See for more themes.
| Q13: 20. "Except Ye See Signs and Wonders".. Show the Desire of Ages is inspired..
(1) Do not visit your own : church goers.. But the people of Nazareth did not believe on Him. For this reason, Jesus did not visit Nazareth on Hisway to Cana. The Saviour declared to His disciples that a prophet has no honor in his own country.Men estimate character by that which they themselves are capable of appreciating. The narrow andworldly-minded judged of Christ by His humble birth, His lowly garb, and daily toil. They could notappreciate the purity of that spirit upon which was no stain of sin. Ho 9:7 � The days of visitation are come, the days of recompence are come; Israel shall know it: the prophet is a fool, the spiritual man is mad,.. Often the inspired man is not appreciated by his own church goers because they do not appreciate his character since they know the man too much. Better to witness to a strange land, for they see the power of GOD in you much better. (2) His belief was conditional.. With an anxious heart he pressed through tothe Saviour's presence. His faith faltered when he saw only a plainly dressed man, dusty and worn withtravel. He doubted that this Person could do what he had come to ask of Him; yet he secured aninterview with Jesus, told his errand, and besought the Saviour to accompany him to his home. Butalready his Page 198 sorrow was known to Jesus. Before the officer had left his home, the Saviour had beheld his affliction.But He knew also that the father had, in his own mind, made conditions concerning his belief in Jesus.Unless his petition should be granted, he would not receive Him as the Messiah. While the officerwaited in an agony of suspense, Jesus said, "Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe." Notwithstanding all the evidence that Jesus was the Christ, the petitioner had determined to make his belief in Him conditional on the granting of his own request. The Saviour contrasted this questioningunbelief with the simple faith of the Samaritans, who asked for no miracle or sign. His word, the everpresentevidence of His divinity, had a convincing power that reached their hearts. Christ was painedthat His own people, to whom the Sacred Oracles had been committed, should fail to hear the voice ofGod speaking to them in His Son. Yet the nobleman had a degree of faith; for he had come to ask what seemed to him the most preciousof all blessings. Jesus had a greater gift to bestow. He desired, not only to heal the child, but to makethe officer and his household sharers in the blessings of salvation, and to kindle a light in Capernaum,which was so soon to be the field of His own labors. But the nobleman must realize his need before hewould desire the grace of Christ. This courtier represented many of his nation. They were interested inJesus from selfish motives. They hoped to receive some special benefit through His power, and theystaked their faith on the granting of this temporal favor; but they were ignorant as to their spiritualdisease, and saw not their need of divine grace. Like a flash of light, the Saviour's words to the nobleman laid bare his heart. He saw that his motives inseeking Jesus were selfish. His vacillating faith appeared to him in its true character. In deep distress herealized that his doubt might cost the life of his son. He knew that he was in the presence of One whocould read the thoughts, and to whom all things were possible. In an agony of supplication he cried,"Sir, come down ere my child die." His faith took hold upon Christ as did Jacob, when, wrestling withthe Angel, he cried, "I will not let Thee go, except Thou bless me." Gen. 32:26.Like Jacob he prevailed. The Saviour cannot withdraw from the soul that clings to Him, pleading itsgreat need. "Go thy way," He said; "thy son liveth." The nobleman left the Saviour's presence with apeace Page 199 and joy he had never known before. But like the afflictedfather, we are often led to seek Jesus by the desire for some earthly good; and upon the granting of ourrequest we rest our confidence in His love. The Saviour longs to give us a greater blessing than we ask;and He delays the answer to our request that He may show us the evil of our own hearts, and our deepneed of His grace. He desires us to renounce the selfishness that leads us to seek Him. Confessing ourhelplessness and bitter need, we are to trust ourselves wholly to His love. The nobleman's faith in Jesus was conditional. He wanted a sign or wonder to strength his faith...but faith does not work this way...You have to plug in the electric kettle believing the power will heat the water...than wait for the promise of electricity to do its work...But the man like so many of us lack faith in spiritual things. Ho 14:1 � O Israel, return unto the LORD thy God; The sinners need is expressed in this verse, to return is to repent towards GOD and accept His gift of His presence...but you have to have understood your need of Christ.. do you want to return and walk towards Jesus? For more, see the Steps of Jesus. (3) Not conditional prayers, but claim the promises of the Seed.. The nobleman wanted to see the fulfillment of his prayer before he should believe; but he had to acceptthe word of Jesus that his request was heard and the blessing granted. This lesson we also have to learn.Not because we see or feel that God hears us are we to believe. We are to trust in His promises. Whenwe come to Him in faith, every petition enters the heart of God. When we have asked for His blessing,we should believe that we receive it, and thank Him that we have received it. Then we are to go aboutour duties, assured that the blessing will be realized when we need it most. When we have learned to dothis, we shall know that our prayers are answered. God will do for us "exceeding abundantly,""according to the riches of His glory," and "the working of His mighty power." Eph. 3:20, 16; 1:19. The Spirit of Prophecy says the promises of the Seed is special and unconditional... There are over 3500 specific seed promises in the Bible, all are special promises Jesus (the Seed) will do in you (the soil). For more on the ABC of Bible prayer, see examples of Seed promises. Shalom. The next chapter of Desire of Ages..we look Jesus facing Bethesda and the Sanhedrin.. |
Created by Rob Thompson. Hosted since 10/01/2012. Visitors HOSTED by Prologic, my Son. A thin website.
