Chapter 19—Christ’s Study of Countenances
Facial Expressions—The world’s Redeemer went about doing
good. When before the people, speaking to them the words of eternal
truth, with what earnestness He watched the changing countenances
of His hearers! The faces that expressed deep interest and pleasure as
they listened to His words, gave Him great satisfaction. And when the
truth, plainly uttered, touched some cherished sin or idol, He marked
the change of countenance, the cold, stern, forbidding look, which told
that the truth was unwelcome.—
Gospel Workers, 48
.
Christ an Example for Teachers—When Christ was teaching on
earth, He watched the countenances of His hearers, and the kindling
eye, the animated expression, told Him in a moment when one assented
to the truth. Even so should the teachers of the people now study the
countenances of their hearers.—
Evangelism, 158
.
Hopeful Subjects in His Kingdom—Jesus watched with deep
earnestness the changing countenances of His hearers. The faces that
expressed interest and pleasure gave Him great satisfaction. As the
[100]
arrows of truth pierced to the soul, breaking through the barriers of
selfishness, and working contrition, and finally gratitude, the Saviour
was made glad. When His eye swept over the throng of listeners,
and He recognized among them the faces He had before seen, His
countenance lighted up with joy. He saw in them hopeful subjects for
His kingdom. When the truth, plainly spoken, touched some cherished
idol, He marked the change of countenance, the cold, forbidding look,
which told that the light was unwelcome. When He saw men refuse
the message of peace, His heart was pierced to the very depths.—
The
Desire of Ages, 255
.
Individual Reactions—Even the crowd that so often thronged His
steps was not to Christ an indiscriminate mass of human beings. He
spoke directly to every mind and appealed to every heart. He watched
the faces of His hearers, marked the lighting up of the countenance, the
quick, responsive glance, which told that truth had reached the soul;
65