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How Daniel Identified Jesus as the Christ
The Messiah’s coming had been announced first in Judea. On
the hills of Bethlehem, the angels had proclaimed the birth of Jesus.
The wise men had come to Jerusalem searching for Him.
If the leaders in Israel had received Christ, He would have hon-
ored them as His messengers to carry the gospel to the world. But
Israel did not know the time of her visitation by God. The jealousy
and distrust of the Jewish leaders had ripened into open hatred, and
the hearts of the people were turned away from Jesus. The Sanhedrin
was intent on putting Him to death, and so Jesus left Jerusalem and
the people who had been instructed in the law and turned to another
class to proclaim His message.
In every succeeding generation, the history of Christ’s with-
drawal from Judea has been repeated. When the Reformers preached
the Word of God, they had no thought of separating from the es-
tablished church. But the religious leaders would not tolerate the
light, and those who carried it were forced to seek another class who
were longing for truth. In our day, few professed followers of the
Reformers are listening for the voice of God, ready to accept truth
in whatever form it may come. Often those who follow in the steps
of the Reformers are forced to turn away from churches they love
in order to declare the plain Word of God. Many have to leave the
church of their heritage in order to be obedient to God.
The people of Galilee represented a more promising field for the
Savior’s work. Less under the control of bigotry, their minds were
more open to receiving truth. A much larger mixture of people of
other nations lived there than in Judea.
As Jesus traveled through Galilee, teaching and healing, crowds
came, many even from Judea. Enthusiasm ran so high that it was
necessary to take precautions so that the Roman authorities would
not start to fear an uprising. Hungering and thirsting hearts feasted
on the grace of a merciful Savior.
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