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Selected Messages Book 1
men would not receive the Light of the world. They were perfectly
satisfied with their position.
Christ had given precious gems of truth, but men had bound them
up in the rubbish of superstition and error. He had imparted to them
the words of life, but they did not live by every word that proceeds out
of the mouth of God. He saw that the world could not find the word
of God, for it was hidden by the traditions of men. He came to place
before the world the relative importance of heaven and earth, and put
truth in its own place. Jesus alone could reveal the truth which it was
necessary men should know in order that they might obtain salvation.
He only could place it in the framework of truth, and it was His work
to free it from error and to set it before men in its heavenly light.
Satan was roused to oppose Him, for had he not put forth every
effort since the Fall to make light appear darkness, and darkness light?
As Christ sought to place truth before the people in its proper relation to
their salvation, Satan worked through the Jewish leaders, and inspired
them with enmity against the Redeemer of the world. They determined
to do all in their power to prevent Him from making an impression
upon the people.
O how Christ longed, how His heart burned, to open to the priests
the greater treasures of the truth! But their minds had been cast in such
a mold that it was next to an impossibility to reveal to them the truths
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relating to His kingdom. The Scriptures had not been read aright.
The Jews had been looking for the advent of the Messiah, but they
had thought He must come in all the glory that will attend His second
appearing. Because He did not come with all the majesty of a king,
they utterly refused Him. But it was not simply because He did not
come in splendor that they refused Him. It was because He was the
embodiment of purity, and they were impure. He walked the earth a
man of spotless integrity. Such a character in the midst of degradation
and evil, was out of harmony with their desires, and He was abused
and despised. His spotless life flashed light upon the hearts of men,
and discovered iniquity to them in its odious character.
The Son of God was assaulted at every step by the powers of
darkness. After His baptism He was driven of the Spirit into the
wilderness, and suffered temptation for forty days. Letters have been
coming in to me, affirming that Christ could not have had the same
nature as man, for if He had, He would have fallen under similar