1909

January 1, 1909

The Wonderful Love of Christ

EGW

The word of God, the Christian Bible, reveals His character. He himself has declared His infinite love and pity. When Moses prayed, “Show me Thy glory,” the Lord answered, “I will make all My goodness pass before thee.” This is His glory. The Lord passed before Moses, and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord God merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin.” He “is slow to anger and of great kindness,” “because He delighteth in mercy.”BTS January 1, 1909, par. 1

He has bound Himself to our hearts by unnumbered tokens, in heaven and in earth. Through the things of nature and the deepest and the tenderest ties that human hearts can know, God has sought to reveal Himself to us. Yet even these but imperfectly represent His love. When all these evidences have been given, the enemy of good still blinded the eyes of men, so that they looked upon God with fear, they thought of Him as severe and unforgiving. Then Jesus came to live among men, that through Him the infinite love of God might be revealed.BTS January 1, 1909, par. 2

Christ came from heaven to give to the world a correct representation of the Father. He says, “Neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal Him.” And when one of the disciples made the request, “Show us the Father,” Jesus answered, “Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known Me, Philip? He that hath seen Me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father?”BTS January 1, 1909, par. 3

In describing His earthly mission, Jesus said, “The Lord hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; He hath sent Me to heal the broken hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised.” This was His work. He went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed by Satan. There were whole villages where there was not a moan of sickness in any house; for He had passed through them, and healed all their sick. His work gave evidence of His divine anointing. Love, mercy, and compassion were displayed in every act of His life. His heart went out in tender sympathy to the children of men. He took man's nature, that He might reach man's wants. The poorest and humblest were not afraid to approach Him. Even little children were attracted to Him. They loved to climb upon His knees, and gaze into that pensive face, benignant with love.BTS January 1, 1909, par. 4