382
The Desire of Ages
would result in His death; but to prematurely expose Himself would
not be the will of His Father.
From Jerusalem the report of Christ’s miracles had spread wherever
the Jews were dispersed; and although for many months He had been
absent from the feasts, the interest in Him had not abated. Many from
all parts of the world had come up to the Feast of Tabernacles in the
hope of seeing Him. At the beginning of the feast many inquiries
were made for Him. The Pharisees and rulers looked for Him to
come, hoping for an opportunity to condemn Him. They anxiously
inquired, “Where is He?” but no one knew. The thought of Him was
uppermost in all minds. Through fear of the priests and rulers, none
dared acknowledge Him as the Messiah, but everywhere there was
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quiet yet earnest discussion concerning Him. Many defended Him as
one sent from God, while others denounced Him as a deceiver of the
people.
Meanwhile Jesus had quietly arrived at Jerusalem. He had chosen
an unfrequented route by which to go, in order to avoid the travelers
who were making their way to the city from all quarters. Had He
joined any of the caravans that went up to the feast, public attention
would have been attracted to Him on His entrance into the city, and a
popular demonstration in His favor would have aroused the authorities
against Him. It was to avoid this that He chose to make the journey
alone.
In the midst of the feast, when the excitement concerning Him
was at its height, He entered the court of the temple in the presence
of the multitude. Because of His absence from the feast, it had been
urged that He dared not place Himself in the power of the priests and
rulers. All were surprised at His presence. Every voice was hushed.
All wondered at the dignity and courage of His bearing in the midst of
powerful enemies who were thirsting for His life.
Standing thus, the center of attraction to that vast throng, Jesus ad-
dressed them as no man had ever done. His words showed a knowledge
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of the laws and institutions of Israel, of the sacrificial service and the
teachings of the prophets, far exceeding that of the priests and rabbis.
He broke through the barriers of formalism and tradition. The scenes
of the future life seemed outspread before Him. As one who beheld
the Unseen, He spoke of the earthly and the heavenly, the human and
the divine, with positive authority. His words were most clear and