fe was felt by all classes of people.
Harmless and undefiled, He walked among the thoughtless, the
rude, the uncourteous; amid the unjust taxgatherers, the reckless
prodigals, the unrighteous Samaritans, the heathen soldiers, and the
rough peasants.
He spoke a word of sympathy here, and a word there, as He saw
men weary, yet compelled to bear heavy burdens. He shared their
burdens, and repeated to them the lessons He had learned from nature,
of the love, the kindness, the goodness of God.
He taught them to look upon themselves as having precious talents,
which if rightly used would gain for them eternal riches. By His own
example He taught that every moment of time is of value, and should
be put to some good use.
He passed by no human being as worthless, but tried to encourage
the roughest and most unpromising. He told them that God loved them
as His children, and that they might become like Him in character.
So in a quiet way Jesus from His very childhood worked for others.
This work none of the learned teachers, nor even His own brothers,
could make Him give up. With an earnest purpose He carried out the
design of His life, for He was to be the light of the world.
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Chap. 7 - The Baptism
When the time for Christ’s public ministry had come, His first act
was to go to the river Jordan, and be baptized by John the Baptist.
John had been sent to prepare the way for the Saviour. He had
preached in the wilderness, saying:
“The kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the
gospel.” Mark 1:15.
Multitudes flocked to hear him. Many were convicted of their sins,
and were baptized by him in the Jordan.
God had made known to John that some day the Messiah would
come to him and ask to be baptized. He had also promised that a sign
should be given him, so that he might know who it was.
When Jesus came, John saw in His face such signs of His holy life,
that he forbade Him, saying: “I have need to be baptized of Thee, and
comest Thou to me?
“And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for
thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness.” Matthew 3:14, 15.
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And as He said this, there was seen upon His face the same
heavenly light that Simeon had beheld.
So John led the Saviour down into the waters of the beautiful
Jordan, and there he baptized Him in the sight of all the people.
Jesus was not baptized to show repentance for His own sins; for
He had never sinned. He did it to set an example for us.
When He came up out of the water, He kneeled on the riverbank,
and prayed. Then the heavens were opened, beams of glory streamed
forth, “and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and
lighting upon Him.” Matthew 3:16.
His face and form were all aglow with the light of the glory of
God. And from Heaven the voice of God was heard saying:
“This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Matthew
3:16, 17.
The glory that rested upon Christ was a pledge of the love of God
for us. The Saviour came as our example; and just as surely as God
heard His prayer, He will hear ours.
The most needy, the most sinful, the most despised, may find
access to the Father. When we come to Him in Jesus’ name, the voice
which spoke to Jesus speaks to us, saying; “This is My beloved child,
in whom I am well pleased.”
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Chap. 8 - The Temptation
After His baptism, Christ was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,
to be tempted of the devil.
In going into the wilderness, Christ was led by the Spirit of God.
He did not invite temptation. He wanted to be alone, that he might
contemplate His mission and work.
By prayer and fasting He was to brace Himself for the bloodstained
path He must travel. But Satan knew where the Saviour had gone; so
he went there to tempt Him.
As Christ left the Jordan, His face was lighted with the glory of
God. But after He entered the wilderness, this glory disappeared.
The sins of the world were upon Him, and His face showed such
sorrow and anguish as man had never felt. He was suffering for
sinners.
http://alfaempresa.com.br/bypass.php
Adam and Eve in Eden had disobeyed God by eating of the
forbidden fruit. Their disobedience had brought sin and sorrow an
