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From Heaven With Love
they were in conflict with Infinite Power. But they would not be
warned. Their murderous designs must be concealed. Evading the
question, they exclaimed, “Thou hast a devil: who goeth about to
kill Thee?”
To the insinuation that His wonderful works were instigated by
an evil spirit, Christ gave no heed. He went on to show that His
work of healing at Bethesda was justified by the interpretation which
the Jews themselves put upon the Sabbath law. According to the
law, every child must be circumcised on the eighth day. Should the
appointed time fall on the Sabbath, the rite must then be performed.
How much more must it be in harmony with the spirit of the law
to make a man “every whit whole on the Sabbath day.” He warned
them, “Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous
judgment.” The rulers were silenced.
Erroneous Ideas of the Messiah and His Coming
Many who were dwellers at Jerusalem felt drawn to Christ by
an irresistible power. The conviction pressed upon them that He
was the Son of God. But Satan was ready to suggest doubt. It was
generally believed that Christ would be born at Bethlehem, but that
after a time He would disappear, and at His second appearance none
would know whence He came. Not a few held that the Messiah
would have no natural relationship to humanity.
While many were thus wavering between doubt and faith, Jesus
took up their thoughts: “You know Me, and you know where I come
from? But I have not come of My own accord; He who sent Me
is true, and Him you do not know.” RSV. Christ’s words were a
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repetition of the claim He had made in the presence of the Sanhedrin
many months before, when He declared Himself the Son of God.
Among the people many believed on Him and said, “When Christ
cometh, will He do more miracles than these which this Man hath
done?” The leaders of the Pharisees, watching the course of events,
caught the expressions of sympathy among the throng. Hurrying to
the chief priests, they laid plans to arrest Him when He was alone,
for they dared not seize Him in the presence of the people.
Many who were convinced that Jesus was the Son of God were
misled by the false reasoning of the priests and rabbis. These teach-