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The Spirit of Prophecy Volume 2
mercies and loving-kindness, to them, that their love and reverence
for him might increase, and lead them to ever look to him, and trust in
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him in all their trials, and not turn to other gods.
The observance of the passover possessed a mournful interest to
the Son of God. He saw in the slain lamb a symbol of his own death.
The people who celebrated this ordinance were instructed to associate
the slaying of the lamb with the future death of the Son of God. The
blood, marking the door-posts of their houses, was the symbol of the
blood of Christ which was to be efficacious for the believing sinner,
in cleansing him from sin, and sheltering him from the wrath of God
which was to come upon the impenitent and unbelieving world, as the
wrath of God fell upon the Egyptians. But none could be benefited
by this special provision made by God for the salvation of man unless
they should perform the work the Lord left them to do. They had a
part to act themselves, and by their acts to manifest their faith in the
provision made for their salvation.
Jesus was acquainted with hearts. He knew that, as the crowd
returned in company from Jerusalem, there would be much talking
and visiting which would not be seasoned with humility and grace,
and the Messiah and his mission would be nearly forgotten. It was his
choice to return from Jerusalem with his parents alone; for in being
retired, his father and mother would have more time for reflection,
and for meditation upon the prophecies which referred to his future
sufferings and death. He did not wish that the painful events which
they were to experience in his offering up his life for the sins of the
world, to be new and unexpected to them. He was separated from them
in their return from Jerusalem. After the celebration of the passover,
they sought him sorrowing three days. When he should be slain for
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the sins of the world, he would be separated from them, lost to them,
for three days. But after that, he would reveal himself to them, and be
found of them, and their faith rely upon him as the redeemer of the
fallen race, the advocate with the Father in their behalf.
Here is a lesson of instruction to all the followers of Christ. He
designed that none of these lessons should be lost, but be written for
the benefit of future generations. There is necessity of carefulness of
words and actions when Christians are associated together, lest Jesus
be forgotten of them, and they pass along careless of the fact that Jesus
is not among them. When they are aroused to their condition, they