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The Spirit of Prophecy Volume 3
relating to the first advent of Christ had been fulfilled in the life, death,
and resurrection of Jesus.
Thus the favored disciples passed from group to group, encour-
aging and strengthening the faith of their brethren. Many of those
assembled heard these communications with amazement. A new train
of thought was started in their minds regarding the crucified One. If
what they had just heard was true, then Jesus was more than a prophet.
No one could triumph over death, and burst the fetters of the tomb, but
Messiah. Their ideas of Messiah and his mission had been so confused
by the false teachings of the priests that it was necessary for them
to unlearn what had been taught them, in order to be able to accept
the truth, that Christ, through ignominy, suffering, and death, should
finally take his throne.
With mingled anxiety, fear, and hope, they waited to see if Jesus
would indeed appear to fulfill his appointment. Thomas recounted to
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an eager, listening crowd his former unbelief, and his refusal to believe
unless he saw the wounded hands, feet, and side of his Lord, and his
finger in the prints of the nails. He told them how his doubts were
swept away forever by the sight of his Saviour, bearing the cruel marks
of the crucifixion, and that he wished for no farther evidence.
While the people were watching and waiting, suddenly Jesus stood
in their midst. No one could tell from whence or how he came. The
disciples recognized him at once, and hastened to pay him homage.
Many who were present had never before seen him, but when they
looked upon his divine countenance, and then upon his wounded hands
and feet, pierced by the nails of the crucifixion, they knew it was the
Saviour, and worshiped him.
But there were some who still doubted; they could not believe the
joyous truth. “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power
is given unto me in Heaven and in earth.” This assurance of Jesus
exceeded all their expectations. They knew of his power, while he was
one among them, over disease of every type, and over Satan and his
angels; but they could not at first grasp the grand reality that all power
in Heaven and on earth had been given to Him who had walked their
streets, and sat at their tables, and taught in their midst.
Jesus sought to draw their minds away from himself personally,
to the importance of his position as the heir of all things, an equal
with God himself; that through suffering and conflict he had gained