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Crisis in Galilee
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perish, but have everlasting life. The experiences related in God’s
Word are to be my experiences. Prayer and promise are mine. “I am
crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth
in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of
the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.”
Galatians
2:20
. As faith thus assimilates the principles of truth, they become a
part of the being and the motive power of the life. The Word molds
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the thoughts and enters into the development of character.
God will make precious revelations to His hungering, thirsting
people. As they feed on His Word, they find it is spirit and life. The
Word destroys the natural, earthly nature, and imparts a new life in
Christ. The Holy Spirit comes as a Comforter. By God’s grace, the
disciple becomes a new creature. Love takes the place of hatred, and
the heart receives the divine similitude. This is eating the Bread that
comes down from heaven.
Christ knew the character of those who claimed to be His dis-
ciples, and His words tested their faith. He declared that they were
to believe and act on His teaching and be conformed to His char-
acter. This involved the relinquishment of cherished ambitions. It
required complete surrender to Jesus. They were called to become
self-sacrificing, meek and lowly in heart, to walk in the narrow path
traveled by the Man of Calvary.
Christ’s Words Alienate Many
The test was too great. The enthusiasm of those who had sought
to take Jesus by force and make Him king grew cold. This discourse
had opened their eyes. No earthly rewards were to be realized from
connection with Him. They had welcomed His miracle-working
power but would not come into sympathy with His self-sacrificing
life. If He would not obtain their freedom from the Romans, they
would have nothing to do with Him.
Jesus told them plainly, “There are some of you that believe not,”
adding, “Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto Me,
except it were given unto him of My Father.” If they were not drawn
to Him, it was because their hearts were not open to the Holy Spirit.
By the public rebuke of their unbelief, these disciples were still
further alienated from Jesus. Wishing to wound the Saviour and