the desire of ages-第3章
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of God as insufficient for us。 Therefore Jesus was 〃in all points tempted like as we are。〃 Heb。 4：15。 He endured every trial to which we are subject。 And He exercised in His own behalf no power that is not freely offered to us。 As man； He met temptation； and overcame in the strength given Him from God。 He says； 〃I delight to do Thy will； O My God： yea； Thy law is within My heart。〃 Ps。 40：8。 As He went about doing good； and healing all who were afflicted by Satan； He made plain to men the character of God's law and the nature of His service。 His life testifies that it is possible for us also to obey the law of God。
By His humanity； Christ touched humanity； by His divinity； He lays hold upon the throne of God。 As the Son of man； He gave us an example of obedience； as the Son of God； He gives us power to obey。 It was Christ who from the bush on Mount Horeb spoke to Moses saying； 〃I Am That I Am。 。 。 。 Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel； I Am hath sent me unto you。〃 Ex。 3：14。 This was the pledge of Israel's deliverance。 So when He came 〃in the likeness of men；〃 He declared Himself the I Am。 The Child of Bethlehem； the meek and lowly Saviour； is God 〃manifest in the flesh。〃 1 Tim。 3：16。 And to us He says： 〃I Am the Good Shepherd。〃 〃I Am the living Bread。〃 〃I Am the Way； the Truth； and the Life。〃 〃All power is given
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unto Me in heaven and in earth。〃 John 10：11； 6：51； 14：6； Matt。 28：18。 I Am the assurance of every promise。 I Am； be not afraid。 〃God with us〃 is the surety of our deliverance from sin； the assurance of our power to obey the law of heaven。
In stooping to take upon Himself humanity； Christ revealed a character the opposite of the character of Satan。 But He stepped still lower in the path of humiliation。 〃Being found in fashion as a man； He humbled Himself； and became obedient unto death； even the death of the cross。〃 Phil。 2：8。 As the high priest laid aside his gorgeous pontifical robes； and officiated in the white linen dress of the common priest； so Christ took the form of a servant； and offered sacrifice； Himself the priest； Himself the victim。 〃He was wounded for our transgressions； He was bruised for our iniquities： the chastisement of our peace was upon Him。〃 Isa。 53：5。
Christ was treated as we deserve； that we might be treated as He deserves。 He was condemned for our sins； in which He had no share； that we might be justified by His righteousness； in which we had no share。 He suffered the death which was ours； that we might receive the life which was His。 〃With His stripes we are healed。〃
By His life and His death； Christ has achieved even more than recovery from the ruin wrought through sin。 It was Satan's purpose to bring about an eternal separation between God and man； but in Christ we become more closely united to God than if we had never fallen。 In taking our nature； the Saviour has bound Himself to humanity by a tie that is never to be broken。 Through the eternal ages He is linked with us。 〃God so loved the world； that He gave His only…begotten Son。〃 John 3：16。 He gave Him not only to bear our sins； and to die as our sacrifice； He gave Him to the fallen race。 To assure us of His immutable counsel of peace； God gave His only…begotten Son to become one of the human family； forever to retain His human nature。 This is the pledge that God will fulfill His word。 〃Unto us a child is born； unto us a son is given： and the government shall be upon His shoulder。〃 God has adopted human nature in the person of His Son； and has carried the same into the highest heaven。 It is the 〃Son of man〃 who shares the throne of the universe。 It is the 〃Son of man〃 whose name shall be called； 〃Wonderful； Counselor； The mighty God； The everlasting Father； The Prince of Peace。〃 Isa。 9：6。 The I Am is the Daysman between God and humanity； laying His hand upon both。 He who is 〃holy； harmless； undefiled； separate from sinners；〃 is not ashamed to call us brethren。 Heb。 7：26； 2：11。 In Christ the family of earth and the family of heaven are
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bound together。 Christ glorified is our brother。 Heaven is enshrined in humanity； and humanity is enfolded in the bosom of Infinite Love。
Of His people God says； 〃They shall be as the stones of a crown； lifted up as an ensign upon His land。 For how great is His goodness； and how great is His beauty！〃 Zech。 9：16； 17。 The exaltation of the redeemed will be an eternal testimony to God's mercy。 〃In the ages to come；〃 He will 〃show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus。〃 〃To the intent that 。 。 。 unto the principalities and the powers in the heavenly places might be made known 。 。 。 the manifold wisdom of God； according to the eternal purpose which He purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord。〃 Eph。 2：7； 3：10； 11； R。 V。
Through Christ's redeeming work the government of God stands justified。 The Omnipotent One is made known as the God of love。 Satan's charges are refuted； and his character unveiled。 Rebellion can never again arise。 Sin can never again enter the universe。 Through eternal ages all are secure from apostasy。 By love's self…sacrifice； the inhabitants of earth and heaven are bound to their Creator in bonds of indissoluble union。
The work of redemption will be complete。 In the place where sin abounded； God's grace much more abounds。 The earth itself； the very field that Satan claims as his； is to be not only ransomed but exalted。 Our little world； under the curse of sin the one dark blot in His glorious creation； will be honored above all other worlds in the universe of God。 Here； where the Son of God tabernacled in humanity； where the King of glory lived and suffered and died；here； when He shall make all things new； the tabernacle of God shall be with men； 〃and He will dwell with them； and they shall be His people； and God Himself shall be with them； and be their God。〃 And through endless ages as the redeemed walk in the light of the Lord； they will praise Him for His unspeakable Gift；
Immanuel； 〃God with us。〃
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Chapter 2
The Chosen People
For more than a thousand years the Jewish people had awaited the Saviour's coming。 Upon this event they had rested their brightest hopes。 In song and prophecy； in temple rite and household prayer； they had enshrined His name。 And yet at His coming they knew Him not。 The Beloved of heaven was to them 〃as a root out of a dry ground；〃 He had 〃no form nor comeliness；〃 and they saw in Him no beauty that they should desire Him。 〃He came unto His own； and His own received Him not。〃 Isa。 53：2； John 1：11。
Yet God had chosen Israel。 He had called them to preserve among men the knowledge of His law； and of the symbols and prophecies that pointed to the Saviour。 He desired them to be as wells of salvation to the world。 What Abraham was in the land of his sojourn； what Joseph was in Egypt； and Daniel in the courts of Babylon； the Hebrew people were to be among the nations。 They were to reveal God to men。
In the call of Abraham the Lord had said； 〃I will bless thee； 。 。 。 and thou shalt be a blessing： 。 。 。 and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed。〃 Gen。 12：2； 3。 The same teaching was repeated through the prophets。 Even after Israel had been wasted by war and captivity； the promise was theirs； 〃The remnant of Jacob shall be in the midst of many people as a dew from the Lord； as the showers upon the grass； that tarrieth not for man； nor waiteth for the sons of men。〃 Micah 5：7。 Concerning the temple at Jerusalem； the Lord declared through Isaiah； 〃Mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all peoples。〃 Isa。 56：7； R。 V。
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But the Israelites fixed their hopes upon worldly greatness。 From the time of their entrance to the land of Canaan； they departed from the commandments of God； and followed the ways of the heathen。 It was in vain that God sent them warning by His prophets。 In vain they suffered the chastisement of heathen oppression。 Every reformation was followed by deeper apostasy。
Had Israel been true to God； He could have accomplished His purpose through their honor and exaltation。 If they had walked in the ways of obedience； He would have made them 〃high above all nations which He hath made； in praise； and in name； and in honor。〃 〃All people of the earth；〃 said Moses； 〃shall see that thou art called by the name of the Lord； and they shall be afraid of thee。〃 〃The nations which shall hear all these statutes〃 shall say； 〃Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people。〃 Deut。 26：19； 28：10； 4：6。 But because of their unfaithfulness； God's purpose could be wrought out only through continued adversity and humiliation。
They were brought into subjection to Babylon； and scattered through the lands of the heathen。 In affliction many renewed their faithfulness to His covenant。 While they hung their harps upon the willows； and mourned for the holy temple that was laid waste； the light of truth shone out through them； and a knowledge of God was spread among the nations。 The heathen systems of sacrifice were a perversion of the system that God had appointed； and many a sincere observer of heathen rites learned from the Hebrews the meaning of the service divinely ordained； and in faith grasped the promise of a Redeemer。
Many of the exiles suffered persecution。 Not a few lost their lives because of their refusal to disregard the Sabbath and to observe the heathen festivals。 As idolaters were roused to crush out the truth； the Lord brought His servants face to face with kings and rulers； that they and their people might receive the light。 Time after time the greatest monarchs were led to proclaim the supremacy of the God whom their Hebrew captives worshiped。
By the Babylonish captivity the Israelites were effectually cured of the worship of graven images。 During the centuries that followed； they suffered from the oppression of heathen foes； until the conviction became fixed that their prosperity depended upon their obedience to the law of God。 But with too many of the people obedience was not prompted by love。 The motive was selfish。 They rendered outward service to God
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as the means of attaining to national greatness。 They did not become the light of the world； but shut themselves away from the world in order to escape temptation to idolatry。 In the instruction given through Moses； God had placed restrictions upon their association with idolaters； but this teaching had been misinterpreted。 It was intended to prevent them from conforming to the practices of the heathen。 But it was used to build up a wall of separation between Israel and all other nations。 The Jews looked upon Jerusalem as their heaven； and they were actually jealous lest the Lord should show mercy to the Gentiles。
After the return from Babylon； much attention was given to religious instruction。 All over the country； synagogues were erected； where the law was expounded by the priests and scribes。 And schools were established； which； together with the arts and sciences； profes
