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Always Presenting the Word of God, March 19
What is written in the law? How do you read it?
Luke 10:26
.
The Saviour made each work of healing an occasion of implanting divine princi-
ples in the mind and soul. This was the purpose of His work. He imparted earthly
blessings, that He might incline the hearts of men to receive the gospel of His grace.
Christ might have occupied the highest place among the teachers of the Jewish
nation, but He preferred rather to take the gospel to the poor. He went from place to
place, that those in the highways and byways might hear the words of truth. By the
sea, on the mountainside, in the streets of the city, in the synagogue, His voice was
heard explaining the Scriptures. Often He taught in the outer court of the Temple,
that the Gentiles might hear His words.
So unlike the explanations of Scripture given by the scribes and Pharisees was
Christ’s teaching, that the attention of the people was arrested. The rabbis dwelt
upon tradition, upon human theory and speculation. Often that which men had taught
and written about the Scripture was put in place of the Scripture itself. The subject
of Christ’s teaching was the Word of God. He met questioners with a plain, “It is
written,” “What saith the Scripture?” “How readest thou?” At every opportunity,
when an interest was awakened by either friend or foe, He presented the Word. With
clearness and power He proclaimed the gospel message. His words shed a flood of
light on the teachings of patriarchs and prophets, and the Scriptures came to men as
a new revelation. Never before had His hearers perceived in the Word of God such
depth of meaning.
Never was there such an evangelist as Christ. He was the Majesty of heaven, but
He humbled Himself to take our nature, that He might meet men where they were.
To all people, rich and poor, free and bond, Christ, the Messenger of the covenant,
brought the tidings of salvation. His fame as the great Healer spread throughout
Palestine. The sick came to the places through which He would pass, that they
might call on Him for help. Hither, too, came many anxious to hear His words and
to receive a touch of His hand. Thus He went from city to city, from town to town,
preaching the gospel and healing the sick—the King of glory in the lowly garb of
humanity.
He attended the great yearly festivals of the nation, and to the multitude absorbed
in outward ceremony He spoke of heavenly things, bringing eternity within their
view. To all he brought treasures from the storehouse of wisdom. He spoke to
them in language so simple that they could not fail of understanding....With tender,
courteous grace, He ministered to the sin-sick soul, bringing healing and strength
(
Gospel Workers, 43-45
).
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