230
The Voice in Speech and Song
One of the Greatest of Prophets—Christ declared John the Bap-
tist to be one of the greatest of the prophets, and He showed His
hearers that they had had sufficient evidence that John was a mes-
senger from God. The words of the preacher in the wilderness were
with power. He bore his message unflinchingly, rebuking the sins of
priests and rulers, and enjoining upon them the works of the kingdom
of heaven.—
Christ’s Object Lessons, 278
.
Mary, the Mother of Jesus
Teacher of the Child Jesus—The child Jesus did not receive in-
struction in the synagogue schools. His mother was His first human
teacher. From her lips and from the scrolls of the prophets, He learned
of heavenly things.—
The Desire of Ages, 70
.
Class at His Mother’s Knee—In childhood, youth, and manhood,
Jesus studied the Scriptures. As a little child He was daily at His
mother’s knee, taught from the scrolls of the prophets.—
Education,
185
.
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The Apostles
Simple, Accurate Speech—The apostles and their associates were
unlettered men, yet through the outpouring of the Spirit on the day of
Pentecost, their speech, whether in their own or a foreign language,
became pure, simple, and accurate, both in word and in accent.—
The
Desire of Ages, 821
.
Elevated Truths—From this time [Pentecost] forth the language
of the disciples was pure, simple, and accurate in word and accent,
whether they spoke their native tongue or a foreign language. These
humble men, who had never learned in the school of the prophets,
presented truths so elevated and pure as to astonish those who heard
them.—
The Story of Redemption, 246
.
Words As Sharp Arrows—The arguments of the apostles alone,
though clear and convincing, would not have removed the prejudice
that had withstood so much evidence. But the Holy Spirit sent the
arguments home to hearts with divine power. The words of the apostles
were as sharp arrows of the Almighty, convicting men of their terrible