208
The Spirit of Prophecy Volume 2
the multitude. The wonderful work wrought upon the man whom they,
in their arrogance, had given over to death and the wrath of God, had
so impressed the minds of the people that the influence of these leading
Jews was, for the time, forgotten. They saw that Christ possessed a
power, and claimed it as his own prerogative, which they thought be-
longed to God alone. The gentle dignity of his manner, united with his
miraculous works, was in such marked contrast with their own proud
and self-righteous bearing that they were disconcerted and abashed,
recognizing, but not confessing, the presence of a Superior Being.
Had the scribes and Pharisees been honest before God, they would
have yielded to the conclusive evidence they had witnessed that Jesus
was the Promised One of Israel. But they were determined that nothing
[300]
should convince them of this fact. They were in haughty and deter-
mined opposition to this meek and humble Teacher, who came from
the workshops of Nazareth, yet by his wonderful works threatened
to annihilate their dignity and station. So they yielded in no degree
their hatred and malice, but went away to invent new schemes for
condemning and silencing the Son of God.
These men had received many and repeated proofs that Jesus was
the promised Saviour, but none had been so convincing and unques-
tioned as this miracle of mercy. Yet the stronger the evidence that was
presented to their minds that Jesus had power on earth to forgive sins,
as well as to heal the sick, the more they armed themselves with hatred
and unbelief, till God left them to the forging of chains that would
bind them in hopeless darkness. There was no reserve power to reach
hearts so hardened with malice and skepticism.
Many in these days are taking the same course as the unbelieving
Jews. God has given them light which they refuse to accept. His Spirit
has rebuked them; but they have made his reproofs a stumbling-block
in their way, over which they trip and fall. They have rejected his
offered mercies, they have scorned to believe his truth, till they are left
unrestrained to pursue their downward course.
There was great rejoicing in the home of the healed paralytic, when
he came into the midst of his family, carrying with ease the couch
upon which he had been slowly borne from their presence but a short
time before. They gathered round with tears of joy, scarcely daring to
[301]
believe their eyes. He stood before them in the full vigor of manhood.
Those arms that they had seen lifeless were quick to obey his will;