December 16, 1897

The Work of Christ

EGW

It may be surprising to some that Christ's work was confined to so small a circumference, that it was not extended to the heathen nations surrounding Palestine. But the heathen nations were not prepared for his work. And had he devoted his time to the conversion of the Gentile world, he would have closed the door whereby he could bear his message to the Jewish nation. As it was, Jewish prejudice against him was strong. One discourse given by him in Nazareth so enraged the people that they would have killed him if divine power had not saved him from their wicked purposes. The mob drove him out of the synagog, and pushed him hither and thither, quarreling among themselves as to how they could stop his voice entirely. But presently they lost sight of him. He was gone, they knew not whither.ST December 16, 1897, par. 1

Christ was surrounded by religious enemies. “He came unto his own, and his own received him not.” Why did not the Jewish people receive their Lord?—Because truth did not languish on his tongue. They were displeased with him because he did not receive his instruction from the religious teachers of the nation. Yet he showed that he had a perfect knowledge of the Jewish economy as represented in the Scriptures.ST December 16, 1897, par. 2

The scribes and Pharisees taught the law, but they taught also the commandments of men, mingling human traditions with the divine precepts, covering the genuine requirements of God with man-made forms and ceremonies. Thus their true religious service was corrupted.ST December 16, 1897, par. 3

Christ gave the true interpretation of the law and the prophets, and the true significance of every type and symbol. While the professed teachers of the law made this law a rigorous burden by their unimportant exactions, Christ stood alone, living the law of God. Altho rejected by his own people, he did not fail nor become discouraged. His discrimination between true and false religion was so clear and sharp that the Pharisees were reproached by his words. He did not spare their pretentious godliness, which was mingled with selfishness, hypocrisy, covetousness, and unfair dealing. He did not try to obliterate the distinction which should exist between the righteous principles that should ever govern the lives of those who claim to be children of God, and the principles of the world.ST December 16, 1897, par. 4

Christ taught that the idea of remodeling the religion of the scribes and Pharisees was out of the question. A new piece of cloth can not be sewed on an old garment; for the new will draw away from the old, and the rent will thereby be made worse. So the religion of Christ could not be joined with false religions; for the new principles to be introduced would not harmonize with the old.ST December 16, 1897, par. 5

The temple service, formed after the divine pattern, and once so pure, so sacred and so holy, had been tainted with evil. It could not be remodeled. It was mingled with the defective plans of men, and could not be rebuilt by human power. The true heavenly Architect, he who created men, “so loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” One sent from heaven came to restore the ruined temple in its sacred and beautiful proportions.ST December 16, 1897, par. 6

While the Pharisees loaded the people with grievous, man-made exactions, Christ revealed the love of God. The untainted purity of his life, his humility and meekness, his sympathy with all classes, high and low, rich and poor, showed the Pharisees to be whited sepulchers, deceiving the people by their profession of sanctity. The contrast between Christ's life and the lives of the religious teachers shed rich light on the pathway of those who claimed to worship God. In his person and mission he revealed the love and holiness of God, and priests and rulers should have set before him an open door; but they chose darkness rather than light.ST December 16, 1897, par. 7

While Christ's field of labor lay among the Jews, he instructed his disciples to go forth to those without the camp, bearing to them the message of a Saviour's love. Frequently the people of other nations came to him to be healed, or to make some request for their relatives and friends. They listened to Christ's instruction, and as they heard his words of truth, they were deeply impressed. These people represented the great human family, who knew not God or the truth, but who felt a soul-longing for something they had not. In speaking words of hope to these weary, unsatisfied souls, in healing their infirmities, Christ was setting an example to be followed from one end of the world to another. He was speaking and acting for humanity at large. He was giving a message to those who would afterward become his disciples. In the few years of his work he must set forth the object of his mission, and lay the foundation of the work that was to be taken up by his disciples. He must show that his work was to set souls free from the slavery of sin. And, altho generation after generation would pass away, his lessons of practical service would be repeated by his witnesses. He was to ascend to heaven, but his work was to be carried forward with greater power than before, because he and his Father would co-operate in doing greater things for his people than they had seen while he was among them.ST December 16, 1897, par. 8

“Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature,” is Christ's command to his workers. He himself descended from heaven in the garb of humanity that he might give power to man, enabling him to be a partaker of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. His long human arm encircled the race, while with his divine arm he grasped the throne of the Infinite. By living, not to please himself, but to please his heavenly Father, by spending his life for others, by seeking to save suffering humanity, Christ gave practical lessons of self-denial and self-sacrifice.ST December 16, 1897, par. 9

We are to work while it is day; for the night cometh, in which no man can work. Our life is represented as a day. When night comes to us, we fall asleep. But tho the worker ceases his busy activity, the work goes on; for others take it up. Human agents may pass away, but Christ's work does not cease; it goes forward, each worker doing God service by working as Christ worked.ST December 16, 1897, par. 10

We often feel that in the work of God there are greater interests to be handled, that we are unable to touch. We seem to be bound about. Let all remember that Christ's work while on earth was confined in a narrow compass. Yet multitudes from all parts of the world heard his lessons.ST December 16, 1897, par. 11

Christ worked out before his disciples and before the world a perfect example of true religion. And when men show that patience, sympathy, and love for the souls of their fellow-men that Christ showed, Christ will be revealed in his followers. “We are laborers together with God,” writes Paul; “ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.” By his Holy Spirit God is framing the building, using sanctified men and women to compose his temple. But none can do a good work, at home or abroad, unless they receive power from above. If we would work as Christ worked, we must look to Christ to give our work efficiency and perfection. We must depend upon Christ, our risen and ascended Saviour, our substitute, our surety, our power, and our sufficiency.ST December 16, 1897, par. 12

Mrs. E. G. White