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The Spirit of Prophecy Volume 2
who closed their eyes against the light. The most powerful evidence
that could be produced only strengthened their opposition. Leprosy
and palsy were not so terrible as bigotry and unbelief. Jesus turned
from the teachers of Israel, and their chains of darkness and skepticism
tightened about them.
The inhabitants of Capernaum had been greatly astonished by the
sudden and effectual cure of the ruler’s son at a word from Jesus, when
he was more than twenty miles distant from the sufferer. They were
rejoiced to learn that he who possessed such miraculous power was in
their own city. On the Sabbath day, the synagogue where he spoke was
packed with people, and yet many who desired to enter were unable
to do so. As usual, a great number came through curiosity, but there
were many who earnestly desired to learn regarding the gospel of the
kingdom of God.
All who heard him were astonished, “for he taught them as one
having authority, and not as the scribes.” His words were a demonstra-
tion of the Spirit of God, and they struck home to the souls of men
with divine power. The teaching of the scribes and elders was cold
and formal, like a lesson learned by rote. They explained the law as a
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matter of custom, but no authority from God sanctified their utterances,
no holy inspiration stirred their own hearts and those of their hearers.
Jesus had nothing to do with the various subjects of dissension
among the Jews. His words were so simple that a child could under-
stand them, yet lofty enough in their grand simplicity to charm the
highest mind with their noble truths. He spoke of a new kingdom
which he came to set up among them, in opposition to the kingdom
of this world, and of his power to wrest from Satan his dominion, and
deliver the captives bound by his power.
There was a man in the synagogue who was possessed of the spirit
of Satan. He broke in upon the discourse of Jesus with a piercing
shriek, that chilled the blood of the hearers with a nameless terror.
“Let us alone!” he cried. “What have we to do with thee, thou Jesus
of Nazareth? Art thou come to destroy us? I know thee, who thou art,
the Holy One of God!”
Devils even believed and trembled, but the Israel of God had closed
their eyes and ears to divine evidences, and knew not the time of
their visitation. Satan’s object in leading his wretched victim to the
synagogue, was to distract the attention of the people from Jesus to