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Chapter 9
Days of Conflict
From its earliest years the Jewish child was surrounded with the
requirements of the rabbis. Rigid rules were prescribed for every act,
down
to the smallest details of life. Under the synagogue teachers the youth
were
instructed in the countless regulations which as orthodox Israelites they
were expected to observe. But Jesus did not interest Himself in these
matters. From childhood He acted independently of the rabbinical laws. The
Scriptures of the Old Testament were His constant study, and the words,
"Thus saith the Lord," were ever upon His lips.
As the condition of the people began to open to His mind, He saw that the
requirements of society and the requirements of God were in constant
collision. Men were departing from the word of God, and exalting theories
of
their own invention. They were observing traditional rites that possessed
no
virtue. Their service was a mere round of ceremonies; the sacred truths it
was designed to teach were hidden from the wor****pers. He saw that in
their
faithless services they found no peace. They did not know the freedom of
spirit that would come to them by serving God in truth. Jesus had come to
teach the meaning of the wor****p of God, and He could not sanction the
mingling of human requirements with the divine precepts. He did not attack
the precepts or
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practices of the learned teachers; but when reproved for His own simple
habits, He presented the word of God in justification of His conduct.
In every gentle and submissive way, Jesus tried to please those with whom
He
came in contact. Because He was so gentle and unobtrusive, the scribes and
elders supposed that He would be easily influenced by their teaching. They
urged Him to receive the maxims and traditions that had been handed down
from the ancient rabbis, but He asked for their authority in Holy Writ. He
would hear every word that proceeds from the mouth of God; but He could
not
obey the inventions of men. Jesus seemed to know the Scriptures from
beginning to end, and He presented them in their true im****t. The rabbis
were ashamed to be instructed by a child. They claimed that it was their
office to explain the Scriptures, and that it was His place to accept
their
interpretation. They were indignant that He should stand in opposition to
their word.
They knew that no authority could be found in Scripture for their
traditions. They realized that in spiritual understanding Jesus was far in
advance of them. Yet they were angry because He did not obey their
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dictates. Failing to convince Him, they sought Joseph and Mary, and set
before them His course of noncompliance. Thus He suffered rebuke and
censure.
At a very early age, Jesus had begun to act for Himself in the formation
of
His character, and not even respect and love for His parents could turn
Him
from obedience to God's word. "It is written" was His reason for every act
that varied from the family customs. But the influence of the rabbis made
His life a bitter one. Even in His youth He had to learn the hard lesson
of
silence and patient endurance.
His brothers, as the sons of Joseph were called, sided with the rabbis
They
insisted that the traditions must be heeded, as if they were the
requirements of God. They even regarded the precepts of men more highly
than
the word of God, and they were greatly annoyed at the clear penetration of
Jesus in distingui****ng between the false and the true His strict
obedience
to the law of God they condemned as stubbornness. They were surprised at
the
knowledge and wisdom He showed in answering the rabbis. They knew that He
had not received instruction from the wise men, yet they could not but see
that He was an instructor to them. They recognized that His education was
of
a higher type than their own. But they did not discern that He had access
to
the tree of life, a source of knowledge of which they were ignorant.
Christ was not exclusive, and He had given special offense to the
Pharisees
by departing in this respect from their rigid rules. He found the domain
of
religion fenced in by high walls of seclusion, as too sacred a matter for
everyday life. These walls of partition He overthrew. In His contact with
men He did not ask, What is your creed? To what church do you belong? He
exercised His helping power in behalf of all who needed help. Instead of
secluding Himself in a hermit's cell in order to show His heavenly
character, He labored earnestly for humanity. He inculcated the principle
that Bible religion does not consist in the mortification of the body. He
taught that pure and undefiled religion is not meant only for set times
and
special occasions. At all times and 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 tried to enforce His conformity to their regulations.
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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 God,
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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 Cor. 8:9. They could understand the mystery of His
mission
no more than the friends of Job could understand his humiliation and
suffering.
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 ***min," but omitted "the weightier matters of the law,
judgment, mercy, and faith." Matt. 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
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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, "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." Ps. 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." Ps. 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." Ps. 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." Prov.
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 one
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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 that the holy child born of her was the
long-promised
Messiah, yet she dared not express her faith. Throughout His life on earth
she was a partaker in His sufferings. She witnessed with sorrow the trials
brought upon Him in His childhood and youth. By her vindication of what
she
knew to be right in His conduct, she herself was brought into trying
positions. She looked upon the associations of the home, and the mother's
tender watchcare over her children, as of vital im****tance in the
formation
of character. The sons and daughters of Joseph knew this, and by appealing
to her anxiety, they tried to correct the practices of Jesus according to
their standard.
Mary often remonstrated with Jesus, and urged Him to conform to the usages
of the rabbis. But He could not be persuaded to change His habits of
contemplating the works of God and seeking to alleviate the suffering of
men
or even of dumb animals. When the priests and teachers required Mary's aid
in controlling Jesus, she was greatly troubled; but peace came to her
heart
as He presented the statements of Scripture upholding His practices.
At times she wavered between Jesus and His brothers, who did not believe
that He was the Sent of God; but evidence was abundant that His was a
divine
character. She saw Him sacrificing Himself for the good of others. His
presence brought a purer atmosphere into the home, and His life was as
leaven working amid the elements of society. Harmless and undefiled, He
walked among the thoughtless, the rude, the uncourteous; amid the unjust
publicans, the reckless prodigals, the unrighteous Samaritans, the heathen
soldiers, the rough peasants, and the mixed multitude. 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.
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He taught all to look upon themselves as endowed with precious talents,
which if rightly employed would secure for them eternal riches. He weeded
all vanity from life, and by His own example taught that every moment of
time is fraught with eternal results; that it is to be cherished as a
treasure, and to be employed for holy purposes. He passed by no human
being
as worthless, but sought to apply the saving remedy to every soul. In
whatever company He found Himself, He presented a lesson that was
appropriate to the time and the cir***stances. He sought to inspire with
hope the most rough and unpromising, setting before them the assurance
that
they might become blameless and harmless, attaining such a character as
would make them manifest as the children of God. Often He met those who
had
drifted under Satan's control, and who had no power to break from his
snare.
To such a one, discouraged, sick, tempted, and fallen, Jesus would speak
words of tenderest pity, words that were needed and could be understood.
Others
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He met who were fighting a hand-to-hand battle with the adversary of
souls.
These He encouraged to persevere, assuring them that they would win; for
angels of God were on their side, and would give them the victory. Those
whom He thus helped were convinced that here was One in whom they could
trust with perfect confidence. He would not betray the secrets they poured
into His sympathizing ear.
Jesus was the healer of the body as well as of the soul. He was interested
in every phase of suffering that came under His notice, and to every
sufferer He brought relief, His kind words having a soothing balm. None
could say that He had worked a miracle; but virtue--the healing power of
love--went out from Him to the sick and distressed. Thus in an unobtrusive
way He worked for the people from His very childhood. And this was why,
after His public ministry began, so many heard Him gladly.
Yet through childhood, youth, and manhood, Jesus walked alone. In His
purity
and His faithfulness, He trod the wine press alone, and of the people
there
was none with Him. He carried the awful weight of responsibility for the
salvation of men. He knew that unless there was a decided change in the
principles and purposes of the human race, all would be lost. This was the
burden of His soul, and none could appreciate the weight that rested upon
Him. Filled with intense purpose, He carried out the design of His life
that
He Himself should be the light of men.
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