Ministry of Christ
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his lips, and they were captivated. They could not lay hands on him.
They returned to the priests and elders without Jesus. They inquired
of the officers, Why have ye not brought him? They related what they
had witnessed of his miracles, and the holy words of wisdom, love
and knowledge which they had heard, and ended with saying, Never
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man spake like this man. The chief priests accused them of being also
deceived. Some were ashamed that they had not brought him. The
chief priests inquired in a ridiculing 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 on. Satan and his
angels consulted together, and decided to inspire Christ’s own nation
to cry eagerly for his blood, and invent cruelty and scorn to be heaped
upon him. He hoped that Jesus would resent such treatment, and not
maintain his humility and meekness.
While Satan was laying his plans, Jesus was carefully opening
to his disciples the sufferings he must pass through. That he should
be crucified, and that he would rise again the third day. But their
understanding seemed dull. They could not comprehend what he told
them.
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