His labor among men in active life. From
these seasons He came forth to relieve the sick, to instruct the ignorant,
[152] and to break the chains from the captives of Satan.
It was by personal contact and association that Jesus trained His
disciples. Sometimes He taught them, sitting among them on the
mountainside; sometimes beside the sea, or walking with them by the
way, He revealed the mysteries of the kingdom of God. He did not
sermonize as men do today. Wherever hearts were open to receive the
divine message, He unfolded the truths of the way of salvation. He did
not command His disciples to do this or that, but said, “Follow Me.”
On His journeys through country and cities He took them with Him,
that they might see how He taught the people. He linked their interest
with His, and they united with Him in the work.
The example of Christ in linking Himself with the interests of
humanity should be followed by all who preach His word, and by all
who have received the gospel of His grace. We are not to renounce
social communion. We should not seclude ourselves from others. In
order to reach all classes, we must meet them where they are. They
will seldom seek us of their own accord. Not alone from the pulpit
are the hearts of men touched by divine truth. There is another field
of labor, humbler, it may be, but fully as promising. It is found in the
home of the lowly, and in the mansion of the great; at the hospitable
board, and in gatherings for innocent social enjoyment.
As disciples of Christ we shall not mingle with the world from a
mere love of pleasure, to unite with them in folly. Such associations
can result only in harm. We should never give sanction to sin by our
words or our deeds, our silence or our presence. Wherever we go, we
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are to carry Jesus with us, and to reveal to others the preciousness of
our Saviour. But those who try to preserve their religion by hiding it
within stone walls lose precious opportunities of doing good. Through
the social relations, Christianity comes in contact with the world.
Everyone who has received the divine illumination is to brighten the
pathway of those who know not the Light of life.
We should all become witnesses for Jesus. Social power, sanctified
by the grace of Christ, must be improved in winning souls to the
Saviour. Let the world see that we are not selfishly absorbed in our own
interests, but that we desire others to share our blessings and privileges.
Let them see that our religion does not make us unsympathetic or
exacting. Let all who profess to have found Christ, minister as He did
for the benefit of men.
We should never give to the world the false impression that Christians
are a gloomy, unhappy people. If our eyes are fixed on Jesus,
we shall see a compassionate Redeemer, and shall catch light from [153]
His countenance. Wherever His Spirit reigns, there peace abides. And
there will be joy also, for there is a calm, holy trust in God.
Christ is pleased with His followers when they show that, though
human, they are partakers of the divine nature. They are not statues,
but living men and women. Their hearts, refreshed by the dews of
divine grace, open and expand to the Sun of Righteousness. The
light that shines upon them they reflect upon others in works that are
luminous with the love of Christ. [154]
Chapter 16—In His Temple
This chapter is based on John 2:12-22.
“After this He went down to Capernaum, He, and His mother, and
His brethren, and His disciples: and they continued there not many
days. And the Jews’ Passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to
Jerusalem.”
In this journey, Jesus joined one of the large companies that were
making their way to the capital. He had not yet publicly announced
His mission, and He mingled unnoticed with the throng. Upon these
occasions, the coming of the Messiah, to which such prominence had
been given by the ministry of John, was often the theme of conversation.
The hope of national greatness was dwelt upon with kindling
enthusiasm. Jesus knew that this hope was to be disappointed, for
it was founded on a misinterpretation of the Scriptures. With deep
earnestness He explained the prophecies, and tried to arouse the people
to a closer study of God’s word.
The Jewish leaders had instructed the people that at Jerusalem they
were to be taught to worship God. Here during the Passover week large
numbers assembled, coming from all parts of Palestine, and even from
distant lands. The temple courts were filled with a promiscuous throng.
[155] Many were unable to bring with them the sacrifices that were to be
offered up as typifying the one great Sacrifice. For the convenience of
these, animals were bought and sold in the outer court of the temple.
Here all classes of people assembled to purchase their offerings. Here
all foreign money was exchanged for the coin of the sanctuary.
Every Jew was required to pay yearly a half shekel as “a ransom
for his soul;” and the money thus collected was used for the support of
the temple. Exodus 30:12-16. Besides this, large sums were brought
as freewill offerings, to be deposited in the temple treasury. And it
was required that all foreign coin should be changed for a coin called
the temple shekel, which was accepted for the service of the sanctuary.
The money changing gave opportunity for fraud and extortion, and it
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had grown into a disgraceful traffic, which was a source of revenue to
the priests.
The dealers demanded exorbitant prices for the animals sold, and
they shared their profits with the priests and rulers, who thus enriched
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themselves at the expense of the people. The worshipers had been
taught to believe that if they did not offer sacrifice, the blessing of God
would not rest on their children or their lands. Thus a high price for
the animals could be secured; for after coming so far, the people would
not return to their homes without performing the act of devotion for
which they had come.
A great number of sacrifices were offered at the time of the
Passover, and the sales at the temple were very large. The consequent
confusion indicated a noisy cattle market rather than the sacred
temple of God. There could be heard sharp bargaining, the lowing of
cattle, the bleating of sheep, the cooing of