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Ministry of Christ
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unto them, but as they came near where He was they were greatly
amazed. They saw Him filled with sympathy and compassion, as He
witnessed human woe. They heard Him in love and tenderness speak
encouragingly to the weak and afflicted. They also heard Him, in a
voice of authority, rebuke the power of Satan and bid his captives go
free. They listened to the words of wisdom that fell from His lips,
and they were captivated; they could not lay hands on Him. They
returned to the priests and elders without Jesus.
When asked, “Why have ye not brought Him?” they related what
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they had witnessed of His miracles, and the holy words of wisdom,
love, and knowledge which they had heard, and ended with saying,
“Never man spake like this Man.” The chief priests accused them
of being also deceived, and some of the officers were ashamed that
they had not taken Him. The priests inquired in a scornful manner
if any of the rulers had believed on Him. I saw that many of the
magistrates and elders did believe on Jesus, but Satan kept them
from acknowledging it; they feared the reproach of the people more
than they feared God.
Thus far the cunning and hatred of Satan had not broken up the
plan of salvation. The time for the accomplishment of the object
for which Jesus came into the world was drawing near. Satan and
his angels consulted together and decided to inspire Christ’s own
nation to cry eagerly for His blood and heap upon Him cruelty and
scorn. They hoped that Jesus would resent such treatment and fail
to maintain His humility and meekness.
While Satan was laying his plans, Jesus was carefully opening
to His disciples the sufferings through which He must pass—that He
would be crucified and that He would rise again the third day. But
their understanding seemed dull, and they could not comprehend
what He told them.
The Transfiguration
The faith of the disciples was greatly strengthened at the trans-
figuration, when they were permitted to behold Christ’s glory and to
hear the voice from heaven testifying to His divine character. God
chose to give the followers of Jesus strong proof that He was the
promised Messiah, that in their bitter sorrow and disappointment at