“Is Not This the Carpenter’s Son?”
195
Messiahship, and the calamity that laid their proud city in ruins might
have been averted. But the minds of the Jews had become narrowed
by their unreasoning bigotry. The lessons of Christ revealed their
deficiencies of character, and demanded repentance. If they accepted
His teachings, their practices must be changed, and their cherished
hopes relinquished. In order to be honored by Heaven, they must
sacrifice the honor of men. If they obeyed the words of this new rabbi,
they must go contrary to the opinions of the great thinkers and teachers
of the time.
Truth was unpopular in Christ’s day. It is unpopular in our day. It
has been unpopular ever since Satan first gave man a disrelish for it by
presenting fables that lead to self-exaltation. Do we not today meet
theories and doctrines that have no foundation in the word of God?
Men cling as tenaciously to them as did the Jews to their traditions.
The Jewish leaders were filled with spiritual pride. Their desire
for the glorification of self manifested itself even in the service of the
sanctuary. They loved the highest seats in the synagogue. They loved
greetings in the market places, and were gratified with the sound of
their titles on the lips of men. As real piety declined, they became
more jealous for their traditions and ceremonies.
Because their understanding was darkened by selfish prejudice,
they could not harmonize the power of Christ’s convicting words
with the humility of His life. They did not appreciate the fact that real
greatness can dispense with outward show. This Man’s poverty seemed
wholly inconsistent with His claim to be the Messiah. They questioned,
If He was what He claimed to be, why was He so unpretending? If He
was satisfied to be without the force of arms, what would become of
their nation? How could the power and glory so long anticipated bring
[243]
the nations as subjects to the city of the Jews? Had not the priests
taught that Israel was to bear rule over all the earth? and could it be
possible that the great religious teachers were in error?
But it was not simply the absence of outward glory in His life that
led the Jews to reject Jesus. He was the embodiment of purity, and they
were impure. He dwelt among men an example of spotless integrity.
His blameless life flashed light upon their hearts. His sincerity revealed
their insincerity. It made manifest the hollowness of their pretentious
piety, and discovered iniquity to them in its odious character. Such a
light was unwelcome.