380
The Desire of Ages
a flagon of wine into the other; and the contents of both flowed into
a pipe which communicated with the Kedron, and was conducted to
the Dead Sea. This display of the consecrated water represented the
fountain that at the command of God had gushed from the rock to
quench the thirst of the children of Israel. Then the jubilant strains
rang forth, “The Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song;” “therefore
with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.”
Isaiah 12:2,
3
.
[450]
As the sons of Joseph made preparation to attend the Feast of
Tabernacles, they saw that Christ made no movement signifying His
intention of attending. They watched Him with anxiety. Since the
healing at Bethesda He had not attended the national gatherings. To
avoid useless conflict with the leaders at Jerusalem, He had restricted
His labors to Galilee. His apparent neglect of the great religious
assemblies, and the enmity manifested toward Him by the priests
and rabbis, were a cause of perplexity to the people about Him, and
even to His own disciples and His kindred. In His teachings He had
dwelt upon the blessings of obedience to the law of God, and yet He
Himself seemed to be indifferent to the service which had been divinely
established. His mingling with publicans and others of ill repute, His
disregard of the rabbinical observances, and the freedom with which
He set aside the traditional requirements concerning the Sabbath,
all seeming to place Him in antagonism to the religious authorities,
excited much questioning. His brothers thought it a mistake for Him
to alienate the great and learned men of the nation. They felt that these
men must be in the right, and that Jesus was at fault in placing Himself
in antagonism to them. But they had witnessed His blameless life,
and though they did not rank themselves with His disciples, they had
been deeply impressed by His works. His popularity in Galilee was
gratifying to their ambition; they still hoped that He would give an
evidence of His power which would lead the Pharisees to see that He
was what He claimed to be. What if He were the Messiah, the Prince
of Israel! They cherished this thought with proud satisfaction.
So anxious were they about this that they urged Christ to go to
Jerusalem. “Depart hence,” they said, “and go into Judea, that Thy
disciples also may see the works that Thou doest. For there is no
man that doeth anything in secret, and he himself seeketh to be known
openly. If Thou do these things, show Thyself to the world.” The “if”