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The Spirit of Prophecy Volume 2
He spoke of his future sacrifice in these words: “And the bread
which I will give you, is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the
world.” He offered his salvation to all who would accept him, clothed
in humanity, as their Redeemer, having access to the Father, and being
invested by him with divine authority.
But the Jews were displeased that Jesus should claim to be the
bread of life come down from Heaven. “And they said, Is not this
Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how
is it, then, that he saith, I came down from Heaven?” They so clung
to their bigotry and pride that it now seemed impossible for them to
believe evidence that was plain as the noonday sun. Their jealousy
was aroused that this man of humble birth was able to work wonders
that they could not explain away, and teach truths that could not be
contradicted. So they endeavored to awaken the prejudice and unbelief
of the people by referring scornfully to the lowly origin of Jesus, and
by reason of his mysterious birth, insinuating that he was of doubtful
parentage. They contemptuously alluded to his life as a Galilean
laborer, and to his family as being poor and lowly. They declared
that the lofty claims of this uneducated carpenter should be at once
repudiated.
But Jesus heard their murmurings and reproved them. He again, in
more forcible language, declared his connection with the Father, and
the necessity for the heart to be enlightened by the Spirit of God before
it can feel the need of a Saviour. “No man can come to me, except the
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Father which hath sent me draw him; and I will raise him up at the last
day. It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God.
Every man, therefore, that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father,
cometh unto me.” He here refers to the prophecy of Isaiah: “And all
thy children shall be taught of the Lord, and great shall be the peace
of thy children.”
This was not a new doctrine which Jesus taught. It was the ful-
fillment of prophecy, which, as expounders of the word, the priests
and elders should have thoroughly understood. In declaring that none
come to him unless the Father draws them, the Saviour wished them
to understand that God would never appear in person to teach them
concerning the way of life. Humanity could not endure the vision
of his glory for a moment; only through the Son could they come to
him. In seeing and hearing the Son, they saw and heard the Father.