Days of Conflict
65
promised Messiah, yet she dared not express her faith. Throughout His
life on earth she was a partaker in His sufferings. She witnessed with
sorrow the trials brought upon Him in His childhood and youth. By
her vindication of what she knew to be right in His conduct, she herself
was brought into trying positions. She looked upon the associations of
the home, and the mother’s tender watchcare over her children, as of
vital importance in the formation of character. The sons and daughters
of Joseph knew this, and by appealing to her anxiety, they tried to
correct the practices of Jesus according to their standard.
Mary often remonstrated with Jesus, and urged Him to conform
to the usages of the rabbis. But He could not be persuaded to change
His habits of contemplating the works of God and seeking to alleviate
the suffering of men or even of dumb animals. When the priests and
teachers required Mary’s aid in controlling Jesus, she was greatly
troubled; but peace came to her heart as He presented the statements
of Scripture upholding His practices.
At times she wavered between Jesus and His brothers, who did
not believe that He was the Sent of God; but evidence was abundant
that His was a divine character. She saw Him sacrificing Himself for
the good of others. His presence brought a purer atmosphere into the
home, and His life was as leaven working amid the elements of society.
Harmless and undefiled, He walked among the thoughtless, the rude,
the uncourteous; amid the unjust publicans, the reckless prodigals, the
unrighteous Samaritans, the heathen soldiers, the rough peasants, and
the mixed multitude. He spoke a word of sympathy here and a word
there, as He saw men weary, yet compelled to bear heavy burdens. He
shared their burdens, and repeated to them the lessons He had learned
from nature, of the love, the kindness, the goodness of God.
He taught all to look upon themselves as endowed with precious
talents, which if rightly employed would secure for them eternal riches.
He weeded all vanity from life, and by His own example taught that
every moment of time is fraught with eternal results; that it is to be
cherished as a treasure, and to be employed for holy purposes. He
passed by no human being as worthless, but sought to apply the saving
remedy to every soul. In whatever company He found Himself, He pre-
sented a lesson that was appropriate to the time and the circumstances.
He sought to inspire with hope the most rough and unpromising, set-
ting before them the assurance that they might become blameless and