the desire of ages-第17章

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Jesus　was　misunderstood　by　His　brothers　because　He　was　not　like　them。　His　standard　was　not　their　standard。　In　looking　to　men　they　had　turned　away　from　God；　and　they　had　not　His　power　in　their　lives。　The　forms　of　religion　which　they　observed　could　not　transform　the　character。　They　paid　〃tithe　of　mint　and　anise　and　cummin；〃　but　omitted　〃the　weightier　matters　of　the　law；　judgment；　mercy；　and　faith。〃　Matt。　23：23。　The　example　of　Jesus　was　to　them　a　continual　irritation。　He　hated　but　one　thing　in　the　world；　and　that　was　sin。　He　could　not　witness　a　wrong　act　without　pain　which　it　was　impossible　to　disguise。　Between　the　formalists；　whose　sanctity　of　appearance　concealed　the　love　of　sin；　and　a　character　in　which　zeal　for　God's　glory　was　always　paramount；　the　contrast　was　unmistakable。　Because　the　life　of　Jesus　condemned　evil；　He　was　opposed；　both　at　home　and　abroad。　His　unselfishness　and　integrity　were　commented　on　with　a　sneer。　His　forbearance　and　kindness　were　termed　cowardice。

Of　the　bitterness　that　falls　to　the　lot　of　humanity；　there　was　no　part　which　Christ　did　not　taste。　There　were　those　who　tried　to　cast　contempt　upon　Him　because　of　His　birth；　and　even　in　His　childhood　He　had　to　meet　their　scornful　looks　and　evil　whisperings。　If　He　had　responded　by　an　impatient　word　or　look；　if　He　had　conceded　to　His　brothers　by　even　one　wrong　act；　He　would　have　failed　of　being　a　perfect　example。　Thus　He　would　have　failed　of　carrying　out　the　plan　for　our　redemption。　Had　He　even　admitted　that　there　could　be　an　excuse　for　sin；　Satan　would　have　triumphed；　and　the　world　would　have　been　lost。　This　is　why　the　tempter　worked　to　make　His　life　as　trying　as　possible；　that　He　might　be　led　to　sin。

But　to　every　temptation　He　had　one　answer；　〃It　is　written。〃　He　rarely　rebuked　any　wrongdoing　of　His　brothers；　but　He　had　a　word

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from　God　to　speak　to　them。　Often　He　was　accused　of　cowardice　for　refusing　to　unite　with　them　in　some　forbidden　act；　but　His　answer　was；　It　is　written；　〃The　fear　of　the　Lord；　that　is　wisdom；　and　to　depart　from　evil　is　understanding。〃　Job　28：28。

There　were　some　who　sought　His　society；　feeling　at　peace　in　His　presence；　but　many　avoided　Him；　because　they　were　rebuked　by　His　stainless　life。　Young　companions　urged　Him　to　do　as　they　did。　He　was　bright　and　cheerful；　they　enjoyed　His　presence；　and　welcomed　His　ready　suggestions；　but　they　were　impatient　at　His　scruples；　and　pronounced　Him　narrow　and　strait…laced。　Jesus　answered；　It　is　written；　〃Wherewithal　shall　a　young　man　cleanse　his　way？　by　taking　heed　thereto　according　to　Thy　word。〃　〃Thy　word　have　I　hid　in　mine　heart；　that　I　might　not　sin　against　Thee。〃　Ps。　119：9；　11。

Often　He　was　asked；　Why　are　you　bent　on　being　so　singular；　so　different　from　us　all？　It　is　written；　He　said；　〃Blessed　are　the　undefiled　in　the　way；　who　walk　in　the　law　of　the　Lord。　Blessed　are　they　that　keep　His　testimonies；　and　that　seek　Him　with　the　whole　heart。　They　also　do　no　iniquity；　they　walk　in　His　ways。〃　Ps。　119：1…3。

When　questioned　why　He　did　not　join　in　the　frolics　of　the　youth　of　Nazareth；　He　said；　It　is　written；　〃I　have　rejoiced　in　the　way　of　Thy　testimonies；　as　much　as　in　all　riches。　I　will　meditate　in　Thy　precepts；　and　have　respect　unto　Thy　ways。　I　will　delight　myself　in　Thy　statutes；　I　will　not　forget　Thy　word。〃　Ps。　119：14…16。

Jesus　did　not　contend　for　His　rights。　Often　His　work　was　made　unnecessarily　severe　because　He　was　willing　and　uncomplaining。　Yet　He　did　not　fail　nor　become　discouraged。　He　lived　above　these　difficulties；　as　if　in　the　light　of　God's　countenance。　He　did　not　retaliate　when　roughly　used；　but　bore　insult　patiently。

Again　and　again　He　was　asked；　Why　do　You　submit　to　such　despiteful　usage；　even　from　Your　brothers？　It　is　written；　He　said；　〃My　son；　forget　not　My　law；　but　let　thine　heart　keep　My　commandments：　for　length　of　days；　and　long　life；　and　peace；　shall　they　add　to　thee。　Let　not　mercy　and　truth　forsake　thee：　bind　them　about　thy　neck；　write　them　upon　the　table　of　thine　heart：　so　shalt　thou　find　favor　and　good　understanding　in　the　sight　of　God　and　man。〃　Prov。　3：1…4。

From　the　time　when　the　parents　of　Jesus　found　Him　in　the　temple；　His　course　of　action　was　a　mystery　to　them。　He　would　not　enter　into　controversy；　yet　His　example　was　a　constant　lesson。　He　seemed　as　one

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who　was　set　apart。　His　hours　of　happiness　were　found　when　alone　with　nature　and　with　God。　Whenever　it　was　His　privilege；　He　turned　aside　from　the　scene　of　His　labor；　to　go　into　the　fields；　to　meditate　in　the　green　valleys；　to　hold　communion　with　God　on　the　mountainside　or　amid　the　trees　of　the　forest。　The　early　morning　often　found　Him　in　some　secluded　place；　meditating；　searching　the　Scriptures；　or　in　prayer。　From　these　quiet　hours　He　would　return　to　His　home　to　take　up　His　duties　again；　and　to　give　an　example　of　patient　toil。

The　life　of　Christ　was　marked　with　respect　and　love　for　His　mother。　Mary　believed　in　her　heart　that　the　holy　child　born　of　her　was　the　long…promised　Messiah；　yet　she　dared　not　express　her　faith。　Throughout　His　life　on　earth　she　was　a　partaker　in　His　sufferings。　She　witnessed　with　sorrow　the　trials　brought　upon　Him　in　His　childhood　and　youth。　By　her　vindication　of　what　she　knew　to　be　right　in　His　conduct；　she　herself　was　brought　into　trying　positions。　She　looked　upon　the　associations　of　the　home；　and　the　mother's　tender　watchcare　over　her　children；　as　of　vital　importance　in　the　formation　of　character。　The　sons　and　daughters　of　Joseph　knew　this；　and　by　appealing　to　her　anxiety；　they　tried　to　correct　the　practices　of　Jesus　according　to　their　standard。

Mary　often　remonstrated　with　Jesus；　and　urged　Him　to　conform　to　the　usages　of　the　rabbis。　But　He　could　not　be　persuaded　to　change　His　habits　of　contemplating　the　works　of　God　and　seeking　to　alleviate　the　suffering　of　men　or　even　of　dumb　animals。　When　the　priests　and　teachers　required　Mary's　aid　in　controlling　Jesus；　she　was　greatly　troubled；　but　peace　came　to　her　heart　as　He　presented　the　statements　of　Scripture　upholding　His　practices。

At　times　she　wavered　between　Jesus　and　His　brothers；　who　did　not　believe　that　He　was　the　Sent　of　God；　but　evidence　was　abundant　that　His　was　a　divine　character。　She　saw　Him　sacrificing　Himself　for　the　good　of　others。　His　presence　brought　a　purer　atmosphere　into　the　home；　and　His　life　was　as　leaven　working　amid　the　elements　of　society。　Harmless　and　undefiled；　He　walked　among　the　thoughtless；　the　rude；　the　uncourteous；　amid　the　unjust　publicans；　the　reckless　prodigals；　the　unrighteous　Samaritans；　the　heathen　soldiers；　the　rough　peasants；　and　the　mixed　multitude。　He　spoke　a　word　of　sympathy　here　and　a　word　there；　as　He　saw　men　weary；　yet　compelled　to　bear　heavy　burdens。　He　shared　their　burdens；　and　repeated　to　them　the　lessons　He　had　learned　from　nature；　of　the　love；　the　kindness；　the　goodness　of　God。

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He　taught　all　to　look　upon　themselves　as　endowed　with　precious　talents；　which　if　rightly　employed　would　secure　for　them　eternal　riches。　He　weeded　all　vanity　from　life；　and　by　His　own　example　taught　that　every　moment　of　time　is　fraught　with　eternal　results；　that　it　is　to　be　cherished　as　a　treasure；　and　to　be　employed　for　holy　purposes。　He　passed　by　no　human　being　as　worthless；　but　sought　to　apply　the　saving　remedy　to　every　soul。　In　whatever　company　He　found　Himself；　He　presented　a　lesson　that　was　appropriate　to　the　time　and　the　circumstances。　He　sought　to　inspire　with　hope　the　most　rough　and　unpromising；　setting　before　them　the　assurance　that　they　might　become　blameless　and　harmless；　attaining　such　a　character　as　would　make　them　manifest　as　the　children　of　God。　Often　He　met　those　who　had　drifted　under　Satan's　control；　and　who　had　no　power　to　break　from　his　snare。　To　such　a　one；　discouraged；　sick；　tempted；　and　fallen；　Jesus　would　speak　words　of　tenderest　pity；　words　that　were　needed　and　could　be　understood。　Others

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He　met　who　were　fighting　a　hand…to…hand　battle　with　the　adversary　of　souls。　These　He　encouraged　to　persevere；　assuring　them　that　they　would　win；　for　angels　of　God　were　on　their　side；　and　would　give　them　the　victory。　Those　whom　He　thus