Messiah
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to believe, had sufficient foundation for their faith by referring to
prophecy, which predicted the coming of the Just One, and described
the manner of his coming.
The ancient Jewish church were the highly-favored people of God,
brought out of Egypt and acknowledged as his own peculiar treasure.
The many and exceeding great and precious promises to them as a peo-
ple, were the hope and confidence of the Jewish church. Herein they
trusted, and believed their salvation sure. No other people professed
to be governed by the commandments of God. Our Saviour came first
to his own people, but they received him not.
The self-righteous, proud, unbelieving Jews expected their Saviour
and King would come into the world clothed with majesty and power,
compelling all Gentiles to yield obedience to him. They did not expect
any humiliation and suffering would be manifested in him. They
would not receive the meek and lowly Jesus, and acknowledge him
to be the Saviour of the world. Had he appeared in splendor, and
assumed the authority of the world’s great men, instead of taking the
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form of a servant, they would have received and worshiped him. But
they rejected Christ as their Saviour, and after they had set their hearts
in rebellion against him, it was not so easy for them to change their
course. Notwithstanding all the mighty works they saw him do, they
were too proud and self-exalted to yield their rebellious feelings. Every
token and manifestation of his divine character increased the hatred
and jealousy of the Jews. They were not content to turn from him
themselves, but they sought to hinder all they could from listening to
his teachings, or witnessing his miracles. The majority rejected him.
They despised his humble appearance. They denied his testimony.
They loved the praise of men, and the grandeur of the world. In their
estimation of these things, they thought their judgment perfect, even
as the judgment of God.
The whole life and teachings of Christ were continual lessons of
humility, benevolence, virtue, and self-denial. This was a continual
reproof to the self-righteous, exacting spirit manifested by the Jews.
Satan led them on until they seemed to possess a frenzy at the mere
mention of the wonderful works of Christ, which were drawing the
attention of the people from them. They at length made themselves
believe that he was an impostor, and any means they could devise to
get rid of him would be a virtue in them. They could not point to one