d in all places He manifested a loving interest in men,
and shed about Him the light of a cheerful piety. All this was a rebuke
to the Pharisees. It showed that religion does not consist in selfishness,
and that their morbid devotion to personal interest was far from being
true godliness. This had roused their enmity against Jesus, so that they
[87] tried to enforce His conformity to their regulations.
Jesus worked to relieve every case of suffering that He saw. He
had little money to give, but He often denied Himself of food in order
to relieve those who appeared more needy than He. His brothers felt
that His influence went far to counteract theirs. He possessed a tact
which none of them had, or desired to have. When they spoke harshly
to poor, degraded beings, Jesus sought out these very ones, and spoke
to them words of encouragement. To those who were in need He
would give a cup of cold water, and would quietly place His own meal
in their hands. As He relieved their sufferings, the truths He taught
were associated with His acts of mercy, and were thus riveted in the
memory.
All this displeased His brothers. Being older than Jesus, they felt
that He should be under their dictation. They charged Him with thinking
Himself superior to them, and reproved Him for setting Himself
above their teachers and the priests and rulers of the people. Often
they threatened and tried to intimidate Him; but He passed on, making
the Scriptures His guide.
Jesus loved His brothers, and treated them with unfailing kindness;
but they were jealous of Him, and manifested the most decided unbelief
and contempt. They could not understand His conduct. Great
contradictions presented themselves in Jesus. He was the divine Son of
[88] God, and yet a helpless child. The Creator of the worlds, the earth was
His possession, and yet poverty marked His life experience at every
step. He possessed a dignity and individuality wholly distinct from
earthly pride and assumption; He did not strive for worldly greatness,
and in even the lowliest position He was content. This angered His
brothers. They could not account for His constant serenity under trial
and deprivation. They did not know that for our sake He had become
poor, that we “through His poverty might be rich.” 2 Corinthians 8:9.
They could understand the mystery of His mission no more than the
friends of Job could understand his humiliation and suffering.
Days of Conflict 63
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.” Matthew
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 [89]
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,
64 The Desire of Ages
“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.” Psalm 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.” Psalm 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.” Psalm 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.” Proverbs 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
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[90] one 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
