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The Spirit of Prophecy Volume 2
night or on the following morning. The disciples are loth to submit to
this arrangement. They are ambitious that Jesus should receive his true
merits, and be lifted above the persecutions of the priests and rulers.
The favored moment seems to have arrived, when, by the unanimous
voice of the people, Christ can be elevated to his true dignity.
They cannot feel reconciled that all this enthusiasm shall come to
naught. The people were assembling from all quarters to celebrate the
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passover at Jerusalem. They were all anxious to see the great Prophet
whose fame had spread through all the land. This, to the faithful
followers of Jesus, seemed the golden opportunity to establish their
beloved Master as Israel’s king. It seemed, in the glow of this new
ambition, a very hard thing for them to go away by themselves and
leave their Master alone upon the desolate shore, surrounded by high
and barren mountains.
They remonstrate against this arrangement; but Jesus is firm in his
decision, and commands them to follow his directions with an authority
that he had never before assumed toward them. They obey in silence.
Jesus then turns to the multitude, and perceives that they are thoroughly
decided to force him into becoming their king. Their movements must
be checked at once. The disciples had already departed, and he now,
standing before them with a grand dignity, dismisses them in so firm
and decisive a manner that they dare not disobey his commands. The
words of praise and exaltation die upon their lips. Their steps are
stayed as they are in the very act of advancing to seize him, and
the glad and eager looks fade from their countenances. There were
men of strong minds and firm determination in that throng, but the
kingly bearing of Jesus, and his few quiet words of authority quelled
the tumult in a moment and frustrated all their designs. Like meek,
submissive children, they obey the command of their Lord, submitting
humbly, and without question, to a power that they recognize as above
all earthly authority.
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Jesus looked upon the retreating multitude with yearning compas-
sion. He felt that they were as scattered sheep without a shepherd. The
priests, who should have been teachers in Israel, were but machines
for performing unmeaning ceremonies and repeating the law they did
not themselves understand nor practice. When he was left alone he
went up into the mountain, and, for many hours, bent in supplication
before the Father with bitter agony and tears. Not for himself were