Desire of Ages
Chapter 53
The last Journey from Galilee
There’s a phrase Jesus used twice showing his sensitivity to the time element of his mission. Or let us say, the event element of the crucifixion that he knew was part of his mission. The phrase "My time is not yet come" he used to his earthly mother at Cana feast and to his earthly brothers at the Feast of Tabernacles. Each party was challenging him to make His "outing" of power. He knew that if too much of His true position was known the religious antagonists would do something radical in a shorter time to eliminate Him. So he kept moving about and avoiding unnecessary provocations thus prolonging his teaching ministry among his disciples. That was important. He was preparing them for their future pastoral tasks. Then when Pentecost power did come they would be mentally better equipt with spiritual knowledge.
I figure that the talks with Moses and Elijah on the mount of transfiguration were strengthening talks about his coming crucifixion. Shortly thereafter it is written that Jesus "steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem." So at His last feast of Tabernacles just before His crucifixion Passover, He seemed to know the time of the Father will had come.
The Samaritans got wind of Jesus' plan for heading directly to Jerusalem. They refused lodgings for Him and His disciples based upon their hardhearted biases and prejudices for thinking that He should not be so partial to the Jews of Jerusalem temple and instead give them a bit of honor at their place of worship in Mount Gerizim where their temple worship was. No wonder that the Arab-Israeli’s peace talks of today get all bogged down because the US president can’t let all the diplomatic nuances fed or satisfied of both sides equally.
Many of us get hot under the collar with a wish to call down instant-heavenly-fire of punishment when the opposition gets too blasphemous, slanderous, rejecting or ridiculing the fundemental SDA beliefs. Jesus had shown the disciples who had then the same reactional feelings we display today as having another spirit when approaching enemies.They were plainly ticked off about the Samaritans reaction to their Rabbi Jesus. His reaction was to rebuke them and teach that His constant goal with anyone, even his enemies, was to save them and not to punish them with instant condemnation.
So He gave us an example not to use force when we begin to pursuade people to change their minds about something. We are going to face members of our church who go overboard in zeal for righteousness. These persons will exert many compelling words to forster a compulsion of conscience in the listeners to be for something or violently against something. Jesus is different. He wants people to respond to His love. He wants voluntary service of the sacrifical loving kind from us. Oh, love that will not let me go...I rest my weary soul in Thee....I give Thee back the life I owe...That in Thine ocean depths its flow...May richer, fuller be (G.Matheson,1882)
"There can be no more conclusive evidence that we possess the spirit of Satan than the disposition to hurt and destroy those who do not appreciate our work, or who act contrary to our ideas."
Just before his triumphal entry into Jerusalem for his last fatal Passover, He spent time in the east bank area of the Jordan. There it was that he sent out 70 of faithful followers who tagged along with the roaming Evangelist and his band. These went out two by two. They visited the towns of Gentiles and Samaritans. They were under instruction not to force issues and if they sensed they weren’t welcomed, they were to shake the dust off and go elsewheres.
No resentment was to linger in the hearts of missionaries when rejection occurs. Just concern that the next attempt for the Spirit of Jesus knocking at the heart's door of the person will again go unheeded and then the disposition to receive truth gets weaker and weaker on the following times.
"Our condemnation in the judgment will not result from the fact that we have been in error, but from the fact that we have neglected heaven-sent opportunities for learning the truth."
A point of great importance is given, in my opinion, by E.White as she warns us not to give too much glory to Satan when giving a personal report,testimony or praying. We much catch ourselves and notice if we are telling more about the evil Satan has done in our lives through us, or through others toward us. Perhaps we unconsciously use a paranoiac sentence repeative-habit of drawing attention to the power of Satan in the world around us and what all he has done on evil accomplishments. Let’s make it a point to 'not' magnify Satan’s power but to magnify the Lord Jesus' power and His love.
Prayer :
Oh, my God of love and justice, I approach You in the mighty authority of Your son Jesus our Christ. I praise You and honor You for taking care of our personal needs. But especially I praise and thank You for revealing us more of the beauty of Jesus through this servant Ellen White. Please, I pray, let all the readers be illumined with their own personal revelation of what it meant for the God of creation to be clothed with humanity of the sort that He himself created. That our hearts be tender in listening to the voice of Thine leading us into the will of the Father. May we be prepared to submit our will to Yours and then be filled with the Holy Spirit to grow in the grace and knowledge of You and Your kingdom's purposes. Teach us more of the humble walk. Plant in us a spirit of repentance. Lead us into the spirit of penitance. Guard us in temptation that we see the door out of it. Cleanse our souls from the secret sins. Rid out of us the pride and vanity seeking for worldly acclaim. May the beauty of Your preciousness be seen in us for the encourgement of others wanting truth and closeness to You. And please work in us a work of grace to seek the treasures of heaven so our hearts will be in tune with Your heart. Thank You Jesus, Amen.
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Joan
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