Desire The Ages - EllenWhiteDefend · 3 . Contents. HELPS IN THE STUDY OF DESIRE OF AGES . The...

The

Desire

ofAges “The most beautiful book ever written on the life of Christ.”

—Library of Congress

by

E.G. White

The complete book plus Reader’s Guide, Promise

Passages, 4 maps, and 2 indexes

Plus —

The Crucifixion:

Historical and Medical Facts

Harvestime Books

HB–113 The Desire of Ages by E.G. White Published by Harvestime Books Altamont, TN 37301 USA Printed in the United States of America Cover and Text Copyright © 2002

“Never can the cost of our redemption be re-alized until the redeemed shall stand with the Re-deemer before the throne of God. Then as the glo-ries of the eternal home burst upon our enrap-tured senses we shall remember that Jesus left all this for us, that He not only became an exile from the heavenly courts, but for us took the risk of failure and eternal loss.” —Desire of Ages, 107.

About the cover: The mighty snow-capped mountains symbolize to us the power and purity of our Creator and Redeemer. But He is greater than the mountains.

“I will lift my up mine eyes unto [above, Hebrew] the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.”—Psalm 121:1.

“Truly in vain is salvation hoped for from the hills, and from the multitude of mountains; truly in the Lord our God is the salvation of Israel.”—Jeremiah 3:23.

This book: This edition includes the complete original book. Noth-ing the author wrote has been omitted or changed.

Explanation of bracketed numbers on page tops: These refer to comparable, standardized paging in the original, cloth-cover edition.

Additional copies: For additional copies of this book at remark-ably low prices in boxful quantities, write to Harvestime Books, Altamont, TN 37301. When you write, ask for a copy of our “Mis-sionary Book Order Sheet,” containing low-cost boxful prices of this and other books, such as Great Controversy, Ministry of Healing, Christ’s Object Lessons, Bible Readings, etc.

3

Contents

HELPS IN THE STUDY OF DESIRE OF AGES

The Story behind This Book 10 This Edition 12 Reader’s Guide to the Life of Christ 13 Bible Stories for the Whole Family 16 Map Section 20 MAP 1 — Judea and Galilee 21 MAP 2 — Galilee and Phoenicia 22 MAP 3 — Jerusalem 23 MAP 4 — Environs of Jerusalem 24 Precious Promise Passages 25 Prophecies about Christ 30 Encouraging Paragraphs 33

- SECTION ONE BIRTH TO MANHOOD

1 “God with Us” 35 Matthew 1:23

2 The Chosen People 43 John 1:11

3 “The Fullness of Time” 47 Galatians 4:4; Genesis 49:10

4 Unto You a Saviour 54 Luke 2:1-20

5 The Dedication 58 Luke 2:21-38

4 The Desire of Ages

6 “We Have Seen His Star” 66 Matthew 2

7 As a Child 73 Luke 2:39-40

8 The Passover 80 Luke 2:41-51

9 Days of Conflict 89 Luke 2:51

- SECTION TWO EARLY MINISTRY

10 The Voice in the Wilderness 97 Luke 1:5-23, 57-80; 3:1-18; Matthew 3:1-12; Mark 1:1-8

11 The Baptism 110 Matthew 3:13-17; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:21-22

12 The Temptation 115 Matthew 4:1-11; Mark 1:12-13; Luke 4:1-13

13 The Victory 126 Matthew 4:5-11; Mark 1 :12-13; Luke 4:5-13

14 “We Have Found the Messias” 132 John 1:19-51

15 At the Marriage Feast 144 John 2:1-11

- SECTION THREE MINISTRY IN JUDEA

16 In His Temple 155 John 2:12-22

17 Nicodemus 167 John 3:1-17

18 “He Must Increase” 176 John 3:22-36

5 Contents

19 At Jacob’s Well 181 John 4:1-42

20 “Except Ye See Signs and Wonders” 193 John 4:43-54

21 Bethesda and the Sanhedrin 198 John 5:1-47

- SECTION FOUR MINISTRY IN GALILEE

22 Imprisonment and Death of John 213 Matthew 11:1-11; 14:1-11; Mark 6:17-28; Luke 7:17-28

23 “The Kingdom of God is at Hand” 226 Mark 1:14-15

24 “Is Not This the Carpenter’s Son?” 232 Luke 4:16-30

25 The Call by the Sea 240 Matthew 4:18-22; Mark 1:16-20; Luke 5:1-11

26 At Capernaum 247 Mark 1:21-22; Luke 4:32

27 “Thou Canst Make Me Clean” 257 Matthew 8:2-4; 9:14, 32-34; Mark 1:40-45; Luke 5:12-28

28 Levi Matthew 268 Matthew 9:9-17; Mark 2:14-22; Luke 5:27-39

29 The Sabbath 278 Luke 6:3-4; Mark 2:27-28; Matthew 12:5-6

30 “He Ordained Twelve” 287 Mark 3:13-19; Luke 6:12-16

31 The Sermon on the Mount 296 Matthew 5:1-48; 6:1-34; 7:1-29

32 The Centurion 313 Matthew 8:5-13; Luke 7:1-7


33 Who Are My Brethren? 319 Matthew 12:22-50; Mark 3:20-35

34 The Invitation 327 Matthew 11:28-30

35 “Peace, Be Still” 332 Matthew 8:23-34; Mark 4:35-41; 5:1-20; Luke 8:22-39

36 The Touch of Faith 341 Matthew 9:18-26; Mark 5:21-43; Luke 8:40-56

37 The First Evangelists 346 Matthew 10:1-42; Mark 6:7-11; Luke 9:1-6

38 Come Rest Awhile 357 Matthew 14:1-2, 12-13; Mark 6:30-32; Luke 9:7-10

39 “Give Ye Them to Eat” 363 Matthew 14:13-21; Mark 6:32-44; Luke 9:10-17; John 6:1-13

40 A Night on the Lake 371 Matthew 14:22-33; Mark 6:45-52; John 6:14-21

41 The Crisis in Galilee 378 Matthew 15:1-20; Mark 7:1-23

42 Tradition 392 John 3:36

- SECTION FIVE RETIREMENT FROM PUBLIC MINISTRY

43 Barriers Broken Down 396 Matthew 15:21-28; Mark 7:24-36

44 The True Sign 402 Matthew 15:29-39; 16:1-12; Mark 7:31-37; 8:1-21

45 The Foreshadowing of the Cross 409 Matthew 16:13-28; Mark 8:27-38; Luke 9:18-27

7 Contents

46 He Was Transfigured 419 Matthew 17:1-8; Mark 9:24; Luke 9:28-36

47 Ministry 424 Matthew 17:9-21; Mark 9:9-29; Luke 9:37-45

48 Who is the Greatest? 430 Matthew 17:22-27; 18:1-20; Mark 9:30-50; Luke 9:46-48

- SECTION SIX MINISTRY IN SAMARIA

49 At the Feast of Tabernacles 442 John 7:1-15, 37-39

50 Among Snares 450 John 7:16-36, 40-53; 8:1-11

51 “The Light of Life” 460 John 7:16-36, 40-53; 8:1-11

52 The Divine Shepherd 475 John 10:1-30

53 The Last Journey from Galilee 482 Luke 9:51-56; 10:1-24

54 The Good Samaritan 493 Luke 10:25-37

55 Not with Outward Show 501 Luke 17:20-22

56 Blessing the Children 506 Matthew 19:13-15; Mark 10:13-16; Luke 18:15-17

57 “One Thing Thou Lackest” 512 Matthew 19:16-22; Mark 10:17-22; Luke 18:18-23

58 “Lazarus, Come Forth” 517 Luke 10:38-42; John 11:1-44

59 Priestly Plottings 530 John 11:47-54


60 The Law of the New Kingdom 536 Matthew 20:20-28; Mark 10:32-45; Luke 18:31-34

61 Zacchaeus 542 Luke 19:1-10

62 The Feast at Simon’s House 547 Matthew 26:6-13; Mark 14:3-11; Luke 7:36-50; John 11:55-57; 12:1-11

- SECTION SEVEN PASSION WEEK

63 “Thy King Cometh” 559 Matthew 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-10; Luke 19:29-44; John 12:12-19

64 A Doomed People 569 Mark 11:11-14, 20-21; Matthew 21:17-19

65 The Temple Cleansed Again 577 Matthew 21:12-16, 23-46; Mark 11:15-19, 27-33; 12:1-12; Luke 19:45-48; 20:1-19

66 Controversy 590 Matthew 22:15-46; Mark 12:13-40; Luke 20:20-47

67 Woes on the Pharisees 600 Matthew 23:1-39; Mark 12:41-44; Luke 20:45-47; 21:1-4

68 In the Outer Court 612 John 12:20-43

69 On the Mount of Olives 619 Matthew 24:1-51; Mark 13:1-37; Luke 21:5-38

70 “The Least of These My Brethren” 630 Matthew 25:31-46

71 A Servant of Servants 636 Luke 22.7-18, 24; John 13:1-17

9 Contents

72 “In Remembrance of Me” 646 Matthew 26:20-29; Mark 14:17-25; Luke 22:14-23

73 “Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled” 655 John 13:31-38

74 Gethsemane 676 Matthew 26:36-56; Mark 14:32-50; Luke 32:39-53; John 18:1-12

75 Before Annas and Caiaphas 687 Matthew 26:57-75; 27:1; Mark 14:53-72; 15:1; Luke 22:54-71; John 18:13-27

76 Judas 704 John 6:70; 13:27; Matthew 26:48; 27:4

77 In Pilate’s Judgment Hall 712 Matthew 27:2, 11-31; Mark 15:1-20; Luke 23:1-25; John 18:28-40; 19:1-16

78 Calvary 732 Matthew 27:31-53; Mark 15:20-38; Luke 23:26-46; John 19:16-30

79 “It is Finished” 749 John 19:30

80 In Joseph’s Tomb 757 Matthew 27:54; John 19:34-37; Luke 23:46; 23:56; Matthew 27:62-65

- SECTION EIGHT RESURRECTION TO ASCENSION

81 “The Lord is Risen” 768 Matthew 28:2-4, 11-15

82 “Why Weepest Thou?” 776 Matthew 28:1, 5-8; Mark 16:1-8; Luke 24:1-12; John 20:1-18

83 The Walk to Emmaus 782 Luke 24:13-33


84 “Peace Be Unto You” 787 Luke 24:33-48; John 20:19-29

85 By the Sea Once More 794 John 21:1-22

86 “Go Teach All Nations” 802 Matthew 28:16-20

87 “To My Father and Your Father” 815 Luke 24:50-53; Acts 1:9-12

APPENDICES

The Crucifixion: Historical and Medical Facts 822 Principles of Healthful Living 833

INDEXES

Scripture Index 842 Story Index 850

Helps in the Study of Desire of Ages

1 - The Story behind This Book

The book you now have in hand has been acclaimedfor nearly a hundred years as one of the most sensitivelybeautiful presentations of the earthly life of Christ ever tobe written. And yet, during much of the time that the manu-script was being penned, the author suffered intensely froma very painful rheumatic coniition—with only her right

11 The Story behind this Book

hand and arm free from pain and able to move freely. Withthat hand she wrote The Desire of Ages in the last decade of the nineteenth century.

Many experts in the field have considered this book tobe one of the most most accurate and spiritually helpfulbiographies of the life of Christ ever written. The curatorof the religious book section of the Library of Congress inWashington, D.C., the largest library in the world, was askedif he would name the book that he considered to be the finest book on the life of Christ, either in or out of print. Anexpert in his field and well-acquainted with the holdingsand accessions of the Library of Congress on the life ofChrist, both in English and other languages, he replied with-out hesitation: “The book, Desire of Ages, by Ellen G. White,is the most beautifully written book on the life of Christ inthe Library of Congress.”

Several years ago, one who had come to love that par-ticular book was attending summer school at a state uni-versity in Massachusetts, when the following incident oc-curred:

“One day our teacher, who had just returned from anextended study of literature in Europe, asked each mem-ber of the class to come the next day with three quotationsfrom a favorite author. The name was not to be given, andthe class was to be asked to name the author by the selec-tions read.

“I was the first one called on, and although there wereforty-eight in the class, no one else was called upon. Theentire time was taken up in dliscussing the three quota-tions I presented—passages from The Desire of Ages.No one could name the author. Then to my happy surprise,the teacher said:

“ ‘Well, class, that is from the pen of Mrs E.G. White.’She spoke at length, saying she knew nothing of theauthor’s religion, but she felt able to declare herself as toliterature; and she said it was a pity Mrs. White’s writingswere not better known in the literary world. She said shewas going to make a strong statement, but she meant ev-


ery word of it. Of all the writings she knew, outside of theBible, were none so full of beauty, so pure, and yet sosimple, as the writings of Mrs. E.G. White.”

Other books by this same author are available fromthe present publisher. Who was this woman who pennedsuch beautiful books? A recent volume, Prophet of theEnd, also obtainable from this publisher will provide youwith an easily read but comprehensive biography of herfascinating life. You can obtain a copy of it by mail fromthis publisher for $2 plus postage. Very frail in childhood,Ellen White was in her adult years to travel from state tostate and continent to continent. One hundred thousand pages of manuscripts were eventually to come from herpen, all written amid a busy life as a wife, mother, andpublic speaker. This amounted to 25 million handwrittenwords (for she never used a typewriter or shorthand). EllenWhite wrote 4,500 magazine articles and over a hundredpublished books. Many of her books went into millions ofcopies, and a number of them were translated into a size-able number of foreign languages. Careful research at theLibrary of Congress has disclosed that she is the fourthmost translated author (man or woman) in the history ofliterature, its most translated woman writer, and the most translated American author of either sex. By the time ofher death at the age of eighty-seven in 1915, she had writ-ten more than any other woman in history, and far morethan all but a few men.

And yet quantity did not result in lowered quality. Turnto chapter one of this book, The Desire of Ages, and beginreading. You will quickly see why so many value this bookenough that they read it over and over again.

2 - This Edition

To our knowledge, this new edition is the lowest-priced, indexed edition of The Desire of Ages to be found anywhere. For this special edition, the author of this intro-

13 Guide to the Earthly Life of Christ

duction prepared a set of unique helps, found on the nextfew pages, that should greatly help you in your study ofthis exquisitely worded volume. These helps were madeamid prayer that they might be the means of encouragingmany more to read this precious book—and find the Manthat the book continually points them to—Jesus Christ theironly Lord and Saviour. —vf

3 - Reader’s Guide to the Earthly Life of Christ

This Reader’s Guide will provide you with a quickoverview of this book and the entire earthly life of Christ.

It will help you approximately date events and locatethem in relation to the major activities and travels of Jesusduring His three-and-a-half year ministry. The paging inthis Guide is keyed to the pages of the book you now havein hand. It should prove to be a great help in your study ofthe years that Jesus ministered here in our world.

1 - INFANCY TO MANHOOD (Autumn, 4 B.C. - Autumn, AD. 27)

Why God’s Son came to this world (33-53). Birth of Jesus (54-55). Announcement to the shepherds (55-57). Presentation at the Temple (58-65). Visit of the wise men (66-70). Flight to Egypt (70-72). Return to Nazareth (72-73). Childhood of Jesus (73-80). First Passover visit (80-89). Youth and young manhood (89-97). Announcement to Zacharias (97-100). Birth of John the Baptist (100-104).

2 - EARLY MINISTRY (Autumn, A.D. 27 - Spring, A.D. 28)

Ministry of John the Baptist (104-109). The Baptism of Christ (110-114). The Temptation (115-132). Jesus declared to be the “Lamb of God” (132-137). The first disciples (137-144). The wedding at Cana (144-154).


3 - MINISTRY IN JUDEA (First Passover, A.D. 28 - Second Passover, A.D. 29)

First Passover: First cleansing of the Temple (155-166). Discussion with Nicodemus (167-176). Ministry in Judea and John’s statement (176-181). The Samaritan woman (181-193). The nobleman’s son (193-197). John imprisoned (213-220 [Death: 221-226]). Second Pass-over: The invalid at Bethesda (198-202). Rejection by the Sanhedrin: Close of the Judean Ministry (202-213).

4 - MINISTRY IN GALILEE (Second Passover, A.D. 29 - Third Passover, A.D. 30)

Opening of the Galilean Ministry (226-231). First rejection at Nazareth (232-240). To Caparnaum: The call by the sea (240-246). How Jesus spoke (247-250). The demoniac in the synagogue (250-254). Peter’s mother-in-Jaw; the sick healed at evening (254-257). First Galilean Tour: The first leper (257-263). The paralytic lowered through the roof (263-268). Call of Levi-Matthew (268-278). Plucking grain on the Sabbath; the man with the withered hand (278-280). Appointment of the Twelve (280-287). Sermon on the Mount (296-313). The centurian’s servant (313-316). Second Galilean Tour: The widow’s son at Nain (316-319). Visit of Jesus’ mother and brothers; blind and dumb demoniac; the un-pardonable sin (319-331). The storm on the lake stilled (332-336). The demoniacs of Gadara (336-341). Matthew’s feast (270-272). Jairus’ daughter (341-342). The invalid woman (342-346). The inquiry by John’s disciples; Jesus’ comment about John (272-276). Jesus’ invi-tation to come to Him (327-331). Third Galilean Tour: Sending of the Twelve (346-348). The martyrdom of John the Baptist (359-360). Third Passover: Feeding the five thousand (363-371). Jesus walks on the lake (374-377). Sermon on the bread of life; rejection in Galilee (371-373). Contention about tradition and ceremonial defilement (378-391).

5 - RETIREMENT FROM PUBLIC MINISTRY (Third Passover, A.D. 30 - Autumn, A.D. 30)

Withdrawal to Phoenicia (396-402). A deaf-mute healed; other miracles in Decapolis; feeding the four thousand; the demand for a sign (402-409). Withdrawal to Caesarea Philippi; the great confession (409-

15 Guide to the Earthly Life of Christ

419). The Transfiguration (419-424). The demon-possessed boy (424-430). A secret journey through Galilee: question on who is the great-est; the Temple half-shekel (430-442).

6 - MINISTRY IN SAMARIA AND PERAEA (Autumn, A.D. 30 - Passover, A.D. 31)

Secret journey to the feast of tabernacles (442-447). Teaching in the Temple (447-450). The adulteress (450-459). The Light of the world (460-468). The argument about descent from Abraham (466-468). The man born blind (458-474). The Good Shepherd; at the feast of dedica-tion (472-482). Final departure from Galilee; opening of the Samarian-Peraean ministry; mission of the Seventy (482-493). The good samari-tan (493-500). In the home of Mary and Martha (518-519). The raising of Lazarus (517-530). When and how the Kingdom comes (501-505). Blessing the children (506-511). The rich young ruler (512-516). Jesus foretells His death; the ambition of James and John (533-538). Zacchaeus (542-546). Simon’s feast (542-546). The betrayal plot (503-506, 548-549, 552-553).

7 - PASSION WEEK (Fourth Passover, Spring, A.D. 31)

Fourth Passover: The triumphal entry (559-569). The fruitless fig tree (569-576). Second cleansing of the Temple; the leaders challenge Jesus’ authority (577-590). Paying tribute to Caesar (590-592). Mar-riage and the resurrection (592-597). The great commandment (597-599). Jesus silences His critics (599). Woes upon scribes and Phari-sees; the widow’s mite (600-606). Interview with certain Greeks; continual need to walk in the light (612-619). Retirement to the Mount of Olives; Christ predicts coming events and His Second Advent (619-630). The sheep and the goats (630-635). Preparation for the Pass-over; Jesus washes the disciples’ feet (636-645). The Lord’s Supper; the betrayer is revealed (646-655). Parting counsel in the Upper Room and on the way to Gethsemane: A warning to Peter and the Ten; the True Vine; a warning of persecution; the coming of the Comforter; Jesus’ intercessory prayer (655-675) in Gethsemane; the three prayers and the betrayal (676-687). The Jewish Sanhedrin; trials before Annas


and Calaphas (687-704). Judas’ confession and suicide (704-705). The Roman trials: The first trial before Pilate (712-718). The hearing before Herod Antipas (718-721). The second trial before Pilate (721-731). The CrucifIxion (732-748). The meaning of “It is finished” (749-756). The burial; placement of the Roman guard at the tomb (757-767).

8 - RESURRECTION TO ASCENSION (Spring, A.D. 31)

The earthquake, resurrection, and the lying report (768-775). Visitors to the empty tomb: the women, Peter and John, Mary meets Christ (776-781). The walk to Emmaus (782-787). The two appearances in the Upper Room (787-793). Appearance by the Lake of Galilee, the miracle of the fish; Peter forgiven and assigned his work (794-801). Appearance on a mountain in Galilee; the Great Commission (802-814). To the Mount of Olives; the Ascension; the words of the angel; the return of the disciples to Jerusalem; Christ enters heaven and the presence of the Father (815-821).

4 - Bible Stories for the Whole Family in Desire of Ages

The Birth of Jesus 54-58 He is Dedicated in the Temple 58-65 The Journey of the Wise Men 66-73 The Childhood of Jesus 73-80 Jesus’ Twelfth-year Visit to Jerusalem 80-89 How Jesus as a Child Treated Others 89-97 The Birth and Upbringing of John the Baptist 97-104 John the Baptist Begins His Ministry 104-109 The Baptism of Jesus 110-114 Jesus is Tempted in the Wilderness 115-132 The First Disciples Come to Jesus 132-144 Jesus’ First Miracle at Cana 144-154 Jesus Cleanses the Temple 155-166

17 Bible Stories for the Whole Family

Nicodemus Visits Him at Night 167-176 The Unselfishness of John the Baptist 176-181 The Woman at the Well in Samaria 181-193 The Nobleman’s Son is Healed 193-197 The Healing at the Pool of Bethesda 198-213 John the Baptist is Imprisoned 213-220 The Death of John the Baptist 221-226 The Time of Jesus’ Ministry Fulfilled Prophecy 226-231 Jesus is Rejected in Nazareth 232-240 Jesus Calls Peter, James, and John 240-246 How Jesus Spoke to Men 247-250 Jesus Heals the Demoniac at Capernaum 250-254 Jesus Heals Peter’s Mother-in-law and Others 254-257 The Leper Who Sought Healing from Jesus 257-263 Jeus Heals the Paralytic at Capernaum 263-268 Matthew the Tax-collector Becomes a Disciple 268-270 Matthew’s Feast for the Publicans 270-272 The Disciples of John Come to Jesus 272-276 New Wine and Old Bottles 276-278 Jesus and the Bible Sabbath 278-287 Jesus Ordains the Twelve; What They Were Like 287-295 Christ Gives the Sermon on the Mount 296-313 Jesus Heals the Centurion’s Servant 313-316 The Widow’s Son is Raised from the Dead 316-319 The Brothers of Jesus 319-326 Jesus Invites All to Come to Him 327-331 Jesus Stills the Storm on the Sea 332-336 The Two Demoniacs at Gergesa are Healed 336-341 The Ruler’s Daughter is Healed 341-342 Healing Comes with a Touch 342-346 The Twelve are Instructed and Sent as Evangelists 346-357 Jesus Says to Come Apart and Rest 357-363 The Feeding of the Five Thousand 363-371


Jesus Walks on the Water 374-377 Many in Galilee Reject Christ 378-391 Scribes and Pharisees Try to Entrap Christ 392-396 Jesus Heals the Canaanite Woman’s Daughter 396-402 The Feeding of the Four Thousand 402-403 Jesus Explains the True Sign 403-409 “Whom Say Ye that I Am?” 409-415 Jesus Reproves Peter 415-419 Jesus is Transfigured on the Mount 419-424 The Boy with the Dumb Spirit is Healed 424-430 The Money in the Mouth of the Fish 430-433 “Except Ye Become as Little Children” 433-442 Jesus Goes to the Feast 442-447 If Any Man Thirst, Let Him Come” 447-450 The Scribes Seek to Entrap Him 450-455 OffIcers are Sent to Arrest Him 455-457 Jesus Forgives the Adulterous Woman 457-459 I am the Light of the World” 460-466 Jesus Declares His Pre-existence 466-468 The Man Blind from Birth is Healed 468-474 Jesus the Good Shepherd 475-482 Jesus Begins His Last Journey to Jerusalem 482-484 The Samaritans Refuse to Receive Him 484-493 Jesus Sends Out the Seventy 486-487 The Story of the Good Samaritan 493-500 The Nature of Christ’s Klngdom 501-506 Jesus Blesses the Children 506-511 The Rich Young Ruler 512-516 The Raising of Lazarus 517-530 Jesus is Condemned by the Council 530-536 The Ministry of Serving 536-541 Zacchaeus Meets Jesus 542-546 Mary’s Ointment at Simon’s Feast 547-559

19 Bible Stories for the Whole Family

The Triumphal Entry 559-569 The Cursing of the Fig Tree 569-576 The Second Cleansing of the Temple 577-580 Asking for His Authority 580-583 The Parable of the Two Sons 583-584 Slaying the Husbandman’s Son 584-585 The Foundation Stone 585-590 “Render Unto Ceasar” 590-592 Is There Marriage in Heaven? 592-597 The Great Commandment 597-599 What Think Ye of Christ? 599 The Pretense of the Pharisees 600-604 The Widow’s Mite 604-606 Pharisaical Deceptions 606-612 Greeks Come to See Jesus 612-619 Prophecies of the Future 619-630 Those Who Shall Inherit the Kingdom 630-635 In the Upper Room 636-638 Jesus Washes His Disciples’ Feet 638-645 The Lord’s Supper 646-655 Instruction in the Upper Room 655-675 In the Garden of Gethsemane 676-687 The Trial before Annas and Caiaphas 687-704 The History of Judas 707-712 The First Trial before Pilate 712-718 The Trial before Herod 718-721 The Trial before Hbefore Pilate 721-731 The Road to Calvary 732-735 Prophecies Fulfilled at Crucifixion 735-739 The Thief on the Cross 739-742 Jesus Cares for His Mother 742-743 The Death of Christ 743-748 “It is Finished” 749-756 Sabbath Rest in the Tomb 757-768


The Resurrection of Christ 768-775 In the Garden 776-781 The Walk to Emmaus 782-787 Jesus Appears to His Disciples 787-791 Thomas Sees Jesus 791-793 When the Nets Almost Broke 794-796 Jesus Forgives Peter 796-801 The Great Commission 802-814 The Ascension 815-821

5 - Map Section

On the next four pages, you will find a very helpfulset of maps. They were drawn especially for this editionof Desire of Ages. They show every place mentioned inDesire of Ages, with the exception of Egypt. MAP 1 — Judea and Galilee

This map shows the lower part of Palestine in the timeof Christ. MAP 2 — Galilee and Phoenicia

This map shows the upper part of Palestine at that time. MAP 3 — Jerusalem

This map indicates key locations during the last weekprior to the crucifixion. MAP 4 — Environs of Jerusalem

This map shows shows Jerusalem and the area to theeast of it—where the Mount of Olives was located.

“The Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly.”

—Psalm 84:11

25 Precious Promise Passages

6 - Precious Promise Passages to Desire of Ages

Are there times when the world seems to cave in on top of you? When these experiences come, as they willcome, our only comfort and safety is in fleeing to Jesus.Promises from the Bible and similar books can bring greatcomfort at such times.

Here are a number of promise passages from the bookyou now have in hand. These promises have been placedhere so that they can easily be found when you need them.The number reference in each instance refers to the pageand paragraph number where you may quickly find thepromise for which you are looking. For example, one ofthe promise passages is “Perfect peace amid the storms oflife: 334:6-335:2.” This promise passage begins on page334, paragraph 6, and continues over to the end of the sec-ond paragraph on page 335. Here are one hundred and tenpromise passages.

The fearful risk the Father took when He sent His Son. 58:1 in this paperback edition [49:1 in the standardedition]

God’s love for us is stronger than death; consider all the riches that He gave to Jesus to share with us. 64:3 [57:1]

What Jesus was like as a child. 73-80 [68-74] How to spend a thoughtful hour each day considering the life

of Christ. 88:4 [83:4] How Jesus as a youth related to those who tried to needle and

persecute Him. 89-97 [84-92]How John the Baptist was prepared for his lifework. 100:4-

104:3 [100:4-103:3]You are God’s beloved child. Here is the way to His throne

opened to you. 114:1-2 [113:1-2]The nature of man that Christ took. 118:1-2 [117:1-2]When in time of great weakness, Satan tempts you.

121:3:123:0 [120:2-121:2]


United to Him by faith, Satan cannot overcome us. But victory comes through the Word. 125:3-126:0 [123:3-4]

Apart from our own choice, Satan cannot compel us to sin. 127:1-2 [125:1-2]

Overcoming by believing God and claiming His promises.126:3-1283 [125:4-129:0]

Not until we reach heaven can we realize what it cost the Godhead to get us there. 132:1 [131:2]

What it was like to look into the face of Jesus. 138:1 [137:4-138:0]

How to enter the ministry of “come and see.” 141:6-42:1 [141:2-142:2]

God provides a feast that becomes continually richer for thesoul. 149:1 [148:3]

How God intends to cleanse your heart and change your life.159:3-160:0 [161:1-162:0]

How conversion takes place in the life. 171:1-3 [172:3-173:1]

The light shining from the cross is drawing us to Jesus. 175:1 [175:5-176:0]

Do you attract attention to Jesus or to yourself? 178:2-3 [179:4-180:0]

Emptied so we can be filled without measure. 179:1 [181:1]Quenching our thirst at the living springs that flow from

heaven. 183:2-3 [187:2-3]The earnest longing that Jesus has that you will come to

Him. 188:2 [191:1] Harvest from a one-soul audience that reaches out to yet

more. 192:4-193:2 [194:4-195:2] Clinging to Him always brings the victory. 195:3-196:1

[198:4-199:0] Asking and, then, believing that we have received. 197:1-2

[200:3-4]Do not wait to feel; believe and act upon it. 200:2 [203:2] So utterly surrendered, He accepted the Father’s plans for

Him. 206:2-207:2 [208:2-209:2] If you could see where He is leading, you would understand

the path you are on. 226:1 [224:5-225:0]


The countless dangers we have been preserved from by the angels. 236:4 [240:3]

The greatest discovery that man can make. 242:3-243:2 [246:1-3]

The men that God can, and will, use. 244:1-246:3 [251:2]How Jesus spoke to people. 248:2-250:2 [253:3-255:1] Rejecting the Inspired Scriptures is an invitation for demons

to enter. 253:1-255:0 [258:2-259:0] The prayer life of Jesus. 255:5-256:0 [89:6-90:0;

259:5-260:0]There was no self-assertion in His life. 256:2-257:3

[260:2-261:3]He will immediately grant you forgiveness of sin. 262:1-

263:0 [266:1-2]How you can receive forgiveness of sin. 262:3-263:0

[266:1-2]; 264:3-265:2 [268:1-4] Are you willing to follow wherever He may lead? 269:5

[273:4] How men reacted to the attitude that Christ took toward

them. 270:5 [274:2] Lessons from God’s holy Sabbath. 278:2-287:1 [281-289]Rest and peace by communion with God amid the scenes

of nature. 288:2-289:0 [291:1] God takes men as they are and, then, changes them. 292:2

[294:4] God needs us and is calling us now to work with Him. 294:3-

295:3 [296:4-297:3]Lessons from the Sermon on the Mount. 296:1-313:2

[298-314]What to do when Satan tells you that you are a sinner. 315:3-

316:1 [317:1]Satan cannot hold you when you flee to Jesus. 318:3-319:0

[320:2]Whatever the sin, it can be forgiven. 320:1 [321:3-322:0]

(The unpardonable sin is persistently refusing to repent, come to Christ, and ask to be forgiven.)

The gradual blinding that is the sin against the Holy Spirit. What is all that is included in it? 321:1-323:1 [322:2-4:2]


The soul that is yielded to Christ becomes His own fortress, and He will not yield it, except by our ownchoice. 322:3-323:0 [324:1]

Our next-of-kin, Christ, intends to redeem us. His love for us is deeper than that of anyone else. 325:4-326:0 [327:1-4]

A sweet chapter: Christ invites you to come to Him. 327:1-331:1 [328-332]

Perfect peace amid the storms of life. 334:6-335:0 [336:1-337:0]

Reach out and touch. 343:1 [343:5] Here is genuine, personal religion. 344:2 [347:1]You are God’s plan for revealing Christ to the world. 345:3

[348:2]How to strengthen and increase your blessings. 345:3-346:0

[348:2] How Jesus spoke to men. 350:2-351:0 [353:1]Daily treasuring the truth. 353:1-2 [355:1-2] Never surrender the truth by compromising it. 354:2

[356:1] God’s deepest concern is for you and everyone else in this

world. 355:1 [356:3]Twelve ways to deny Christ. 355:3-356:1 [357:1-2] The danger of overwork and under-prayer. 361:1 [362:2]Deepening our prayer life. 361:2-362:2 [362:3-363:2] Entering the deeper rest. 362:1-163:0 [363:1-3]What to do when difficulties press hard. 367:2-368:0

[369:1] How to share your little and multiply loaves as you do it.

368:1-371:1 [369:2-371:3] Taking His hand when you are about to go under. 376:2

[381:5-382:4] What it means to partake of Christ. 385:2-386:0 [389:3-

390:0]The life of Christ is in His Word; how to make the Scrip-

tures part of you. 386:1-388:0 [390:2-391:2]Satan can erect no barriers around you that Christ cannot

break through. 401:1-2 [403:1-2]The evidence that the gospel is true. 405:3-406:0 [407:1]


Sincerely desiring God’s glory is the religion of Christ.408:2-409:0 [409:3]

No man is to dictate your beliefs. 414:2 [414:3]Bearing the cross. 417:1-418:0 [416:3-417:2] You can never perish while you do this. 427:1-428:0

[428:5-429:1] How to strengthen faith and dissolve doubt 428:3-430:0

[429:4-431:3] The basic difference between Christ’s kingdom and that of

Satan’s. 434:1-436:3 [435:2-437:4]How to be free in Christ. 463:4-464:1 [466:3-4] What happens when the repentant sinner fixes his eye upon

Jesus. 439:1 [439:3-440:0] The cry of Christ to the thirsty soul. 449:2-450:1

[453:3-454:3]You can know from Scripture what the truth is. 455:1-2

[458:3-459:1]Christ is the Shepherd, the door, and the fold. 475:1-482:0

[476-484]Christ’s victory is ours; Satan can be a conquered foe. Here

is how it can be so. 489:1-5 [490:4-493:3]Let the children come to Jesus. 506:1-510:0 [511:1-512]Jesus knows the burden of every mother’s heart. 507:2-

508:0 [512:1-3]Training your children for heaven. 508:1-511:3 [512:4-

517:6]The “one thing” that Martha needed. 518:1-519:0 [525:1-

2] Those who will stand nearest to Christ. 538:7-539:2

[539:13] Christ’s kingdom is based on different principles than those

of the world. 540:1-541:3 [550:1-551:2] Evidence of genuine repentance. 545:2-546:0 [555:6-

556:1]Christ deeply values those who try to obey Him. 553:4-

554:1 [564:4-5]Christ can lift up the most hopeless and save the most

helpless. 558:1-559:2 [568:1-5]Twelve sentence prophecies of Christ. 568:3-569:9


[578:3-579:6] What it means to fall on the Rock and be broken. 588:4-

590:0 [599:3-600:2]Christ values the motive and appreciates your sincere effort.

605:4-606:0 [615:3]How to prepare for the end of time. 619:2-630:0 [627-641] What beholding Christ at Calvary can do for you. 655:1-

655:2 [661:2-3] The closing scenes in the life of Christ should be studied

over and over again. “It would be well for us to spend a thought-ful hour each day in contemplation of the life of Christ. We should take it point by point, and the imagination grasp each scene, especially the closing ones.” —page 88:4 [83] Here are the “closing scenes” chapters in this book: Final messages from your precious Jesus. 655:3-675:3

[662-680]Entering Gethsemane. 676:1-687:1 [685-697] His sufferings before Annas and Caiaphas. 687:2-704:0

[698-715]In Pilate’s judgment hall. 712:1-731:2 [723-740] Behold Him at Calvary. 732:1-748:1 [741-757]The meaning of “It is finished.” 749:1-756:4 [758-764] The Sabbath of rest in the tomb. 757:1-768:1 [769-778]Christ the Lord is risen! 768:1-775:2 [779-787]Come alone to the garden. 776:1-781:4 [788-794] Walk with Him to Emmaus. 782:1-787:1 [795-801]In the Upper Room. 787:2-793:2 [802-808] Peter restored. 794:1-801:3 [809-817]He gives you your commission. 802:1-814:2 [818-828] REJOICE! Jesus Christ, your Lord and Saviour, has gone to

heaven to minister to your needs,—and He is comingback soon! 815:1-821:3 [829-835]

7 - Old Testament Prophecies about Christ

The Old Testament prophecies of Christ are astound-

31 Old Testament Prophecies about Christ

ing and worthy of our most careful study. Because theyare often difficult to locate, we have arranged them here inclassified order. On the next page you will find predictionsabout the birth of Jesus and events in His life. On the pagefollowing it, you will find prophecies about His nature, per-son, and mission.

The study of the life of Christ, and the prophecies point-ing to Him, constitute a most thrilling study. And that iswhat this entire book is all about The more we study thelife and character of Christ, the more we shall love Him, and want to become like Him. By beholding we becomechanged. Studying this book and your Bible will help youbecome like Him.

Predicted centuries before His birth. Jesus came and fulfilled hundreds of predictions. Here are a few of theprophecies. Read and believe! Jesus is your Saviour, yourLord and your God. He is your hope for this life and forthe life to come.

PROPHECIES ABOUT CHRIST THE SEED OF THE WOMAN—Gen 3:15; Gal 4:4; 1 Tim 2:15; Rev 12:5. BORN OF A VIRGIN—Psalm 86:16; 116:16; Isa 7:14; Jer 31:22: Micah 5:3; Matt 1:23; Luke 1:26-35. OF THE FAMILY OF SHEM—Gen 9:26. OF THE RACE OF THE HEBREWS—Ex 3:18; John 4:9; 18:35. OF THE SEED OF ABRAHAM—Matt 1:1; John 8:56; Acts 3:25; Heb 2:18. OF THE LINE OF ISAAC—Gen 1719; 21:12; 26:4; Rom 9:7; Gal 4:23-28; Heb 11:18. OF JACOB (ISRAEL)—Gen 28:4-14; Ex 4:22; Num 24:7-17; Psalm 135:4, etc.; Isa 41:8; 49:6; Jet 14:8; Luke 1:68; 2:32; Acts 28:20. OF THE TRIBE OF JUDAH—1 Chron 5:2; Mlcah 5:2; Matt 2:6; Heb 7:14; Rev 5:5. OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID— 2 Sam 7:12-5; 1 Chron 17:11-14; 2 Chron 6:42; Psalms 89:4-4:36; 132:10-17; Isa 9:7; 11:1; 55:34; Jer 23:5-6; Amos 9:11; Matt 1:1; Luke 1:69; 2:4; John 7:42; Acts 2:30; 13:23; Ram 1:3; 2 Tim 2:8; Rev 22:16. BORN AT BETHLEHAM, THE CITY OF DAVID—Micah 5:2; Matt 2:6; Luke 2:4; John 7:42. HIS SUFFERINGS—Gen 3:15; Psalms 22:1-22:1.18; 31:13; 89:3845; Isa 53:1-12; Dan 9:28; Zech 13:6, 7; Matt 28:31; Luke 24:26; John 1:29; Acts 32:35. HIS DEATH ON THE CROSS—Num 21:9; Psalms 16:10; 22:16; 31:22; Isa 53:8-9; Dan 9:26; Matt 20:19; 26:2; John 3:14; 8:28; 12:32-33; 1 Car 15:3; Cal 2:14; Phil 2:8 HIS INTOMBMENT


AND EMBALMENT—Isa 53:9; Matt 26:12; Mark 14:8; John 12~7; 19:40; 1 Cor 15:4. HIS RESURRECTION ON THE THIRD DAY—Psalms 16:10; 17:15; 49:15; 73:24; John 1:17; Matt 12:40; 16:4; 21:63; John 2:19; Acts 2:27-31; 13:35; 1 Cot 15:4. HIS ASCENSION INTO HEAVEN—Psalms 8:5-6; 47:5; 68:18; 110:1; Acts 1:9; 2:33; John 20:17; Eph 4:8-10; Heb 1:3; 2:9; Rev 12:5. HIS SECOND ADVENT—Isa 40:10; 62:11; Jer 23:56; Psalm 50:1-6; Job 19:25-29; Matt 24:3-30; 25:31-34; 26 64; John 5:25. 28-30; Acts 17:31; 24:25; Heb 9:28; Rev 14:14; 19:11-17.

THE SON OF GOD—2 Sam 7:14; 1 Chron 17:13; Psalms 2:7; 72:1; Prov 30:4; Dan 3:25; Mark 1:1; Luke 1:35; Matt 3:17; 17:5; John 1:34-50; 3:16-18; 20:31; Heb 1:1-5; Rom 1:4; 1 John 4:14; Rev 1:5-8. THE SON OF MAN—Psalm 8:4-5; Dan 7:13; John 1:51; 3:13; 5:17; Matt 18:13; 26:67; Heb 2:7; Rev 1:13; 14:14. THE HOLY ONE—Deut 33:8; Psalms 16:10; 89:19; Isa 10:17; 29:33; 49:7; Has 11:9; Hab 1:12; 3:3; Mark 1:24; Luke 1:35; 434; 1 John 2:20. THE RIGHTEOUS ONE—Isaiah 41:2; Jer 23:5; Zech 99; Psalm 34:19, 21; Luke 1:17; Matt 27:19.24; Luke 23:41; Acts 3:14; 1:52; 22:14; 1 John 2:1,29; James 5:6. THE WISDOM OF GOD— Prov 8:22-30; Matt 11:19; Luke 11:49; 1 Cot 1:24. THE WORD OF GOD— Gee 15:14; 1 Sam 3:1.21; 2 Sam 7:4, I Kingsl7:8-24; Psalm 33:6; Isa 40:8; Jer 25:3; Micah 4:2; John 1:1-14; 3:34; Luke 1:2; Heb 4:12; 11:3; 1 Pet 1:23; 2 Pet 3:5; Rev 19:13. THE REDEEMER OR SAVIOUR— Gen 48:16; Job 19:25-27; Psalm 19:14; Isa 41:14; 44:6; 47:4; 59:20; 62:11; 63:1; Jer 59:34; Matt 1:21; 4:42; Luke 2:11; John 1:29; Acts 5:31; Rom 11:20; Rev 5:9. THE LAMB OF GOD—Gee 22:8; Isa 53:7; John 1:29; Acts 8:32-35; 1 Pet 1:18; Rev 5:6; 13:8; 15:3; 21:22; 22:1. THE MEDIATOR, INTERCES-SOR AND ADVOCATE—Job 33:23: Isa 53:12; 59:16; Luke 23:34; 1 Tim 2:5; Heb 9:15; 1 Jn 2:1; Rev 5:9. SHILOH. THE APOSTLE—Gen 49:10; Ex 4:13; Matt 15:24; Luke 4:18; John 9:7; 17:3; 20:21; Heb 3:1. THE HIGH PRIEST—Psalm 119:4; Isa 59:16; Heb 3:1; 4:14; 5:10; 9:11. THE PROPHET LIKE MOSES—Deut 18:15-19; Mark 6:15; Luke 24:19; John 1:17-21; 6:14; Acts 3:22-23. THE LEADER, DR CHIEF CAPTAIN—Josh 5:14; 1 Chron 5:2; Isa 55:4; Micah 5:2; Dan 9:25; Matt 2:6; Heb 2:10. THE MESSIAH. CHRIST, KING OF ISRAEL—i Sam 2:10; 2 Sam 7:12;1 Chron 17:11; Psalm 2:2,6;45:1,6; 72:1; 89:38; Isa 61:1; Dan 9:26; Matt 2:24; 16:18; Luke 23:2; John 1:41-49; 6:69; Acts 4:26-27; 10:38. THE GOD OF ISRAEL—Ex 24:10.11; Josh 17:19; Judges 11:23: 1 Sam 5:11; 1 Chron 17:24; Psalms 41:13; Isa 45:3; Ezek 8:4; Matt 15:31; 22:37; John 20:38. KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS—Psalm 89:27; 110:1; Dan 7:1314; Matt 28:18; ‘John 3:35; 13:3; 1 Car 15:25; Eph 1:20-22; Col 3:1; Rev 19:16.

33 Special Quotations from the Book

“God never leads His children otherwise than they would choose to be led, if they could see the end from the beginning, and discern the glory of the purpose which they are fulfilling as coworkers with Him.”—page 226.

“Worry Is blind, and cannot discern the future; but Jesus sees the end from the beginning. In every diffi-culty He has His way prepared to bring relief. Our heav-enly Father has a thousand ways to provide for us, of which we know nothing. Those who accept the one principle of making the service and honor of God surpreme will find perplexities vanish, and a plain path before their feet.”—page 329.

“In every difficulty we are to see a call to prayer. There is no one living who has any power that he has not received from God, and the source whence it comes Is open to the weakest human being.”—page 659-660.

“Those who decide to do nothing In any line that will displease God, will know, after presenting their case before Him, just what course to pursue. And they will receive not only wisdom, but strength. Power for obe-dience, for service, will be imparted to them, as Christ has promlsed.”—page 661.

“The way to heaven is consecrated by the Saviour’s footprints. The path may be steep and rugged, but Jesus has traveled that way; His feet have pressed down the cruel thorns, to make the pathway easier for us. Every burden that we are called to bear He Him-self has borne.”—page 480.

“Never can the cost of our redemption be realized until the redeemed shall stand with the Redeemer before the eternal throne. Then as the glories of the eternal home burst upon our enraptured senses we shall remember that Jesus left all this for us, that He not only became an exile from the heavenly courts, but for us took the risk of failure and eternal loss. Then we shall cast our crowns at His feet, and raise the


song, ‘Worthy Is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor.’ ”—page 132.

“Our Redeemer has opened the way so that the most sinful, the most needy, the most oppressed and despised, may find access to the Father. All may have a home in the mansions which Jesus has gone to pre-pare . . ‘Behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it.’ ”—page 114.

“Every promise In God’s Word is ours. ‘By every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God’ are we to live. When assailed by temptation look not to cir-cumstances or to the weakness of self, but to the power of the Word. All its strength is yours.”—page 125-126.

“Do not wait to feel that you are made whole. Be-lieve His Word, and it will be fulfilled. Put your will on the side of Christ. Will to serve Him, and in acting upon His Word you will receive strength.”—page 200.

“At all times and In all places, in all sorrows and in all afflictions, when the outlook seems dark and the future perplexing, and we feel helpless and alone, the Comforter will be sent In answer to the prayer of faith. Circumstances may separate us from every earthly friend; but no circumstance, no distance, can sepa-rate us from the heavenly Comforter.”—page 662.

“As the mother teaches her children to obey her because they love her, she is teaching them the first lessons in the Christian life. The mother’s love repre-sents to the child the love of Christ, and the little ones who trust and obey their mother are learning to trust and obey the Savlour.”—page 509.

“The approval of God rests with loving assurance upon children and youth who cheerfully take their part In the duties of the household, sharing the burdens of father and mother. Such children will go out from the home to be useful members of society.”—page 78.

35 God with Us [19-20]

Chapter 1Chapter 1Chapter 1Chapter 1Chapter 1

“God“God“God“God“God with Us”with Us”with Us”with Us”with Us”

“His name shall be called Immanuel, . . . God with us.” “The light of the knowledge of the glory of God” is

seen “in the face of Jesus Christ.” From the days of eter-nity the Lord Jesus Christ was one with the Father; Hewas “the image of God,” the image of His greatness andmajesty, “the outshining of His glory.” It was to manifestthis glory that He came to our world. To this sin-darkenedearth He came to reveal the light of God’s love,—to be“God with us.” Therefore it was prophesied of Him, “Hisname shall be called Immanuel.”

By coming to dwell with us, Jesus was to reveal Godboth to men and to angels. He was the Word of God,—God’s thought made audible. In His prayer for His dis-ciples He says, “I have declared unto them Thy name,”—“merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in good-ness and truth,”—“that the love wherewith Thou hast loved Me may be in them, and I in them.” But not alone for Hisearthborn children was this revelation given. Our little worldis the lesson book of the universe. God’s wonderful pur-pose of grace, the mystery of redeeming love, is the themeinto which “angels desire to look,” and it will be their studythroughout endless ages. Both the redeemed and the unfallenbeings will find in the cross of Christ their science and theirsong. It will be seen that the glory shining in the face ofJesus is the glory of self-sacrificing love. In the light fromCalvary it will be seen that the law of self-renouncing loveis the law of life for earth and heaven; that the love which “seeketh not her own” has its source in the heart of God; and that in the meek and lowly One is manifested the char-

——————————— This chapter is based on Matthew 1:23.


acter of Him who dwelleth in the light which no man canapproach unto.

In the beginning, God was revealed in all the works ofcreation. It was Christ that spread the heavens, and laidthe foundations of the earth. It was His hand that hung theworlds in space, and fashioned the flowers of the field.“His strength setteth fast the mountains.” “The sea is His,and He made it.” Ps. 65:6; 95:5. It was He that filled the earth with beauty, and the air with song. And upon all thingsin earth, and air, and sky, He wrote the message of theFather’s love.

Now sin has marred God’s perfect work, yet that hand-writing remains. Even now all created things declare theglory of His excellence. There is nothing, save the selfishheart of man, that lives unto itself. No bird that cleaves the air, no animal that moves upon the ground, but ministers tosome other life. There is no leaf of the forest, or lowlyblade of grass, but has its ministry. Every tree and shruband leaf pours forth that element of life without which nei-ther man nor animal could live; and man and animal, in turn, minister to the life of tree and shrub and leaf. The flowers breathe fragrance and unfold their beauty in bless-ing to the world. The sun sheds its light to gladden a thou-sand worlds. The ocean, itself the source of all our springsand fountains, receives the streams from every land, buttakes to give. The mists ascending from its bosom fall inshowers to water the earth, that it may bring forth and bud.

The angels of glory find their joy in giving,—giving loveand tireless watchcare to souls that are fallen and unholy.Heavenly beings woo the hearts of men; they bring to thisdark world light from the courts above; by gentle and pa-tient ministry they move upon the human spirit, to bring thelost into a fellowship with Christ which is even closer thanthey themselves can know.

But turning from all lesser representations, we beholdGod in Jesus. Looking unto Jesus we see that it is the gloryof our God to give. “I do nothing of Myself,” said Christ;“the living Father hath sent Me, and I live by the Father.”


“I seek not Mine own glory,” but the glory of Him that sentMe. John 8:28; 6:57; 8:50; 7:18. In these words is set forth the great principle which is the law of life for the universe.All things Christ received from God, but He took to give.So in the heavenly courts, in His ministry for all createdbeings: through the beloved Son, the Father’s life flows outto all; through the Son it returns, in praise and joyous ser-vice, a tide of love, to the great Source of all. And thusthrough Christ the circuit of beneficence is complete, rep-resenting the character of the great Giver, the law of life.

In heaven itself this law was broken. Sin originated inself-seeking. Lucifer, the covering cherub, desired to befirst in heaven. He sought to gain control of heavenly be-ings, to draw them away from their Creator, and to wintheir homage to himself. Therefore he misrepresented God,attributing to Him the desire for self-exaltation. With hisown evil characteristics he sought to invest the loving Cre-ator. Thus he deceived angels. Thus he deceived men. Heled them to doubt the word of God, and to distrust His goodness. Because God is a God of justice and terriblemajesty, Satan caused them to look upon Him as severeand unforgiving. Thus he drew men to join him in rebellionagainst God, and the night of woe settled down upon theworld.

The earth was dark through misapprehension of God.That the gloomy shadows might be lightened, that the worldmight be brought back to God, Satan’s deceptive powerwas to be broken. This could not be done by force. Theexercise of force is contrary to the principles of God’s gov-ernment; He desires only the service of love; and love can-not be commanded; it cannot be won by force or authority.Only by love is love awakened. To know God is to loveHim; His character must be manifested in contrast to the character of Satan. This work only one Being in all theuniverse could do. Only He who knew the height and depthof the love of God could make it known. Upon the world’sdark night the Sun of Righteousness must rise, “with heal-ing in His wings.” Mal. 4:2.


The plan for our redemption was not an afterthought, aplan formulated after the fall of Adam. It was a revelationof “the mystery which hath been kept in silence throughtimes eternal.” Rom. 16:25, R.V. It was an unfolding of theprinciples that from eternal ages have been the foundationof God’s throne. From the beginning, God and Christ knewof the apostasy of Satan, and of the fall of man through thedeceptive power of the apostate. God did not ordain thatsin should exist, but He foresaw its existence, and made provision to meet the terrible emergency. So great was Hislove for the world, that He covenanted to give His only-begotten Son, “that whosoever believeth in Him should notperish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16.

Lucifer had said, “I will exalt my throne above the starsof God; . . . I will be like the Most High.” Isa. 14:13, 14.But Christ, “being in the form of God, counted it not a thingto be grasped to be on an equality with God, but emptiedHimself, taking the form of a servant, being made in thelikeness of men.” Phil. 2:6, 7, R.V., margin.

This was a voluntary sacrifice. Jesus might have re-mained at the Father’s side. He might have retained theglory of heaven, and the homage of the angels. But Hechose to give back the scepter into the Father’s hands, andto step down from the throne of the universe, that He mightbring light to the benighted, and life to the perishing.

Nearly two thousand years ago, a voice of mysteriousimport was heard in heaven, from the throne of God, “Lo, Icome.” “Sacrifice and offering Thou wouldest not, but abody hast Thou prepared Me. . . . Lo, I come (in the vol-ume of the Book it is written of Me,) to do Thy will, OGod.” Heb. 10:5-7. In these words is announced the fulfill-ment of the purpose that had been hidden from eternalages. Christ was about to visit our world, and to becomeincarnate. He says, “A body hast Thou prepared Me.” HadHe appeared with the glory that was His with the Fatherbefore the world was, we could not have endured the lightof His presence. That we might behold it and not be de-stroyed, the manifestation of His glory was shrouded. His


divinity was veiled with humanity,—the invisible glory inthe visible human form.

This great purpose had been shadowed forth in typesand symbols. The burning bush, in which Christ appearedto Moses, revealed God. The symbol chosen for the repre-sentation of the Deity was a lowly shrub, that seeminglyhad no attractions. This enshrined the Infinite. The all-mer-ciful God shrouded His glory in a most humble type, thatMoses could look upon it and live. So in the pillar of cloudby day and the pillar of fire by night, God communicatedwith Israel, revealing to men His will, and imparting to themHis grace. God’s glory was subdued, and His majesty veiled,that the weak vision of finite men might behold it. So Christwas to come in “the body of our humiliation” (Phil. 3:21,R.V.), “in the likeness of men.” In the eyes of the worldHe possessed no beauty that they should desire Him; yetHe was the incarnate God, the light of heaven and earth.His glory was veiled, His greatness and majesty were hid-den, that He might draw near to sorrowful, tempted men.

God commanded Moses for Israel, “Let them make Me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them” (Ex. 25:8),and He abode in the sanctuary, in the midst of His people.Through all their weary wandering in the desert, the sym-bol of His presence was with them. So Christ set up Histabernacle in the midst of our human encampment. Hepitched His tent by the side of the tents of men, that Hemight dwell among us, and make us familiar with His di-vine character and life. “The Word became flesh, and tab-ernacled among us (and we beheld His glory, glory as ofthe Only Begotten from the Father), full of grace and truth.”John 1:14, R.V., margin.

Since Jesus came to dwell with us, we know that God is acquainted with our trials, and sympathizes with our griefs.Every son and daughter of Adam may understand that ourCreator is the friend of sinners. For in every doctrine ofgrace, every promise of joy, every deed of love, every di-vine attraction presented in the Saviour’s life on earth, wesee “God with us.”


Satan represents God’s law of love as a law of selfish-ness. He declares that it is impossible for us to obey itsprecepts. The fall of our first parents, with all the woe thathas resulted, he charges upon the Creator, leading men tolook upon God as the author of sin, and suffering, and death.Jesus was to unveil this deception. As one of us He was togive an example of obedience. For this He took upon Him-self our nature, and passed through our experiences. “In allthings it behooved Him to be made like unto His brethren.”Heb. 2:17. If we had to bear anything which Jesus did notendure, then upon this point Satan would represent thepower of God as insufficient for us. Therefore Jesus was“in all points tempted like as we are.” Heb. 4:15. He en-dured every trial to which we are subject. And He exer-cised in His own behalf no power that is not freely offeredto us. As man, He met temptation, and overcame in thestrength given Him from God. He says, “I delight to do Thywill, O My God: yea, Thy law is within My heart.” Ps.40:8. As He went about doing good, and healing all whowere afflicted by Satan, He made plain to men the charac-ter of God’s law and the nature of His service. His life testifies that it is possible for us also to obey the law ofGod.

By His humanity, Christ touched humanity; by His di-vinity, He lays hold upon the throne of God. As the Son ofman, He gave us an example of obedience; as the Son ofGod, He gives us power to obey. It was Christ who fromthe bush on Mount Horeb spoke to Moses saying, “I AM THAT I AM. . . . Thus shalt thou say unto the children ofIsrael, I AM hath sent me unto you.” Ex. 3:14. This was thepledge of Israel’s deliverance. So when He came “in thelikeness of men,” He declared Himself the I AM. The Child of Bethlehem, the meek and lowly Saviour, is God “mani-fest in the flesh.” 1 Tim. 3:16. And to us He says: “I AM the Good Shepherd.” “I AM the living Bread.” “I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” “All power is given unto Mein heaven and in earth.” John 10:11; 6:51; 14:6; Matt. 28:18. I AM the assurance of every promise. I AM; be not afraid.


“God with us” is the surety of our deliverance from sin, theassurance of our power to obey the law of heaven.

In stooping to take upon Himself humanity, Christ re-vealed a character the opposite of the character of Satan.But He stepped still lower in the path of humiliation. “Be-ing found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, andbecame obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” Phil. 2:8. As the high priest laid aside his gorgeous pontifi-cal robes, and officiated in the white linen dress of the common priest, so Christ took the form of a servant, andoffered sacrifice, Himself the priest, Himself the victim.“He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruisedfor our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was uponHim.” Isa. 53:5.

Christ was treated as we deserve, that we might betreated as He deserves. He was condemned for our sins, in which He had no share, that we might be justified by Hisrighteousness, in which we had no share. He suffered thedeath which was ours, that we might receive the life whichwas His. “With His stripes we are healed.”

By His life and His death, Christ has achieved evenmore than recovery from the ruin wrought through sin. Itwas Satan’s purpose to bring about an eternal separationbetween God and man; but in Christ we become more closely united to God than if we had never fallen. In takingour nature, the Saviour has bound Himself to humanity bya tie that is never to be broken. Through the eternal agesHe is linked with us. “God so loved the world, that He gaveHis only-begotten Son.” John 3:16. He gave Him not onlyto bear our sins, and to die as our sacrifice; He gave Himto the fallen race. To assure us of His immutable counsel of peace, God gave His only-begotten Son to become oneof the human family, forever to retain His human nature.This is the pledge that God will fulfill His word. “Unto us achild is born, unto us a son is given: and the governmentshall be upon His shoulder.” God has adopted human na-ture in the person of His Son, and has carried the same intothe highest heaven. It is the “Son of man” who shares the


throne of the universe. It is the “Son of man” whose name shall be called, “Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God,The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” Isa. 9:6.The I AM is the Daysman between God and humanity, lay-ing His hand upon both. He who is “holy, harmless, unde-filed, separate from sinners,” is not ashamed to call us breth-ren. Heb. 7:26; 2:11. In Christ the family of earth and thefamily of heaven are bound together. Christ glorified is ourbrother. Heaven is enshrined in humanity, and humanity isenfolded in the bosom of Infinite Love.

Of His people God says, “They shall be as the stonesof a crown, lifted up as an ensign upon His land. For howgreat is His goodness, and how great is His beauty!” Zech.9:16, 17. The exaltation of the redeemed will be an eternal testimony to God’s mercy. “In the ages to come,” He will“show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindnesstoward us through Christ Jesus.” “To the intent that . . .unto the principalities and the powers in the heavenly placesmight be made known . . . the manifold wisdom of God,according to the eternal purpose which He purposed inChrist Jesus our Lord.” Eph. 2:7; 3:10, 11, R.V.

Through Christ’s redeeming work the government ofGod stands justified. The Omnipotent One is made knownas the God of love. Satan’s charges are refuted, and hischaracter unveiled. Rebellion can never again arise. Sincan never again enter the universe. Through eternal agesall are secure from apostasy. By love’s self-sacrifice, theinhabitants of earth and heaven are bound to their Creator in bonds of indissoluble union.

The work of redemption will be complete. In the placewhere sin abounded, God’s grace much more abounds. Theearth itself, the very field that Satan claims as his, is to benot only ransomed but exalted. Our little world, under thecurse of sin the one dark blot in His glorious creation, willbe honored above all other worlds in the universe of God. Here, where the Son of God tabernacled in humanity; wherethe King of glory lived and suffered and died,—here, whenHe shall make all things new, the tabernacle of God shall

43 The Chosen People [25-27]

be with men, “and He will dwell with them, and they shallbe His people, and God Himself shall be with them, and betheir God.” And through endless ages as the redeemedwalk in the light of the Lord, they will praise Him for Hisunspeakable Gift,—

Immanuel, “God with us.”


The ChosenThe ChosenThe ChosenThe ChosenThe Chosen PPPPPeopleeopleeopleeopleeople

For more than a thousand years the Jewish people hadawaited the Saviour’s coming. Upon this event they hadrested their brightest hopes. In song and prophecy, in templerite and household prayer, they had enshrined His name.And yet at His coming they knew Him not. The Beloved ofheaven was to them “as a root out of a dry ground;” Hehad “no form nor comeliness;” and they saw in Him nobeauty that they should desire Him. “He came unto Hisown, and His own received Him not.” Isa. 53:2; John 1:11.

Yet God had chosen Israel. He had called them to pre-serve among men the knowledge of His law, and of thesymbols and prophecies that pointed to the Saviour. Hedesired them to be as wells of salvation to the world. What Abraham was in the land of his sojourn, what Joseph wasin Egypt, and Daniel in the courts of Babylon, the Hebrewpeople were to be among the nations. They were to revealGod to men.

In the call of Abraham the Lord had said, “I will bless thee; . . . and thou shalt be a blessing: . . . and in thee shallall families of the earth be blessed.” Gen. 12:2, 3. The same teaching was repeated through the prophets. Even after

——————————— This chapter is based on John 1:11.


Israel had been wasted by war and captivity, the promisewas theirs, “The remnant of Jacob shall be in the midst of many people as a dew from the Lord, as the showers uponthe grass, that tarrieth not for man, nor waiteth for the sonsof men.” Micah 5:7. Concerning the temple at Jerusalem,the Lord declared through Isaiah, “Mine house shall becalled an house of prayer for all peoples.” Isa. 56:7, R.V.

But the Israelites fixed their hopes upon worldly great-ness. From the time of their entrance to the land of Canaan, they departed from the commandments of God, and fol-lowed the ways of the heathen. It was in vain that Godsent them warning by His prophets. In vain they sufferedthe chastisement of heathen oppression. Every reforma-tion was followed by deeper apostasy.

Had Israel been true to God, He could have accom-plished His purpose through their honor and exaltation. Ifthey had walked in the ways of obedience, He would havemade them “high above all nations which He hath made, inpraise, and in name, and in honor.” “All people of the earth,”said Moses, “shall see that thou art called by the name ofthe Lord; and they shall be afraid of thee.” “The nationswhich shall hear all these statutes” shall say, “Surely thisgreat nation is a wise and understanding people.” Deut.26:19; 28:10; 4:6. But because of their unfaithfulness, God’s purpose could be wrought out only through continued ad-versity and humiliation.

They were brought into subjection to Babylon, and scat-tered through the lands of the heathen. In affliction manyrenewed their faithfulness to His covenant. While they hungtheir harps upon the willows, and mourned for the holytemple that was laid waste, the light of truth shone outthrough them, and a knowledge of God was spread amongthe nations. The heathen systems of sacrifice were a per-version of the system that God had appointed; and many asincere observer of heathen rites learned from the He-brews the meaning of the service divinely ordained, and infaith grasped the promise of a Redeemer.

Many of the exiles suffered persecution. Not a few

45 The Chosen People [27-29]

lost their lives because of their refusal to disregard the Sab-bath and to observe the heathen festivals. As idolaters were roused to crush out the truth, the Lord brought His ser-vants face to face with kings and rulers, that they and theirpeople might receive the light. Time after time the greatestmonarchs were led to proclaim the supremacy of the Godwhom their Hebrew captives worshiped.

By the Babylonish captivity the Israelites were effec-tually cured of the worship of graven images. During thecenturies that followed, they suffered from the oppressionof heathen foes, until the conviction became fixed that their prosperity depended upon their obedience to the law ofGod. But with too many of the people obedience was notprompted by love. The motive was selfish. They renderedoutward service to God as the means of attaining to na-tional greatness. They did not become the light of the world,but shut themselves away from the world in order to es-cape temptation to idolatry. In the instruction given throughMoses, God had placed restrictions upon their associationwith idolaters; but this teaching had been misinterpreted. Itwas intended to prevent them from conforming to the prac-tices of the heathen. But it was used to build up a wall ofseparation between Israel and all other nations. The Jewslooked upon Jerusalem as their heaven, and they were ac-tually jealous lest the Lord should show mercy to the Gen-tiles.

After the return from Babylon, much attention wasgiven to religious instruction. All over the country, syna-gogues were erected, where the law was expounded bythe priests and scribes. And schools were established, which,together with the arts and sciences, professed to teach theprinciples of righteousness. But these agencies became cor-rupted. During the captivity, many of the people had re-ceived heathen ideas and customs, and these were broughtinto their religious service. In many things they conformedto the practices of idolaters.

As they departed from God, the Jews in a great de-gree lost sight of the teaching of the ritual service. That


service had been instituted by Christ Himself. In every partit was a symbol of Him; and it had been full of vitality andspiritual beauty. But the Jews lost the spiritual life fromtheir ceremonies, and clung to the dead forms. They trustedto the sacrifices and ordinances themselves, instead of rest-ing upon Him to whom they pointed. In order to supply theplace of that which they had lost, the priests and rabbismultiplied requirements of their own; and the more rigidthey grew, the less of the love of God was manifested.They measured their holiness by the multitude of their cer-emonies, while their hearts were filled with pride and hy-pocrisy.

With all their minute and burdensome injunctions, it wasan impossibility to keep the law. Those who desired to serveGod, and who tried to observe the rabbinical precepts, toiledunder a heavy burden. They could find no rest from theaccusings of a troubled conscience. Thus Satan worked todiscourage the people, to lower their conception of the char-acter of God, and to bring the faith of Israel into contempt.He hoped to establish the claim put forth when he rebelledin heaven,—that the requirements of God were unjust, andcould not be obeyed. Even Israel, he declared, did not keepthe law.

While the Jews desired the advent of the Messiah, theyhad no true conception of His mission. They did not seekredemption from sin, but deliverance from the Romans.They looked for the Messiah to come as a conqueror, tobreak the oppressor’s power, and exalt Israel to universaldominion. Thus the way was prepared for them to rejectthe Saviour.

At the time of the birth of Christ the nation was chaf-ing under the rule of her foreign masters, and racked withinternal strife. The Jews had been permitted to maintainthe form of a separate government; but nothing could dis-guise the fact that they were under the Roman yoke, orreconcile them to the restriction of their power. The Ro-mans claimed the right of appointing and removing the highpriest, and the office was often secured by fraud, bribery,

47 The Fullness of Time [29-31]

and even murder. Thus the priesthood became more andmore corrupt. Yet the priests still possessed great power,and they employed it for selfish and mercenary ends. Thepeople were subjected to their merciless demands, and werealso heavily taxed by the Romans. This state of affairscaused widespread discontent. Popular outbreaks werefrequent. Greed and violence, distrust and spiritual apathy,were eating out the very heart of the nation.

Hatred of the Romans, and national and spiritual pride,led the Jews still to adhere rigorously to their forms ofworship. The priests tried to maintain a reputation for sanc-tity by scrupulous attention to the ceremonies of religion.The people, in their darkness and oppression, and the rul-ers, thirsting for power, longed for the coming of One whowould vanquish their enemies and restore the kingdom toIsrael. They had studied the prophecies, but without spiri-tual insight. Thus they overlooked those scriptures that pointto the humiliation of Christ’s first advent, and misappliedthose that speak of the glory of His second coming. Prideobscured their vision. They interpreted prophecy in accor-dance with their selfish desires.


“The Fullness“The Fullness“The Fullness“The Fullness“The Fullness of the Tof the Tof the Tof the Tof the Time”ime”ime”ime”ime”

“When the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, . . . to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.” Gal. 4:4, 5.

The Saviour’s coming was foretold in Eden. WhenAdam and Eve first heard the promise, they looked for itsspeedy fulfillment. They joyfully welcomed their first-bornson, hoping that he might be the Deliverer. But the fulfill-

——————————— This chapter is based on Galatians 4:4; Genesis 49:10.


ment of the promise tarried. Those who first received itdied without the sight. From the days of Enoch the promisewas repeated through patriarchs and prophets, keeping alivethe hope of His appearing, and yet He came not. The proph-ecy of Daniel revealed the time of His advent, but not allrightly interpreted the message. Century after centurypassed away; the voices of the prophets ceased. The handof the oppressor was heavy upon Israel, and many wereready to exclaim, “The days are prolonged, and every vi-sion faileth.” Eze. 12:22.

But like the stars in the vast circuit of their appointedpath, God’s purposes know no haste and no delay. Throughthe symbols of the great darkness and the smoking fur-nace, God had revealed to Abraham the bondage of Israelin Egypt, and had declared that the time of their sojourningshould be four hundred years. “Afterward,” He said, “shallthey come out with great substance.” Gen. 15:14. Againstthat word, all the power of Pharaoh’s proud empire battledin vain. On “the selfsame day” appointed in the divine prom-ise, “it came to pass, that all the hosts of the Lord went outfrom the land of Egypt.” Ex. 12:41. So in heaven’s councilthe hour for the coming of Christ had been determined.When the great clock of time pointed to that hour, Jesuswas born in Bethlehem.

“When the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son.” Providence had directed the movements of nations, and the tide of human impulse and influence, untilthe world was ripe for the coming of the Deliverer. Thenations were united under one government. One languagewas widely spoken, and was everywhere recognized asthe language of literature. From all lands the Jews of thedispersion gathered to Jerusalem to the annual feasts. Asthese returned to the places of their sojourn, they couldspread throughout the world the tidings of the Messiah’scoming.

At this time the systems of heathenism were losingtheir hold upon the people. Men were weary of pageantand fable. They longed for a religion that could satisfy the


heart. While the light of truth seemed to have departedfrom among men, there were souls who were looking forlight, and who were filled with perplexity and sorrow. Theywere thirsting for a knowledge of the living God, for someassurance of a life beyond the grave.

As the Jews had departed from God, faith had growndim, and hope had well-nigh ceased to illuminate the fu-ture. The words of the prophets were uncomprehended.To the masses of the people, death was a dread mystery;beyond was uncertainty and gloom. It was not alone thewailing of the mothers of Bethlehem, but the cry from thegreat heart of humanity, that was borne to the prophet acrossthe centuries,—the voice heard in Ramah, “lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for herchildren, and would not be comforted, because they arenot.” Matt. 2:18. In “the region and shadow of death,” mensat unsolaced. With longing eyes they looked for the com-ing of the Deliverer, when the darkness should be dispelled,and the mystery of the future should be made plain.

Outside of the Jewish nation there were men who fore-told the appearance of a divine instructor. These men wereseeking for truth, and to them the Spirit of Inspiration wasimparted. One after another, like stars in the darkened heav-ens, such teachers had arisen. Their words of prophecyhad kindled hope in the hearts of thousands of the Gentileworld.

For hundreds of years the Scriptures had been trans-lated into the Greek language, then widely spoken through-out the Roman Empire. The Jews were scattered every-where, and their expectation of the Messiah’s coming wasto some extent shared by the Gentiles. Among those whomthe Jews styled heathen were men who had a better un-derstanding of the Scripture prophecies concerning theMessiah than had the teachers in Israel. There were some who hoped for His coming as a deliverer from sin. Philoso-phers endeavored to study into the mystery of the Hebreweconomy. But the bigotry of the Jews hindered the spreadof the light. Intent on maintaining the separation between


themselves and other nations, they were unwilling to im-part the knowledge they still possessed concerning the sym-bolic service. The true Interpreter must come. The Onewhom all these types prefigured must explain their signifi-cance.

Through nature, through types and symbols, throughpatriarchs and prophets, God had spoken to the world. Les-sons must be given to humanity in the language of human-ity. The Messenger of the covenant must speak. His voicemust be heard in His own temple. Christ must come toutter words which should be clearly and definitely under-stood. He, the author of truth, must separate truth from thechaff of man’s utterance, which had made it of no effect. The principles of God’s government and the plan of re-demption must be clearly defined. The lessons of the OldTestament must be fully set before men.

Among the Jews there were yet steadfast souls, de-scendants of that holy line through whom a knowledge ofGod had been preserved. These still looked for the hope ofthe promise made unto the fathers. They strengthened theirfaith by dwelling upon the assurance given through Moses,“A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you ofyour brethren, like unto me; Him shall ye hear in all thingswhatsoever He shall say unto you.” Acts 3:22. Again, theyread how the Lord would anoint One “to preach good tid-ings unto the meek,” “to bind up the brokenhearted, to pro-claim liberty to the captives,” and to declare the “accept-able year of the Lord.” Isa. 61:1, 2. They read how Hewould “set judgment in the earth,” how the isles should“wait for His law,” how the Gentiles should come to His light, and kings to the brightness of His rising. Isa. 42:4;60:3.

The dying words of Jacob filled them with hope: “Thescepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver frombetween his feet, until Shiloh come.” Gen. 49:10. The wan-ing power of Israel testified that the Messiah’s coming wasat hand. The prophecy of Daniel pictured the glory of Hisreign over an empire which should succeed all earthly king-


doms; and, said the prophet, “It shall stand forever.” Dan.2:44. While few understood the nature of Christ’s mission, there was a widespread expectation of a mighty princewho should establish his kingdom in Israel, and who shouldcome as a deliverer to the nations.

The fullness of the time had come. Humanity, becom-ing more degraded through ages of transgression, calledfor the coming of the Redeemer. Satan had been workingto make the gulf deep and impassable between earth andheaven. By his falsehoods he had emboldened men in sin.It was his purpose to wear out the forbearance of God, andto extinguish His love for man, so that He would abandonthe world to satanic jurisdiction.

Satan was seeking to shut out from men a knowledgeof God, to turn their attention from the temple of God, andto establish his own kingdom. His strife for supremacy hadseemed to be almost wholly successful. It is true that inevery generation God had His agencies. Even among theheathen there were men through whom Christ was work-ing to uplift the people from their sin and degradation. Butthese men were despised and hated. Many of them suf-fered a violent death. The dark shadow that Satan had cast over the world grew deeper and deeper.

Through heathenism, Satan had for ages turned menaway from God; but he won his great triumph in pervertingthe faith of Israel. By contemplating and worshiping theirown conceptions, the heathen had lost a knowledge of God,and had become more and more corrupt. So it was withIsrael. The principle that man can save himself by his ownworks lay at the foundation of every heathen religion; ithad now become the principle of the Jewish religion. Satanhad implanted this principle. Wherever it is held, men haveno barrier against sin.

The message of salvation is communicated to menthrough human agencies. But the Jews had sought to makea monopoly of the truth which is eternal life. They hadhoarded the living manna, and it had turned to corruption.The religion which they tried to shut up to themselves be-


came an offense. They robbed God of His glory, and de-frauded the world by a counterfeit of the gospel. They hadrefused to surrender themselves to God for the salvation of the world, and they became agents of Satan for its de-struction.

The people whom God had called to be the pillar andground of the truth had become representatives of Satan.They were doing the work that he desired them to do, tak-ing a course to misrepresent the character of God, andcause the world to look upon Him as a tyrant. The verypriests who ministered in the temple had lost sight of thesignificance of the service they performed. They hadceased to look beyond the symbol to the thing signified. Inpresenting the sacrificial offerings they were as actors in aplay. The ordinances which God Himself had appointedwere made the means of blinding the mind and hardeningthe heart. God could do no more for man through thesechannels. The whole system must be swept away.

The deception of sin had reached its height. All theagencies for depraving the souls of men had been put inoperation. The Son of God, looking upon the world, beheldsuffering and misery. With pity He saw how men had be-come victims of satanic cruelty. He looked with compas-sion upon those who were being corrupted, murdered, andlost. They had chosen a ruler who chained them to his caras captives. Bewildered and deceived, they were movingon in gloomy procession toward eternal ruin,—to death inwhich is no hope of life, toward night to which comes nomorning. Satanic agencies were incorporated with men.The bodies of human beings, made for the dwelling placeof God, had become the habitation of demons. The senses, the nerves, the passions, the organs of men, were workedby supernatural agencies in the indulgence of the vilest lust.The very stamp of demons was impressed upon the coun-tenances of men. Human faces reflected the expression ofthe legions of evil with which they were possessed. Suchwas the prospect upon which the world’s Redeemer looked.What a spectacle for Infinite Purity to behold!


Sin had become a science, and vice was consecrated as a part of religion. Rebellion had struck its roots deep intothe heart, and the hostility of man was most violent againstheaven. It was demonstrated before the universe that, apartfrom God, humanity could not be uplifted. A new elementof life and power must be imparted by Him who made theworld.

With intense interest the unfallen worlds had watched to see Jehovah arise, and sweep away the inhabitants ofthe earth. And if God should do this, Satan was ready tocarry out his plan for securing to himself the allegiance ofheavenly beings. He had declared that the principles ofGod’s government make forgiveness impossible. Had theworld been destroyed, he would have claimed that his ac-cusations were proved true. He was ready to cast blameupon God, and to spread his rebellion to the worlds above.But instead of destroying the world, God sent His Son tosave it. Though corruption and defiance might be seen inevery part of the alien province, a way for its recoverywas provided. At the very crisis, when Satan seemed aboutto triumph, the Son of God came with the embassage ofdivine grace. Through every age, through every hour, thelove of God had been exercised toward the fallen race. Notwithstanding the perversity of men, the signals of mercyhad been continually exhibited. And when the fullness ofthe time had come, the Deity was glorified by pouring uponthe world a flood of healing grace that was never to beobstructed or withdrawn till the plan of salvation should befulfilled.

Satan was exulting that he had succeeded in debasingthe image of God in humanity. Then Jesus came to restorein man the image of his Maker. None but Christ can fash-ion anew the character that has been ruined by sin. Hecame to expel the demons that had controlled the will. Hecame to lift us up from the dust, to reshape the marredcharacter after the pattern of His divine character, and tomake it beautiful with His own glory.



Unto YUnto YUnto YUnto YUnto Yououououou aaaaa SaviourSaviourSaviourSaviourSaviour

The King of glory stooped low to take humanity. Rudeand forbidding were His earthly surroundings. His glorywas veiled, that the majesty of His outward form might notbecome an object of attraction. He shunned all outwarddisplay. Riches, worldly honor, and human greatness cannever save a soul from death; Jesus purposed that no at-traction of an earthly nature should call men to His side.Only the beauty of heavenly truth must draw those whowould follow Him. The character of the Messiah had longbeen foretold in prophecy, and He desired men to acceptHim upon the testimony of the word of God.

The angels had wondered at the glorious plan of re-demption. They watched to see how the people of Godwould receive His Son, clothed in the garb of humanity.Angels came to the land of the chosen people. Other na-tions were dealing in fables and worshiping false gods. Tothe land where the glory of God had been revealed, and thelight of prophecy had shone, the angels came. They cameunseen to Jerusalem, to the appointed expositors of theSacred Oracles, and the ministers of God’s house. Alreadyto Zacharias the priest, as he ministered before the altar,the nearness of Christ’s coming had been announced. Al-ready the forerunner was born, his mission attested bymiracle and prophecy. The tidings of his birth and the won-derful significance of his mission had been spread abroad.Yet Jerusalem was not preparing to welcome her Redeemer.

With amazement the heavenly messengers beheld theindifference of that people whom God had called to com-municate to the world the light of sacred truth. The Jewish

——————————— This chapter is based on Luke 2:1-20.

55 Unto You a Saviour [43-47]

nation had been preserved as a witness that Christ was tobe born of the seed of Abraham and of David’s line; yetthey knew not that His coming was now at hand. In thetemple the morning and the evening sacrifice daily pointedto the Lamb of God; yet even here was no preparation toreceive Him. The priests and teachers of the nation knewnot that the greatest event of the ages was about to takeplace. They rehearsed their meaningless prayers, and per-formed the rites of worship to be seen by men, but in theirstrife for riches and worldly honor they were not preparedfor the revelation of the Messiah. The same indifference pervaded the land of Israel. Hearts selfish and world-en-grossed were untouched by the joy that thrilled all heaven.Only a few were longing to behold the Unseen. To theseheaven’s embassy was sent.

Angels attend Joseph and Mary as they journey fromtheir home in Nazareth to the city of David. The decree ofimperial Rome for the enrollment of the peoples of her vastdominion has extended to the dwellers among the hills ofGalilee. As in old time Cyrus was called to the throne ofthe world’s empire that he might set free the captives ofthe Lord, so Caesar Augustus is made the agent for thefulfillment of God’s purpose in bringing the mother of Jesusto Bethlehem. She is of the lineage of David, and the Sonof David must be born in David’s city. Out of Bethlehem,said the prophet, “shall He come forth . . . that is to be rulerin Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, fromthe days of eternity.” Micah 5:2, margin. But in the city oftheir royal line, Joseph and Mary are unrecognized andunhonored. Weary and homeless, they traverse the entirelength of the narrow street, from the gate of the city to theeastern extremity of the town, vainly seeking a resting placefor the night. There is no room for them at the crowdedinn. In a rude building where the beasts

Desire The Ages - EllenWhiteDefend · 3 . Contents. HELPS IN THE STUDY OF DESIRE OF AGES . The...

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Transcript of Desire The Ages - EllenWhiteDefend · 3 . Contents. HELPS IN THE STUDY OF DESIRE OF AGES . The...