398
The Desire of Ages
to overcome Him; but they had found nothing in Him by which to
gain an advantage. Even the devils were forced to confess, “Thou art
the Holy One of God.”
Mark 1:24
. Jesus lived the law in the sight of
heaven, in the sight of unfallen worlds, and in the sight of sinful men.
[468]
Before angels, men, and demons, He had spoken, unchallenged, words
that from any other lips would have been blasphemy: “I do always
those things that please Him.”
The fact that although they could find no sin in Christ the Jews
would not receive Him proved that they themselves had no connection
with God. They did not recognize His voice in the message of His Son.
They thought themselves passing judgment on Christ; but in rejecting
Him they were pronouncing sentence upon themselves. “He that is of
God,” said Jesus, “heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not,
because ye are not of God.”
The lesson is true for all time. Many a man who delights to quibble,
to criticize, seeking for something to question in the word of God,
thinks that he is thereby giving evidence of independence of thought,
and mental acuteness. He supposes that he is sitting in judgment on
the Bible, when in truth he is judging himself. He makes it manifest
that he is incapable of appreciating truths that originate in heaven,
and that compass eternity. In presence of the great mountain of God’s
righteousness, his spirit is not awed. He busies himself with hunting
for sticks and straws, and in this betrays a narrow and earthly nature,
a heart that is fast losing its capacity to appreciate God. He whose
heart has responded to the divine touch will be seeking for that which
will increase his knowledge of God, and will refine and elevate the
character. As a flower turns to the sun, that the bright rays may touch it
with tints of beauty, so will the soul turn to the Sun of Righteousness,
that heaven’s light may beautify the character with the graces of the
character of Christ.
Jesus continued, drawing a sharp contrast between the position of
the Jews and that of Abraham: “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see
My day: and he saw it, and was glad.”
Abraham had greatly desired to see the promised Saviour. He
offered up the most earnest prayer that before his death he might
behold the Messiah. And he saw Christ. A supernatural light was
given him, and he acknowledged Christ’s divine character. He saw
His day, and was glad. He was given a view of the divine sacrifice