Chapter 2—The Life of Christ
From his childhood, Jesus conformed his life strictly to the Jewish
laws. He manifested great wisdom in his youth. The grace and power
of God were upon him. The word of the Lord, by the mouth of the
prophet Isaiah, describes the office and work of Christ, and shows the
sheltering care of God over his Son in his mission to earth, that the
relentless hatred of men, inspired by Satan, should not be permitted to
thwart the design of the great plan of salvation.
“Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul
delighteth; I have my Spirit upon him. He shall bring forth judgment
to the Gentiles. He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be
heard in the street. A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking
flax shall he not quench. He shall bring forth judgment unto truth.
He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the
earth.”
The voice of Christ was not heard in the street, in noisy contention
with those who were opposed to his doctrine. Neither was his voice
heard in the street in prayer to his Father, to be heard of men. His
voice was not heard in joyful mirth. His voice was not raised to
exalt himself, and to gain the applause and flattery of men. When
engaged in teaching, he withdrew his disciples away from the noise
and confusion of the busy city to some retired place more in harmony
with the lessons of humility, piety, and virtue, which he would impress
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upon their minds. He shunned human praise, and preferred solitude
and peaceful retirement to the noise and confusion of mortal life. His
voice was often heard in earnest, prevailing intercessions to his Father;
yet for these exercises he chose the lonely mountain, and frequently
spent whole nights in prayer for strength to sustain him under the
temptations he should meet, and to accomplish the important work he
came to do for the salvation of man. His petitions were earnest and
mingled with strong cries and tears. And notwithstanding the labor of
soul during the night, he ceased not his labor through the day. In the
morning he would quietly resume his work of mercy and disinterested
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