This does not mean that Christ had an advantage but he yielded and was vigilant and attentive to the power accorded him to remain the spotless lamb. I was just of thoughts that if Jesus was jealously guarded to remain a spotless lamb then Mary was also strictly following the voice of heaven and guarded against tainting this lamb
The greater part of our Saviour’s life on earth was spent in patient toil in the carpenter’s shop at Nazareth. MINISTERING ANGELS ATTENDED THE LORD OF LIFE AS HE WALKED SIDE BY SIDE WITH PEASANTS AND LABORERS, UNRECOGNIZED AND UNHONORED. He was as faithfully fulfilling His mission while working at His humble trade as when He healed the sick or walked upon the storm-tossed waves of Galilee. So in the humblest duties and lowliest positions of life, we may walk and work with Jesus. {SC 81.4}
Every blessing the Father has provided for those of more mature experience has been provided for children and youth through Jesus Christ. WHEN THE LORD SEES THE YOUTH STUDYING THE LIFE AND LESSONS OF CHRIST, HE GIVES HIS ANGELS CHARGE OVER THEM, TO KEEP THEM IN ALL THEIR WAYS, AS HE GAVE HIS ANGELS CHARGE OVER JESUS, HIS BELOVED SON. THE ANGELS ATTENDED JESUS WHEN HE LIVED UPON EARTH UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF GOD’S HOLY SPIRIT, DOING HIS HEAVENLY FATHER’S WILL, THAT HE MIGHT GIVE A CORRECT SAMPLE OF CHARACTER, THAT MIGHT BE AN EXAMPLE TO CHILDREN AND YOUTH. He desired that, in every action of their lives, they should do those things of which God could approve. He knew that every good work, every deed of kindness, every act of obedience to father and mother, would be registered in the books of heaven. {YRP 142.2}
BUT A HIGHER POWER WAS AT WORK AGAINST THE PLANS OF THE PRINCE OF DARKNESS. ANGELS OF GOD FRUSTRATED HIS DESIGNS, AND PROTECTED THE LIFE OF THE INFANT REDEEMER. In a dream Joseph was warned to flee into Egypt, that in a heathen land he might find an asylum for his precious charge. Satan was thwarted; but he did not give up his efforts to overthrow his hated rival. HE FOLLOWED JESUS FROM INFANCY TO CHILDHOOD, AND FROM CHILDHOOD TO MANHOOD, INVENTING WAYS AND MEANS TO ALLURE HIM FROM HIS ALLEGIANCE TO GOD, AND OVERCOME HIM WITH HIS SUBTLE TEMPTATION. THE UNSULLIED PURITY OF CHRIST IN HIS CHILDHOOD, YOUTH, AND MANHOOD, WHICH SATAN COULD NOT TAINT, ANNOYED HIM EXCEEDINGLY. All the darts and arrows of temptation which were hurled against the Son of God, fell harmless at his feet. And when he found that he prevailed nothing in moving Christ from the STEADFASTNESS OF HIS INTEGRITY, OR IN MARRING THE SPOTLESS PURITY OF THE YOUTHFUL GALILEAN, he looked upon him as an enemy that he must dread and fear. {ST, August 4, 1887 par. 3
SATAN WAS UNWEARIED IN HIS EFFORTS TO OVERCOME THE CHILD OF NAZARETH. FROM HIS EARLIEST YEARS JESUS WAS GUARDED BY HEAVENLY ANGELS, YET HIS LIFE WAS ONE LONG STRUGGLE AGAINST THE POWERS OF DARKNESS. That there should be upon the earth one life free from the defilement of evil was an offense and a perplexity to the prince of darkness. He left no means untried to ensnare Jesus. NO CHILD OF HUMANITY WILL EVER BE CALLED TO LIVE A HOLY LIFE AMID SO FIERCE A CONFLICT WITH TEMPTATION AS WAS OUR SAVIOUR. Christ was the only sinless one who ever dwelt on earth; yet for nearly thirty years He lived among the wicked inhabitants of Nazareth. THIS FACT IS A REBUKE TO THOSE WHO THINK THEMSELVES DEPENDENT UPON PLACE, FORTUNE, OR PROSPERITY, IN ORDER TO LIVE A BLAMELESS LIFE. Temptation, poverty, adversity, is the very discipline needed to develop purity and firmness. {DA 71.2, 72.2}
Such was the Saviour’s reception when He came to the earth. There seemed to be no place of rest or safety for the infant Redeemer. GOD COULD NOT TRUST HIS BELOVED SON WITH MEN, EVEN WHILE CARRYING FORWARD HIS WORK FOR THEIR SALVATION. HE COMMISSIONED ANGELS TO ATTEND JESUS AND PROTECT HIM TILL HE SHOULD ACCOMPLISH HIS MISSION ON EARTH, and die by the hands of those whom He came to save. {DA 67.1}
THROUGHOUT HIS [CHRIST’S] CHILDHOOD AND YOUTH, HE MANIFESTED THE PERFECTION OF CHARACTER THAT MARKED HIS AFTER LIFE. He grew in wisdom and knowledge. AS HE WITNESSED THE SACRIFICIAL OFFERINGS, THE HOLY SPIRIT TAUGHT HIM THAT HIS LIFE WAS TO BE SACRIFICED FOR THE LIFE OF THE WORLD. He grew up as a tender plant, NOT IN THE LARGE AND NOISY CITY, THAT IS FULL OF CONFUSION AND STRIFE, BUT IN THE RETIRED VALLEYS AMONG THE HILLS. HE WAS GUARDED FROM HIS EARLIEST YEARS BY HEAVENLY ANGELS, yet His life was one long struggle against the powers of darkness. Satanic agencies combined with human instrumentalities to make His life one of temptation and trial. Through supernatural agencies, His words, which were life and salvation to all who receive and practice them, were perverted and misinterpreted.—ST Aug. 6, 1896. {TA 166.3}
NO ONE, LOOKING UPON THE CHILDLIKE COUNTENANCE, SHINING WITH ANIMATION, COULD SAY THAT CHRIST WAS JUST LIKE OTHER CHILDREN. He was God in human flesh. When urged by his companions to do wrong, DIVINITY FLASHED THROUGH HUMANITY, AND HE REFUSED DECIDEDLY. IN A MOMENT HE DISTINGUISHED BETWEEN RIGHT AND WRONG, AND PLACED SIN IN THE LIGHT OF GOD’S COMMANDS, HOLDING UP THE LAW AS A MIRROR WHICH REFLECTED LIGHT UPON WRONG. It was this keen discrimination between right and wrong that often provoked Christ’s brothers to anger. Yet his appeals and entreaties, and the sorrow expressed in his countenance, revealed such a tender, earnest love for them that they were ashamed of having tempted him to deviate FROM HIS STRICT SENSE OF JUSTICE AND LOYALTY. {YI, September 8, 1898 par. 10}
While the disciples were still gazing upward, voices addressed them which sounded like richest music. They turned, and saw TWO ANGELS in the form of men, who spoke to them, saying, “Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven.” THESE ANGELS were of the company that had been waiting in a shining cloud to escort Jesus to His heavenly home. THE MOST EXALTED OF THE ANGEL THRONG, THEY WERE THE TWO WHO HAD COME TO THE TOMB AT CHRIST’S RESURRECTION, AND THEY HAD BEEN WITH HIM THROUGHOUT HIS LIFE ON EARTH. With eager desire all heaven had waited for the end of His tarrying in a world marred by the curse of sin. The time had now come for the heavenly universe to receive their King. DID NOT THE TWO ANGELS LONG TO JOIN THE THRONG THAT WELCOMED JESUS? But in sympathy and love for those whom He had left, they waited to give them comfort. “Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?” Hebrews 1:14. { DA 831.1-DA 832.1}
Their unbelief bred malice. Satan controlled their minds, and they cried out against the Saviour with wrath and hatred. The assembly broke up, and the wicked people laid hands upon Jesus, thrusting him from the synagogue, and out of their city, AND WOULD HAVE KILLED HIM IF THEY HAD BEEN ABLE TO DO SO. All seemed eager for his destruction. They hurried him to the brow of a steep precipice, intending to cast him headlong from it. Shouts and maledictions filled the air. Some were casting stones and dirt at him; BUT SUDDENLY HE DISAPPEARED OUT OF THEIR MIDST, THEY KNEW NOT HOW, OR WHEN. ANGELS OF GOD ATTENDED JESUS IN THE MIDST OF THAT INFURIATED MOB, AND PRESERVED HIS LIFE. The heavenly messengers were by his side in the synagogue, while he was speaking; and they accompanied him when pressed and urged on by the unbelieving, infuriated Jews. THESE ANGELS BLINDED THE EYES OF THAT MADDENED THRONG, AND CONDUCTED JESUS TO A PLACE OF SAFETY. {2SP 114.1}
AGAIN AND AGAIN HE [JESUS] WOULD HAVE BEEN KILLED HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR THE HEAVENLY ANGELS WHO ATTENDED HIM AND GUARDED HIS LIFE UNTIL THE TIME WHEN THE CASE OF THE JEWS AS A NATION SHOULD BE DECIDED. —RH Oct. 12, 1897. {TA 191.1}
It is evident that God as a parent had to perform and employ enough power for the salvation of mankind, heaven itself was imperiled we read:
NEVER CAN THE COST OF OUR REDEMPTION BE REALIZED UNTIL THE REDEEMED SHALL STAND WITH THE REDEEMER BEFORE THE THRONE OF GOD. Then as the glories of the eternal home burst upon our enraptured senses we shall remember that Jesus left all this for us, THAT HE NOT ONLY BECAME AN EXILE FROM THE HEAVENLY COURTS, BUT FOR US TOOK THE RISK OF FAILURE AND ETERNAL LOSS. Then we shall cast our crowns at His feet, and raise the song, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing.” Revelation 5:12. {DA 131.2}
WHO CAN ESTIMATE THE VALUE OF A SOUL? Go to Gethsemane, and there watch with Jesus through those long hours of anguish when he sweat as it were great drops of blood; look upon the Saviour uplifted on the cross; hear that despairing cry, “My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me?” Look upon that wounded head, the pierced side, the marred feet. REMEMBER THAT CHRIST RISKED ALL; “TEMPTED LIKE AS WE ARE,” HE STAKED EVEN HIS OWN ETERNAL EXISTENCE UPON THE ISSUE OF THE CONFLICT. HEAVEN ITSELF WAS IMPERILED FOR OUR REDEMPTION. At the foot of the cross, remembering that for one sinner Jesus would have yielded up his life, we may estimate the value of a soul. {GCB, December 1, 1895 par. 22}
In taking upon Himself man’s nature in its fallen condition, Christ did not in the least participate in its sin. He was subject to the infirmities and weaknesses by which man is encompassed, “that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses” (Matthew 8:17). He was touched with the feeling of our infirmities, and was in all points tempted like as we are. And yet He knew no sin. He was the Lamb “without blemish and without spot” (1 Peter 1:19). COULD SATAN IN THE LEAST PARTICULAR HAVE TEMPTED CHRIST TO SIN, HE WOULD HAVE BRUISED THE SAVIOUR’S HEAD. AS IT WAS, HE COULD ONLY TOUCH HIS HEEL. HAD THE HEAD OF CHRIST BEEN TOUCHED, THE HOPE OF THE HUMAN RACE WOULD HAVE PERISHED. DIVINE WRATH WOULD HAVE COME UPON CHRIST AS IT CAME UPON ADAM. CHRIST AND THE CHURCH WOULD HAVE BEEN WITHOUT HOPE. {1SM 256.1}
But although Christ’s divine glory was for a time veiled and eclipsed by His assuming humanity, yet He did not cease to be God when He became man. The human did not take the place of the divine, nor the divine of the human. This is the mystery of godliness. The two expressions human and divine were, in Christ, closely and inseparably one, and yet they had a distinct individuality. Though Christ humbled Himself to become man, the Godhead was still His own. HIS DEITY COULD NOT BE LOST WHILE HE STOOD FAITHFUL AND TRUE TO HIS LOYALTY. Surrounded with sorrow, suffering, and moral pollution, despised and rejected by the people to whom had been intrusted the oracles of heaven, Jesus could yet speak of Himself as the Son of man in heaven. He was ready to take once more His divine glory when His work on earth was done. {ST, May 10, 1899 par. 11}
FOR A PERIOD OF TIME CHRIST WAS ON PROBATION. He took humanity on Himself, to stand the test and trial which the first Adam failed to endure. HAD HE FAILED IN HIS TEST AND TRIAL, HE WOULD HAVE BEEN DISOBEDIENT TO THE VOICE OF GOD, AND THE WORLD WOULD HAVE BEEN LOST (ST May 10, 1899). {5BC 1082.6}
(1 Peter 1:11, 12.) The Incarnation a Painful Process. –The work of redemption is called a mystery, and it is indeed the mystery by WHICH EVERLASTING RIGHTEOUSNESS IS BROUGHT TO ALL WHO BELIEVE. The race in consequence of sin was at enmity with God. CHRIST, AT AN INFINITE COST, BY A PAINFUL PROCESS, MYSTERIOUS TO ANGELS AS WELL AS TO MEN, ASSUMED HUMANITY. HIDING HIS DIVINITY, LAYING ASIDE HIS GLORY, HE WAS BORN A BABE IN BETHLEHEM. In human flesh He lived the law of God, that He might condemn sin in the flesh, and bear witness to heavenly intelligences that the law was ordained to life and to ensure the happiness, peace, and eternal good of all who obey. But the same infinite sacrifice that is life to those who believe is a testimony of condemnation to the disobedient, speaking death and not life (MS 29, 1899). {7BC 915.3}
THE INCARNATION OF CHRIST HAS EVER BEEN, AND WILL EVER REMAIN A MYSTERY. That which is revealed, is for us and for our children, but let every human being be warned FROM THE GROUND OF MAKING CHRIST ALTOGETHER HUMAN, SUCH AN ONE AS OURSELVES; FOR IT CANNOT BE. THE EXACT TIME WHEN HUMANITY BLENDED WITH DIVINITY, IT IS NOT NECESSARY FOR US TO KNOW. We are to keep our feet on the Rock Christ Jesus, as God revealed in humanity. {5BC 1128.6}
It is mind-boggling to read such things. The price for human salvation and the act of calling ourselves Christians is not something to be joked with. Christianity is not a mere taking upon the title itself but a negation of what is temporary life that would interfere and taint the presence of the Holy Spirit in this human shell.
