a journey fraught with many perils. They had left
their avocations upon a venture that seldom
proved successful. But if they secured a small
treasure they redoubled their exertions, hoping to
realize still greater riches. Jesus had this class of
his hearers in view, when he thus illustrated the
mysterious riches of his grace, which, once haYing attracted the heart of man, lead him to seek
higher attainments and greater blessings. The
more he realizes of the peace of God, the more he
desires to drink deeper at the fountain of his
love. The thirst for righteousness, the longing
and seeking for its treasures, continually increase.
In order to obtain a vast treasure that is supposed to be hidden in a field, or a gem that is of
great and unknown value, the man who is seeking for riches invests all his substance in that
field, or uses it to purcha.;;e the precious jewel,
calculating that it will increase in value on his
hands and bring him the fortune that he covets:
So should the Christian, who desires the riches
of Heaven, set aside all considerations that interfere with his eternal welfare, and put his soul
into the work of securing the riches of Christ's
love. His talents, his means, his energies, should
all be applied in such a way as to win the approbation of God. Jesus directs the minds of his
hearers to infinite riches, hidden where all may
engage in searching for them, sure of being successful, never doomed to the disappointment of
fruitless toil. He came from Heaven to direct
the search. High and low, rich and poor, stand
upon an equal footing, and none need seek in
vain. Obedience to his will is the one condition
OTHER PARABLES.
253
of success, and well may the earnest seeker afford to sell all tbah be bas to possess this blessing
of divine love-the pearl of great price.
There were many fishermen in the assembly
that listened to the teachings of Jesus ; and
therefore he spoke a parable that would bring
his truth directly home to their minds by an illustration drawn from their daily lives. Said he,
"Again, the kingdom of Heaven is like unto a
net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of
every kind. Which, when it was full, they drew
to shore and sat down, and gathered the good
into vessels, but cast the bad away. So shall it
be at the end of the world. The angels shall
come forth, and sever the wicked from among
the just, and shall cast them into the furnace
of fire; there shall be wailing and gnashing
of teeth." Here again the separation of the
wicked from the righteous at the end of the
world is impressed upon the minds of his hearers,
in words that cannot be mistaken.
Jesus had a wise purpose in making use of so
many parables by which to teach the same important truths. All classes were before him, for
it was a place where many different people met
in the pursuit of their business or in their journeys. By using a variety of illustrations he succeeded in reaching many minds. The parable of
the so,ver and that of the wheat and tares, applied to all. The fields were before them, and
the laborers scattering the seed, or harvesting
the earlier grain. Also the mustard that grew
so luxuriantly about them furnished a lesson
for all.
Bi1t in order to press home his truths more
closely, he also spoke other parables to suit par-
:!5 ·1-
TilE GREAT CONTROVERSY.
ticular cases. The searcher for riches represented
a large class, who could not but be struck by the
parable of the hidden treasure. And the leaven,
buried in the meal, while it was an illustration
that could be understood by all, brought home
the truth with added power to the minds of the
women, who knew so well the action of the leaven upon the meal, and were thus enabled to draw
a forciule comparison between that and the workings of God's grace upon the human heart. Jesus overlooked none in his teachings, and the
humblest were remembered with tender pity.
The Saviour inquired of his disciples if they
understood these things. They answered, "Yea,
Lord. Then said he unto them, Therefore every
scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of
Heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things
new and old." In this parable, Jesus presented before his disciples the responsibility of
those whose work it is to give to the world the
light which they have received from him. The
Old Testament was all the Scripture then in existence ; but it was not written merely for the ancients ; it was for all ages and for all people. J esus would have the teachers of his doctrine diligently search the Old Testament for that light
which establishes his identity as the Messiah
foretold in prophecy, and reveals the nature of
his mission to the world. The Old and the New
Testament are inseparable, for both are the
teachings of Christ. The doctrine of the Jews,
who accept only the Old Testament, is not unto
salvation, since they reject the Saviour whose
life and ministry was a fulfillment of the law
and the prophecies. And the doctrine of those who
OTHER PARABLES.
255
discard the Old Testament is not, unto salvation,
because it rejects that which is direct testimony
of Christ. Skeptics begin with discounting upon
the Old Testament, and it takes but another step
to deny the validity of the New, and thus both
are rejected.
The Jews have little influence over the Christian world in showing them the importance of
the commandments, including the binding law of
the Sabbath, because in bringing forth the old
treasures of truth, they throw aside the new ones
in the personal teachings of Jesus. On the other
hand; the strongest reason why Christians fail to
influence the Jews to accept the teachings of Christ
a.os the language of divine wisdom, is because, in
bringing forth the treasures of his word, .they
treat with contempt the riches of the Old Testament, which are the earlier teachings of the Son
of God, through Moses. They reject the law
proclaimed from Sinai, and the Sabbath of the
fourth commandment, instituted in the garden of
Eden. But the minister of the gospel, who follows the teachings of Christ, will gain a thorough
knowledge of both the Old and the New Testament, that he may present them in their true
light to the people an inseparable whole--the
one depending upon and illuminating the other.
Thus, as Jesus instructed his disciples, they will
bring forth from their treasure " things new and
old."
In looking abroad over the various fields
where he had labored, Jesus was filled with compassion for those scattered ones who had accepted
him as their Saviour, and looked to him for the
bread of life. They seemed to him like sheep to
be left without a shepherd, when he should as-
25G
THE GREAT CONTROVERSY.
cend to Heaven. Before his sufferings and death,
it was necessary that he should commission his
di~:>cples
to go forth as his representatives, that
the believers might look to them as divinely appointed teachers, so that in the approaching time
of darkness and discouragement they would not
be left without counselors. Calling the twelve
about him, he said to them ; " The harvest truly
is great, but the laborers are few; pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send
forth laborers into his harvest." As yet the disciples had little experience in preaching the
practical truths received from their Lord; but
they had been his companions for several months,
and he had occasionally sent them forth to labor
by themselves for a short time, to prepare them
for their future mission when he should no
longer be with them. But be now separated
them in pairs, and sent them away from him in
different directions. He delegated to them the
power of working miracles, but they were in no
case to employ this power for their own exaltation or advantage. They were to be gone but a
few days, and they were not sent among strangers on this first tour, but among their brethren
who were to prepare their way that they might
have access to the people, many of whom earnestly desired to know more of the doctrines of
Christ.
In sending out his disciples, Jesus instructed
them, upon entering a town or city, to seek those
who were of good repute and abide with them
during the time in which they labored in that
locality; for the influence of such persons would
be beneficial to the cause. But if the disciples
were not received by those to whom they went,
OTllER PARABLES.
257
they were to shake off even the dust from their
feet against the house that was closed against
them, or the city that refused to hear their message. This act was calculated to impress the
people with the importance of the gospel message, and with the fact that it could not be
slighted ot rejected with inpunity. The great
Teacher declared to his disciples, with startling
emphasis, that it would be more tolerable for
Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of Judgment
than for the city that refused to hear them.
Jesus enjoins his disciples to make known to
others those truths which he had spoken tO their
ears alone, saying, "What I tell you in darkness,
that speak ye in light; and what ye hear in the
ear, that preach ye upon the house-tops." Knowing the rebuffs and persecution they are to meet
in the miQistry upon which they are now about
to enter, be strengthens them for their work by
assuring them that in all their coming toils and
dangers, God will watch over them. They are to
go on unmindful of the opposition of men, seeking only to please God in whose hands they are :
"And fear not them which kill the body, but are
not able to kill the soul; but rather fear Him
which is able to destroy both soul and body in
hell."
They are to go forward, bearing their testimony of truth, and leave their fate with their
Heavenly Father. Jesus comforts them with a
knowledge of the divine care that watches over
their lives, saying," Are not two sparrows sold for
a farthing ? and one of them shall not fall on
the ground without your Father. But the very
hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye
258
THE GREAT CONTROVERSY.
not therefore ; ye are of more value than many
sparrows."
And finally, he crowns his instruction and encouragement with the grand assurance of eternal
reward to those who accept the Son of God and
obey his teachings, and of denunciation to those
who reject them: "Whosoever therefore shall
confess me before men, him will I confess also
before my Father wl1ich is in He!tven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also
deny before my Father which is in Heaven."
Thus the Saviour commissioned his disciples
to go out into the world and preach his word,
to heal the sick, and comfort the sorrowful as
they had seen him do, and they went for~h,
working according to his directions. The mission of
God's servants to-day is of the same vital importance as that of the apostles whom Christ
sent from him with such solemn words of instruction. To accept or to reject the message of
Christ will insure the results indicated by the
Master to his disciples on that solemn occasion
when he commissioned them to teach his word
to the people.
CHAPTER XX .
THE LOAVES AND FISHES.
JEsus, to obtain a little season of repose, and
for the benefit of his disciples, proposed that they
should go with him into a desert place and rest
awhile. There were suitable places for such retirement beyond the sea from Ca.pernaum, and
THE LOAVES AND FISHES.
259
they entereq o. boat to make their way thither.
But some who were searching for Jesus saw him
depart from the shore, and the anxious people
gathered together watching the slowly receding
boat. The news spread from city to city that
Jesus was ·crossing the sea; and many who
were eager to see and hear him flocked to the
place where it was thought that his boat would
land, while others followed him over the water
in boats. So when Jesus and his disciples landed they found themselves in the midst of a multitude of people, pressing forward on all sides to
meet them.
Hundreds of the sick and maimed had been
brought for Jesus to relieve, and were disposed
upon the ground in positions favorable to arrest
his attention. The crowd had awaited his coming with intense anxiety, and their numbers were
continually increasing. The Saviour could not
here find the rest he sought, for the waiting company commanded his attention ; their needs enlisted his immediate sympathy and aid. He could
not steal away with his disciples to secure the
coveted retirement, and disappoint this expectant
people. All maladies were represented among
the sick who claimed his notice. Some were
buming with fever and unconscious of the anxious friends that ministered to them. There
were the deaf, the blind, the palsied, the lame,
and lunatic. In looking upon this wretched
thropg the heart of Jesus melted with compassion.
He was so pressed upon by the multitude that
he went a little apart upon a grassy eminence,
where he could be seen and heard by all the people. Here he taught them through the entire
260
TRE GREAT CO:l<TROYERSY.
day, and healed all the sick and afflicted that
were brought to him. Those who had been confused in their belief, and longed for some intelligent doctrine to relieve their uncertainty, found
their darkness dispelled by the beams of righteousness from the presence of Ch1ist, and were
charmed with the simplicity of the truths he
taught.
His discourse was often interrupted by the delirious ravings of some fever-stricken sufferer, or
the piercing shriek of the insane, whose friends
were trying to press through the crowd and bear
the a:ffiicted to the Healer. The voice of wisdom
was also often lost in shouts of triumph as the
victims of hope1ess disease were instantly restored to health and strength. The great Ph)'sician patiently submitted to these interruptions,
and spoke calmly and kindly to all. He came
from the other side of the sea because he was
weary, but lo, he found more pressing cases for
his attention than at the place from which he
had secretly departed.
At length the day was spent, the sun was sinking out of sight in the west, and yet the people
lingered. Many had come miles to hear the
words of Jesus and had eaten nothing all day.
The Master had labored through all that time
without food or repose, and the disciples, seeing
him pale with weariness arid hunger, besought
him to rest from his toil and take some refreshment. Their entreaties being of no avail, they
consulted together as to the propriety of forcibly
removing him from the eager multitude, fearing
that he would die of fatigue. Peter and John
each took an arm of their blessed Master and
kindly endeavored to draw him away. But he
THE LOAVES AND FISHES.
261
refused to be removed from the place. His work
was imperative ; every applicant for his mercy
felt . his own case to· be the most urgent. The
crowd press about the Saviour; they sway him
hither and thither. In their efforts to more
nearly approach him, they trample upon each
other.
Jesus, perceiving all this, beckons to Peter,
who is in his boat on the sea, to come nigh.
The disciple obeys the signal, and comes to shore.
Jesus presses through the throng, and steps into
the boat, bidding Peter to thrust out a little from
the land. He now sits· in the rocking boat of
the fisherman, and, in full sight and hearing of
the crowd, finishes the long and toilsome day b-y
speaking precious truths to them. The Son of
God, leaving the royal courts of Heaven, takes
not his position upon David's throne; but from
the swaying seat of a £sherman's boat, speaks
the words of eternal wisdom which are to be
immortalized in the minds of his disciples and
given to the world as the legacy of God.
As the sun was setting, Jesus saw before him
five thousand people besides women and children,
who had been all day without food. He inquired of Philip concerning the probability of
obtaining bread for so large a number, that they
might not return to their homes unrefreshed nor
faint by the way. This he did to test the faith
of his disciples, for he himself was at no loss how
to provide food. He who would not work a
miracle to satisfy his own hunger in the wilderness, would not allow the multitude to sufier for
lack of food . Philip looked over the sea of heads
and thought how impossible it would be to obtain sufficient food to satisfy the wants of such a
262
THE GREAT CONTROVERSY.
crowd. He answered that two hundred pennyworth of bread would not be nearly 'llnough to
divide among them so that each one :aUght have
a little. Jesus inquired how much food could be
found among the company. He .was told that
Andrew had discovered a lad who had with him
five barley loaves, and two small fishes. But this
was nothing among so many, and they were in a
desert place, where no more coul!l be obtained.
Jesus commanded that this meager store should
be brought to him. This being done, he directed
his disciples to seat the people upon the grass in
parties of fifty, and one hundred, to preserve order, and that all might witness the miracle he
was about to do. This marshaling of five thousand people into companies, was at length satisfactorily accomplished, and they were all seated
in the presence of the Saviour. He then took
the loaves and fishes, and, having given thanks,
distributed them to the disciples and to the multitudes, in quantities sufficient to sn.tisfy their
appetites.
The people had arranged themselves in therequired order wondering what was to be done, but
their amazement knew no bounds when the problem was solved, and they beheld food portioned
out to that vast assembly from the slender store
scarcely sufficient for a score of persons. The
food did not diminish, as Jesus handed it to his
disciples, who in their turn served the people.
As often as they returned to him for a fresh supply, it was furnished them. After all had been
satisfied, he directed the disciples to gather up
the fragments that nothing might be lost; and
the broken fragments filled twelve baskets.
During this remarkable feast, there was much
THE LOAYES AND FISHES.
263
earnest reflection among those who were so miraculously served. They had followed Jesus to
listen to words such as had never before fallen
upon their ears. His teachings had sunk into
their hearts. . He had healed their sick, had comforted their sorrow, and, at last, rather than send
them away hungering, he had fed them bounteously. His pure and simple doctrine laid hold of
their minds, and his tender benevolence won their
hearts. While_.eating the food he had provided
for them, they decided that this was indeed the
Messiah. No other one could do so mighty a
miracle. No human power could create from
five barley-loaves and two small fishes, food sufficient to feed thousands of hungry people. His
teachings and work of healing had already
nearly convinced them of his divinity, and this
miracle crowned their growing conviction with
entire belief.
They decided that this was the Prince of Life,
the promised Deliverer of the Jews. They perceive that he makes no effort to win the applause
of the people. In this he is essentially different
from the chief priests and rulers, who are ambitious for titles and the honor of men. · They fear
that he will never claim his right as King of Israel and take his place on David's throne in Jerusalem. But they decide that what he will not assume for himself, they will claim for him. They
need no greater evidence of his divine power nor
will they wait for any further proof. They quietly consult among themselves, and arrange to take
him by force, and bear him upon their shoulders,
proclaiming him the King of Israel. The disciples unite with the people in declaring that the
throne of David is the rightful inheritance of
2G4
THE OREAT CONTROVERSY.
their Master. Let the arrogant priests and rulers
be humbled, and compelled to yield honor to Him
who comes clothed with the authority of God ..
They begin to devise means to accomplish their
purpose; but Jesus discerns their plans, which, if
followed out, would defeat the very work he designs to do, and put ·a period to his instrucliion
and deeds of mercy and benevolence.
Already the priests and rulers look upon him
as one who has turned the hear~
of the people
from them to himself. Already they so dread
his growing influence among them that they seek
to take his life. He knows that violence and insurrection would be the result of his exaltation
as Israel's king. He did not come into the world.
to set up a temporal kingdom; his kingdom, as
he had stated, was not of this world. The multitude do not perceive the dangers arising from
the movement they contemplate; but the calm
eye of divine wisdom discovers all the hidden
evils. Jesus sees that it is time to change the
current of feeling among the people. He calls
his disciples to him and directs them to immediately take the boat and return to Capernaum,
leaving him to dismiss the people. He promises
to meet them that night or on the following
morning. The disciples are loth to submit to
this arrangement. They are ambitious that Jesus should receive his true merits, and be lifted
above the persecutions of the priests and rulers.
The favored moment seems to have arrived, when,
by the unanimous voice of the people, Christ can
be elevated to his true dignity.
They cannot feel reconciled that all this enthusi~m
shall come to naught. The people were assembling from all quarters to celebrate the pass-
THE LOA YES AND FISHES.
265
over at Jerusalem. They were all anxious to see
the great Prophet whose fame had spread through
all the land. This, to the faithful followers of
Jesus, seemed the golden opportunity to establish their beloved Master 88 Israel's king. It
seemed, in the glow of this new ambition, a very
hard thing for them to go away by themselves
and leave their Master alone upon the desolate
shore, surrounded by high and barren mountains.
They remonstrate against this arrangement ;
but Jesus is firm in his decision, and commands
them to follow his directions with an authority
that he had never before assumed toward them.
They obey in silence. Jesus then turns to the
multitude, and perceives that they are thoroughly decided to force him into becoming their king.
Their movements must be checked at once.
The disciples had already departed, and he now,
standing before them with a grand dignity, dismisses them in so firm and decisive a manner
that they dare not disobey his commands. The
words of praise and exaltation die upon their
lips. Their steps are stayed as they are in the
very act of advancing to seize him, and the glad
and eager looks fade from their countenances.
There were men of strong minds and :firm determination in that throng, but the kingly bearing of Jesus, and his few quiet words of authority
quelled the tumult in a moment and frustrated
all their designs. Like meek, submissive children, they obey the command of their Lord,
submitting humbly, and without question, to a
power that they recognize as above all earthly
authority.
Grelt.t Con troversy, Y0t. 2.
266
THE GREAT CONTROVERSY.
Jesus looked upon the retreating multitude
with yearning compassion. He felt that they
were as scattered sheep without a shepherd.
The priests, who should have been teachers in
Israel, were but machines for performing unmeaning ceremonies and repeating the law they
did not themselves understand nor practice.
When he was left alone he went up into the
mountain, and, for many hours, bent in supplication before the Father with bitter agony and
tears. Not for himself were those earnest prayers, but for man, depraved and lost but for redeeming grace. It was for man that the 8on of
God wrestled with his Father, asking that the
poor sinful creature might turn from his guilt to
the light of salvation.
The Saviour knew that his days of personal
effort for men upon earth were numbered. He
who read the hearts of men ·knew that comparatively few would .accept him as their Redeemer,
acknowledging themselves lost without his divine aid. The Jews were rejecting the very help
that God had sent to save them from utter ruin.
They wert? fastening the chains that bound them
in hopeless night. They were bringing upon
themselves the certain wrath of God for their
blind and obstinate wickedness. Hence the grief
of Jesus, and his tears and strong cries for his mis.:.
taken people, who spumP.d his love that .would
shelter them, and his mercy that would save
them from the retribution of their sins. Deep
emotion shakes that noble form as he keenly realizes the doom of the people he has come to
save. In every trial and emergency, "Jesus went
to his Heavenly Father for help, and, mthose secret interviews, received strength for the work
WALKING ON THE WATER.
267
that lay before him. Christians should follow
the example of their Saviour, and seek in prayer
the strength that will enable them to endure the
trials and duties of life. Prayer is the Christian's defense, the safeguard of his integrity and
virtue.
CHAPTER XXI.
WALKING ON THE WATER.
MEANWHILE, the disciples were in trouble. A
storm had arisen, and the lake was lashed into
fury. Hour after hour they labored at the oars,
being driven hither and thither by the resistless
force of the waves. All night they were tossed
upon the raging billows, feeling liable at any moment to bs engulfed beneath them. It was but
a few hours' work, in ordinary weather, to reach
the opposite shore, from the place they had left ;
but their frail bark was driven farther and farther from the port they sought, the plaything of
the angry tempest. They had left Jesus with
dissatisfied hearts. They had set out, murmuring among themselves because their wishes had
not been gratified in the matter of exalting their
Lord to be the King of Israel. They had blamed
themselves for being so easily turned from their
purpose, and yielding so readily to the commands
of Jesus. They reasoned that if they had remained and persisted in their intention, they
might have finally gained the point.
When the storm arose they still more deeply
regretted having lefli Jesus. Had they remained
268
THE GREAT CONTROVERSY.
this peril would have been avoided. This was a.
severe trial of their faith. In the darkness and
tempest they sought to gain the point where he
had promised to meet them, but the driving wind
forced them from their course and made all their
efforts futile. They were strong men and accustomed to the water, but now their hearts failed
them with terror; they longed for the calm commanding presence of the Master, and felt that
were he with them they would be secure. But
Jesus had not forgotten his disciples. From the
distant shore, his eye pierced the darkness, saw
their danger, and read their thoughts. He would
not suffer one of them to perish. .As a. fond
mother watches the child she has in kindness
corrected, so the compassionate Master watched
his disciples; and when their hearts were subdued, their unholy ambition quelled, and they
humbly pJ"ayed for help, it was ,given them. At
the very moment they believed themselves lost,
a flash of lightning revealed the figure of a man
walking toward them upon the water. An unspeakable terror seized them. The hands that
had grasped the oars with muscle like iron,
relaxed their hold, and fell powerless by their
sides. The boat rocked at the will of the waves,
while their eyes were riveted upon this vision of
a man stepping firmly upon the white-capped
billows.
They thought it must be a spirit, which omened
their immediate destruction. Jesus calmly advanced as though he would pa.<>s them, but they
recognize his form, and feel that he will not leave
them in their distress. They cry out, supplicating his help ! The figure turns I It is their beloved Master, whose well-known voice speaks,
WALKING ON THE WATER.
269
silencing their fear, "Be of good cheer. It is I,
be not afraid." Were ever words so welcome, so
reassuring as these ! The disciples are speechless
with joy. Their apprehensions are gone. The
storm is forgotten. They hail Jesus as their
Deliverer!
Ardent Peter is nearly beside himself with delight. He sees his Master boldly treading the
foam-wreathed waves, coming to save his followers, and he loves his Lord as never before. He
yearns to embrace and worship him. He longs
to meet him and walk by his side upon the
stormy water. He cries, "Lord, if it be thou,
bid me come unto thee on the water." Jesus
granted his request; but Peter had taken only a
step upon the surface of the boiling deep, when
he looked back proudly toward his companions
to see if they were watching his movements, and
admiring the ease with which he trod upon the
yielding water.
In taking his eyes from Jesus, they fell upon
the boisterous waves that seemed greedily threatening to swallow him ; their roaring £lied his ears,
his head swam, his heart failed him with fear. As
he is sinking, he recovers presence of mind sufficient to remember that there is One near who
can rescue him. He stretches out his arms toward Jesus, crying, "Lord, save me, or I perish !"
The pitying Saviour grasps the trembling hands
that are reached toward him, and lifts the sinking form beside his own. Never does that kindly face and that arm of strength turn from the
supplicating bands that are stretched out for
mercy. Peter clings to his Lord with humble
trust, while Jesus mildly reproaches him: "0
thou of little faith! wherefore didst thou doubt?"
2i0
'l'UE GREAT CONTROVERSY.
The trembling disciple now clings firmly to
the hand of the ~Iaster
till they are both safely
seated in the boat among their joyful companions. But Peter was subdued and silent; he had
no reason to boast over his fellows, for he had
very nearly lost his life through exaltation and
unbelief. When he took his eyes from Jesus in
order to note the admiration of others, he lost
guidance, and doubt and fear seized upon him.
So it is in the Christian life; nothing but an eye
firmly fixed upon the Saviour will enable us to
tread the stormy billows of the world. Immediately upon Jesus taking his place in the boat they
were at the land. The tempest had ceased, and the
night of horror. was succeeded by the light of
dawn. The disciples, and others who were also
on board, bowed at the feet of Jesus with thankful hearts, saying, "Of a truth thou art the Son
of God!"
The multitude that had been fed the preceding day had left Jesus on the barren shore, and
they knew that there wa.<> no boat left by which
he could depart. They therefore on the follow-·
ing morning returned to the spot where they had
lnst seen him watching their departure with compassionate eyes. The news of his wonderful miracle of feeding the multitude had spread far and
near, and at an early hour they began to arrive,
by land and water, in large numbers. But they
searched in vain for the great Teacher, and finally returned to Capernaum, still seeking him.
Meanwhile, the Master, with his disciples, had
found the seclusion they sought the previous day.
Jesus felt that it was necessary to give his disciples some special instruction, but he was followed so closely by the crowds that it was ex-
WALKING ON THE WATEH.
2il
tremely difficult to secure such seasons of retirement. He could not obtain the time for prayer
in the day-time, but frequently devoted the entire night to communion with his Heavenly Father, wrestling in supplication for the erring children of men. The Saviour, oppressed by the unbelief of humanity, bearing the burden of the
world's iniquity, was indeed a Man of sorrows,
and acquainted with grief.
Jesus made use of the few hours of seclusion
with his disciples in praying with them, and
teaching them more definitely concerning the
nature of his kingdom. He saw that, in their
human weakness, they were inclined to desire
that his reign should be a temporal one. Their
earthly ambition had caused them to become
confused as to the real mission of Christ. He
now reproved them for their misconception, and
taught them that instead of worldly honor it
was shame that awaited him, and instead of a.
throne, the pitiless .cross. He taught them that
for his sake, and to win salvation, they must also
be willing to endure reproach and contumely.
The time drew near when Jesus was to die,
and leave his disciples to face the cold and cruel
world alone. He knew how bitter hate and unbelief would persecute them, and he wished to
encourage and strengthen them for their trials.
He accordingly went away by himself and prayed
for them, interceding with the Father, that in the
time of that fearful test which awaited them,
their faith would prove steadfast, and his sufferings and death might not utterly overwhelm them
with despair. What tender love was this, that,
in view of his own approaching agony, reached
forward to shield his companions from danger !
272
THE GREAT CONTROVERSY.
When he again joined his disciples, he asked
them : "Whom do men say that I, the Son of
Man, am ? And they said, Some say that
thou art John the Baptist; some, Elias ; and
others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets." Questioning still closer, he inquired, "But whom say
ye that I am ? " Peter, ever ready to speak, answered for himself and his brethren : " Thou art
Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus
answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou,
Simon Bar-jona; for flesh and blood hath not
revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is
in Heaven."
Notwithstanding the faith of many had utterly failed, and the power of the priests and rulers
was mighty against them, the brave disciple thus
boldly declared his belief. Jesus saw, in this acknowledgment, the living principle that would
animate the hearts of his believers in coming
ages. It is the mysterious working of God's
Spirit upon the human heart, that elevates the
humblest mind to a knowledge above all earthly
wisdom, an acquaintance with the sacred truths of
God. Ah, indeed, "blessed art thou, Simon Barjona, for flesh and blood hath not revealed it
unto thee."
Jesus continued : "And I say also unto thee,
That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will
build my church; and the gates of hell shall not
prevail against it." The word Peter signifies
rolling stone. Christ did not refer to Peter as
being the rock upon which he would found his
church. His expression, " this rock," applied to
himself as the foundation of the Christian church.
In Isaiah 28 : 16, the same reference is made :
"Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay
WALKING ON THE WATER.
273
in Zion, for a. foundation, a. stone, a. tried stone,
a. precious corner stone, a. sure foundation." It
is the same stone to which reference is made in
Luke 20:17, 18 : "And he beheld them, a.nd said,
What is this then that is written, The stone
which the builders rejected, the same is become
the head of the corner? Whosoever shall fall
upon that stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it sha.ll fall, it wHl grind him to powder."
Also . in Mark 12:10, 11: "And have ye not
read this scripture, The stone which the builders
rejected is b~come
the head of the corner. This
was the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our
eyes?"
These texts prove conclusively that Christ is
the rock upon which the church is built, a.nd, in
his address to Peter, he referred to himself as the
rock which is the foundation of the church. He
continues :"And I will give unto thee the keys of the
kingdom of Heaven; a.nd whatsoever thou shalt
bind on earth sha.ll be bound in Heaven; a.nd
whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth sha.ll be
loosed in Heaven." The Roman church makes
a wrong application of these words of Christ.
They claim that he addressed them specially to
Peter. Hence he is represented in works of a.rt
as carrying a bunch of keys, which is a. symbol
of trust and authority given to ambassadors a.nd
others in high positions. The words of Christ :
"I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom
of Heaven," were not addressed to Peter alone,
but to the disciples, including those who compose
the Christian church in all ages. Peter was
given no preference nor power above that of the
other disciples. Ha.d Jesus delegated any ape-
27 4
'flm GREAT CONTIWVERSY.
cial authority to one of them, we would not find
therq so frequently contending among themselves
as to who should be greatest. They would have
at once submitted to the wish of their Master,
and paid honor to the one whom he ha.d selected
as their head.
But the Roman Catholic church claims that
Christ invested Peter with supreme power over
tbe Christian church, and that his successors are
divinely authorized to rule the Christian world.
In still another place Jesus acknowledges the
same power to exist in all the church that is
claimed to have been given to Peter alone, upon
the authority of the text previously quoted:
" Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall
bind on earth shall be bound in Heaven; and
whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed
in Heaven."
CHAPTER XXII.
CHRIST IN THE SYN.AOOGUE.
THIS interview of Jesus with his disciples, in
which they had received much precious instruction, was interrupted by those who had been
searching for him. As the people began to flock
about him, bringing their sick and afflicted, he
repaired .to the synagogue. While he was teaching there, many othera of those who had left him
on the other side of the lake came to the synagogue, and were surprised to see Jesus and his disciples there before them, knowing that there wa.s
no boat by which he could pass to the other side.
CHRIST IN THE SYNAGOGUE.
275
They began to inquire how and when he had
crossed the sea. They were astonished when the
disciples related to them the events of the preceding night. The fury of the storm and the
many hours of fruitless rowing against the fury
of adverse winds, the appearance of Christ walking upon the water, the fears thus aroused, his
reassuring words, the adventure of Peter and its
repult, with the sudden stilling of the tempest
and landing of the boat, were all faithfully recounted to the wondering crowd, amid frequent
interruptions and exclamations of amazement.
But their attention was now directed to the
lessons of Jesus, so full of solemn interest.
Many were deeply affected ; but the minds of
some were entirely engrossed with curiosity regarding the wonderful relation they had heard .
.As soon as the discourse was ended, they gathered
around the Saviour, questioning him, hoping to
receive from his own lips a. fuller account of his
mighty work of the previous night. But Jesus
did not gratify their idle curiosity. He was also
beset by the Pharisees, to show them a sign from
Heaven that he was the Son of God. They asked
an evidence of his miraculous power, such as had
been given on the other side of the sea. They
importuned him to repeat his wonderful works
before them.
Jesus declared to them that they did not seek
him from any worthy motive; that they did not
desire to learn how to please God in their daily
lives; but they asked him to work miracles,
sometimes in a spirit of unbelief, and sometimes
because they hoped to be benefited by temporal
favors which he might thus bestow upon them.
He bada them not to labor for the meat which
276
THE GREAT CONTROVERSY.
wisperishes, but to seek for spiritual food, tha~
dom which endures unto everlasting life. This the
Son of God alone could give, for he ha.s the seal
of the Fa.~ber
With solemn earnestness he
sought to impress upon them that temporal fathe
vors are of little consequence compared wi~h
heavenly grace offered by the Son of God.
"Then said they unto him, What shall we do,
that we might work the works of God? Jesus
answered and said unto them, This is the work
of God, that ye believe on Him whom be hath
sent. They said therefore unto him, What sign
showest thou then, that we may see, and believe
thee? what dost thou work? Our fathers did
eat maims. in the desert; as it is written, He
gave them bread from heaven to eat." It wa.s
Christ himself who conducted the Hebrews in
their travels through the wilderness. It wa.s he
who had daily fed them manna. from heaven ; yet
they blindly referred him to this miracle, wrought
for their fathers, in a sphit of caviling unbelief.
Jesus declared to them that as God had given
them manna to preserve their lives, so he had
sent to them this gift of his Son, that through
him they might eat of the bread of life and become immortal.
"Then said Jesus unto them, Verily, verily, I
say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread
from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true
bread from Heaven. For the bread of God is He
which cometh down from Heaven, and giveth
life unto the world. Then said they unto him,
Lord, evermore give us this bread." Jesus used
bread a.s a figure to illustrate the vitalizing
power of his Spirit. The one sustains physical
life, while the other satisfies the heart, and
CHRIST IN THE SYNAGOGUE.
277
strengthens the moral powers. Said he, "I am
the bread of life; he that cometh to me shall
never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall
never thirst. But I said unto you, That ye also
have seen me, and believe not." Those who experience the spiritual .union with Christ never
hunger for higher enjoyment. .All uncertainty is
gone, the weary soul :finds continual refreshment
in the Saviour. The feverish thirst for wealth
and honor is gone. He is in them a well of water springing up into everlasting life.
Jesus assured the Jews that they had seen him
and his works yet believed not. He did not refer to their seeing him with their natural eyes;
but he meant that their understanding had been
convinced, while their proud and stubborn hearts
refused to acknowledge him as the Messiah. The
Saviour had been doing in their midst works
that no man had ever done. The living evidences of his divine power had been before them
day after day; yet their hard and caviling
hearts asked for still another sign of his divinity
before they would believe. Had this been given
them they would still have remained as unbelieving as before. If they were not already convinced of his Messia.hship by what they had
seen and heard, it was useless to show them
more marvelous works. The dignity of God's
holy Son was not to be compromised to gratify a
questioning crowd.
Said Jesus, "For this people's heart is waxed
gross, and their ean1 are dull of hearing, and
their eyes they have closed ; lest at any time
they should see with their eyes, and hear with
their ears, and should understand with their
heart, and should · be converted, and I should
278
THE GREAT CONTROVERSY.
heal them." Unbelief will ever find cause to
doubt and reason away the most positive proof.
The Jews stood constantly upon guard, lest they
should be forced by ov\lrwhelming evidence to
yield their prejudice and unbelief. Though their
understanding was convinced, they refused to surrender their pride and self-righteousness, admitting that they, who had boasted of their wisdom
over all the rest of the world, themselves needed
a teacher.
The Jews had assembled to celebrate the passover. In eating the flesh of the lamb, they were
to remember that it represented the Lamb of
God, and their protection when the first-born of
their enemies were slain in Egypt. The blood
that the Hebrews were commanded to have upon
their door-posts, and which was a sjgn of safety
to them, also represented the blood of Qhrist,
which was to be shed for the sins of the world.
The Saviour has power to finally raise from the
dead all those who, by faith, eat of his flesh and
drink of his blood. This spiritual food gives to
the believers a well-founded hope of the resurrection to immortal life in the kingdom of God.
These precious truths Jesus declared to the
incredulous multitude, saying, "All that the Father giveth me shall come to me ; and him that
cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. For I
came down from Heaven, not to do mine own
will, but the will of him that sent me. And this
is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of
all which he hath given me I should lose nothing,
but should raise it up again at the last day. And
this is the will of Him that sent me, that every
one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him,
CHRIST IN THE SYNAGOGUE.
27!)
may have everlW!ting life, and I will raise him up
at the lWlt day."
He spoke of his future sacrifice in these words:
"And the bread which I will give you, is my flesh,
which I will give for the life of the world." He
offered his salvation to all who would accept him,
clothed in humanity, as their Redeemer, having
access to the Father, and being invested by him
with divine authority.
But the Jews were displeW!ed that Jesus
should claim to be the bread of life come down
from Heaven. "And they said, Is not this J esus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother
we know ? how is it, then, that he saith, I came
down from Heaven ?" They so clung to their
bigotry and pride that it now seemed impossible
for them to believe evidence that was plain Wl
the noonday sun. Their jealousy was aroused
that this man of humble birth was able to work
wonders that they could not explain away, and
teach truths that could not be contradicted. So
they endeavored to awaken the prejudice and
unbelief of the people by referring Rcornfully to
the lowly origin of Jesus; and by reason of his
mysterious birth, insinuating that he was of
doubtful parentage. They contemptuously alluded to his life as a Galilean laborer, and to his
family as being poor and lowly. They declared
that the lofty claims of this uneducated carpenter should be at once repudiated.
But Jesus heard their murh~gs
and reproved them. He again, in more forcible language, declared his connection with the Father,
and the necessity for the heart to be enlightened
by the Spirit of God before it can feel the need
of a Saviour. " No man can come to me, except
280
TIIE GREAT CONTROVERSY.
the Father which hath sent me draw him; and
I will raise him up at the last day. It is written
in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of
God. Every man, therefore, that hath heard, and
hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me."
He here refers to the prophecy of Isaiah : "And
&11 thy children shall be taught of the Lord, and
great shall be the peace of thy children."
This was not a new doctrine which Jesus
taught. It was ths fulfillment of prophecy,
which, as expounders of the word, the priests
and elders should have thoroughly understood.
In declaring that none come to him unless the
Father draws them, the Saviour wh;hed them to
understand that God would never appear in person to teach them concerning the way of life.
Humanity could not endure the vision of his
glory for a moment; only through the Son could
they come to him. In seeing and hearing the Son,
they saw and heard the Father. He is Mediator between God and his disobedient children.
The Jews claimed God as their teacher, but
Christ declared such profession vain, for, said he,
"Every man, therefore, that hath heard, and hath
learned of the Father, cometh unto me."
Jesus did not attempt to answer the questions
raised regarding his birth any more than be had
answered those concerning his crossing the sea.
He did not desire to magnify himself, nor the
miracles that marked his life. The prejudice
of the Pharisees lay deeper than their questions would indicate, and had taken root in the
bitter perversity of their sinful hearts. His sayings and doings had not created such feelings, but
only called them into action, because his pure
and elevated doctrine was not in harmony with
CHRIST IN THE SYNAGOGUE.
281
their selfish hearts. Said he, "Verily, verily, I
say unto you, He that believeth on me hath
everlasting life. I am that bread of life." There
were conflicting views and much uncertainty in
regard to the resurrection of the dead. Aside
from the dissension between the Sadducees and
Pharisees, the Jews were in great darkness concerning the future life and the resurrection of
the body. Jesus pitied them in their benighted
condition, and bade them accept him, who was
their only hope, the great Life-giver, even the
" bread of life."
,
They had referred him to the manna which
their fathers ate in the wilderness, as if the furnishing of that food was a. greater miracle than
Jesus had wrought; but he now declared unto
them that the temporal food then given from
Heaven was but a meager gift compared with the
blessing of eternal life which he now offered
them. The food eaten then sustained the
strength, but did no~
prevent the approach of
death, nor insure immortal life. The bread that
the Son of God offered to man was death-destroying, giving in the end immortal life to the
body. Said he, "Your fathers did eat manna in
the wilderness, and are dead. This is the bread
which cometh down from Heaven, that a man
may eat thereof, and not die. I am the living
bread which came down from Heaven; if any
man eat of this bread, he shall live foreve:r; and
the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I
will give for the life of the world."
Our Lord here points forward to his approaching death, the only true propitiation for the sins
of hm;nanity. The J ewa were about to celebrate
Qreat Contronnr, Vol. 2.
282
TilE GltEAT CONTROVERSY.
with great display the fea.~t
of the passover.
The lamb to be eaten there, was a. symbol of
Christ's body ; yet the very person that it represented stood in their midst, presenting himself as
their Saviour, whose blood would preserve them
from the wrath of a sin-hating God, and they refuse his offers of mercy.
The miracle Jesus had performed in feeding
the multitude, furnished him a forcible figure by
which to illustrate his work upon earth. He declared that, as temporal bread imparts health and
strength to the body, so will faith in Christ, and
obedience to his teachings, give spiritual vigor to
the soul, and life everlasting. But the Jews, determined to misinterpret his words, now engaged
in angry contention, asking, " How can this man
give us his flesh to eat?" They affected to understand his words in the same literal sense as
did Nicodemus, when he asked," How can a man
be born when he is old ? " They comprehended
the meaning of Jesus, but were not willing to
acknowledge it. They thought it a favorable
bpportunity to prejudice the people against him,
by presenting his words to them in the most unfavorable light. "Then Jesus said unto them,
Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eo.t the
flesh of the Son of :Man, and drink his blood, ye
have no life in you. Whoso eateth my flesh,
and drinketh my blood, bath eternal life ; and I
will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh
is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.
He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood,
dwelleth in me, and I in him. As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father, so
he that eateth me, even . he shall live by me.
This is that bread which came down from Heav-
CHRIST IN THE SYNAGOGUE.
283
en ; not as your fathers did eat manna, and are
dead; he that eateth of this bread shall live forever."
The Jews appeared to be horrified at these
sayings of Christ. Their law strictly forbade
them to taste blood, and they construed his language into a sacrilegious speech, and contended
and disputed over his words among themselves.
Jesus gave his disciples, and the people, lessons
which they could not at the time fu1ly comprehend, because of their moral darkness. Many
things which his followers did not fully understand when he uttered them, were made plain by
subsequent events. His words were a stay to
their hearts when he walked no more with them.
Even the disciples murmured at these last
words of Jesus. 'l'hey said, "This is a hard saying ; who can hear it ? " The Saviour heard
their complaints and answered them : "Doth this
offend you ~ What and if ye shall see the Son
of :Man ascend up where he was before ? It is
the spirit that quicktmeth ; the flesh profiteth
nothing; the words that I speak unto you, they
are spirit, and they are life." Thus he instructed
them that it was not his human flesh that would
give life eternal, but faith in his words and in
the efficacy of the sacrifice be was to make for
the world. His teaching and example, his life
and death, were the heavenly food that was to
give them spiritual life and vigor. He reproved
them because they had murmured when he said
that he had come down from Heaven. If they.
were not able to receive this truth, how would
it be when he ascended before their eyes to that
Heaven from whence be came ?
Jesus knew that many followed him who
284
'l'IIE CHEAT l'O:STROVERSY.
hoped to receive temporal favors thereby. They
looked for him to work some miracle that would
benefit them; but especially did they hope that
he would eventually free them from the Roman
yoke. He also knew that there was one near
who would betray him. He told them that there
were some among them who believed not. " And
he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man
can come unto me, except it were given unto him
of my Father."
He wished them to understand that their
hearts must be open to the Spirit of God before
they could be drawn to him by faith. They
must be willing to have their errors reproved,
to eschew evil, and lead holy lives. The unbelief existing among the priests and rulers influenced the people to be hesitating and doubtful.
Jesus had given them sufficient proof of his divinity; but their incredulous minds were ever
seeking to explain away his wonderful works.
They reasoned that the disciples might have been
under a delusion when they saw him walking
upon the water.
True, they could not but admit that he had
performed many miraculous cures, and plentifully fed a vast multitude from five loaves and two
small fishes; but their dissatisfied hearts queried,
if he could do these wonders, why might he not
give health, strength, and riches to all his people,
free them from their oppressors, and exalt them
to power and honor ? Then they would believe
on him and glorify his name. Thus they allowed themselves to be bound by unbelief and
discontent. Their gross minds refused to comprehend the meaning of his words, " I am the
bread which came down from Heaven." His
CHRIST IN THE SYNAGOGUE.
285
doctrine Wa8 too pure and exalted to attract their
carnal hearts.
This discourse of Jesus cooled the enthusiasm
of the people. If, by becoming his disciples, they
must live righteous lives, deny self, and suffer
humiliation, they had no desire to rally under
his banner. AlM for Israel ! They knew not
the time of their visitation ! They refused their
Saviour, because they longed for a conqueror
who would give them temporal power. They
wanted the meat which perishes, and not that
which endures unto everlasting life. Their ambition was for earthly riches and glory, and they
had no relish for the words of Christ that taught
personal purity, and a thorough reformation of
life.
Many of the words and de.alings of Jesus appear mysterious to finite minds ; but all his purposes were clear to his divine understanding.
His whole plan was mapped before him, perfect
in all its details. Every act was calculated to
produce its individual results. The history of
the world from its creation to the end of time
Wa8 fnlly known to Christ.
Were the mind of
man capable of understanding his dealings, every
act of his earthly life would stand forth important, complete, and in harmony with his divine
mission.
The murmuring of his followers grieved the
heart of the Saviour. In openly rebuking their
unbelief before the multitude, he had increased
their disaffection, and many of them went back
and walked no more with Jesus. He looked
after these erring ones with eyes of pitying tenderness. They were greatly displeased, and,
wishing to wound Jesus and gratify the malice
:!SG
TilE GltEAT GO:s'TROYERSY.
of the Pharisees, they turned their backs upon
him and left him with disdain. In doing this
they made the fatal mistake of rejecting God's
counsel to them. It was such developments as
these that made the Saviour a. Man of sorrows
and acquainted with grief. The consciousness
that his kindness and compassion were unappreciated, his love unrequited, his mercy slighted,
his salvation rejected, filled his divine soul with
a grief that was inexpressible. Could these ungrateful disciples have discerned how God viewed
their behavior to his dear Son, they would hardly have walked away so proudly and d~fiantly.
They were choosing darkness rather than light,
because they were too vain and self-righteous to
receive a merited rebuke, and too worldly to accept a life of humility in order to .secure salvation. In the face of all his wonderful works they
turned away fro"m Him, who, by the beauty of
his doctrine and his mercy and benevolence, had
called thousands to his side ; who had relieved
suffering humanity, so that entire cities and villages were freed from disease, and there was no
work for a physician among them.
When· we view the generosity of Christ to the
poor and suffering, his patience with the rude and
ignorant, his self-denial and sacrifice, we are lost
in admiration and reverence. What a gift has
God lavished upon :man, alienated from him by
sin and disobedience ! Well may the heart break
and the tears flow in contemplation of such inexpressible love! Christ abased himself to humanity that he might reach man sunken into the
depths of woe and degradation, and lift him into
a nobler life, give him moral strength to resist
the power of Satan and overcome sin in his name.
CIIRIS'l' IN THE SYNAGOGUE.
28i
Sad was the recompense he met for his marvelous condescension.
The words of Jesus were scorned because he
declared that outward professions and observances
of forms would not avail; the work must reach
the heart and bring forth fruit meet for repentance. The words that he addressed to his disciples are also spoken to the followers of Christ today. The same necessity exists for a clea.n heart
and a pure life. Yet how many reject the warning of God, spoken by his servants, and the close,
practical truths pressed home to their hearts, because their lives are not in accordance with the
will of God, because they perceive that an entire
reformation is necessary, and are unwilling to
take up the self-denying work, and are therefore
angry because their sins have been discovered.
They go away offended, even as the disciples left
Jesus, murmuring, "This is a hard saying; who
can hear it ? "
Those who profess godliness, yet do not heed
the admonitions of the Lord, nor regulate their
lives in harmony with his holy will, fasten themselves more and more firmly by.chains of darkness. Many who now profess to believe the
truth of Christ, endure the test no better than
those who turned away from following hiin.
Many,· while professing the faith, are so separated
from Christ by hearts of unbelief, that they reject
the words and works of God shown through his
servants. If the divine revelation does not harmonize with their views, they feel at liberty to
turn from its teachings. If it rebukes their sins
they are offended. Praise and flattery would be
grateful to their ears, but the truth is disagreeable, they cannot hear it. When the crowds
288
THE GREAT CONTROVERSY.
follow, and the multitudes are fed, and the cries
of triumph go up, their voices are loud in praise;
but when the searching of God's Spirit reveals to
them their sin and bids them leave it, they turn
their backs upon the truth, and "walk no more
with Jesus."
God does not propose to be called to account
for his ways and works. It is for his glory to
conceal his purposes now; but by and by they
will be revealed in their true importance. But
he has not concealed his great love, which lies at
the foundation of all his dealings with his children.
He has revealed his love in the gift of his Son,
and in the many providences by which he manifests himself. He who lives near to Jesus may
understand much of the mystery of godliness, and
comprehend the love that administers merited reproof. Humanity, alienated from God, can only
be reconciled to him by partaking spiritually of
the flesh and blood of his dear Son.
The Saviour did not attempt to prevent the disaffected disciples from leaving him, but, turning to
the twelve chosen ones, said sorrowfully, "Will ye
also go away?" . Peter promptly replied by asking in turn "Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou
hast the words of eternal life, and we believe and
are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the
living God." How full of meaning are these
words, "To whom shall we go?" The teachers
of Israel were slaves to cold formality. The
Pharisees and Sadducees were in constant contention concerning the doctrine of the resurrection and other points of difference. To leave
Jesus was to fall among sticklers for rites and
ceremonies, and ambitious men who sought their
own glory. The disciples had felt more pea.ce
CHRIST IN TilE SYNAGOGUE.
28()
.and joy since they had accepted Chi'ist than in
all their previous lives. They had looked back
with horror upon their former course of careleRsness and iniquity. How could they, whose eyes
had been opened to discern the malice and bigotry of the Jews, go back to them who had scorned
and persecuted the Friend of sinners 1 Long had
their faith sustained them in looking for the Messiah, and now that he had come, they could not
turn from his presence to those who were hunting his life and had persecuted them for obeying
him.
"To whom shall we go?" Not from the doctrine of Christ, his lessons of love and charity, to
the darkness of unbelief, the wickedness of the
world. While many were turning from the Saviour who had witnessed his miraculous works,
who had seen him heal the sick and comfort the
distressed, who had been electrified by the heavenly majesty of his bearing, Peter expresses the
faith of the disciples, "Thou art that Christ."
Never will they deny that he is the world's Redeemer, the Son of God. The very thought of
losing this anchor of their souls thrilled their
hearts with anguish. To be again destitute of a
Saviour, subject to feat: and superstition, would be
to be adrift upon a dark and stormy sea.
Some may question the wisdom of Jesus in inso easily misunderstood as ·
troducing a su~ject
that which had turned so many from him on this
occasion. But he had a purpose in view. He
saw that a most trying ordeal awaited his disciples in his betrayal, hiH agony in Gethsemane,
and his crucifixion. He knew who among his
followers were unbelieVing and who were of weak
faith. Had no test been given them, Jesus would
2!)0
~'HE
GltEAT CONTROVERSY.
have had many among his followers who were
weak in character, and undecided. When the
great trial came, and their Lord was betrayed and
condemned in the Judgment Hall; when he was
humiliated, and the multitude, who had hailed
him as their king, hissed at him and reviled him ;
when the cruel, jeering crowd cried, "Crucify
him l "-then these faint-hearted ones would have
sunk beneath their fear and disappointment.
The apostasy of these professed followers of
Christ at such a time, would have been more than
the twelve could have endured in addition to
their great grief and the terrible ruin of their
fondest hopes. The example of those who turned
from him, might, in that hour of horror, have
carried all the rest with them. But Jesus brought
about this crisis while he was still present to comfort and strengthen his chosen, and prepare them
for what was to follow. When the hooting rabble
scorned Him who. was doomed to the cross, the
disciples were not overwhelmed with surprise at
this insult to their Master, for they had seen the
fickleness of those who had once followed him.
When those who had professed to love the Master
turned from him in the time of his trouble, the
disciples remembered that the same thing had
occurred before, for less reason. They had tested
of the world, and hung not
the inconstant fa~or
their faith upon the opinions of others. Jesus
wisely prepared the minds of his faithful few for
the great trial of his betrayal and death.
Peter had great faith in Jesus. From the first
he had believed that he was the Messiah. He
had seen and heard John, who was the forerunner of Christ, proclaim him .to be the Lamb of
God that taketh away the sins of the world. He
<:IIRIST IN 'l'HE SYNAGOGUE.
291
had been closely connected with J e.3us, had witnessed his miracles, listened to his teachings, and
was convinced that he was the Son of God Many
who had been convicted by the preaching of
John, and had accepted Christ, began to doubt as
to the mission of John, when he was imprisoned
and put to death. They a.lso doubted if Jesus
was really the Messiah, whom they had looked
for so long.
But the faith of Peter never flagged ; he followed his Master with unwavering_ devotion.
When those of the disciples who had ardently
expected Jesus to make a great display of power,
and take his place on David's throne, left him because they perceived that he bad no s11ch intention, Peter and his companions faltered not in
their allegiance. The vacillating course of those
whe praised yesterday, and condemned to-day,
did not affect the faith of the true follower of the
Saviour. Peter declares, " Thou art the Son of
the living God." He waited not for kingly honors to crown his Lord, but accepted him in hi.'l
humiliation. Peter, in his confession of Christ,
expressed the faith of the disciples. But notwithstanding this, Jesus knew that neither his
believing followers nor any of the Jews had any
idea of associating humiliation, suffering and
death, with their Messiah. Compassionate Redeemer, who, in the full knowledge of the doom
that awaited him, tenderly smoothed the way for
his disciples, prepared them for their crowning
trial, and strengthened them for the final test ! ·
292
TilE GUEAT CONTltOVERSY.
CHAPTER XXIII.
THE PARALYTIC.
AGAIN the mission of Christ brought him to
Capernaum. When the news spread abroad that
Jesus was a guest at the house of Peter, men, women, and children flocked from every direction to
hear the wonderful Teacher. There was a man
in the vicinity who was reduced to utter helplessness by the incurable disease of palsy. He had
given up all hope of recovery. But his friends
and relatives had heard the gracious instruction
of Jesus; they had witnessed his wonderful miracles; they saw that he turned none away, that
even the loathsome lepers found access to his
presence, and were healed, and they began to
hope that the paralytic might be relieved if he
could be brought under the notice of Jesus.
They tried to encourage the sufferer, telling
him of the miraculous power of Jesus to cure
every malady, of the words of mercy he had
spoken to the despairing, and of those who are
set free from the power of Satan by a word of
his sublime authority. As the palsied man listened to the good tidings, hope revived in his
heart that he might be relieved of his terrible infirmity. He longed to see Jesus and place himself in his hands. But when he reflected that
dissipation had been the main cause of his affliction, hope sank for he feared that he would not
be tolerated in the presence of the pure Physician. He had loved the pleasures of sin, his life
had been a transgression of the law of God, and
THE PARALYTW.
293
his bodily affliction was the penalty of his
crime.
He had long before placed his case in the
hands of the Pharisees and doctors, entreating
their interest and sympathy, hoping that they
would do something to relieve his tortured mind
and physical sufferings. But they had looked
coldly upon him and pronounced him incurable.
They had added to his woe by telling him that
he was only suffering the righteous retribution of
God for his misdemeanors. It was the custom of
the Pharisees to hold themselves aloof from the
sick and needy. They held that sickness and
distress were always an evidence of God's anger toward the transgressor. Yet frequently
these very men, who exalted themselves as holy
and enjoying the peculiar favor of God, were
more corrupt .in heart and life than the poor
sufferers whom they condemned.
The palsied man had sunk into despair seeing
no help from any quarter, till news of the miracles of mercy performed by Jesus Lad aroused
hope again in his breast. Yet be feared that he
might not be allowed in his presence; he felt
that if Jesus would only see him and give him
relief of mind by pardoning his sins, be would
be content to live or die according to his righteous will. His friends assured him that Jesus
had healed others who were in every respect a.'l
sinful and helpless .as himself, and this encouraged him to believe that his own petition would
be granted.
He felt that there was no time to lose; already
his wasted flesh was beginning to decay. If anything could be done to arrest mortality, it must
be done at once. The despairing cry of the dy-
294:
THE GREAT CONTROVERSY.
ing man wM, Oh that I might come into his presence ! His friends were anxious to assist him in
gratifying his wish, and several projects were
suggested to bring about this result, but none of
them seemed feasible. The sick man, although
racked with bodily pain, preserved the full
strength of his intellect, and he now proposed
that his friends should carry him on his bed to
Jesus. This they cheerfully undertook to do.
AB they approached the dense crowd that had
assembled in and about the house where Jesus
was ten.ching, it seemed doubtful that they could
accomplish their purpose. However, they pr~sed
on with their burden, till their passage was completely blocked up and they were obliged to stop
before they arl'ived within hearing of the Saviour's voice. Jesus was within, and, as was customary, his disciples sat near him; for it was
most important that they should bear his words,
and understand the truths which they were to proclaim by word or pen over all lands and through
all ages.
The haughty Pharisees, the doctors and the
scribes, were also gathered near with wicked purposes in their hearts, and a desire to confuse and
confound the sacred Teacher, that they might
accuse him of being an impostor, and condemn
him to death. Jealous of his power and wisdom, they concealed their intense hatred, for the
purpose of closely watching his words, and calling him out upon various subjects with the hope
of surprising him into some contradiction or forbidden heresy that would give them an excuse
to prefer charges against him. They were present when Jesus healed the withered band upon
the Sabbath day, and these men, who claimed to
TilE PARALYTIC.
295
enjoy the special favor of God, were filled with
madness because he had presumed to do this
good work upon the Lord's day.
Outside of these magnates thronged the promiscuous multitude, drawn there from various
motives. Some felt an irresistible impulse to
bear the words of Jesus, yet dimly comprehended
their import. They were eager to catch every
syllable of the sacred utterances; and, in many
cases, seeds of life lodged in their hearts, to
spring up afterward and bear blessed fruit. Others came from wonder and curiosity, or a love
of excitement,-tbe desire to see and hear some
new thing. .All grades of society were represented there, and many different nationalities.
Through this surging crowd, the bearers of the
paralytic seek to push their way; but the attempt
is useless.. They urge the necessity of their case,
in order to prevail upon the peo-ple to fall back,
but it is of no avail,. The sufferings of the invalid
are increased by his anxiety, and his friends fear
that he will die in this scene of confusion. The
sick man gazes about him with inexpressible
anguish. Must he relinquish all hope when the
longed-for help is so near? He feels that he cannot endure so bitter a disappointment. He suggests that they bear him to the rear of the house,
and break through the roof and let him down
into the immediate presence of Jesus.
Seeing that it iR his only chance of life, and
fearing that he cannot live to be taken home,
his friends follow his suggestion. The roof is
opened, and the sick man is let down at the very
feet of Christ. The discourse is interrupted; the
Saviour looks upon that mournful countenance,
and sees the pleading eyes fixed upon him with
296
TilE llREAT CONTROVERSY.
a silent entreaty. He understands the case, for
it was he who had led the perplexed and doubting spirit to himself. He had come to the wo:.:ld
to give hope to the guilty and wretched. John
had pointed to him as "the Lamb of God, that
taketh away the sin of the world." The divine
spirit of Jesus stirred the heart of this poor sinner,
and while he was yet at home, bad brought conviction to his conscience. He had watched the
first glimmer of faith deepen into a belief that
Jesus was his only helper, and had seen it grow
stronger with every eftort to come into his presence.
The sufferer had wealth, but it could notrelieve his soul of guilt, nor remove disease from
his body. But divine power attracted him to
the Friend of sinners, who alone could relieve
him. Jesus acknowledges the faith that is evidenced by the sick man's efforts, under such perplexing difficulties, to reach the presence of his
Lord, and lifting up his voice in melodious
tones, addressed him : " Son, be of good cheer,
thy sins are forgiven thee." The burden of darkness and despair rolls from the sick man's soul;
the peace of perfect love and forgiveness rests
upon his spirit; and shines out upon his countenance. His physical pain is gone, and his whole
being is transformed before the eyes of the astonished multitude. The helpless paralytic is healed,
the guilty sinner is pardoned! He has now received the evidence he so much desired. Yet not
here, but at home, when he had repented of his
sins and believed in the power of Jesus to make
him whole, had the life-giving mercies of the
Saviour first blessed his longing heart.
The simple faith of the paralytic accepted the
THE PARALYTIC.
2!!7
words of the Master as the boon of new life.
He preferred no further request, he made no
noisy demonstration, but remained in blissful silence too happy for words. The light of Heaven
irradiated his countenance, and the people looked
with awe upon the scene before them. Christ
stood with a serene majesty that lifted him above
the dignitaries of the synagogue and the doctors
of the law. The Pharisees, the scribes, and the
doctors had waited anxiously to see. what disposition Jesus would make of this case. They recollected that the sufferer had appealed to them
for help, and that they had entrenched themselves in the sanctity of their office and refused
him one ray of encouragement. They had even
expressed annoyance at being troubled with so
disagreeable a matter. They had looked with
horror upon his shriveled form, and said, We cannot raise one from the dead; dissolution has al•
ready commenced.
Not satisfied with the agony thus inflicted,
they had·declared that he was suffering the curse
of God for his sins. All these things came fresh
to their minds when they saw the sick man before them. They also perceived that the people,
most of whom were acquainted with these facts,
were watching the scene with intense interest and
awe. They felt a terrible fear that their own influence would be lost, not only over the multitude present, but also over all who should hear
the news of this marvelous event.
These lofty men did not exchange words together, but looking into one another's faces, they
read the same thought expressed upon every
countenance: Somet)ling must be done to arrest
Great Coa.tronny, Yol. 2,
298
TilE GREAT CONTROVERSY.
the tide of popular sentiment. Jesus had declared that the sins of the paralytic were forgiven. The Pharisees caught at these words as
an assumption of infinite power, a blasphemy
against God, and conceived that they could present this before the people as a crime worthy of
death. They did not express their thoughts, but
these worshipers of forms and symbols were saying in their minds, He is a. blasphemer ! Who
can forgive sins but God alone? They were laying hold of the Saviour's words of divine pardon,
to use as a means by which to accuse him. But
Jesus read their thoughts, and, fixing his reproving glance upon them, beneath which they cowered and drew back, addressed them thus : "Why
reason ye these things in your hearts ? Whether
is it easier to say to the ,sick of the palsy, Thy
sns be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take
up thy bed, and walk ? But that ye may know
that the Son of Man hath power on earth to forgive sins (he saith to the sick of the palsy), I say
unto thee; Arise, and take up thy bed, a.nd go
thy way into thine house."
Then he who had been borne to Jesus on a
litter, and whose limbs were then useless, rises to
his feet with the elasticity and t>trength of youth.
The life-giving blood bounds through his veins,
seeking its natural channels with unerring precision. The lagging human machinery springs
into sudden activity, the animating glow of health
succeeds the pallor-of approaching death. "And
immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went
forth before them all ; insomuch that they were
all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never
saw it on this fashion."
Oh ! wondrous love of Christ, stooping to heal
THE PARALYTIC.
2DD
the guilty and the afflicted ! Divinity sorrowing
over and soothing the ills of suffering humanity !
Oh ! marvelous power thus displayed to the children of men! Who can doubt the message of
salvation ! Who can slight the mercies of a compassionate Redeemer !
The effect of this wonderful miracle upon the
people was as if Heaven had opened and revealed
the glories of the better world. As the man who
had been cured of palsy passed through the crowd,
blessing God at every bounding step, and bearing
his burden as if it were a feather's weight, the
people fell back to give him room, and with awestruck faces gazed upon him, and whispered softly
among themselves, saying, "We have seen strange
things to-day." The Pharisees were dumb with
amazement, and overwhelmed with defeat. They
saw that here was no opportunity for their prejudice and jealousy to inflame the multitude.
The wondeiful work wrought upon the man
whom they, in their arrogance, had given over to
death and the wrath of God, had so impressed
the minds of the people that the influence of
these leading Jews was, for the time, forgotten.
They sa.w that Christ possessed a power, and
claimed it as his own prerogative, which they
thought belonged to God alone. The gentle dignity of his manner, united with his miraculous
works, was in such marked contrast with their
own proud and self-righteous bearing that they
were disconcerted and abashed, recognizing, but
not confessing, the presence of a Superior Being.
Had the scribes and Pharisees been honest befor~
God, they would have yielded to the conclusive evidence they had witnessed that Jesus
was the Promised One of Israel. But they were
300
THE GREAT CONTROVERSY.
determined that nothing should convince them of
this fact. They were in haughty and determined
opposition to this meek and humble Teacher,
who came from the workshops of Nazareth, yet
by his wonderful works threatened to annihilate
their dignity and station. So they yielded in
no -degree their hatred and malice, but went
away to invent new schemes for condemning
and silencing the Son of God.
These men had received many and repeated
proofs that Jesus was the promised Saviour, but
none had been so convincing and unquestioned
as this miracle of mercy. Yet the stronger the
evidence that was presented to their minds that
Jesus had power on earth to forgive sins, as well
as to heal the sick, the more they armed themselves with hatred and unbelief, till God left
them to the forging of chains that would bind
them in . hopeless darkness. There was no reserve power to reach hearts so hardened with
malice and skepticism.
Many in these day's are taking the same course
a.s the unbelieving Jews. God has given them
light which they refuse to accept. His Spirit
has rebuked them ; but they have made his reproofs a stumbling-block in their way, over which
they trip and fall. They have rejected his offered mercies, they have scorned to believe his
truth, till they are left unrestrained to pursue
their down ward course.
There wa.s great rejoicing in .the home of the
healed paralytic, when be came into the midst
of his family, carrying with ease the couch upon
which he had been slowly borne from their presence but a short time before. They gathered
round with tears of joy, scarcely daring to be-
1TOMAN OF CANAAN.
301
lieve their eyes. He stood before them in the
full vigor of manhood. Those arms that they
had seen lifeless were quick to obey his will; the
flesh that had been shrunken and leaden-hued
was now fresh and ruddy with . health; he
walked with a. firm, free step; hope was written
in every lineament of his countenance ; all gloom
had disappeared, and an expression of peace· and
purity had taken the place of the marks of sin
and suffering. Glad thanksgivings went up from
that house, and God was glorified through his
Son, who had restored hope to the hopeless, and
strength to the stricken one. This man and his
family were ready to lay down their lives for
Jesus. No doubt could dim their faith, no unbelief could mar their perfect fealty to Christ,
who had brought light into their darkened home.
CHAPTER XXIV.
WOllfAN OF CANAAN.
JESUS .now left the vicinity of Jerusalem and
went to the coasts of Tyre and Sidon. Here a
woman who was a Canaanite met and besought
him to heal her daughter, who was grievously
vexed with a devil. The woman well knew that
the Jews had no dealings with the Canaanites
and that they refused even to speak to them ; but
having heard of the miracles of mercy which Jesus
had performed, she resolved to appeal to him tO
relieve her daughter from the terrible affliction
that was upon her. The poor woman realized
that her only hope was in Jesus, and she had
302
TUE GREAT CONTROVERSY.
perfect faith in his power to do that which she
asked of him.
But Jesus received the importunities of this
representative of a despised race in the same
manner as the Jews would have done ; this was
not only to prove the faith and sincerity of the
woman, but also to teach his disciples a lesson of
mercy, that they might not be at a loss how to
act in similar cases after Jesus should leave them
and they could no longer go to him for personal
counsel. Jesus designed that they should be impressed with the contrast between the cold and
heartless manner in which the Jews would tre~
such a case, as evinced by his reception of the
woman, and the compassionate manner in which
he would have them deal with such distress, as
manifested by his subsequent granting of her petition in the healing of her daughter.
Although Jesus was apparently indifferent to
her cries, yet she did not become offended and
leave him, but still had faith that he would
relieve her distress. As he passed on, as if not
hearing her, she followed him, continuing her
supplications. The disciples were annoyed at
her importunity and asked Jesus to send her
away. Their sympathies were not aroused by
her distress. They saw that their M:aster treated
her with indifference, and they therefore supposed
that the prejudice of the Jews against tho Canaanites was pleasing to him. But it was a pitying
Saviour to whom the woman made her plea, and,
in answer to the request of the disciples to send
her away, Jesus said, "I am not sent but unto
the lost sheep of the ho~se
of Israel." Although
this answer was in accordance with the prejudice
of the Jews, it was an implied rebuke to the
WOMAN OF CANAAN.
303
disciples, which they afterward understood as
reminding them of what he had often told them:
That he came to the world to save all who would
accept him. Whoever sought the Saviour, ready
to believe on him when be should be manifested
to them, were of the lost sheep whom he had
come to gather in his fold.
The woman was encouraged that Jesus had
noticed her case sufficiently to remark upon it,
although his words conveyed no definite hope to
her mind, and she now urged her case with increased earnestness, bowing at his feet and crying, "Have mercy on me, 0 Lord, thou Son of
David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a
devil" Jesus, still apparently rejecting her entreaties, according to the unfeeling prejudice of
the Jews, answered, "It is not meet to take the
children's bread, and to cast it to dogs." This
was virtually asserting that it was not just to
lavish the blessings brought to the favored people of God upon strangers and aliens from Israel.
This answer would have utterly discouraged a
less earnest seeke;:-: Many would have given up
all further effort upon receiving such a repulse,
and would have gone away feeling humiliated
and abused, beyond all patience; but the woman
meekly answered, "Truth, Lord; yet the dogs
eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters'
table."
From the abundance upon which the rightful
family feasts, the crumbs fall to the floor and are
devoured by the dogs that watch for them under
the table. She. acknowledged that she occupied
that accept
a like position to that of the brute:~
thankfully whatever falls from their master's
himd. While favoring God's people with rich
304,
TilE GREAT CONTROVERSY.
and bountiful gifts, would not Jesus bestow upon
her one of the many blessings he gave so freely to
others 1 While confessing that she had no claim
upon his favor, she still plead for a crumb from
his bounty. Such faith and perseverance were
unexampled. Few of the favored people of God
had so high an appreciation of the Redeemer's
benevolence and power.
Jesus had just departed from Jerusalem because the scribes and Pharisees were seeking to
take his life; but here he meets one of an unfortunate and despised race, that had not been favored with the light of God's word; yet she
yields at once to the divine influence of Christ,
and has implicit faith in his ability to grant her
the favor she asks. · She has no national nor religious prejudice or pride to influence her course
of action, and she unconditionally acknowledges
Jesus as the Redeemer, and able to do all that she
asks of him. The Saviour is satisfied, he has
tested her confidence in him, and he now grants
her request and finishes tho lesson to his disciples.
Turning to her with a countenance of pity and
love, be says, "0 woman, great is thy faith. Be
it unto thee even as thou wilt." From that hour
the daugliter became whole, and the demon troubled her no more. The woman departed acknowleaging her Saviour, and happy in the granting of
her prayer.
This was the only miracle that Jesus wrought
while on this journey. It was for the performance of this very act that he went into the coast
of Tyre and Sidon. He wished to relieve the afflicted woman, and at the same time to leave an
example, in this work of mercy toward one of a
despised people, for the benefit of his disciples
CIIRIST STILLS THE TEMPEST.
305
when he should be no longer with them. He
wished to lead them from their Jewish exclusiveness to be interested in working for others besides
their own people. This act of Christ opened
their minds more fully to the labor that lay before them among the Gentiles. Afterward, when
the Jews turned still more persistently from
the disciples because they declared Jesus to be
the Saviour of the world, and when the partition wall between Jew and Gentile was broken
down by the death of Christ, this lesson, and
similar ones which pointed to a. gospel work unrestricted by custom or nationality, brought a
powerful influence to bear upon the representatives of Christ in directing their labors.
CHAP'l'ER XXV.
CHRIST STILLS THE TEMPEST.
JEsus had been teaching and healing uninterruptedly all day, and he greatly desired retirement and rest for himself and his disciples. He
therefore instructed them to accompany him to
the other side of the sea. But before he embarked he was accosted by a scribe who had listened to his words, representing the jewels of
truth a.s being of far greater value than hidden
treasure. In the grossness of his darkened mind,
the scribe conceived that Jesus designed to enrich
his followers with worldly treasure. He therefore eagerly addressed him, a.s had J uda.s, saying,
"Master, I will follow thee whithersoever thou
306
~'UE
GREAT CONTROVERSY.
goest. " The Saviour read the unworthy thought
that actuated his heart, and answered him as he
had answered Judas, "The foxes have holes, and
the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of
Man hath not where to la.y his head." This Jewish teacher had only his own selfish interest in
view when he proposed to follow Jesus. He
hoped that the Saviour would soon establish his
kingdom on earth, and that the wealth and station which would then accrue to his disciples,
were the riches of which Jesus had spoken. But
only a mind blinded by avarice and the lust of
the world could so have misinterpreted the words
of the Saviour.
If it were not for the poverty of Christ, a.nd
the fact that the poor and humble a.re ranked
beneath his banner, many would connect themselves with him and glorify his name. If he had
bestowed honors and riches upon those who became his disciples, how gladly·would the proud
Pharisees, the chief priests and scribes, have
paid him homage. Many in these days would
accept the truth if there was ·no self-denial connected with it. If they could have the world
with Christ, they would enlist in his army. But
to follow him in his humiliation, with no prospect of an earthly reward thereby, is more than
their feeble faith ca.n endure. They turn back
crest-fallen, as did the scribe from the rebuke of
Jesus.
Mter dismissing the multitude, Jesus a.nd his
disciplP.s took ship for the other side of the sea.,
which was a desert in comparison with the shore
that they were leaving; but for this very reason
they hoped to find rest from the fa.t~e
of their
labors, being removed from the dwellings of men.
CHRI3T STILLS THE TEAIPEST
30i
However, as they were moving off, a number of
boats loaded "With people followed Jesus, desirous
of learning more concerning the doctrine that be
taught.
The Saviour was wearied from his long and
arduous labors, and . being now for a time relieved from the claims of the multitude, he
stretched himself upon the hard plank of the
:fishermen's boat and fell a.•Jleep. Soon after, the
weather, which bad been calm and pleasant,
changed. The clouds gathered darkly over the
sky, and a furious storm, such as frequently visited those parts, burst upon the sea. The sun
bad set, and the blackness of night settled down
upon the water. The angry waves dashed
against the ship, threatening every moment to
engulf it. First tossed upon the crest of a
mountain billow, and then as suddenly plunged
into the trough of the sea, the ship was the plaything of the storm. Finally, it was discovered
that it had sprung a leak and was fast filling
with water. All was now burry and confusion
in the darkness and amid the roaring of the angry waves. The strong and courageous fishermen were skilled in managing their craft; but,
experienced as they were to the changing moods
of the sea, they knew not what to do in so terrible a ga.le, and their hearts filled with despair as
they perceived that the boat was sinking.
They had been so engaged in their efforts to
save themselves and keep the ship afloat, thatthey had forgotten that Jesus was on board.
But now, as their courage fails them, and they
think themselves lost, they remember that it was
he who commanded them to cross the sea. In
their agony of fear they turn to him, remember-
308
THE GREAT CONTROVERSY.
ing how he had once saved them in a like peril.
They call," Master ! Master ! " but the roaring of
the tempest drowns their voices, and there is no
reply. The waves break over them, and E>.ach
one threatens them with destruction.
Despair seizes them, and ~hey
call again ; but
there is no answer save the shrieking of the angry blast. Has the Master deserted them ? Has
he walked away upon the foam-capped billows
a.nd left them to their fate ? They remembered
that he had once walked upon the water to come
and rescue them from death. Has he now given
them up to the fury of the tempest ? They
search for him distractedly, for they can do no
more to save themselves. The storm has so increased that all their efforts to manage the ship
a.re vain ; in Jesus is their only hope. Presently
a flash of lightning reveals him fast asleep, undisturbed amid the noise and confusion.
· They rush to him, and bending over his prostrate form, cry out reproachfully, "Master, Master, carest thou not that we perish?" Their
hearts are grieved that he should rest so peacefully, while danger and death threaten them,
and they have been laboring so bard against the
fury of the storm. This despairing cry arouses
Jesus from his refreshing sleep. As the disciples
rush back to their oars, to make a last effort,
Jesus rises to his feet. In his divine maJesty he
stands in the humble vessel of the fishermen, amid
the raging of the tempest, the waves breaking
over the bows, and the vivid lightning playing
about his calm and fearless countenance. He
lifts his hand, so often employed in deeds of
mercy, and says to the angry sea, "Peace, be
still." The storm ceases, the heaving billows
CHRIST STILLS THE TEMPEST.
30!)
sink to rest. The clouds roll a.wa.y, a.nd the
stars shine forth; the boat sits motionless upon a
quiet sea. Then, turning to his disciples, Jesus
rebukes them, saying, "Why are ye so fearful ?
how is it that ye have no faith?"
A sudden hush crept over the disciples. Not
a word was spoken; even impulsive Peter did not
attempt to express the reverential awe that filled
his heart. The boats that had set out to accompany Jesus had been in the same peril with that
of the disciples, Fear and finally despair had
seized their occupants; but the command of
Jesus brought quiet ~her
but a moment before all was tumult. All fear was allayed, for
the danger was over. The fury of the storm
had driven the boats into close proximity, and
all on board beheld the miracle of Jesus. In the
hush that followed the stilling of the temp~:,
they whispered among themselves, "What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the
sea obey him?" Never was this impressive
scene forgotten by those who witnessed it. Never will its wonderful majesty fail to inspire the
children of God with reverence and awe.
When he was rudely aroused by the terrified
fishermen, the Saviour had no fears for himself;
his anxiety wa.'> for his disciples, who had distrusted him in the time of danger. He reproved
their fears, which manifested their unbelief.
They should have called upon him at the first
appearance of danger, and he would have relieved
their anxiety. But in their effort to save themselves they forgot that Jesus was on board. How
many, in the trying scenes of life, amid perplexities and danger, fight against the storms of adversity alone, forgetting that there is One who
310
TllE GREAT CONTROVERSY.
can help them. They trust in their own strength
and skill, till, baffied and discouraged, they remember Jesus, and humbly call upon him to save
them. Though he sorrowfully revroves their unbelief and self-confidence, he never fails to hear
their earne·s t cry, and give them the help they
need.
Tossed on the raging billows of the deep, the.
weary voyager should remember that Jesus was
on the sea in a time of like peril ; that his voice
commanded the terrible storm to cease; that the
angry elements obeyed the · mandate, and his
faithful followers were saved. When the waves
break over our sinking bark, and the lightning
reveals the foam-capped breakers that ·threaten
us with instant destruction, we may remember
in our peril that Jesus is on board. He hears
our agonizing cry, and he will never forsake
those who put their trust in him.
Whether on the land or on the sea, sleeping or
waking, if we have the Saviour in our hearts there
is no need of fear. The call of faith will always
meet with a response. We may be rebuked be.cause we have not sought him at the very beginning of trial, but nevertheless, he will accept our
humble petitions, wearied as we are in our efforts
to save ourselves. Living faith in the Redeemer
will smooth the sea of life, and will deliver us
from danger in the way that he knows to bethe best.
JUEN
FRO~!
THE . TOMBS.
311
CHAPTER XXVI.
MEN FROM THE TOMBS.
THE night upon the water was over, and in
the early morning Jesus and the disciples landed,
together with those who ~ad
followed them
across the sell But no sooner had they stepped
upon the beach than two men possessed with devils rushed fiercely toward them as though they
desired to tear them in pieces. Still clinging to
them were parts of chains which they had broken, in escaping from confinement. They were
cutting and bruising themselves with sharp
stones and other missiles that they could lay
their hands upon. They bad been dwelling
among the graves, and no traveler had been
safe to pass that way; for they would rush upon
him with the fury of demons and kill him if
they could. Their faces glared out from their
long and matted hair, and they looked more like
wild beasts than men.
When the disciples and the others saw these
fearful creatures rushing toward them, they fled
in terror. But presently they discovered that
Jesus was not with them, and they turned to see
what had been his fate. They beheld him standing calmly where they had left him. He who
stilled the tempest, he who had met Satan before
and conquered him, did not flee before these demons. When the men, gnashing their teeth, and
foaming at the mouth, approached him within a
few feet, Jesus raised that hand which had beckoned the waves to rest, and the men could come
;)1 2
THE GREAT CONTROVERSY.
no nearer. They stood raging but help~s
before him.
In accents of authority he bade the unclean
spirits come out of them. The words of Jesus penetrated the darkened minds of the men enough
for thetn to dimly realize that One was near who
could save them from the demons that tormented
them. They fell at the feet of Jesus, worshiping
him. But when they opened their mouths to
entreat his mercy, the demon spoke through
them and cried vehemently, "What have I to do
with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the Most High God,
I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not!"
Jesus asked, "What is thy name ?" and the answer was, ."My name is Legion; for we are
many." Using the afflicted men as mediums of
communication between themselves and Jesus,
they besought him not to send them away out of
the country, but to let them enter into a herd of
swine that was feeding near. Their request was
granted; but no sooner did this occur than the
swine rushed headlong down a steep precipice,
and were drowned in the sea. Light dawned
upon the minds of the restored lunatics. Their
eyes beamed with an intelligence to which they
had long been strangers. The countenances, so
long deformed into the image of Satan, became
suddenly mild, the blood-stained hands were
quiet, and the men praised the Lord for their
deliverance from the bondage of demons.
The design of Satan, in requesting that the
demons might enter into the swine, was to hedge
up the way of Jesus in that region. By causing
the swine to be destroyed, considerable loss was
brought upon their owners; and the enemy was
not deceived in thinking that this circumstance
JIIEN FROM THE TO?rlBS.
313
would occasion Jesus to be held in disfavor
throughout that country. The keepers of the
swine had seen with amazement the whole transaction. They had seen the raving madmen suddenly become sane and calm; they had beheld the
whole drove of swine instantly afterward charge
recklessly into the sea where they were immediately drowned. They were obliged to account to
the owner~
for their loss ; and they immediately
hurried to publish the news to their employers,
and to all the people. This destruction of property 3eemed, to the owners, of far greater magnitude than the joyful fact that two lunatics had
been restored to reason, and no longer endangered
the people who came in their way, nor needed
the restrictions of bolts and chains.
These selfish men cared not that these unfortunate beings were now liberated, and sat calmly
and intelligently at th,e feet of Jesus, listening to
his words of instruction, filled with gratitude and
glorifying the name of Him who had made them
whole. They only cared for the property they
had lo:~t,
and they were fearful of still greater
calamities following the presence of this stranger
in their midst. A panic spread far and near;
the citizens apprehended financial ruin. A crowd
came to Jesus, deploring the recent loss of propty and begging him to leave their vicinity. They
looked with indifference upon the lunatics who
had been healed, and were then conversing intelligently with Jesus. They knew them perfectly well, for they had long been the terror of
the community. But the miraculous cure of
these men seemed of lesser importance than-their
own selfish interests. They were thoroughly
Gre:a.t ControTe r!ly, Vol 2.
21
314:
THE GREAT CONTROVERSY.
alarmed and displeased at their loss ; and the
prospect of Jesus remaining among them filled
them with apprehension. They implored him
to depart from their coast. The Saviour complied with their demands, and immediately took
ship with his disciples and left them to their
avarice and unbelief.
The inhabitants had before them living evidences of the power and mercy of Him whom
they drove from their midst. They saw that the
lunatics had been restored to reason ; but they
were so fearful of incurring pecuniary loss that
the Saviour, who had bafHed the Prince of Darkness before their eyes, was treated as an unwelcome invader, and they turned the priceless Gift
of Heaven from their doors, anc:l blindly rejected
h~s
visit of mercy. We have not the opportunity of turning from th~
person of Christ, as did
the Gadarenes; but there are many in these days
who refuse to follow his teachings, because in so
doing they must sacrifice some worldly interest.
Many, in the various pursuits of life, tum Jesus
from their hearts, fearful that his presence may
cost them pecuniary loss. Like the selfish Gadarenes, they overlook his grace, and ruthlessly
drive his Spirit from them. To such his words
apply: "Ye cannot serve God and mammon."
Some may reason that the course pursued by
Jesus in this matter prevented the people of that
region from receiving his doctrine, that this startling exhibition of his power turned them away
from his teachings, and cut them off from his influence. But such minds fail to penetrate the
plans- of the Saviour. At the time that the Gadarenes besought Jesus to leave their coast, there
was also a petition offered by the restored lu-
MEN FROM THE TOMBS,
315
natics. It was that they might accompany their
Deliverer. In his presence they felt secure from
the demons that· had tormented their lives and
wasted their manhood. They kept close to his
side as he was about to enter the boat, knelt at
his feet and implored him to take them with him
and teach them his truth. But Jesus directed
them to go home to their friends, and tell them
what great things the Lord had done for them.
Here a work was given them to do,-to go to
a heathen home, and impart to their friends tije
light that they had received from Jesus. They
might have plead that it was a great trial to be
separated from their Benefactor at this early
stage of their experience, and that it was more
congenial to their feelings to remain with him
than to be exposed to the trials and difficulties
that were sure to beset them in the course he directed them to pursue. They might also have
plead that their long isolation from society disqualified them for the task be had given them.
But inst-ead of this, as soon as Jesus pointed
out the path of duty, they prepared to follow it.
Not only did they enlighten their own households
and neighbors in regard to Jesus, but they proclaimed his power to save throughout the region
of Decapolis, among the Gentiles, telling the
wonderful work of Christ in casting out the demons. The people of that region had refused
to receive the Saviour because he was the
means ·of destroying their property, yet they
were not left in utter darkness; for they had not
committed the sin of rejecting his doctrine, since
tl1ey had not heard it when they bade him leave
their coast. His words of life had not fallen upon
their cars. Therefore he commissioned those who
31 G
TilE lHmAT coxTROYEnsY.
were so 1·ecently the mediums of Satan to com~
municate the light they had received from him
to those benighted people. Those who had so
lately been the representatives of the Prince of
Darkness were converted into channels of truth,
servants of the Son of God.
Men marveled as they listened to the wondrous
news. They became interested and anxious to
have part in this kingdom of which Jesus taught.
Nothing could have awakened the people of this
country so thoroughly as did this occurrence happening in their midst. They had only cared for
the advantages of the world, and had thought
little of their eternal interests. Jesus cared much
more for their real good than they did themselves.
He had permitted the devil's request to be granted,
and the result was the destruction of their property. This loss raised the indignation of the people, and brought Jesus directly before the public
notice. .A:lthough they entreated him to depart
from 'them, they nevertheless saw and heard the
men whom he had healed. When these persons,
who had been the telTor of the community, became the messengers of truth and taught the salvation of Jesus, they wielded a powerful influence
to convince the people of that region that Jesus
was the Son of God.
They sent Jesus from their coast because they
feared additional loss of property, notwithstanding those who had crossed the lake with him told
them the peril of the previous night, and the miracle performed by the Saviour in stilling the
tempest. Their eyes, blinded by worldliness, only
saw the magnitude of their loss. They refused
to consider the advantage of having One among
them who could control the very elements by the
MEN
FRO~I
THE
TO~IBS.
317
lifting of his finger, cast out demons, and heal the
diseased and imbecile by a word or the touch of
his hand. The visible evidence of Satan's power
was among them. The Prince of Light and the
Prince of Darkness met, and all present beheld
the supremacy of the one over the other. Yet
seeing this they begged the Son of God to depart
from them. He gratified their wish ; for he never
urge;; his presence where he is unwelcome.
Satan is the god of the world ; his influence is
to pervert the senses, control the human mind
for evil, and drive his victims to violence and
crime. He sows discord and darkens the intellect.
The work of Christ is to break . his power over
the children of men. Yet how many in every
department of life, in the home, in business transactions, and in the church, turn Jesus from their
doors but let the hateful monster in.
It is no wonder that violence and crime have
spread over the earth, and moral darkness, like
the pall of death, shrouds the cities and habitations of men. Satan controls many households,
people, and churches. He watches the indications of moral corruption, and introduces his specious temptations, carefully leading men into worse
and worse evils, till utter depravity is the result.
The only safety is to watch unto prayer against
his devices; for he goes about, in the last days,
like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour.
The presence of Jesus is a safe-guard against his
advances. The Sun of Righteousness discloses
the hideous blackness of the enemy of souls, and
he flies from the divine presence.
Many professed Christians of our time banish
Jesus from them for the sake of worldly gain.
They may not use the exact words of the Gada-
:318
'l'IIE (:fiEA1' VON'rROn:H!>Y.
renes, but their acts plainly indicate, tlJat, in
their various avocations, they do ·n ot desire his
presence. The world is exalted above his mercy.
The love of gain crowds out the love of Christ.
They heed not his injunctions, they slight his reproofs. By dishonesty and avaricious scheming,
they virtually petition the blessed Saviour to depart from them.
CHAPTER XXVII.
JAIRUS' DAUGHTER.
"WHEN Jesus returned across the sea with his
disciples, a great crowd were waiting to receive
him, and they welcomed him with much joy.
The fact of his coming being noised abt"oad, the
people had collected in great numbers to listen
to his teaching. There were the rich and poor,
the high and low, Pharisees, doctors, and lawyers,
all anxious to hear his words, and witness his
miracles. As usual, there were many of the sick
and variously afflicted entreating his mercy in
their behalf.
At length, faint and weary with the work of
teaching and healing, Jesus left the multitude in
order to partake of food in the house of Levi.
But the people pressed about the door, bringing
the sick, the deformed, and the lunatic, for him to
heal. As he sat at the table, one of the rulers
of the synagogue, J airus, by name, came and fell
at his feet, beseeching him : "My little daughter
lieth at the point of death. I pray thee, come
JAIRUS' DAUGHTER,
31!)
and lay tby bands on her, that she may be
healed; and she shall live."
The father was in great distress, for his child
had been given up to die by the most learned
physicians. Jesus at once responded to the entreaty of the stricken parent, and went with him
to his home. The disciples were surprised at this
ready compliance with the request of the haughty
ruler. Although it was only .a short distance,
their progress was very slow; for the people
pressed forward on every side eager to see the
great Teacher who had created so much excitement, begging his attention and his aid. The
anxious father ·urged his way through the crowd,
fearful of being too late. But Jesus, pitying the
people, and deploring their spiritual darkness and
physical maladies, stopped now and then to minister to their wants: Occasionally he was nearly
carried off his feet by the surging masses.
There was one poor woman among that crowd
who had suffered twelve long years with a disease that made her life a burden. She had spent
all her substance upon physicians and remedies,
seeking to cure her grievous malady. But it was
all in vain ; she was pronounced incurable, and
given up to die. But her hopes revived when
she heard of the wonderful cures effected by J esus. She believed that if she could come into
his presence, he would take pity on her and heal
her. Suffering with pain and weakness, she
came to the sea·side where he was teaching, and
sought to press through the crowd that encompassed him. But her way was continually
hedged up by the throng. She began to despair
of approaching him, when Jesus, in urging his
320
TilE GREAT CONTROVERSY.
way through the multitude, came within her
reach.
The golden opportunity had come, she was in
the presence of the great Physician ! But amid
the confusion, she could not be heard by him nor
catch more than a passing glimpse of his figure.
Fearful of losing the one chance of relief from
her illness, she pressed forward, saying to herself,
If I but touch his garment I shall be cured.
She seized the opportunity as he was passing
and reached forward, barely touching the hem of
his garment. But in that moment she felt herself healed of her disease. Instantly health and
strength took the place of feebleness and pain.
She had concentrated all the faith of her life in
that one touch that made her whole.
With a thankful heart she then sought unobtrusively to retire from the crowd; but suddenly
Jesus stopped, and all the people, following his
example, also halted. He turned, and looking
about him with a penetrating eye, asked in a
voice distinctly heard by all, "Who touched
me?" The people answered this query with a
look of amazement. Jostled upon all sides, and
1udely pressed hither and thither as he was, it
seemed indeed a singular inquiry.
Peter, recovering from his surprise, and ever
ready to speak, said, "Master, the multitude
throng thee, and press thee, and sayest thou,
Who touched me ? " Jesus answered, " Somebody hath touched me; for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me." The blessed Redeemer
could distinguish the touch of faith from the casual contact of the careless crowd. He well knew
all the circumstances of the case, and would not
pass such confidence and trust without comment.
JAIRUS' DAUGHTER.
321
He would address to the humble woman words
of comfort that would be to her a well-spring of
joy.Looking toward the woman, J esus st1"11"ms1ste
· d
upon knowing who had touched him. Finding
concealment vain, she came forward tremblingly and knelt at his feet. In hearing of all the
multitude, she told Jesus the simple storY of her
long and tedious suffering, and the instant relief
that she had experienced in touching the border
of his garment. Her nan·ation was interrupted
by her grateful tears as she experienced the joy of
perfect health, which bad been a stranger to her
for twelve weary years. Instead of being angered at her presumption, Jesus commended her
action, saying, "Daughter, be of good comfort.
Thy faith bath made thee whole; go in peace."
In these words he instructed all present that it
was no virtue in the simple act of touching his
clothes that had wrought the cure, but in the
strong faith that reached out and claimed his
divine help.
The true faith of the Christian is represented
in this woman. It is not essential to the exercise
of faith that the feelings should be wrought up
to a high pitch of excitemeut; neither is it necessary, in order to gain the hearing of the Lord,
that our petitions should be noisy, or attended
with physical exercise. It .is true that Satan frequently creates in the heart of the suppliant such
a conflict with doubt and temptation that strong
cries and tears are involunU.rily forced from him ;
and it is also true that the penitent's sense of
guilt is sometimes so great that a repentance
commensurate with his sin causes him to experience an agony that finds vent in cries and
3 :!~
THE GREAT CONTROVERSY.
groans, which the compassionate Saviour hears
with pity. But Jesus does not fail to answer the
silent prayer of faith. He who simply takes God
at his word, and reaches out to connect himself
with the Saviour, will receive his blessing in return.
Faith is simple in its operation and powerful
in its results. Many professed Christians, who
have a knowledge of the sacred word, and believe its truth, fail in the childlike trust that is
essential to the religion of·Jesus. They do not
reach out with that peculiar touch that brings
the virtue of healing to the soul. They allow
cold doubt to creep in and destroy their confidence. He who waits for entire knowledge before he can exercise faith, will never be blessed of
God. "Faith is . the substance of things hoped
for, the evidence of things not seen." ·
The diseased woman believed that Jesus could
heal her, and the more her mind was exercised in
that direction, the more certain she became that
even to touch his garment would relieve her malady. In answer to her firm belief, the virtue of
divine power granted her prayer. This is a lesson of encouragement to the soul defiled by sin.
In like manner as Jesus dealt with bodily infirmities, will he deal with the repentant soul that
calls on him. The touch of faith will bring the
coveted pardon that fills the soul with gratitude
and joy.
The delay of Jesus had been so intensely interesting in its results that even the anxious
father felt no impatience but watched the scene
with deep interest. As the healed woman was
sent away comforted and rejoicing, it encouraged
him to believe still more firmly that Jesus was
JAIRUS' DAUGHTER.
323
able to grant his own petition and heal his daughter. Hope grew stronger in his heart, and he now
urged the Saviourths~n
with him to his home.
But, as they resumed their way, a messenger
pressed through the crowd to Jairus, bearing the
news that his daughter was dead, and it was
useless to trouble the Master further. The sympathizing ear of Jesus caught the words that
smote the father's heart like the death-knell of
his hopes. The pity of the Saviour was drawn
out toward the suffering parent. He said to
him, in his divine compassion, "Fear not; believe
only, and she shall be made whole."
Hearing the3e words of hope, J airus pressed
closer to the side of Jesus; and they hurried to
the ruler's house. The Saviour suffered no one
to enter the room with him where the child lay
dead, except a few of his most faithful disciples,
and the parents themselves. The mourners were
making ~ great show of grief, and he rebuked
them, saying-, "Weep not; she is not dead, but
sleepeth." The women, who, according to the
custom of the country, were employed to make
this external display of sorrow, were indignant
at this remark made by a humble stranger,
and they began to inquire by what authority
this person came, commanding them to cease
lamenting for the dead and asserting that the
girl still lived. They had seen the touch of death
change the living child to a pulseless and unconscious form. They laughed the words of Jesus
to scorn, as they left the room at his command.
Accompanied by the father and mother, with
Peter, James, and John, the Saviour approached
the bedside, and, taking the child's hand in his
own, he pronounced softly, in the familiar Ian-
324
TilE GREAT CONTROVERSY.
guage of her home, the words, "Damsel, I say
unto thee, arise."
Instantly a tremor quivered through the entire
body. The pulses of life beat again in the blueveined temples, the pallid lips opened with a
smile, the bosom heaved with returning breath,
the wa..xen lids opened widely as if from sleep,
and the dark eyes looked out wonderingly. The
girl arose, weak from her long illness, but free
from disease. She walked slowly across the
room, while the parents wept for joy. Jesus bade
them give her food, and charged all the household to tell no one what had been done there.
But notwithstanding his injunction to secrecy,
the news spread far and near that he bad raised
the dead to life. A large number were present
when the child died, and when they again beheld
her alive and well, it was impossible to prevent
them from reporting the wonderful deed done by
the great Physician.
CHAPTER XX VIII.
THE
TRA~SFIGUON.
As the time drew near when Jesus was to suffer and die, he was more frequently alone with
his disciples. After teaching the people all day,
he would repair with his disciples to a retired
place and pray and commune with them. He
was weary, yet he had no time to rest, for his
work on earth was hastening to a close, and l1e
had much to do before the final hour arrived.
He had declared to his disciples that he would
THE TltANSFH;URATIOS.
•>')r:
'-'-:.>
establish his kingdom so firmly on earth that the
gates of hell should not prevail against ~t.
Jesus,
in view of his approaching trial, gathered his disciples about him and opened their minds regarding his future humiliation and shameful death
at the hands of his persecutors. The impulsive
Peter could not for a moment endure the thought,
and insisted that it could not be. Jesus solemnly rebuked Peter's unbelief in suggesting
that prophecy would not be fulfilled in the sacrifice of the Son of God.
Jesus then proceeded to explain to his disciples
that they also must suffer for his name, bear the
cross in following him, and endure a corresponding humiliation, reproach, and shame with that
of their Master, or they could never share his
glory. His sufferings must be followed by tbeirs,
and his crucifixion must teach them that they
should be crucified to the world, resigning all hope
of its pomp and pleasure. Previous to this declaration, Jesus had frequently spoken to his disciples of his future humiliation, and he bad resolutely discouraged all their hopes of his temporal
aggrandizement; but they had so long been accustomed to look upon Messiah as one who
would reign as a mighty king, that it had been
impossible for them to relinquish entirely their
glowing expectations.
But now the words of Jesus were unmistakable. He 1>as to live, a humble, homeless wanderer, and to die the death of a malefactor. Sadness oppressed their hearts, for they loved their
Master; but doubt also harassed their minds,
for it seemed incomprehensible that the Son of
God should be subjected to such cruel humiliation. They could not understand why he should
326
THE GREAT CONTROVERSY.
voluntarily go to Jerusalem to meet the treatment which he told them he should there receive.
They were deeply grieved that he should resign
himself to such an ignominious fate, and leave
them in greater darkness than that in which
they were groping before he revealed himself to
them. The thought suggested itself to their
minds that they might take him by force to a
place of security, but they dared not attempt
this as he had repeatedly denounced all such
projects as the suggestions of Satan. In the
midst of their gloom they could not refrain from
comforting themselves occa.'>ionally with the
thought that some unforeseen circumstance might
avert the fearful doom that awaited their Lord.
Thus they sorrowed and doubted, hoped and
feared, for six long, gloomy days.
Jesus was acquainted with the grief and perplexity of his disciples, and he designed to give
them additional proof of his :M:essiahship, in order that their faith might not utterly fail them
in the severe ordeal to which they were soon to
be subjected. As the sun was setting he called
his three most devoted disciples to his side, and
led them out of the noisy town, across the .fields,
and up the steep side of a mountain. Jesus was
weary from toil and travel. He bad taught the
people and healed the sick througho:ut the entire
day; but he sought this high elevation because
he could there find retirement from the crowds
that continually sought him, and time for meditation. and prayer. He was very weary, and was
much fatigued in toiling up the steep ascent.
The disciples were also tired, and, although they
were accustomed to this practice of retiring into
the solitudes for prayer, they could not help won-
THE TRANSFIGUHATION.
327
dering that Jesus should attempt to climb this
rugged mountain, after such a day of fatigue. But
they asked no questions as to his purpose, and
patiently accompanied him. As they are ascending the mountain, the setting sun leaves the valleys in shadow, while the light still lingers on
the mountain tops, and gilds with its fading
glory the rugged path they are treading. But
soon the golden light dies out from hill a.'l well
as valley, the sun disappears behind the western
horizon, and the solitary travelers are wrapt in
the darkness of night. And the gloom of their
surroundings seems in harmony with their sorrowful lives, around which the clouds are gathering and thickening.
Having gained the place he sought, Jesus engaged in earnest prayer to his Father. Hour
after hour, with tears and importunity, he supplicated for strength to bear his afflictions and
for grace to be bestowed upon his discpl~
that
they might bear the terrible trials that awaited
them in the future. The dew was heavy upon
his bowed form, but he heeded it not; the shadows of night gathere<.l thickly about him, but
he regarded not their gloom. So the hours
passed slowly by. At first the disciples united
their prayers with his in sincere devotion; but.
as the hours dragged slowly on, they were overcome with weariness and los!\, of sleep, and even
while endeavoring to retain tlieir interest in the
scene, they fell asleep. Jesus had told them of
his future sufferings, he had taken them with
him that they might watch and pray with him
while he was . pleading with his Father; even
then he was praying that his disciples might
have strength to endure the coming test of his
3~8
'l'liE !:HI::A'l' I'OXTltO\'ERSY.
humiliation and death. He especially plead that
they might witness such a manifestation of his
divinity as would forever remove from their
minds all unbelief and lingering doubts; a manifestation that would comfort them in the hour
of his supreme agony with the knowledge that
he was of a surety the Son of God, and that his
:ohameful death was n. part of the divine plan of
redemption.
God hears the petition of his Son, and angels
prepare to minister unto him. But God selects
Moses and Elijah to visit Christ and converse
with him in regard to his coming sufferings at
Jerusalem. While Jesus bows in lowliness upon
the uamp and stony ground, suddenly the heavens open, the golden gates of the City of God are
thrown wide, and holy radiance descends upon
the mount, enshrouding the kneeling form of
Christ. He arises from his prostrate position,
and stands in God-like majesty; the soul-agony
is gone from his countenance, 'vhich now shines
with a serene light, and his garments are no longer coarse and soiled, but white and glittering like
the noon-day sun.
The sleeping disciples are awakened by the
flood of glory that illuminates the whole mount.
They gaze with fear and amazement upon the
shining garments and radiant countenance of
their Master. At first their eyes are dazzled by
the unearthly brilliancy of the scene, but as they
become able to endure the wondrous light, they
perceive that Jesus is not alone. Two glorious
figures stand engaged in conversation with him.
They are Moses, who talked with God face to
face amid the thunder and lightnings of Sinai,
and Elijah, that prophet of God who did not see
THE TRANSFIGURATION.
329
death, but was conducted to Heaven in a chariot
of :fire. These two, whom God had seen :fit to
favor above all others who ever lived upon earth,
were delegated by the Father to bring the glory
of Heaven to his Son, and comfort him, talking
with him concerning the completion of his mission, and especially of his sufferings to be endured at Jerusalem.
The Father chose Moses and Elijah to be his
messengers to Christ, a.nd glorify him with the
light of Heaven, and commune with him concerning his coming agony, because they had lived
upon earth as men; they · had experienced human sorrow and suffering, and could sympathize
with the trial of Jesus, in his earthly life. Elijah, in his position as a prophet to Israel, had
represented Christ, and his work had been, in a
degree, similar to that of the Saviour. And
Moses, as the leader of Israel, had stood in the
place of Christ, communing with him and following his directions ; therefore, these two, of all the
hosts that gathered around the throne of God,
were :fittest to minister to the Son of God.
When Moses, enraged at the unbelief of the
children of Israel, smote the rock in wrath a.nd
furnished them the water for which they called,
he tQok the glory to himself; for his mind was so
engrossed with the ingratitude and waywardness
of Israel that be failed to honor God a.nd magnify his name, in performing the act which Ii:e
had commanded him to do. It was the plan of
the Almighty to frequently bring the children of
Israel into straight places, and then, in their great
necessity, to deliver them by his power, that
they might recognize his special regard for them,
Gre&t Cootronrsy, Vol. 2.
330
THE GREAT CONTROVERSY.
and glorify his name. But Moses, in yielding to
the natural impulses of his heart, appropriated
to himself the honor due to God, fell under the
power of Satan, and was forbidden to enter the
promised land. Ha.d Moses remained steadfast,
the Lord would have brought him to the promiRed
land, and would then have translated him to
Heaven without his seeing death.
As it was, Moses passed through death, but
the Son of God came down from Heaven and
resurrected him before his body had seen corruption. Though Sa(an contended with Michael
for the body of Moses, and claimed it as his
rightful prey, he could not prevail against the
Son of God, and Moses, with a resunected and
glorified body, was borne to the courts of Heaven,
and was now one of the honored two, commissioned by the Father to wait upon his Son.
By permitting themselves to be so overcome
by sleep, the disciples had lost the conversation between the Heavenly messengers and the glorified
Redeemer. But as they suddenly awake from
profound slumber, and behold the sublime vision
before them, they are filled with rapture and
awe. As they look upon the radiant form of
their beloved Master, they are obliged to shield
their eyes with their hands, not being able otherwise to endure the inexpressible glory that
clothes his person, and which emits beams of
light like those of the sun. For a brief space
the disciples behold their Lord glorified and exalted before their eyes, and honored by the radiant beings whom they recognize as the favored
ones of God.
They believe that Elias has now come, according to prophecy, and that the kingdom of Christ
ME TRANSFIGURA'£ION.
331
is to be set up on earth. Even in the first glow
of his amazement, Peter plans for accommodating
Christ and the ancient worthies. As soon as he
can command his voice he addresses Jesus thus:
"Master, it is good for us to be here; and let
us make three tabernacles ; one for thee, and one
for Moses, and one for Elias." In the joy of the
moment, Peter flatters himself that the two messengers from Heaven have been sent to preserve
the life of Jesus from the fate that threatens him
at Jerusalem. He is overjoyed at .the thought
that these glorious attendants, clothed in light
and power, are to protect the Son of God, and
establish his kingly authority upon earth. He
forgets for the time the frequent explanations
given by Jesus himself of the plan of salvation,
which could only be perfected through his own
suffering and death.
While the disciples were overwhelmed with rapture and amazement, "a bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold, a voice out of the cloud
which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am
well pleased ; hear ye him." When the disciples
beheld the awful cloud of glory, brighter than that
which went before the tribes of Israel in the wildernes:>, and when they heard the voice of God
peal from the cloud, in accents of majesty that
caused the .mount to tremble as if shaken from
ita foundation, they could not endure the grandeur that · oppressed their senses, and fell smitten
to the ground.
Thus they remained upon their faces, not daring to look up, till Jesus approached and raised
them from the ground, dispelling their fears with
his well-known, cheering voice, saying, "Arise,
and be riot afraid." Venturing to lift up their
332
THE GREAT CONTROVERSY.
eyes, they see that the heavenly glory has passed
away, the radiant forms of Moses and.Elijah have
disappeared, the Son of God is no longer clothed
with a divine radiance so bright that the eyes of
man can not endure it,-they are upon the mount
alone with Jesus.
The entire night had been passed in the mountain, and as the sun rose and chased away the
shadows with its cheering rays, Jesus and his
disciples descended the mountain. Gladly would
they have lingered in that holy place which had
been touched with the glory of Heaven, and
where the Son of God had been transfigured before the eyes of his disciples; but there was work
to be done for the people who were already searching far and near for Jesus.
At the foot of the mountain a. large crowd
had gathered, led there by the disciples who
bad remained behind, and who knew of the favorite resorts of Jesus for meditation and prayer.
A13 they approached the waiting multitude, Jesus
charged his disciples to keep secret what they
bad witnessed, saying, " Tell the vision to no
man until the Son of Man be risen again from
the dead." Jesus knew that neither the people
nor the disciples who had led them to the place,
were prepared to appreciate or understand the
wonderful event of the transfiguration upon the
mount. After his resurrection, the testiti).ony of
those who bad witnessed it, was to be given to
substantiate the fact that he was indeed the Son
of God.
Now the three chosen disciples have evidence
which they cannot doubt that Jesus is the promised Messiah. A voice from the excellent glory
has declared his divinity. Now they are strength-
THE TRANSFIGURATION,
333
ened to endure the humiliation and crucifixion
of their Lord. The patient Teacher, the meek
and lowly One, who, for nearly three years, has
wandered to and fro, from city to city, a Man of
sorrows, homeless, having no place to rest, no
bed upon which to stretch his weary form at
night, has been acknowledged by the voice of
God as his Son, and Moses and Elijah, ·glorious
ones in the courts of Heaven, have paid him
homage. The favored disciples can doubt no
longer. They have seen with their eyes, and
heard with their ears, things that are beyond the
comprehension of man.
Jesus now returned to his work of ministering
to the people. As the throng caught sight of
the Saviour, they ran to meet him, greeting him
with much reverence. But he perceived that
they were in great perplexity. This was because
of a. circumstance that had just transpired : A
man had brought his son to the disciples to be
delivered of a. dumb spirit that tormented him
exceedingly. But the disciples had been unable
to relieve him, and therefore the scribes had
seized upon this opportunity to dispute with
them as to their power of working miracles.
These men were now triumphantly declaring
that a. devil was here found whom neither the
disciples nor their Master could conquer.
As Jesus approached the scene he inquired the
cause of the trouble; the a.ffi.icted father replied:
"M~ter,
I have brought unto thee my son, which
hath a. dumb spirit; and -wheresoever he taketh
him, he teareth him; and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away; and I spa.ke
to thy disciples that they should cast him out,
and they could not." Jesus liatenetl attentively
334
TIIE G P.EAT CO~TRYES.
to this nan-ation, and then met the failure of his
disciples, the doubts of the people, and the bcasting of the scribes, with these words : "0 faithless generation! how long shall I be with you 1
how long shall I suffer you ? Bring him unto
me."
The father obeyed the command of Jesus; but
no sooner was his son brought into tbe divine
presence than the evil spirit attacked him with
violence, and he fell upon the ground in agony,
and writhed, and foamed at the mouth. Jesus
permitted Satan to exercise his power thus over
his victim, in order that the people might bett-er
understand the nature of the miracle he was
about to perform, and be more deeply impressed
with a sense of his divine power. Jesus proceeded
t_o inquire of the father bow long his son had
thus been afflicted ty the demon. The father
answered:"Of a child. And ofttimes it bath cast him
into the fire, and into the water, to destroy him ;
hut if thou canst do anything, have compassion
on us, and help us." The failure of the disciples
to heal this deplorable case had sadly discouraged
the father, and the sufferings of his son now
wrung his soul witi anguish. The question of
Jesus brought to his mind the long years of suffering endured by his son, and his heart sank
within him. He feared that what the scribes asserted was true, and that Jesus himself could not
overcome so powerful a devil. Jesus perceived
his dispirited condition and sought to inspire
him with faith. He addressed him thus : "If
thou canst believe, all things are possible to him
that believeth." Hope was immediately kindled
TilE TnANSFIGURATJON.
335
in the father's heart, and he cried, "Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief."
The distressed father realized his immediate
need of help, and that no one could furni~:h
that
help but the merciful Saviour, and he relied
alone upon him. His faith wa.<1 not in vain; for
Jesus, before t.he whole multitude, that flocked
about to witness the scene, " rebuked the foul
spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf
spirit, I charge ·thee, come out of him, and enter
no more into him." And immediately the demon
len Lim, and the boy lay as one dead. The action of the evil spirit upon him had been so violent that it had overcome all his natural strength;
and when it left him he was powerless and unconscious. The people, who had witnessed with
awe the sudden change that came o\·er the lad,
now whispered among themselves," He is dead."
But Jesus stooped and with tender pity" took
him by the hand, and lifted him up ; and he
arose."
Great was the father's joy over his son, and
great was the joy of the son in his freedom from
the cruel demon that had so long tormented him.
Both father and son praised and magnified the
name of their Deliverer, while the people looked
on with unbounded astonishment, and the scribes,
crest-fallen and defeated, turned sullenly away.
Jesus had conferred upon his disciples the
power to work miracles of healing; but their
failure in this case, before so many witnesses, bad
deeply mortified them. When they were alone
with Jesus they asked him why it was that they
were unable to cast out the devil. Jesus answered
that it was because of their unbelief, and the
carelessness with which they regarded the sacred
336
'l'HE GREAT CONTROVERSY.
work that had been committed to them. They
had not fitted themselves for their holy office by
fasting and prayer. It was impossible for them
to vanquish Satan except as they received power
from God ; they should go to him in humiliation
and self-sacrifice and plead for strength to conquer
the enemy of souls. Nothing but entire dependence upon God, and perfect consecration to the
work, would insure th'eir success. Jesus encouraged his disappointed followers in these words :
"If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye
shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to
yonder place, and it shall remove; and nothing
shall be impossible unto you."
In a brief space of time the favored disciples
had beheld the extremes of glory and of grie£
Jesus, descending the mount where he had been
transfigured by the glory of God, where be
had talked with the messengers of Heaven, and
been proclaimed the Son of God by the Father's
voice issuing from the radiant glory, meets a revolting spectacle, a lunatic child, with countenance distorted, gnashing its teeth in spasms of
agony which no mortal could relieve. And this
mighty Redeemer, who but a few short hours before stood glorified before his wondering disciples,
stoops to lift this victim of Satan from the ground
where he is wallowing, and restores him to his
father, freed forever from the demon's power.
Previous to his transfiguration, Jesus had told
his disciples that there were some then with him
who should not see death until they should see
the kingdom of God come with power. In the
transfiguration on the mount, this promise was
fulfilled, for they there saw the kingdom of Christ
in miniature. Jesus was clothed with the glory
FEAST OF TABERNACLE!!.
337
of Heaven, a.nd proclaimed by the Father's voice
to be the Son of God. Moses wa.s present, representing those who will be raised from the dead
at the second coming of Christ; and Elijah, who
was translated to Heaven without seeing death,
represented those who will be living on earth at
the time of Christ's second appearing, and who
will be changed from mortal to immortal, and be
translated to Heaven without seeing death.
CHAPTER XXIX.
FEAST OF TABERNACLES.
THREE times a. year, all the Jews were required
to assemble for religious purposes at Jerusalem.
Jesus ha.d not attended several of these gatherings because of the enmity of the Jews. When
he declared in the synagogue that he wa.s the
bread of life, many of those who had fo1lowed him
apostatized and united with the Pharisees to
watch him and spy upon his movements in the
hope of finding cause to condemn him to death.
The sons of Joseph, who passed as brothers of
Jesus, were very much affected by this desertion
of so many of his disciples, and, as the time approached for the Feast of Tabernacles, they urged
Jesus to go up to Jerusalem, and, if he was indeed the Messiah, to present his claims before the
rulers, and enforce his rights.
Jesus replied to them with solemn dignity:
"My time is not yet coine; but your time is
always ready. The world cannot hate you; but
338
TIIE GREAT CO!'iTROVERSY.
me it hateth, because I testify of it that the
works thereof are evil. Go ye up unto this feast;
I go not up yet unto this feast, for my time is not
yet full come." The world loved those who were
like itself; but the contrast between Christ and
the world was most marked ; there could be no
harmony between them. His teachings, and his
reproofs of sin, stirred up its hatred against him.
The Saviour knew what awaited him at J erusalem, he knew that the malice of the Jews would
soon bring about his death, and it was not his
place to hasten that event by prematurely exposing himself to their unscrupulous hatred. He
was to patiently a.w ait his appointed time.
At the commencement of the Feast of Tabernacles, the absence of Jesus was commented upon.
The Pharisees and rulers anxiously looked for
him to come, hoping that they might have an
opportunity to condemn him on account of something he might say or do. They anxiously inquired, "Where is he?" but no one knew. Presently a. dispute rose among the people in regard
to Jesus, many nobly defending him as one sent
of God, while others bittedy accused him as a
deceiver of the pe0ple.
Meanwhile, Jesus had quietly arrived at Jerusalem. He had chosen an unfrequented route by
which to go, in order to avoid the travelers who
were making their way to the city from all quarters. In the midst of the feast, when the dispute
concerning himself was at its height, Jesus walked
calmly into the court of the temple, and stood
before the crowd as one possessed of unquestionable authority. The sudden and unexpected appearance of one whom they believed would not
dare t.:> show himself among them in the presence
FEAST OF TABERNACLES.
33!)
of all the chief priests and rulers, astonished the
people so that a sudden hush succeeded the PoXcited discussion in which they had been engaged.
They were astonished at his dignified and couracreous bearing in the midst of many powerful
~en
who were thirsting for his life.
Standing thus, with the eyes of all the people
riveted upon him, he addressed them as no man
had ever done. · His knowledge was greater than
that of the learned priests and elders, and he
assumed an authority which they had never ventured to take. Those very men who had so lately
been wrought up to a. frenzy of hate, and were
ready to do violence to Christ a.t the first opportunity, now listened spell-bound to his words,
and felt themselves powerless to do him harm.
He wa.~
the attraction of the hour; all other interests were forgotten for the time. The hearts
of the people thrilled with awe a.s they listened
to his divine words.
His discourse showed that he was well acquainted with the law in all its bearings, and
was a clear interpreter of the Scriptures. The
question passes from one to another, "How
knoweth this man letters, having never learned?''
Some, less acquainted with his former life, inquire
among themselves in what school be bas been instructed. Finally, the rulers recover their presence of mind sufficiently to demand by what authority be stands so boldly teaching the people.
They seek to tum the attention of the multitude
from Jesus to the question of his right to teach,
and to their own importance and authority. But
the voice of Jesus answers their queries with
thrilling power:"My doctrine is not mine, but His that sent me.
340
THE GREAT CONTROVERSY.
If any man will do his will, be shall know of the
doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak
of myself. He that speaketh of himself seeketh
his own glory; but he that seeketh his glory that
sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness
is in him." Jesus here declares that his Heavenly Father is tpe source of all strength, and the
foundation of all wisdom. No natural talent nor
acquired learning can supply the place of a
knowledge of the will of God. A willingness to obey the requirements of the Lord opens
the mind and heart to candid inquiry, and diligent searching for the doctrine of truth. He declares that, with 'a mind thus open, men can discern between him who speaks in the cause of
God and him who speaks for his own glory for
selfish purposes. Of this latter class were the
haughty priests and Pharisees.
Jesus spoke upon the subject of the law. He
was in the presence of the very men who were
great sticklers for its exactions, yet failed to
carry out its principles in their lives. These persons persecuted Jesus, who taught so pointedly
the sanctity of God's statutes, and freed them
from the senseless restrictions which had been
attached to them. Since Jesus bad healed the
paralytic on the Sabbath day, the Pharisees had
a determined purpose to compass his death, and
were eagerly watching for an opportunity to accomplish their design. Jesus, penetrating their
purposes, inquired of them:"Did not Moses give you the law, and yet
none of you keepeth the law? Why go ye
about to kill me?" This pointed accusation
struck home to the guilty consciences of the
Pharisees and rulers, but only increased their
FEAST OF TABERNACLES.
341
rage. That this humble man should stand up before the people and expose the hidden iniquity of
their lives, seemed a presumption too great to be
believed. But the rulers wished to conceal their
evil puro~es
from the people, and evaded the
words of Jesus, crying out, "Thou hast a devil;
who goeth about to kill thee ?" In these words
they w9uld insinuate that all the wonderful
works of Jesus were instigated by an evil spirit.
They also wished to direct the minds of the people from the words of Jesus revealing their purpose of taking his life.
But "Jesus answered and said unto them, I
have done one work, and ye all marvel. Moses
therefore gave unto you circumcision; not because it is of Moses, but of the fathers; and ye
on the Sabbath day circumcise a man." Jesus
referred to his act of healing the man on the Sabbath, and showed that it was in accordance with
the Sabbath law. He alluded also to the custom
among the Jews of circumcising on the Sabbath.
If it was lawful to circumcise a man on the Sabbath, it must certainly be right to relieve the afflicted, "to make a man every whit whole on the
Sabbath day." He bade them "judge not according to appearance, but judge righteous judgment." The boldness with which Jesus defended
himself, and interpreted the spirit of the law, silenced the rulers and led many of those who heard
him to say, "Is not this he whom they seek to
kill? But lo, he speaketh boldly, and they say
nothing unto him. Do the rulers know indeed
that this is the very Christ?" Many of those
who lived at Jerusalem, and were not ignorant
of the designs of the Sanhedrim council against
Jesus, were charmed with the doctrine that he
34~
THE GUEAT CO!'(TROVERSY.
taught and with his pure and dignified bearing,
and were inclined to accept him as the Son of
God.
They were not filltld with the bitter prejudice
and hatred of tl1e priests and rulers; but Satan
was ready to suggest doubts and questions in
their minds as to the divinity of this man of
humble origin. Many had received the impression that Messiah would have no natural relationship to humanity, and it was not plea.c;ant
for them to think of him, whom they had hoped
would be a mighty King of Israel, as one who
sprung from poverty and obscurity. Therefore
they said among themselves," Howbeit·we know
this man whence he is; but when Christ cometh,
no man knoweth whence he is." The minds of
these men were closed to the prophecies, whirh
pointed how and when Christ was to come.
While their minds were balancing between
doubt and faith, Jesus took up their thoughts
and answered them thus: "Ye both know me,
and ye know whence I am; and I am not come
of myself, but He that sent me is true, whom ye
know not. But I know him; for I am from him,
and he hath sent me." They claimed a knowledge of what the origin of Christ should be,
while they were in reality utterly ignorant of it,
and were locked in spiritual blindness. If they
had lived in accordance with the will of the
Father, they would have known his Son when
he was manifested to them.
The words of Jesus convinced many of those
who listened; but the rage of the rulers was increased by this very fact, and they made an attempt to seize him ; "but no man laid hands
on him, because his hour was not yet come.
FEAST OF TABERNACLES.
3 · ~3
And many of the people believed on him, and
said, When Christ cometh will he do more miracles than these which this man hath done?"
Jesus stood before his enemies with calm and
dignified mien, tleclaring his mission to the
world, and revealing the hidden sins and deadly
designs of the Pharisees and rulers. Though
these lofty persons would gladly have sealed his
lips, and though they bad the will to destroy
him where he stood, they were prevented by an
invisible influence, which put a limit to their
rage and said to them, "Thus far shalt thou go,
and no farther."
The words of Jesus found a place in many
hearts, and, like seed sown in goodly soil, they
afterward bore abundant harvests. The spies
scattered throughout the throng now report to
the chief priests and elders that Jesus is gaining
great influence among the people and that many
are already acknowledging their belief in him.
The priests therefore secretly lay their plans to
arrest Jesus; but they arrange to take him when
he is alone, for they dare not risk the effect upon
the people of seizing him while in their presence.
Jesus, divining their malevolent intents, declares
in words of solemn pathos :"Yet a little while am I with you, and then I
~o
unto Him that sent me. Ye shall seek me,
and shall not find me; and where I am, thither
ye cannot come." Soon the Saviour of the world
will find a refuge from the persecution of his enemies, where their scorn and hate will be powerle3s to harm him. He will ascend to his Father,
to be again the Adored of angels; and thither
his murderers can never come.
The Feast of Tabernacles was celebrated to
:\4,1
TilE GREAT CONTROYERSY.
commemorate the time when the Hebrews dwelt
in tents during their sojourn in the wilderness.
While this great festival lasted, the people were
required to leave their houses and live in booths
made of green branches of pine or myrtle. These
leafy structures were sometimes erected on the
tops of the houses, and in the streets, but oftener
outside the walls of the city, in the valleys and
along the hill-sides. Scattered about in every
direction, these green camps presented a very
picturesque appearance.
The feast lasted one week, and during a.ll that
time the temple was a festal scene of great rejoicing. There was the pomp of the sacrificial
ceremonies ; and the sound of music, mingled
with hosannas, made the place jubilant. At the
first dawn of day, the priests sounded a long,
shrill blast upon their silver trumpets; and the
answering trumpets, and the glad shouts of the
people from their booths, echoing over hill and
valley, welcomed the festal day. Then the priest
dipped from the flowing waters of the Kedron a
flagon of water, and, lifting it on high, while the
trumpets were sounding, he ascended the broad
steps of the temple, keeping time with the music
with slow and measured tread, chanting meanwhile: "Our feet shall stand within thy gates, 0
Jerusalem!"
He bore the flagon to the altar which occupied a central position in the temple court. Here
were two silver basins, with a priest standing at
each one. The flagon of water was poured into
one basin, and a flagon of wine into the other; and
the contents of both flowed into a pipe which communicated with th~
Kedron, and was conducted
to the Dead Sea. This display of the consecrated
FEAST OF TABERNACLES.
345
water represented the fountain that flowed from
the rock to refresh the Hebrews in the wilderness. Then the jubilant strains rang forth:"The Lord Jehovah is my strength and song;"
"therefore with joy shall we draw water out of
the wells of salvation ! " All the vast assembly
joined in triumphant chorus with musical instruments and deep-toned trumpets, while competent
choristers conducted the grand harmonious concert of praise.
The festivities were carried on with an unparalleled splendor. At night the temple and its
court blazed so with artificial light that the
whole city was illuminated. The music, the
waving of palm-branches, the glad hosannas, the
great concourse of people, over which the light
streamed from the hanging lamps, the dazzling
array of the priests, and the majesty of the ceremonies, all combined to make a. scene that deeply
impressed all beholders.
The feast was drawing to a close. The morning of the last, crowning day found the people
wearied from the long season of festivity. Suddenly Jesus lifted up his voice in tones that rang
through the courts of the temple:"If any ma.n thirst, let him come unto me, and
drink. He that believeth on me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of
living water." The condition of the people made
this appeal very forcible. They had been engaged in a continued scene of pomp and festivity,
their eyes had been dazzled with light and color,
and their ears regaled with the richest music;
but there bad been nothing to meet the wants of
the spirit, nothing to satisfy the thirst of the soul
Oree.t Coutronny, VoJ. 2.
346
THE GREAT CONTROVERSY.
for that which perishes not. Jesus invited them
to come and drink of the fountain of life, of that
which should be in them a well of water springin~
up into everlasting life.
The priest had that morning performed the
imposing ceremony which represented the smiting of the rock in the wilderness and the issuing
therefrom of the water. That rock was a ·figure
of Christ. His words were the water of life. .As
Jesus spoke thus to the people, their hearts
thrilled with a strange awe, and many were ready
to exclaim, with the woman of Samaria, "Give
me of this water, that I thirst not."
The words of the Divine Teacher presented
his gospel in a most impressive figure. More
than eighteen hundred years have passed since
the lips of Jesus pronounced those words in the
bearing of thousands of thirsty souls ; but they
are as comforting and cheering to our hearts today, and as full of hope, as to those who accepted
them in the Jewish temple. Jesus knew the
wants of the human soul Hollow pomp, riches
and honor, •cannot satisfy the heart. "If any
man thirst, let him come unto me." The rich, the
poor, the high, the low, are alike welcomed. He
promises to relieve the burdened mind, to comfort the sorrowing, and give hope to the despondent. Many of those who heard Jesus were
mourners over disappointed hopes, some were
nourishing a secret grief, some were seeking to
satisfy the restless longing of the soul with the
things of this world and the praise of men; but
when all this was gained, they found that they
bad toiled to reach only a broken cistern, from
which they could not quench their fever thirst.
Amid all the glitter of the joyous scene they
FEAST OF TABERNACLES.
347
stood, dissatisfied and sad. That sudden cry,
"If any man thirst--" startles them from their
sorrowful ·meditation, and as they listen to the
words that follow, their minds kindle with a new
hope. They look upon the Lifegiver standing
in majesty before them, divinity flashing through
his humanity, and revealing his heavenly power
in words that thrill their hearts.
The cry of Christ to the thirsty soul is still
going forth. It appeals to us with even greater
power than to those who heard it in the temple
on that last day of the feast. The weary and
exhausted ones are offered the refreshing draught
of eternal life. Jesus invites them to rest in
him. He will take their burdens. He will give
them peace. Centuries before the advent of
Christ, Isaiah described . him as a" hiding-place
from the wind," a "covert from the tempest," as
"the shadow of' a great rock in a weary land."
All who come to Christ receive his love in their
hearts, which is the water that springs up unto
everlasting life. Those who receive it impart it
in turn to others, in good works, in right examples, o.nd in Christian counsel
The day was over, and the Pharisees and rulers waited impatiently for a report from the officers whom they had set upon the track of Jesus,
in order to arrest him. But their emissaries return· without him. They are angrily asked,
"Why have ye not brought him?" The officers,
with solemn countenances, answer, "Never man
spake like this man." Dealing with violence and
crime had naturally hardened the hearts of these
men; but they were not so unfeeling as the
priest-s and elders, who had resolutely shut out
348
THE GREAT CONTROVERSY.
the light, and given themselves up to envy and
malice.
The officers had heard the words of Jesus in
the temple, they had felt the wondrous influence
of his presence, and their hearts had been
strangely ~oftend
and drawn toward him whom
they were commanded to arrest as a criminal.
They were unequal to the task set them by the
priests and rulers; they could not summon courage to lay hands upon this pure Being who stood,
with the light of Heaven upon his countenance,
preaching a. free salvation. As they stand excusing themselves for not obeying their orders,
and saying, "Never man spake like this man,"
the Pharisees, enraged that even these tools of
the law should be influenced by this Galilean
peasant, cry out angrily :"Are ye also deceived ? Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed on him? But this
people, who knoweth not the law, are cursed."
They then proceed to lay plans to condemn and
execute Jesus immediately, fearful that if he is
left free any longer he will gain all the people.
They decide that their only hope is to speedily
silence him. But Nicodemus, one of the Pharisees, and be who had come to Jesus in the night
and had been taught of him concerning the new
birth, speaks out boldly:"Doth our law judge any man, before it hear
him, and know what he doeth ? " For a moment
silence falls on the assembly. Nicodemus was a
rich and influential man, learned in the law, and
holding a. high position among the rulers. What
he said was true, and came home to the Pharisees with startling emphasis; they could not
condemn a man unheard. But this was not the
GO AND SI:ll NO MORE.
349
only reason that the haughty ntlers remained
confounded, gazing at him who had so boldly
spoken in favor of justice. They were startled
and chagrined that one of their own number had
been so impressed by the power of Jesus as to
openly defend him in the council. When they
recovered from their astonishment, they addressed
him with cutting sarcasm :"Art thou also of Galilee ? Search and look;
for out of Galilee a.riseth no prophet." But they
were nevertheless unable to carry their purpose,
and condemn Jesus without a. hearing. They
were defeated and crest-fallen for the time, and
" every man went unto his own house:"
CHAPTER XXX.
GO AND SIN NO MORE.
EARLY on the following rooming, Jesus" came
again iuto the temple, and all the people came
unto him; and he sat down, and taught them."
While Jesus was engaged in teaching, the
scribes and Pharisees brought to him a. woman
whom t.hey accused of the sin of adultery,
and said to him, Ma.'lter, " now Moses in the
law commanded us that such should be stoned;
but what sayest thou ? This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him.
But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger
wrote on the ground, as though he heard the~
not."
The scribes and Pharisees had agreed to bring
;J!)()
THE GREAT VONTROYERSY.
this case before Jesus, thinking that whatever
decision he made in regard to it, they would
therein jind occasion to accuse and condemn him.
If he should acquit the woman, they would accuse him of despising the law of Moses, and condemn him on that account ; and if he should declare that she was guilty of death, they would
accuse him to the Romans as one who was stirring up sedition and assuming authority which
alone belonged to them. But Jesus well knew
for what purpose this case had been brought to
him ; he read the secrets of ·their hearts, and
knew the character and life-history of every man
in his presence. He s~emd
indifferent to the
question of the Pharisees, and while they were
talking and pressing about him, he stooped and
wrote carelessly with his finger in the sand.
Although doing this without apparent design,
Jesus was tracing on the ground, in legible characters, the particular sins of which the woman's
accusers were guilty, beginning with the eldest
and ending with the youngest. At length the
Pharisees became impatient a.t the indifference of
Jesus, and his delay in deciding the question before him, and drew nearer, urging the matter.
But as their eyes fell upon the words written in
the sand, fear and surprise took possession of
them. The people, looking on, saw their countenances suddenly r.hange, and pressed forward to
discover what they were regarding with such an
expression of astonishment and shame. Many
of those who thus gathered round also read the
record of hidden sin inscribed against these accusers of another.
Then Jesus "lifted up himself; and said unto
them, He that is without sin among you, let him
GO AND SIN NO !IORE.
351
first cast a stone at her. And again he stooped
down, and wrote on the ground." The accusers
saw that Jesus not only knew the secrets of their
past sins, but was acquainted with their purpose
in bringing this case before him, and had in
his matchless wisdom defeated their deeply laid
scheme. They now became fearful lest JesuR
would e:s:pose their guilt to all present, and they
therefore "being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the
eldest, even unto the last; and Jesus was left
alone, and the woman standing in the midst."
There was not one. of her accusers but was
more guilty than the conscience-stricken woman
who stood trembling with shame before him.
After the Pharisees had hastily left the presence
in their guilty consternation, he arose
of Chri~;t,
and looked upon the woman, saying, "Woman,
where are those thine accusers? hath no man
condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And
Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee.
Go, and sin no more."
Jesus did not palliate sin nor lessen the sense
of crime; but he came not to condemn; he came
to lead the sinner to eternal life. The world
looked upon this erring woman as one to be
slighted and scorned; but th~
pure and holy
Jesus stooped to address her with words of comfort, encouraging her to reform her life. Instead of to condemn the guilty, his work was to
reach into the very depths of human woe and degradation, lift up the df?based and sinful, and bid
the trembling penitent to "sin no more." When
the woman stood before Jesus, cowering under
the accusation of the Pharisees and a sense of the
enormity of her crime, she knew that her life was
352
TilE GREAT CONTROVERSY.
trembling in the balance, and that a word from
Jesus would add fuel to the indignation of the
crowd, so that they would immediately stone her
to death.
Her eyes droop before the calm and searching
glance of Christ. Stricken with shame, she is
unable to look upon that holy countenance. As
she thus stands waiting for sentence to be passed
upon her, the words fall upon her astonished ears
that not only deliver her from her accusers, but
send them away convicted of greater crimes than
hers. After they are gone, she hears the mournfully solemn words: "Neither do I condemn thee.
Go, and sin no more." Her heart melts with penitential grief; and, with gratitude to her Deliverer,
she bows at the feet of Jesus, sobbing out in broken accents the emotions of her heart, and confessing her sins with bitter tears.
This was the beginning of a new life to this
tempted, fallen soul, a life of purity and peace,
devoted to the service of God. In raising this
woman to a life of virtue, Jesus performed a
greater act than that of healing the most grievous bodily malady; he cured the sickness of the
soul which is unto death everlasting. This penitent woman became one of the firmest friends of
Jesus. She repaid his forgiveness and compassion, with a self-sacrificing love and worship.
Afterward, when she stood sorrow-stricken at
the foot of the cross, and saw the dying agony on the face of her Lord, and heard his bitter cry, her soul was pierced afresh; for she knew
that this sacrifice was on account of sin ; and her
responsibility as on~
whose deep guilt had helped
to bring about this anguish of the Son of God,
seemed very heavy indeed. She felt that those
GO AND SIY NO l!!ORE.
353
pangs which pierced the Saviour's frame were for
her; the blood that flowed from his wounds wa.s
to blot out her record of .sin; the groans which
escaped from his dying lips were caused by her
transgression. Her heart ached with a. sorrow
past all expression, and she felt that a life of selfabnegating atonement would poorly compensate
for the gift of life, purchased for her at such an
infinite price.
In his act of pardoning, and encouraging this
fallen woman to live a better life, the character
of Jesus shines forth in the beauty of a perfect
righteousness. Knowing not the taint of sin
himself, he pities the weakness of the erring one,
and reaches to her a. helping ha.nd. While
the self-righteous a.nd hypocritical Pharisees denounce, a.nd the tumultuous crowd is ready to
stone and slay, and the trembling victim waits
for death-Jesus, the Friend of sinners, bids her,
" Go, and sin no moi:e."
It is not the true follower of Christ who turns
from the erring with cold, averted eyes, leaving
them unrestrained to pursue their downward
course. Christian charity is slow to censure,
quick to detect penitence, ready to forgive, to
encourage, to set the wanderer in the path of
virtue, and stay his feet therein.
The wisdom displayed by Jesus on this occasion, in defending himself against the designs of
his enemies, and the evidence which he gave them
that he knew the hidden secrets of their lives, the
conviction that he pressed home upon the guilty
consciences of the very men who were seeking to
destroy him, were sufficient evidence of his divine character. Jesus also taught another important lesson in this scene: That ·those who are
354
THE GREAT CONTROVERSY.
ever forward to accuse others, quick to detect
them in wrong, and zealous that they should be
brought to justice, are often guiltier in their own
lives than those whom they accuse. Many who
beheld the whole scene were led to compare the
pardoning compMsion of Jesus with the unrelenting spirit of the Pharisees, to whom mercy was a.
stranger; and they turned to the pitying Saviour
as unto One who would lead the repentant sinner into peace and security.
"Then spake Jesus again unto them, eaying,
I am the light of the world; he that followeth
me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have
the light of life." Jesus had represented himself, in his relation to fallen man, as a fountain
of living water, to which all who thirst may
come and drink. · The brilliant lights in the
temple illuminated all Jerusalem, and he now
used these lights to represent his relation to the
world. In clear and thrilling tones he declared :
" I am the light of the world." .A13 the radiant
lamps of the temple lit up the whole city, so
Christ, the source of spiritual light, illuminated
the darkness of a world lying in sin. His manner was so impressive, and his words carried
with them such a weight of truth, that many
were there convicted that he was indeed the Son
of God. But the Pharisees, ever ready to contradict him, accused him of egotism, saying,
" Thou bearest record of thyself; thy record is
not true." Jesus, answering their objections, asserted again his divine commission :'"Though I bear record of myself, yet my record
is true ; for I know whence I came, and whither
I go; but ye cannot tell whence I come and
whither I go." They were ignorant of his divine
GO AND SIN NO MORE.
355
character and mission because they had not
searched the prophecies concerning the Messiah,
as it was their privilege and duty to do. They
had no connection with God and Heaven, and
therefore did not comprehend the work of the
Saviour of the world, and, though they ha.d received the most convincing evidence that Jesus
was that Saviour, yet they refused to open their
minds to understand. At first they bad set their
hearts against him, and refused to believe the
strongest proof of his divinity, and, as a consequence, their hearts had grown harder until they
were determined not to believe nor accept him.
"Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man.
And yet, if I judge, my judgment is true; for I
am not alone, but I and the Father that sent
me." Thus he declared that he was sent of God,
to do his work. He had not consulted with
priests nor rulers as to the course he was to pursue ; for his commission was from the highest authority, even the Creator of the universe. Jesus,
in his sacred office, had taught the people, had
relieved suffering, had forgiven sin, and had
cleansed the temple, which was his Father's
house, and driven out its desecraters from its
sacred portals; he had condemned the hypocritical lives of the Pharisees, and reproved their
hidden sins ; and in all this he had acted under
the instruction of his Heavenly Father. For
this reason they hated him and sought to kill
him. Jesus declared to them : "Y e are from beneath ; I am from above. Ye are of this world ;
I am not of this world."
"When ye have lifted up the Son of Man,
then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do
nothing of myself, but as my Father hath taught
356
THE GREAT CONTROVERSY.
me." "And he that sent me is with me; the
Father hath not left me alone; for I do always
those things that please him." These words
were spoken with thrilling power, and, for the
time, clo~ed
the lips of the Pharisees, and caused
many of those who listened with attentive minds
to unite with Jesus, believing him to be the Son
God. To the::;e believing ones he said, " If ye
continue in my word, then are ye my disciples
indeed. And ye shall know the truth, and the
truth shall make you free." But to the Pharisees who rejected him, and who hardened their
hearts against him, he declared: "I go my way,
and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins ;
whither I go, ye cannot come."
But the Pharisees took up his words, addressed
to those who believed, and commented upon them,
saying, "We be Abraham's seed, and were never
in bondage to any man ; how sayest thou, Ye
shall be made free ? " Jesus looked upon these
men,-the slaves of unbelief and bitter malice,
whose thoughts 'vere bent upon revenge,-and
answered them, "Verily, verily, I say unto you,
Whosoever committeth sin, is the servant of sin."
They were in the worst of bondage, ruled by the
spirit of evil. Jesus declared to them that if
they were the true children of Abraham, and
lived i~ obedience to God, they would not seek
to kill one who was speaking the truth that was
given him of God. This was not doing the
works of Abraham, whom they claimed as their
father.
Jesus, with startling emphasis, denied that the
Jews were following the example of Abraham.
Said he, " Y e do the deeds of your father." The
Pharisees, partly comprehending his meaning,
GO AND SIN NO MORE.
357
said, "We be not born of fornication; we have
one Father, even God." But Jesus answered
them : "If God were your Father, ye would love
me; for I proceeded forth and came from God ;
neither came I of myself, but he sent me." The
Pharisees had turned from God, and refused to
recognize his Son. If their minds had been open
to the love of God, they would have acknowledged the Saviour who was sent to the world by
him. Jesus boldly revealed their desperate condition:" Y e are of your father the devil, and the lusts
of your father ye will do. He was a murderer
from the beginning, and abode not in. the truth,
because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own ; for he is a liar,
and the father of it. .And because I tell you the
truth, ye believe me not." These words were
spoken with sorrowful pathos, as Jesus realized
the terrible condition into which these men had
fallen. But his enemies heard him with uncontrollable anger; although his majestic bearing,
and the mighty weight of the truths he uttered,
held them powerless. Jesus continued to draw
the sharp contrast between their position and
that of Abraham, whose children they claimed
to be:" Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day;
and he saw it, and was glad." The Jews listened
incredulously to this assertion, and said, sneeringly, " Thou art not yet fifty yea.r.s old, and hast
thou seen Abraham ? " Jesus, with a lofty digni~y
that sent a thrill of conviction through their
guilty souls, answered," Verily, verily, I say unto
you, Before Abraham was, I am." For a. moment, silence fell upon all the people, as the
358
THE GREAT CONTROVERSY.
grand and awful import of these words dawned
upon their minds. But the Pharisees, speedily
recovering from the influence of his words, and
fearing their effect upon the people, commenced
to create an uproar, railing at him as a blasphemer. "Then toGk they up stones to cast at him;
but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going ·through the midst of them, and so
passed by."
CHAPTER XXXI.
RESURRECTION OF LAZARt'S.
JEsus had often found the rest that his weary
human nature required at the house of Lazarus,
in Bethany. His first visit there was when he
and his disciples were weary from a toilsome journey on foot from Jericho to Jerusalem. They
tarried as guests at the quiet home of Lazarus,
and were ministered unto by his sisters, Martha
and Mary. Notwithstanding the fatigue of Jesus,
he continued the instruction which he had been
giving his disciples on the road, in reference to
the qualifications necessary to fit men for the
kingdom of Heaven. The peace of Christ rested
upon the home of the brother and sisters. Ma.rtha
had been all anxiety to provide for the comfort
of her guests, but Mary was charmed by the
words of Jesus to his disciples, and, seeing a
golden opportunity to become better acquainted
with the doctrines of Christ, quietly entered the
room where he was sitting, and, t-aking her place
RESURRECTION OF LAZARUS.
359
at the feet of Jesus, drank in eagerly every word
that fell from his lips.
The energetic Martha was meanwhile making
ample preparations for the entertainment of her
guests, and missed her sister's help. Finally she
discovered that Mary was sitting at the feet of
Jesus, and listening with rapt attention to wba.t
he wa..s saying. Martha, wearied with many cares,
was so vexed to see her sister calmly listening
thus, that she forgot the courtesy due to her
guests, and openly complained of Mary's idleness,
and appealed to Jesus that he would not permit
all the domestic duties to fall upon one.
Jesus answered these complaints with mild and
patient words: " Martha, Martha, thou art careful
and troubled about many things; but one thing is
needful, and Mary hath chosen that good part,
which shall not be taken away from her." That
which Jesus indicated that Martha. needed, was
a. calm, devotional spirit, a. deeper anxiety to learn
more concerning the future immortal life, and the
graces necessary to spiritual advancement. She
needed less anxiety for earthly things, which
pass away, and more for heavenly things, which
affect the eternal welfare of the soul. It is necessary to faithfully perform the duties of the
present life, but Jesus would teach his children
that they must seize every opportunity to gain
that knowledge which will make them wise unto
salvation.
One of the dangers of the present age is devoting too much time to business matters and to unnecessary cares, which we create for ourselves,
while the development of Christian character is
neglected. Careful, energetic Marthas are needed
for this time, who will blend with their prompt,
3G0
THE GREAT CONTROVERSY.
decisive qualities that "better part" of which
Christ spoke. A character of such combined
strength and godliness is an unconquerable power
for good.
A dark cloud now hung over this quiet home
where Jesus had rested. Lazarus was stricken
with sudden illness. The afflicted sisters sent a
message to Jesus: "Lord, behold, he whom thou
lovest is sick." They made no urgent requirement
for the immediate presence of Jesus, for they believed that he would understand the case and relieve their brother. Lazarus was a firm believer
in the divine mission of Jesus; he loved him ardently and was in tum beloved by the blessed
11aster, whose peace had rested on his quiet home.
The faith and love which the brother and sisters
felt toward Jesus encouraged them to believe that
he would not disregard their distress. Therefore
they sent the simple, confiding message: "He
whom thou lovest is sick."
When Jesus received the message, he said,
"This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory
of God, that the Son of God might be glorified
thereby." He accordingly remained where he was
fol' two days. After the messenger was sent, Lazarus grew rapidly worse. The sisters counted the
days and hours that must intervene between the
sending of the message and the arrival of Jesus
to their aid. As the time approached when they
should expect him, they anxiously watched the
travelers who appeared in the distance, hoping
to discover the form of Jesus. All their efforts
for the recovery of their brother were in vain, and
they felt that he must die unless divine help interposed to save him. Their constant prayer was,
RESURRECTION OF LAZARUS.
3Gl
Oh! that Jesus would come! He could save our
beloved brother !
Presently their messenger returns, but unaccompanied by Jesus. He bears to the sorrowing
sisters the words of the Saviour, "This sickness
is not unto death." But the hearts of the sisters
fail them, for lo, their brother is already wrestling with the fierce destroyer, and soon closes
his eyes in death.
Jesus, at the end of the two days, proposed to
go to Judea, but his disciples endeavored to prevent him from doing so. They reminded him of
the hatred manifested toward him when he was
last there. Said they, " The Jews of late sought
to .stone thee; and goest thou thither again?"
Jesus then explained to them that he must go,
for Lazarus was dead, adding, ".And I am glad
for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent
ye may believe." JesQs did not delay going to
the relief of Lazarus through want of interest in
the stricken family; but he designed to make the
sorrowful event of the death of Lazarus an occasion to give undoubted proof of his divine power, and unite his disciples to him in a faith that
could not be broken. .Already some among them
were questioning in their minds if they had not
been deceived in the evidences of his divine pow.
er; if he was really the Christ would he not have
saved Lazarus whom he loved? Jesus designed
to work a crowning miracle that would convince
all who would by any means be convinced that
he was the Saviour of the world.
The danger attaching to this expedition into
Judea was great, since the Jews were determined
to kill Jesus. Finding it was impossible to dil)creat Control'CTS}', Vol. 2.
362
THE GREAT CONTROVERSY.
suade him .from going, Thomas proposed to the
disciples that they should all accompany their
Master, saying, "Let us also go, that we may die
with him." Therefore the twelve accompanied
the Saviour. On the way, Jesus labored for the
needy, relieving the suffering and healing. the
sick as was his custom. When he reached Bethany he heard from several persons that Lazarus
was dead, and had been buried four days. While
still at a distn.nce from the bouse, he heard the
wailing of the mourners. When a Hebrew died
it was customary for the relatives to give up all
business for several days, and live on the coarsest
food while they mourned for the dead. Professional mourners were also hired, and it was they
whom Jesus heard wailing and shrieking in that
house which had once been his quiet, pleasant
resting· place.
Jesus did not desire to meet the afflicted sisters in such a scene of confusion as their home
then presented, so he stopped at a quiet place by
the road-side, and sent a messenger to inform
them where they could find him. Martha hastened to meet him; she told him of her brother's
death, saying, "Lord, if thou hadst been here, my
brother had not died." In her disappointment
and grief she had not lost confidence in Jesus,
and added," But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it unto
thee."
Jesus encouraged her faith by declaring to
her, "Thy brother shall rise again." Martha,
not comprehending the full meaning of Jesus,
answered that she knew he would arise in the
resurrection, at the last day. But Jesus, seeking
to give a true direction to her faith, said, "I am
RESVRRECTION OF LAZARUS.
363
the resurrection, and the life; he that believeth
in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live;
and whosoever liveth and believeth in me, shall
never die. Believes!:, thou this?" Jesus would
direct the thoughts of Martha to himself, and
strengthen her faith in regard to his power. His
words had a double meaning; not only did they
refer to the immediate act of raising Lazarus, but
they also referred to the general resurrection of
all the righteous, of which the resurrection of
Lazarus which he was then about to perform,
was but a representation. Jesus declared himself the Author of the resurrection. He who
himself was soon to die upon the cross, stood
with the keys of death, a conqueror of the grave,
and asserted his right and power to give eternal
life.
When Jesus asked Martha : "Believest thou ?"
she answered by a confession of her faith: "Lord,
I believe-that thou art the Christ, the Son of God,
which should come into the world." Thus Martha declared her belief in the Mcssiahship of J esus, and that he was able to perform any work
which it pleased him to do. Jesus bade Martha
call her sister, and the friends that had come to
comfort the afflicted women. When Mary came
she fell at the feet of Jesus, also crying," Lord, if
thou hadst been here, my brother had not died."
At the sight of all this distress, Jesus "groaned
in the spirit, and was troubled, and said, Where
have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord,
come and see." Together they all proceeded to
the grave of Lazarus, which was a cave with a
stone upon it.
It was a mournful scene. Lazarus had been
much belov~,
and hi . ~ sisters wept for him with
3fi4
TIU; <:llEAT CO NTHOI' ER!;\",
breaking hearts, while those who had been his
f,·iends mingled their tears with those of the bereaved sisters. Jesus had also loved Lazarus,
whose faith had ever been strong in him, never
wavering nor failing for a moment. In view of
this human distress, and of the fact that these
aftlicted friends could mourn over the dead, when
the Saviour of the world stood by, who had power to raise from the dead,-" Jesus wept." His
grief was not alone because of the scene before
him. The weight of the grief of ages was upon
his soul, and, looking down the years that were
to come, he saw the suffering and sorrow, tears
and death, that were to be the lot of men. His
heart was pierced with the pain of the human
family of all ages and in all lands. The woes of
the sinfnl race were heavy on l1is soul, and the
fountain of his tears was broken up, as he longed
to relieve all their distress.
Seeing the tears and hearing the groans of J esus, those who stood about said, "Behold, how
he loved him!" Then they whispered among
themselves," Could not this man, which opened
the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this
man should not have died? " Jesus groaned
within himself at the unbelief of those who had
professed faith in him. They thought hi8 tears
were because of his love for Lazarus, and that he
who had done such mighty works had been unable to save Lazarus fi·om death. Burdened by
the blind infidelity of those who should have had
faith in him, Jesus approached the grave, and in
tones of authority commanded that the stone
should be rolled away. Human hands were, on
their part, required to do all that it was possible
RESUCTIO~
OF LAZARUS.
3G5
for them to do, and then divine power would £nish the work.
But Martha objected to the stone being removed, and reminded Jesus that the body had
been buried four days, and that corruption had
already commenced its work. Jesus answered
her reproachfully: "Said I not unto thee, that,
if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the
glory of God?" The stone was then taken away,
and the dead was revealed to sight. It was evident to all that putrefaction had really commenced. All is now done that lies in the power
of man to do. The friends gather round with
mingled curiosity and awe to see what Jesus is
about to do. Lifting up his eyes, the Saviour
prayed:" Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard
me. And I knew that thou hea.rest me always;
but because of the people which stand by I said
it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me."
The hush that followed this pra.yer was broken
by Jesus crying out with a loud voice, " La.zarns, come forth.:' Instantly life animates that
form which had been so changed by decay that
the friends of the deceased recoiled from looking . upon it. Lazarus, bound hand and foot
with grave-clothes, and with a napkin about his
face. rises, obedient to the command of his Saviour, and attempts to walk, but is impeded by
the winding-sheet. Jesus commands his friends
to "loose him, and let him go."
Human bands are again brought into requisition to do the work which it is possible for them
to do. The burial clothes which bear evidence
of the corruption of the body are :J;emoved, and
Lazarus stands before them, not as one emaciated
:lfi(i
TilE <:RJ.:AT CO:i''l' lWYER!;Y,
from disease, and with feeble, tottering limbs,
but as a mar.. in the prime of life, and in the
vigor of a noble manhood, his eyes beaming with
intelligence and love for his Saviour. He bows
at the feet of Jesus and glorifies him. A dumb
surprise at nrst seizes all present; but now succeeds an inexpressible scene of rejoicing and
thanksgiving. The sisters receive their brother
back to life as the gift of God, and with joyful
tears, brokenly express their thanks and praise
to the Saviour. But while brother, sisters, and
friends are rejoicing in this reunion, Jesus retires from the exciting scene, and when they
look for the Lifegiver, he is nowhere to be
found.
This crowning miracle of Christ caused many
to believe on him. But some who were in the
crowd about the grave, and heard and saw the
wonderful \Vorks performed by Jesus, were not
converted, but steeled their hearts against the
evidence of their own eyes and ears. This
demonstration of the power of Christ was the
crowning manifestation offered by God to man
as a proof that he had sent his Son into the
world for the salvation of the human race. If
the Pharisees rejected this mighty evidence, no
power in Heaven nor upon earth could wrest
from them their Satanic unbelief.
The spies hurry away to report to the rulers
this work of J esufl, and that the "world is
gone after him." In performing this miracle, the
Saviour took a decisive step toward the completion of his en.rthly mission. The grandest evidence of his life was now given that he was the
Son of God, and had control of death and the
grave. Hearts that had long been under the
RESURUECTIO!< Of' LAZ.\RllS.
367
power of sin, in rejecting this proof of the divinity of Jesus, locked themselves in impenetrable
darkness and came wholly under the sway of Satan, to be hurried by him over the brink of eternal ruin.
The mighty miracle wrought at the grave of
Lazarus intensified the h~tred
of the Pharisees
against Jesus. This demonstration of divine
power, which presented such unquestionable
proof that Jesus was the Son of God, was sufficient to convince any mind under the control
of reason and enlightened conscience. But the
Pharisees, who had rejected all le~sr
evidence,
were only enraged at this new miracle of raising
the dead in the full light of day, and before a
crowd of witnesses. No artifice of theirs could
explain away such evidence. For this very reason their hate grew deadlier, and they watched
every opportunity of accomplishing their secret
purpose to destroy him. In heart they were already murderers.
The Jewish authorities counseled together as
to what course they should pursue to counteract
the effect of this miracle upon the people; for
the news spread far and wide that Jesus had
raised Lazarus from the dead, and the reality of
the event was established by many eye-witnesses.
Still the enemies of Jesus sought to circulate lying reports, perverting the facts in the case as
far as they were able, and endeavoring f.o turn
the people away from one who had dared to rob
the grave of its dead.
In this council of the Jews were some influential men who believed on Jesus; but their wishes
were overruled by the malignant Pharisees, who
hated Jesus because he had exposed their hypo-
368
'l'!IE GREAT <.:O::>;TROYERSY.
critical pretensions, and had torn aside the cloak
of precision and rigorous rites under which their
moral deformity was hidden. The pure religion
that J egus taught, and his simple, godly life, condemned their hollow professions of piety. They
thirsted for revenge, and nothing short of taking
his life would satisfy them. They had tried to
provoke him to say or do something that would
give them occasion .t o condemn him, and several
times they had attempted to stone him, but he
had quietly withdrawn and they bad lost sight
of him.
The miracles performed by Jesus on the Sabbath were all for the relief of the affiicted, but
the Pharisees had sought to use these works of
mercy as a cause by which they might condemn
him as a Sabbath-breaker. They endeavored to
arouse the Herodians against him; they represented that Jesus was seeking to set up a rival kingdom among them, and consulted with them how
they should destroy him. They had sought to
excite the Romans against him, and had represented him to them as one who was trying to
subvert their authority. They had tried every
pretext to cut him off from influencing the people, but they had so far been foiled in their attempts ; for the multitudes who witnessed the
works of mercy and benevolence done by Jesus,
and heard his pure and holy teachings, knew
that these were not the words and deeds of a
Sabbath-breaker and a blasphemer. Even the
ofii.cen; sent by the Pharisees had been so influenced by the divine presence of the gren.t Teacher
that they could not lay hands upon him. In
desperation t):J.e Jews had finally passed an edict
RESURRECTION OF LAZARUS.
369
that if any man confessed that he believed on
Jesus he should be cast out of the synagogue.
So, as the priests, the rulers, and the elders gathered together for consultation, it was their fixed
determination to silence this man who did such
marvelous works that all men wondered. Nicodemus and Joseph had, in former councils, prevented the condemnation of Jesus, and for this
reason they were not summoned on this occasion.
Caiaphas, who acted as high priest that year, was
a proud and cruel man; he was by nature overbearing and intolerant; he had studied the
prophecies, and, although his mind was shrouded
in darkness as to their true meaning, he spoke
with great authority and apparent knowledge .
.As the priests and Pharisees were consulting
together, some of them said, "If we let him thus
alone, all men will believe on him; and the Romans shall come, and take away both our place
and nation." Then Caiaphas spoke out loftily:
"Ye know nothing at all, nor consider that it is
expedient for us that one man should die for the
people, and that the whole nation perish not."
The voice of the high priest decided the matter; even if Jesus was innocent, let him die;
he was troublesome, drawin~
the people to himself, and lessening the authority of the rulers.
He was only one, it was better that he should
die, even though he was guiltless, than that the
power of the rulers should diminish. Caiaphas,
in declaring that one man should die for the nation, indicated that he had some knowledge of
the prophecies, although it was very limited; but
J ohu in his account of this scene takes up the
prophecy, and shows its broad and' deep aignificance in the~;
words : ".And not for that nation
;ji(l
THE t;REAT CONTROVERSY.
only, but that also he should gather together in
one the children of God that were scattered
abroad." How blindly did the haughty Caiaphas acknowledge the mission of Jesus as a Redeemer!
Nearly all the council agreed with the high
priest that it was the wisest policy to put Jesus
to death. This decision having been made, the
question was still to be determined how it should
be carried o~t.
They feared to take rash measures lest the people should become incensed
and the violence meditated toward .Jesus should
be visited upon themselves. The Saviour was
continually benefiting and teaching the people,
they knew him to be one without blame, and his
influence over them was very strong ; it w~
on this account that the Pharisees delayed to execute the sentence which they bad pronounced
against him.
•
The Saviour understood the plottings of the
priests against him ; he knew that they longed
to remove him from their midst, and that their
wishes would soon be accomplished; but it was
not his place to hasten the culminating event,
and he withdrew from that regiQn, taking his
disciples with him. Jesus had now given three
years of public labor to the world. His example
Qf self-denial and disinterested benevolence was
before them. His life of purity, of sufferina, and
devotion, was known to all. Yet this sho~t
period of three years was as long as the world
could endure the presence of its Redeemer.
His life had been one of persecution and insult. Driven from Bethlehem by a jealous king,
rejected by his own people at Nazaretli, con-
RESURRECTION OF LAZARUS.
3/1
demned to death without a cause at Jerusalem,
J el'!us, with his few faithful followers, finds a
temporary asylum in a strange city. He who
was ever touched by human woe, who healed
the sick, restored sight to the blind, hearing
to the deaf, and speech to the dumb, who fed
the hungry and comforted the sorrowful, was
driven from the people whom he had labored to
save. He who walked upon the heaving billows
and by a word silenced their angry roaring, who
cast out devils that in departing acknowledged
him to be the Son of God, who broke the slumbers of the dead, who held thousands entranced
by the words of wisdom which fell from his lips,
was unable to reach the hearts of those who
were blinded by prejudice and insane hatred, and
who resolutely rejected the light.
It is not the plan of God to compel men to
yield their wicked unbelief. Before them are
light and darkness, truth and error. It is for
them to decide which to accept. The human
mind is endowed with power to discriminate between right and wrong. God designs that men
shall not decide from impulse, but from weight
of evidence, carefully comparing scripture with
scripture. Had the Jews laid by their prejudice,
and compared written prophecy with the facts
characterizing the life of Jesus, they would have
perceived a beautiful harmony between the
prophecies and their fulfillment in the life and
ministry of the lowly Galilean.
It was nearing the time of the p~sover
, and
many came to Jerusalem from various parts of
the country to purify themselves according to
the ceremonial custom of the Jews. There was
372
THE GREAT CONTROVERSY,
much talk and speculation among these people
concerning Jesus, and they wondered if be would
not be pre3ent at the feast. "Now both the
chief priests and the Pharisees bad given a commandment, that if any man .knew where he were,
he should &how it, that they might take him."
CHAPTER XXXII.
1\L\RY'S OFFERING.
Six days before the passover, Jesus stopped at
the house of Lazarus in Bethany. He was on his
way from Jericho to attend the feast of the passover at Jerusalem, and chose this retreat for rest
and refreshment. Crowds of people passed on
to the city, bearing the tidings that J e~ms
was on
his way to the feast, and that he would rest over
the Sabbath at Bethany. This information was
received with great enthusiasm by the people ;
for the news bad spread everywhere of the wonderful works wrought by J ~su,
the last and
most astonishing of which was the resurrection
of Lazarus from the dead. :Many flocked to
Bethany, some from curiosity to see one who had
been raised from the dead, and others because
their hearts were in sympathy with Jesus, and
they longed to look upon his face and hear his
blessed words.
They returned with 1·eports that increased the
excitement of the multitude. All were anxious
to see and hear Jesus, whose fame as a prophet
had spread over all the land. There was a gen-
~IARY'S
OFFERING,
313
cral buzz of inquiry as to who the wonderful
Teacher was, from whence he had come, if Lazarus who had been raised from the dead would
accompany him to Jerusalem, and if it was likely
that the great prophet would be crowned king
at the feast. The attention of the people was
entirely engrossed in the subject of Jesus and his
wondrous works. The priests and rulers saw
that they were losing their hold upon the minds
of the people, and their rage against Jesus was
increased ; they could hardly wait for him to
come and give them the desired opportunity of
gratifying their revenge and removing him forever from their way. As the time passed, they
became excited and restless, fearing that after all
Jesus might not come to J ern salem. They were
fearful that he had read their purposes against
him, and would therefore remain away. They
remembered how often he had divined their
thoughts, exposed their hidden motives, and baffled their murderous designs. They could illy
conceal their anxiety, and questioned among
themselves, "What think ye, that he will not
come to the feast ? "
A hasty council of the priests and Pharisees
was called to determine how to proceed with regard to Jesus, in view of the excitement and enthusiasm of the people on his account. They decided that it would be dangerous to seize upon
l1im openly on any pretext, for since the raising
of Lazarus the sympathies of the people were
greatly in 'favor of Jesus. So they determined
to use craft and take him secretly, avoiding all
uproar or interference, carry on the mockery of a
trial as quietly as possible, and trust to the fickle
3 74
THE GREAT CO~TRVESY.
tide of public opinion to set in their favor when
it was known that Jesus was condemned to death.
But another consideration came up: If they
should execute Jesus, and Lazarus should remain
as a witness of his miraculous power to raise from
the dead, the very fact that a man existed who had
been four days in the grave, and whose body had
begun to decay, yet had been called to life and
health by a word from Jesus, would sooner or
later create a reaction and bring disaster upon
themselves for sacrificing the lite of Him who
could perform such a miracle for the benefit of
humanity. They therefore decided that Lazarus must also die. They felt that if the people
were to lose confidence in their rulers, the national power would be destroyed.
To such lengths do envy and bitter prejudice
lead their slaves. In l'('jecting Christ, the Pharisee.::; placed themselves where darkness and superstition closed around them, until, continually increasing in hatred and unbelief, they were ready
to imbrue their hands in blood to accomplish
their unholy ends, and would even take the life
of one whom Infinite power had rescued from the
grave. They placed themselves where no power,
human or divine, could reach them; they sinned
against the Holy Spirit, and God had no reserve
power to meet their case. Their rebellion against
Christ was settled and determined ; he w.as a
stumbling-block and a rock of offense to them;
they would not have this man Jesus to reign
over them. While all this plotting was going on
at J erusolem, Jesus was quietly resting from his
labors at the house of Lazarus. Simon of
Bethany, whom Jesus had healed of leprosy,
UAnY'S On'ERING.
375
wishing to show his Master special honor, made
a supper and invited him and his friends as
guests. The Saviour sat at the table, with Simon,
whom he bad cured of a loathsome .disease, on
one side, and Lazarus, whom he had raised from
the dead, on the other. Martha served at the
table, but Mary was earnestly listening to every
word that fell from the lips of Jesus. She saw
that he was sad ; she knew that immediately
after raising. her brother from the dead, he was
obliged to seclude himself in order to escape the
persecution of the leading Jews. .As she looked
upon her brother in the strength of perfect health,
her heart went out in gratitude to Jesus who bad
restored him to her from the grave.
Jesus in his mercy had pardoned the sins of
li'Iary, which bad been many and grievous, and
her heart was full of love for her Saviour. She
bad often heard him speak of his approaching
death, and she was grieved that he should meet
so cruel a fate. At great personal sacrifice she
had purchased an alabaster box of precious ointment with which to anoint the body of Jesus o.t
his death. But she now heard many express an
opinion that he would be elevated to kingly
authority when he went to J erusa:lem, and she
was only too ready to believe that it would be
SO; She rejoiced that her Saviour would no longer be despised and rejected, and obliged to flee
for his life. In her love and gratitude she wished
to be the first to do him honor, and, seeking to
avoid observation, anointed his head and feet
with the precious ointment, and then wiped his
feet with her long, flowing hair.
Het· movements had been unobserved by the
:3/fi
TilE GREAT CONTROVERSY.
others, but the odor filled tbe.house with its fraand published her act to all present.
Some of the diseiples manifested displeasure at
this act, and Judas boldly expressed his disapprobation at such a wasteful extravagance. Simon the host, who was a Pharisee, was influenced
by the words of Judas, and his heart filled with
unbelief. He also thought that Jesus should
hold .no communication with Mary because of
her past life. Judas, the prime instigator of this
disaffection among those who sat at the table,
was a stranger to the deep devotion and homage
which actuated Mary to her deed of love. He
had been appointed treasurer of the united funds
of the disciples, and had dishonestly appropriated to himself the means which were designed
for the service of God.
He had indulged a spirit of avarice until it
had overpowered every good trait in his character. This act of Mary was in such marked contrast with his selfishness that he wa..s ashamed of
his avarice, and sought to attribute his objection
to her gift, to a worthier motive. 'l'urning to
the disciples he asked, "Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to
the poor ? " 'l'hus he sought to hide his covetousness under apparent sympathy for the poor,
when, in reality, he c!lred nothing for them.
He longed to have the avails of the expensive
ointment in his own hands to apply to his own
selfish purposes. By his professed sympathy for
the poor he deceived his fellow-disciples, and by
his artful insinuations caused them to look distrustfully upon the devotion of Mary. Whispered
hints of prodigality passed round the table: "To
gran~e
l!ARY'S OFFERING.
377
what purpose is this waste 1 for this ointment
might have been sold for much, and given to the
poor." Mary was abashed as the eyes of the disciples were bent sternly and reproachfully upon
her. She felt that her deed of devotion must
have been wrong, and tremblinglyexpected Jesus
to condemn it also.
··But the Saviour had observed all that had
transpired, and knew. the motives of all who·were
there assembled. He read the object of Mary in
her costly offering. Though she had been -very
sinful, her repentance was sincere, and Jesus,
while reproving her guilt, had pitied her weakness and forgiven her. Mary's heart was filled
with gratitude at the compassion of Jesus. Seven
times she had heard his stern rebuke to the demons which then controlled her heart and mind,
and she had listened to his strong cries to his
Father in her behalf. She knew how offensive
everything impure was to the unsullied mind of
Christ, and she overcame her sin in the strength
of her Saviour. She was transformed, a partaker
of the divine nature.
Mary had offered her gift in the grateful homage of her heart, and Jesus explained her motive
and vindicated her deed. "Let her alone," he
said. "Why," he asked, "trouble ye the woman?
for she bath wrought a good work upon me."
He justified her work to all present as evincing
her gratitude to him for lifting her from a life of
shame to one of purity, and teaching her to believe
in him. Said he, "Against the day of my burying hath she kept this." The ointment so sacredly kept to anoint the dead body of her Lord
she had poured upon his head in the belief that
Great ControTtrly, T'ol. :l.
3i8
TilE GREAT CONTROVERSY.
he was about to be lifted to a throne in J ertisalem.
Jesus might have pointed out Judas to the
disciples as the cause of such severe judgment
being passed on Mary. He might have revealed
to them the hypocrisy of his character; he might
have made known his utter want of feeling for
the poor, and his embezzlement of money appropriated to their relief. He could have rai~ed
their indignation against him for his· oppression
of the widow, the orphan, and the hireling; but
he refrained from exposing the true character of ·
Judas. He reproached him not, and thus avoided
giving him an excuse for his future perfidy.
But ho rebuked the disciples, saying, "Ye
have the poor with you always, and whensoever
ye will ye may do them good; but me .ye have
not always. She hath done what she could. She
is come aforehand to anoint my body to the
burying. Verily, I say unto you, wheresoev.er
thi.s gospel shall be preached throughout the
whole world, this also that she hath. done shall
be spoken of for a memorial of her." Jesus,
looking into the future, spoke with certainty concerning his gospel : That it was to be preached
throughout the whole world. Kingdoms would
rise and fall; the names of monarchs and conquerors would be forgotten; but the memory of
this woman's deed would be immortalized upon
the pages of sacred history.
Had the disciples rightly appreciated the exalted character of their Master, they would have
considered no sacrifice too costly to offer to
the Son of God. The wise men of the East
understood more definitely his true position, and
the honor due him, than his own followers, who
MARY'S OFFERING.
379
had received his instruction and beheld his
mighty miracles. They brought }Jrecious gifts
to the Saviour, and bent in homage before him,
while he was but a babe, and cradled j.n a
manger.
The look wpich Jesus cast upon the selfish
Judas convinced him that the Master penetrated
his hypocrisy and read his base, contemptible
character. He was stirred with resentment.
His heart burned with envy that Jesus should
be the recipient of an. offering suitable to the
monarchs of earth. He went directly from that
supper to the chief priests, and agreed to betray
him into their hands. The priests were greatly
rejoiced at this, and "they covenanted with him
for thirty pieces of silver, and from that time ha
sought opportunity to betray him."
In the case of Judas we see the fearful result of
covetousness and unholy anger. He begrudged
the offering made to Jesus, and although not
personally rebuked, he was irritated to combine
revenge with his avarice, and sell his Lord for o.
few pieces of silver. Mary showed how highly
she prized the Saviour when she accounted the
most precious gift none too costly for him; but
Judas valued Jesus at the price for which he
sold him; his niggardly soul balanced the life of
the Son of God against a paltry sum of money.
The same cold, calculating spirit is manifested
by many who profess Christ to-day. Their offerings to his cause are grudgingly bestowed or
withheld altogether under various plausible excuses. A pretense of wide philanthropy, unlimited by church or creed, is not unfrequently
one of them, and they plead, like Judas, It
3ti0
TIIE GREAT CONTROVERSY.
is better to give it to the poor. But the true
Christian sliows his faith by investing in the
cause of truth; be is known by his works, for
"faith without works is dead."
Jesus read Simon's heart, and knew how he
had been influenced by the insinuations of J udas, and that he had questioned in his mind, saying, " This man, if he were a prophet., would have
known who and what manner of woman this is
that toucheth him; for she is a sinner." When
Judas had left the house, Jesus turned to his
host and said," Simon, I have somewhat to say
unto thee." Simon replied, " Master, say on."
Then Jesus proceeded to speak a parable, which
illustrated tho contrast between the gratitude of
his host, who had been healed of the leprosy, and
that of Mary, whose sins had been pardoned.
Said he, "There was a certain creditor which
had tw.o debtors; the one owed five hundred
pence, and the other fifty. .And when they had
nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both.
Tell me, therefore, which of them will love him
most?"
Simon did not discern the application which
Jesus designed to make, but he answered him,
"I suppose that he to whom he forgave most."
Jesus replied, "Thou hast rightly judged." This
answer condemned Simon. He had been a great
sinner, and also a loathsome leper, avoided by
all. He had come to Jesus piteously imploring
his help, and He who never turned a deaf ear to
human woe, had cleansed him from sin and from
the terrible disease that was upon him. Simon
was humbled, but he had been a proud Pharisee,
and he did not look upon himself as being so
1
UARY S OFFERING.
381
great a sinner as he really was, and he had now
become self-sufficient and lifted up in his own
estimation. He had exalted himself as far superior to the poor woman who anointed the feet
of her Lord. In entertaining Jesus at his house,
he thought he was paying him marked respect;
but the Saviour was lowered in his estimation
when he permitted the devotion of Mary, who
had been so great a sinner. He overlooked the
miracle which Jesus had wrought upon him in
saving him from a living death, and coldly reasoned with himself if Jesus could be the Messiah,
and yet stoop to receive the gift of this woman.
He thought that if he were the Christ, he would
know that a sinner had approached him and repel her. He did not realize that he himself had
been a greater sinner than she, and that Christ
had forgiven him as well as Mary. He was
ready to doubt the divine character of his Master
because he imagined that he detected in him a
want of discernment.
On the other hand, Mary was thoroughly penitent and humbled because of her sins. In her
gratitude for his pardoning mercy she was ready
to sacrifice all for Jesus, and no doubt as to his
divine power troubled her mind for a moment.
It was not the comparative degrees of obligation
which should be felt by the two persons, which
Jesus designed to illustrate by this parable, for
both were unable to cancel their debt of gratitude;
but he took Simon on his own ground, as feeling
himself more righteous than the woman, and
showed him that though the sins which bad
been forgiven him were great, he had not repaid
his Benefactor with that respect and love which
382
'riiE (;HEAT CONTROVERSY.
casts out all unbelief. His sense of obligation
to his Saviour was small, while Mary, prizing
the gift of mercy bestowed upon her, was filled
with gratitude and love.
Jesus drew the contrast sharply between the
two. Said he: "Seest thou this woman ? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water
for my feet; but she hath washed my feet with
tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her
head. Thou gavest me no kiss; but this woman,
since the time I came in, hath not ceased to kiss
my feet. !lly head with oil thou didst not
anoint ; but this woman hath anointed my feet
with ointment."
The proud Pharisee had considered that he
had sufficiently honored Jesus by inviting him
to his house; and in his self-consequence had
neglected to show him 'the proper regard due to
so exalted a guest, and to one who had wrought
upon him a miracle of mercy. Jesus encouraged
acts of heart-felt courtesy, and the woma.n, whose
gratitude and love was expressed in her act of
attention, was highly commended by the Saviour:
"Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are
many, are forgiven; for she loved much; but to
whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little."
Simon's eyes were opened to his neglect and
unbelief. He was touched by the kindness of
Jesus in not openly rebuking him before all the
guests. He perceived that Jesus did not wish
to exhibit his guilt and his want of gratitude to
others, but desired to convince his mind by a true
statement of his case, and to subdue his heart
by pitying kindness. Stern denunciation would
have closed the heart of Simon against repent-
RIDING INTO JERUi>AL~l.
383
ance; but patient admonition convinced him of
his error and won his heart. He saw the magnitude of the debt which he owed his Lord, and
became a humble, self-sacrificing man.
When we realize the full debt of obligation to
our Saviour, we are united to him by closer bonds,
and our love will be expressed in all our acts.
Jesus will remember every good work done by
his children. The self-sacrificing and benevolent
will live in his memory and be rewarded. No
act of devotion to his cause will be forgotten by
him. There is no sacrifice too costly to be offered on the altar of our faith.
CHAPTER XXXIII.
RIDING INTO JERUSA.LEr.r.
ON the first day of the week, Jesus resumed
his journey to Jerusalem to join in the feast of
the passover. Multitudes who had flocked to
Bethany to see him, accompanied him, eager to
witness his entry into Jerusalem. All nature
seemed to rejoice; the trees were clothed in verdure, and blossoms which shed their delicate fragrance upcn the air. Many people were on their
way to the city to ·keep the ~ast
of the passover'.
These companies were continually joining the
multitude attending Jesus. He sent two of his
disciples to bring "a colt, the foal of an ass," that
he might ride into Jerusalem. It was but a short
distance, and as he had always chosen to travel
384
THE GREAT CONTROVERSY,
on foot, his disciples were puzzled to know why
he should prefer to ride. But hope brightened
in their hearts with the joyous thought that
Jesus was about to enter the capital and proclaim himself King of the Jews, and assert his
royal power. While on their errand, the disciples communicated their glowing anticipations to
the friends of Jesus, and the excitement spread
far and near, raising the expectations of the people to the highest pitch.
Jesus selected for his use a colt upon which
never man .had sat. The disciples in glad enthusiasm spread their garments upon the colt and
placed their Master upon him. No sooner was
he seated than a loud shout of triumph rent the
air, and the multitude hailed him as Messial1, their
King. Jesus now accepted the homage which he
had never before permitted, and his disciples received this as a proof that their glad hopes were
to be realized by seeing him acknowledged at
Jerusalem as the King of Israel. All were happy
and excited; the people vied with each other in
paying him homage. They could not display outward pomp and splendor, but they gave him the
worship of happy hearts. They were unable to
present him with costly gifts, but they spread
their outer garments as a carpet in his path, and
they also strewed the leafy branches of the olive
and palm in the way. They could lead the triumphal procession with no royal standards, but
they cut .down the spreading palm boughEZ, Nature's emblem of victory, and waved them aloft,
while their loud acclamations and hosannas rent
the air.
As they proceeded, the multitude was contin-
RIDING INTO JERUSALEM.
385
ually increased by those who had heard of the
coming of Jesus and hastened to join the procession. Spectators were constantly mingling
with the throng and asking, Who is this? What
does all this commotion signify ? They had all
heard of Jesus and were expecting him to go to
Jerusalem, but they knew that he had heretofore
refused to receive kingly honors, and they were
greatly astonished to learn that this was he.
They wondered what could have wrought this
change in him who had declared that his kingdom was not ·of this world.
While they are wondering and questioning, the
eager crowd silence their queries with a shout
of triumph that is repeated again and again, and
is echoed from the surrounding hills and valleys.
And now the joyful procession is joined by crowds
from Jerusalem, that have heard of the grand
demonstration, and hasten to meet the Saviour
and conduct him to Jerusalem. From the great
gathering of the Hebrews to attend the passover,
thousands go forth to welcome Jesus to the city.
They greet him with the waving of palm branches
and a burst of sacred song. The priests at the
temple sound the trumpet for evening service, but there arc few to respond, and the rulers
say to each other in alarm, "The world has gone
after him."
The Saviour during his earthly life had hitherto refused to receive kingly honor, and had resolutely discouraged all attempts to elevate him
to an earthly throne; but this occasion was intended by Jesus to call public attention to him
as the world's Redeemer. He was nearing the
period when his life was to be offered a ransom
38(j
1'1IE t:HEA1' CON'rROYERSY.
for guilty man. Although he was soon to be bett·ayed and to be hanged upon the cross like a
malefacto_r, yet he would enter Jerusalem, the
scene of his approaching sacrifice, attended by
demonstrations of joy and the honor belonging
to royalty, to faintly prefigure the glory of his
future coming to the world as Zion's King.
It was the purpose of Jesus to draw attention
to the crowning sacrifice that was to end his mission to a fallen world. They were assembling at
Jerusalem to celebrate the passover, while he,
the antitypical Lamb, by a voluntary act set
himself apart as an oblation. Jesus understood
that it was needful in all future ages that the
church should make his death for the sins of
the world a subject of deep thought and study.
Every fact connected with it should be verified
beyond a doubt. It was necessary, then, that
the eyes of all people should be directed to him,
that the demonstrations which preceded his great
fiacrifice should be such as to call the attention
of all to the sacrifice itself. After such an exhibition as that attending his entry into Jerusalem, all eyes would follow his rapid progress to
the final end.
The startling events connected with this triumphal ride were calculated to be the talk of
every tongue, and bring Jesus before every mind.
After his crucifixion these events would be connected with his trial and death; prophecies would
be searched and would reveal the fact that this
was indeed the Messiah ; and converts to the
faith of Jesus would be multiplied in all lands.
In this one triumphant scene of his earthly life,
the Saviour m.lght have appeared escorted by
RIDI!<'G INTO JERUSALElf.
38j
heavenly angels and heralded by the trumps of
God; but he remained true to the life of humiliation he had accepted, bearing the burden of humanity till his life was given for the life of the
world.
This da.y, which seemed to the disciples the
crowning day of their lives, would have been
shadowed with gloomy clouds had they known
that this scene of rejoicing was but a prelude to
the suffering and death of their Master. Al~houg
he had repeatedly told them of his certain sacrifice, yet in the glad triumph of the
present they forgot his sorrowful words, and
looked forward to Lis prosperous reign on the
throne of David. New accessions were being
made continually to the procession, and, with few
exceptions, all who joined it caught the glad inspiration of the hour, and helped to swell the hosannas that echoed and re-echoed from hill t~ hill
and from valley to valley. The shouts went up
continually, "Hosanna to the Son of David!
Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the
Lord! Hosanna in the highest!" It was as if
all that vast multitude were seeking to excel one
another in responding to the call from a. prophetic past.
Many Pharisees witnessed the scene, and, burning with envy and. malice, sought to turn the
popular current. They exercised all the authority which they could command to repress the enthusiasm of the people; but all their appeals
and threatenings were in vain. Fearful that this
multitude, in the strength of their numbers,
would lift Jesus to the position of king, they,
as a last resort, pressed through the crowd and
388
THE GREAT CONTROVERSY.
accosted biro with reproving and threatening
words: "Master, rebuke thy disciples." They
declared that such noisy and excited demonstrations were unlawful and would not be permitted
by the authorities. But the reply of Jesus silenced their haughty commands: " I tell you
that, if these should hold their peace, the stones
would immediately cry out."
God himself had, in his special providence, arranged the order of the events then transpiring,
a.nd if men had failed to carry out the divine
plan, He would have given a voice to the inanimate stones and they would have hailed his
Son with acclamations of praise. This scene
had been revealed in prophetic vision to the
holy :::eers of old, and man was powerless to turn
aside the purposes of Jehovah. As the silenced
Pharisees drew back, the words of Zechariah
were taken up by hundreds of voices: "Rejoice
greatly, 0 daughter of Zion; shout, 0 daughter
of Jerusalem. Behold, thy King cometh unto
thee; he is just, and h&ving salvation; lowly,
and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt, the foal
of an as.'~
The Pharisees were forced to desist from their
efforts to calm the enthusiasm of the people. .All
their expostulations only served to increase their
ardor. The world bad never before seen such a
triumphal procession. It was not like that of
the earth's famous conquerors. No . train of
mourning captives, as trophies of kingly valor,
made a ieature of that imposing pageant. But
about the Saviour were the glorious trophies of
his labors of love for sinful man. There were
the captives whom he had rescued from Satan's
RIDIXG IXTO JERUSAL~I.
389
cruel power, praising God for their deliverance.
The blind to whom he had restored sight pressed
on, leading the way. The dumb, whose tongues
he had loosed, shouted the loudest hosannas.
The cripples whom he had healed bounded
freely on, the most active in breaking the palmbranches and in waving them before the Saviour.
Widows and orphans were among the multitude
exalting the name of Jesus for his works of
mercy to them. The lepers who had been
cleansed by a word from him, and rescued from
a living death, spread their untainted garments
in his path and hailed him as the King of Glory.
Those who had been awakened by his magic
voice from the sleep of death were in that
throng. Lazarus, whose body had seen corruption in the grave, now restored to the full
strength of glorious manhood, guided the humble
bea.~t
upon which his Liberator rode.
When the procession arrived at the summit of
the bill and was about to descend into the city, J esus halted, and all the multitude·with him. Jerusalem in all its glory lay before them, bathed
in the light of the declining sun. The temple
attracted all eyes. In stately grande~
it towered above all else, seeming to point toward
Heaven as if directing the people upward to the
only true and living God. This temple in its
splendid majesty had long been the pride and
glory of the Jewish nation. The Romans also
prided themselves in it as an unequaled monument of magnificence. Their king had united
with the Jews in embellishing it, and together
they had spared no pains nor expense to furnish
it with the most costly and beautiful decorations
both without and within.
390
THE GREAT CONTROVERSY.
A portion of the wall of the buHding had withstood the siege of armies, and, in its perfect masonry, appeared like one solid stone dug entire
from the quarry. While the weste:r;ing sun was
tinting and gilding the heavens, its resplendent
glory lit up the pure white marble of the temple
and sparkled on its gold-capped pillars. From
the crest of the hill where Jesus and his followers
stood, it had the appearance of a massive structure of snow studded with flashing jewels. At
the entrance to the temple was a vine composed
of gold and silver, with green leaves and massive
clusters of grapes, all executed at an enormous
expense by the most skillful artists. This design
represented Israel in the character of a prosperous vine. The gold, silver, and living green were
all combined with such rare taste and exquisite
workmanship, that, as it twined gracefully about
the white and glistening pillars, clinging with
shining tendrils to their golden ornaments, it was
a wonderful thing of beauty, catching the splendor of the setting sun, and shining as if with a
glory borrowed from Heaven.
Jesus gazes upon the enchanting scene before
him, and the vast multitude hush their shouts,
spell-bound by this sudden vision of beauty.
All eyes turn instinctively upon the Saviour,
expecting to see in his countenance the admiration which they themselves. feel But instead of
this they behold a cloud of sorrow gathering
upon his countenance. They are surprised and
disappointed to see the eyes of the Saviour fill
with tears, and his body rock to and fro like a
tree before the tempest, while a wail of anguish
bursts from his quivering lips as if from .the
RIDING INTO JERUSALEli.
391
depths of a broken heart. What a sight was this
for angels to behold ! Their loved Commander
in an agony of tears ! What a sight was this for
that glad throng who bad accompanied him with
shouts of triumph and waving of palm-branches
to that summit overlooking the glorious city
where they fondly hoped he would reign! Their
acclamations were now silenced, while many
tears flowed. in sympathy with the grief they
could not comprehend.
Jesus had wept at the grave of Lazarus, but
it was in a God-like grief in harmony with the
occasion. But this sudden sorrow is like a note
of wailing in a grand triumphal chorus. In the
midst of a scene of rejoicing, where all were paying him homage, Israel's King was in tears; not
silent tears of gladness, but tears . and groans of
insuppressible agony. The multitude are struck
with a sudden gloom while they look upon this
grief which is incomprehensible to them. The
tears of Jesus were not in anticipation of physical suffering as he contemplated his crucifixion,
though just before him was the garden of Gethsemane where he knew that soon the horror of a
great darkness would overshadow him. The
sheep gate was also in sight through which for
centuries the beasts for sacrificial offerings had
been conducted. This gate was soon to open for
him, the great Antitype toward whose sacrifice
for the sins of the world all these offerings bad
pointed. Near by was Calvary, the scene of his
approaching agony.
Yet it is not because of these reminders of his
cruel death that the Redeemer weeps and groans
in anguish of spirit. His is no selfish sorrow.
: ~U!.l
THE <atEAT CONTROVERSY.
The thought of physical pain does not intimidate
that noble, self-sacrificing souL It is the sight
of Jerusalem that pierces the heart of Jesus
with anguish,-J erusalem that bad rejected the
Son of God and scorned his love, who refused to
be convinced by his mighty miracles and is about
to take his life. He sees what she is in her guilt
of rejecting her Redeemer, and what she might
have been had she accepted Him who alone
could heal her wound. He l1ad come to save
her; how can he give up the child of his care!
He raised his hand,-that had so often blessed
the sick and suffering,-and waving it toward
the doomed city, in broken utterances of grief
exclaimed: " If thou hadst known, even thou,
in this thy day the things which belong to thy
peace-" Here the Saviour paused and left
unsaid what might have been the condition of
Jerusalem had she accepted the only help that
God could give her,-the gift of his beloved Son.
If Jerusalem had known what it was her privilege to know, and had acted according to the
light bestowed upon her by God, she might have
stood forth in the pride of prosperity, the queen
of kingdoms, free in the strength of her God-given power. There would then have been no armed
soldiers waiting at her gates, no Roman banners
waving from her walls. The glorious destiny
which might have blessed Jerusalem, bad she
accepted her Redeemer, rose before the Son of
God. He saw that she might through him have
been healed of her grievous malady, liberated
from bondage, and established as the mighty metropolis of the earth. From her walls the dove
of peace would have gone forth to all nations.
RIDING INTO JERUSALEM.
393
She would have been the world's diadem of
glory.
But the bright picture of what Jerusalem might
have been had she accepted the Son of God, fades
from the Saviour's sight as he realizes what she is
under the oppressive Roman yoke, bearing .t he
frown of God, doomed to his retributive justice.
He takes up the broken thread of his lamentations : " But now they are hid from thine eyes.
For the days shall come upon thee, that thine
enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side,
and shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy
children within thee; and they shall not leave
in thee one stone upon another; becauiie thou
knewest not the time of thy visitation."
Christ came to save Jerusalem with her children from the consequences of her former sins;
but the unholy expectations of the Pharisees
were not answered in the manner of his appearing. Pharisaical pride, hypocrisy, jealousy, and
malice had prevented him from accomplishing
his purpose. Jesus knew the terrible retribution which would be visited upon the doomed
city. He sees Jerusalem encompassed with
armies,· the besieged inhabitants driven to starvation and death, mothers making a repast on
the dead bodies of their own children, and both
parents and children snatching the last morsel of
food from one another, n,atural affection being
destroyed through the gnawing pangs of hunger.
He sees that the stubbornness of the Jews, as
evinced in their rejection of his salvation, will
also lead them to refuse their only remaining
chance of safety, submission to the invading
Great Contronny, Vol. 2.
394
THE GREAT CONTROVERSY.
armies. He sees the wretched inhabitants suffering torture on the rack, and crucifixion, the
beautiful palaces destrbyed, the temple where
God had revealed his glory, in ruins, and of all
its pure and spotless walls, decorated with lofty
pillars and gilded devices, not one stone left upon
another, while the city is plowed like a field.
Well may the Saviour weep in agony in view of
such a fearful picture !
Jerusalem had been the child of his care, and
as a tender father mourns over a. wayward Eon,
so Jesus wept over Jerusalem. How can I give
thee up ! How can I see thee devoted to destruction and desolation! Must I let thee go to
fill up the cup of thine iniquity! One soul is of
such value that, in comparison with it, worlds
sink into insignificance; but here was a. whole
nation to be lost. When the fast westering ·sun
should pass from sight in the heavens, J erusalem's day of grace would be a.t an end. While
that vast procession was halting on the brow of
Olivet, it was yet not too late for Jerusalem to
repent and be saved. The Angel of Mercy was
then folding her wings to step down from the
golden throne and give place to Justice and
swift-coming judgment. But Christ's great heart
of love still pleads for· Jerusalem, which had
scorned all his mercies, despised his warnings,
and was about to finish her iniquitous work by
.imbrumg her hands in his blood. If Jerusalem
would but repent, it is not yet too late. While
the last rays of the setting sun are lingering on
temple, l;ower, and flashing minaret, will not
some good angel lead her to the Saviour's love,
and avert the fearful doom that awaits her !
llll>ING INTO JEHl:SAI.~
395
Beautiful and unholy city, that had stoned the
prophets, that had rejected the Son of God, that
wa"! locking heraelt: by her impenitence, in fetters
of bondage,-thy day of mercy is almost .spent!
Here had lived a favored people; God made
their temple his habitation; it was "beautiful
for situation, the joy of the whole earth." The
record of more than a thousand years of Christ's
guardian care and tender love, such as a father
bears his only child, was there. In that temple
had the prophets ut.tered their solemn warnings.
There had the burning censers waved, while inc~nse,
mingled with the prayera of the worshipers, had a8cended to God. There the blood of
b~ts
had flowed, typical of the blood of Christ.
had manifested his glory above the
There J ~hova
mercy-seat. There the priests had officiated in
flowing robes and jeweled breast-plates, and the
pomp of symbol and ceremony had gone on for
ages. B.ut all this must have an end; for J emsalem has sealed her own doom, and her destruction is at hand.
Contemplating the fate of the city be had loved,
the soul of Jesus yearned over the child of his care.
Unrequited love broke the heart of the Son of
God. Little did the multitude know of the grief
that weighed upon the spirit of Him whom they
wurshiped. They saw hi8 tears and heard his
gr.:>ans, and for a brief sp~ce
a mysterious awe interrupted their joyful demonstrations; but they
could not understand the meaning of his lamentation over Jeru.salem. Meanwhile, reports were
brought to the rulers that Jesus was approaching
the city attended by a great concourse of people.
In trepidation t.hey go out to meet him, hoping
396
TilE GRJ!:AT ('ONTJWYF.RSY.
to disperse the crowd by means of their authorit.y. As the procession is about to descend the
Mount of Olives, it is intercepted by the rulers.
They inquire who and what is the cause of all
this tumultuous rejoicing. As they, with much
authority, repeat their question,-Who is this?
the disciples, filled with a spirit of inspiration,
are heard above all the noise of the crowd, repeating in eloquent strains the prophecies which
answered this question. Adam will tell you, It
is the . seed of the woman that shall bruise the
serpent's head. Ask Abraham, he will tell you,
It is Melchisedek, King of Salem, King of
Peace. Jacob will tell you, He is Shiloh of the
tribe of Judah. Isaiah will tell you, Immanuel,
Wonderful, Counsellor, the Mighty God, the
everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. Jeremiah will tell you, The Branch of David, the
Lord, our righteousness. Daniel will tell you,
He is th~
Messiah. Hosea will tell you, He is
the Lord God of Hosts, the Lord is his memorial. John the Baptist will tell you, He is the
Lamb of God who taketh away the sin of the
world. The great J ehova.h has proclaimed from
his throne, This is my beloved Son. We, his
disciples, declare, This is Jesus, the Messiah, the
Prince of Life, the Redeemer of the world. And
even the Prince of the powers of darkness acknowledges him, saying, "I know thee who thou
art, the Holy One of God."