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The Spirit of Prophecy Volume 2
their Saviour, because they longed for a conqueror who would give
them temporal power. They wanted the meat which perishes, and
not that which endures unto everlasting life. Their ambition was for
earthly riches and glory, and they had no relish for the words of Christ
that taught personal purity, and a thorough reformation of life.
Many of the words and dealings of Jesus appear mysterious to finite
minds; but all his purposes were clear to his divine understanding. His
whole plan was mapped before him, perfect in all its details. Every
act was calculated to produce its individual results. The history of the
world from its creation to the end of time was fully known to Christ.
Were the mind of man capable of understanding his dealings, every
act of his earthly life would stand forth important, complete, and in
harmony with his divine mission.
The murmuring of his followers grieved the heart of the Saviour. In
openly rebuking their unbelief before the multitude, he had increased
their disaffection, and many of them went back and walked no more
with Jesus. He looked after these erring ones with eyes of pitying
tenderness. They were greatly displeased, and, wishing to wound Jesus
and gratify the malice of the Pharisees, they turned their backs upon
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him and left him with disdain. In doing this they made the fatal mistake
of rejecting God’s counsel to them. It was such developments as these
that made the Saviour a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. The
consciousness that his kindness and compassion were unappreciated,
his love unrequited, his mercy slighted, his salvation rejected, filled his
divine soul with a grief that was inexpressible. Could these ungrateful
disciples have discerned how God viewed their behavior to his dear
Son, they would hardly have walked away so proudly and defiantly.
They were choosing darkness rather than light, because they were too
vain and self-righteous to receive a merited rebuke, and too worldly to
accept a life of humility in order to secure salvation. In the face of all
his wonderful works they turned away from Him, who, by the beauty
of his doctrine and his mercy and benevolence, had called thousands
to his side; who had relieved suffering humanity, so that entire cities
and villages were freed from disease, and there was no work for a
physician among them.
When we view the generosity of Christ to the poor and suffering,
his patience with the rude and ignorant, his self-denial and sacrifice,
we are lost in admiration and reverence. What a gift has God lavished