The Desire of Ages--24--"Is Not This the Carpenter's Son?"

[Richard Myers]

There are two groups being formed today in the world and in the church. Those who love the truth and those who do not. We see an example of this in today's reading.

       Because of their unbelief, the Saviour could not work many miracles among them. Only a few hearts were open to His blessing, and reluctantly He departed, never to return.
     Unbelief, having once been cherished, continued to control the men of Nazareth. So it controlled the Sanhedrin and the nation. With priests and people, the first rejection of the demonstration of the Holy Spirit's power was the beginning of the end. In order to prove that their first resistance was right, they continued ever after to cavil at the words of Christ. Their rejection of the Spirit culminated in the cross of Calvary, in the destruction of their city, in the scattering of the nation to the winds of heaven.
     Oh, how Christ longed to open to Israel the precious treasures of the truth! But such was their spiritual blindness that it was impossible to reveal to them the truths relating to His kingdom. They clung to their creed and their useless ceremonies when the truth of Heaven awaited their acceptance. They spent their money for chaff and husks, when the bread of life was within their reach. Why did they not go to the word of God, and search diligently to know whether they were in error? The Old Testament Scriptures stated plainly every detail of Christ's ministry.

Why did they not seek the truth? Pride is the problem. If one cannot admit they are wrong, then they will remain wrong. How dangerous is this!  A selfish person, all who are not converted, can understand it is better to admit one is wrong than to remain wrong. What happens when one stays wrong?  It is a very stupid thing to remain wrong.  What is the end result? Look at the life of Satan. How did pride work for him?

[Glen McCluskey]

In reflecting on this chapter, one thing that seems especially striking is the statement at the top of page 240 in Desire of Ages.

Ellen White says that the people prided themselves on their devotion to the law, but once their prejudices were offended, they were ready to murder Christ {DA 240.1}.  This reminds me of the Bible statement about the eagerness of the priests and elders to crucify Christ (Matthew 27:20-23).

When I study this topic, I often come back to the Bible and Spirit of Prophecy statements about how there have always been "two classes" or "two parties", and this is true even among Christ's professed followers.

One group is imperfect, but willing to open their hearts to Christ, and allow Him to transform their characters.  The other group may talk about spiritual things, but refuse to yield themselves to a higher power, and admit that they have been wrong.

Here are a couple of Great Controversy quotes that touch on this idea:

"There have ever been two classes among those who profess to be followers of Christ.  While one class study the Saviour's life and earnestly seek to correct their defects and conform to the Pattern, the other class shun the plain, practical truths which expose their errors ..."  {GC 43.2}

"As the storm approaches, a large class who have professed faith in the third angel's message, but have not been sanctified through obedience to the truth, abandon their position and join the ranks of the opposition.  By uniting with the world and partaking of its spirit, they have come to view matters in nearly the same light; and when the test is brought, they are prepared to choose the easy, popular side.  Men of talent and pleasing address, who once rejoiced in the truth, employ their powers to deceive and mislead souls.  They become the most bitter enemies of their former brethren ..."  {GC 608.2}