THE MISSION OF CHRIST by Ellen G. White

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Oct 25, 1877

THE MISSION OF CHRIST.

By Ellen G. White

BY MRS. E. G. WHITE.

Jesus lived in so humble and secluded a manner that John had no personal acquaintance with him, and did not positively know that he was the Messiah. He was, however, acquainted with the circumstances of his birth, and believed him to be the promised One; but the secluded life led by Jesus for thirty years at Nazareth, during which time he gave no special evidence of his Messiahship, suggested doubts to John whether he was indeed the One for whom he was to prepare the way. The prophet, however, rested the matter in faith, fully believing that God would in due time make it plain to him. The Lord had shown him that the Messiah would be pointed out to him by a distinct sign; when this should be done, then John was to present him to the world as the long expected Messiah, the Lamb of God, that was to take away the sin of the world.

John had heard of the sinless character and spotless purity of Jesus. His life was in harmony with what the Lord had revealed to him respecting one that was among them, whose life was without the taint of sin. John had also seen that he should be the example for every repenting sinner. When Jesus presented himself for baptism, John recognized him at once as the superior One that had been revealed to him. He discerned, in his person and deportment, a character above every other man he had ever seen. Although John knew him not as the Messiah, yet he realized the holy influence of his presence, as he never had that of any other man. He felt the superiority of Jesus to himself, and shrank from baptizing One whom he knew to be sinless. Many had come to him to receive the baptism of repentance, confessing their sins and crimes; but John could not understand why the only sinless one upon the earth should ask for an ordinance which was a virtual confession of guilt to be washed away. He remonstrated with the Saviour, acknowledging his superiority, and refused to administer the ordinance, saying, “I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?” With firm and gentle authority Jesus waives the refusal of John and his plea of unworthiness, saying, “Suffer it to be so now; for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness.”

Christ came, not to repent of sin on his own account, but in behalf of the sinner; for guilt was imputed to him as the sinner’s substitute. As man had transgressed the law of God, Christ was to fulfil every requirement of that law, and thus show perfect obedience. “Lo, I come to do thy will, O God!” Christ honored the ordinance of baptism by himself receiving it. In this act he identified himself with his people as their representative and head. As their substitute he took their sins upon him, numbering himself with the transgressors, taking the steps the sinner is required to take, and doing the work the sinner must do. His life of suffering and patient endurance after his baptism is an example to the converted of the manner in which they should endure the trials and afflictions which test their faith.

John finally yielded to the request of Christ and baptized him. He led the Saviour of the world down into the river Jordan in the presence of a large concourse of people, and buried him in the water.

After Jesus rose up from the water and from the hand of John, he walked out to the bank of Jordan, and bowed in the attitude of prayer. The eyes of John were fastened upon Jesus with the deepest interest and amazement. His heart was stirred with emotion as he looked upon him thus bowed as a suppliant, his hands raised upward, and his gaze seeming to penetrate heaven. He was now about to commence his public labors as the Messiah, and as the believer’s example, his sinless humanity supplicated support and strength from his Heavenly Father. He poured out his soul in earnest prayer. A new and important era was opening before him. His former peaceful, quiet life was at an end. He had been happy in a life of industry and toil, while fulfilling the duties devolving on a son; but now his mission opened before him, and he felt the importance and solemnity of the hour. He knew that trials, toils, conflicts, sufferings, and death, were in the path his feet had entered. He felt the weight of the responsibilities he must bear. A sense of the sinfulness of men, and the hardness of their hearts, which separated them from God, convinced him that but few would discern his merciful mission, and accept the salvation he came from Heaven to bring them.

Never before had angels listened to such a prayer as Christ offered at his baptism, and they were solicitous to be the bearers of the message from the Father to his Son. But, no; direct from the Father issues the light of his glory. The heavens were opened, and beams of glory rested upon the Son of God, and assumed the form of a dove, in appearance like burnished gold. The dove-like form was emblematical of the meekness and gentleness of Christ. While the people stood spell-bound with amazement, their eyes fastened upon Christ, from the opening heavens came the words, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” This confirmation that Jesus was the Son of God was given to inspire faith in those who witnessed the scene, and to sustain the Saviour in his arduous work. Notwithstanding the Son of God was clothed with humanity, yet the Father, with his own voice, assures him of his sonship with the Eternal. In this manifestation to Christ, God accepts humanity as exalted through the excellence of his beloved Son. As John had now witnessed the heavenly dove resting upon Jesus, which was the promised token of the Messiah, he stretched forth his hand, and proclaimed to the multitude, “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world!” From this time John had no doubt in regard to Jesus being the true Messiah.

After this, Jesus withdrew into the wilderness, to be tempted of the devil forty days. His long fast ended, the victory won, he returns to the banks of the Jordan, mingling again with the disciples of John, yet giving no outward evidence of his special work, and taking no measures to bring himself to notice.

Men were sent from the highest authority in Jerusalem to inquire in regard to the great agitation John was creating. He was attracting whole cities and towns to listen to his voice of warning; and the messengers demanded the prophet’s authority for thus claiming the attention of the people, and turning the world upside down. They challenged John to tell them in truth if he was the Messiah. John confessed, “I am not the Christ.” And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No. Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself? He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord; as said the prophet Esaias.” John was then questioned as to his authority for baptizing, and thus agitating the people, when he did not claim to be Christ nor Elias, neither that prophet. The words “That prophet” had reference to Moses. The Jews had been inclined to the belief that Moses would be raised from the dead, and taken to Heaven. They did not know that Moses had already been resurrected.

When John came, baptizing with water, the Jews thought that he might be the prophet Moses risen from the dead; for he seemed to have a thorough knowledge of the prophecies, and to understand the history of the Hebrews and their wanderings in the wilderness in consequence of their unjust murmurings and continual rebellion. They also called to mind the peculiar circumstances of John’s birth, and the wonderful manifestation of God to Zacharias, his father, in the temple, by the visitation of the angel from the presence of God, his being deprived of the power of speech, because he did not believe the words of the angel, and the unloosing of his tongue at the birth of John. These important facts had in the past thirty years been measurably forgotten. But when John appeared as a prophet, the manifestation of the Spirit of God at his birth was called to mind.

When the messengers from the highest authority in Jerusalem were conversing with John in reference to his mission and work, he could have taken honor to himself, had he been so disposed. But he would not assume honors that did not belong to him. While conversing with the messengers, suddenly his eye kindled, his countenance lighted up, and his whole being seemed stirred with deep emotion, as he discovered the person of Jesus in the concourse of people. He raised his hand, pointing to Christ, saying, There standeth One among you whom ye know not. I have come to prepare the way before him whom ye now see. He is the Messiah. He it is who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe’s latchet I am not worthy to unloose.

“The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me; for he was before me. And I knew him not; but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water. And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from Heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. And I knew him not. But he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. And I saw, and bare record, that this is the Son of God. Again, the next day after, John stood, and two of his disciples; and looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!”

The two disciples heard the prophet’s words and followed Jesus. He turned and saw them following, and asked them, “What seek ye?” The disciples confessed that they were seeking Christ and that they desired to become acquainted with him, and to be instructed by him at his home. These two disciples were charmed with the deeply impressive, yet simple and practical, lessons of Christ. Their hearts had never before been so moved. Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of these disciples. He was interested for his friends and relatives, and was anxious that they also should see Christ, and hear his precious lessons for themselves. Andrew went in search of his brother Simon, and with assurance claimed to have found the Messiah, the Saviour of the world. He brought his brother to Jesus, and as soon as Jesus looked upon him he said, Thou art Simon, the son of Jona; thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation a stone.

The next day Christ selected another disciple, Philip, and bade him follow him. Philip fully believed that Jesus was the Messiah, and began to search for others to bring them to listen to the teachings of Him who had so instructed his understanding and opened hidden mysteries to his mind. Philip found Nathanael, who was one of the number that heard John proclaim, “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” Nathanael was deeply convicted, and retired to a grove, concealed from every human eye, and there meditated upon the announcement of John, calling to mind the prophecies relating to the coming of the Messiah and his mission. He queried thus: Could this indeed be the Messiah for whom they had so long waited, and were so desirous to see? Hope sprang up in the heart of Nathanael that this might be the One that would save Israel. He bowed before God and prayed that if the person whom John had declared to be the Redeemer of the world was indeed the promised deliverer, it might be made known to him. The Spirit of the Lord rested upon Nathanael in such a special manner that he was convinced that Jesus was the Messiah. While Nathanael was praying, he heard the voice of Philip calling him, saying, “We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip said unto him, Come and see. Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!” Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee.”

Nathanael’s wavering faith was now strengthened, and he answered and said, “Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel. Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? Thou shalt see greater things than these. And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see Heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.”

In these first few disciples the foundation of the Christian church was being laid by individual effort. John first directed two of his disciples to Christ. Then one of these finds a brother, and brings him to Christ. He then calls Philip to follow him, and he went in search of Nathanael. Here is an instructive lesson for all the followers of Christ. It teaches them the importance of personal effort, and the great results that may arise from making direct appeals to friends and relatives. Many who profess to be acquainted with Christ for a life time, never have made a personal effort to induce one soul to come to the Saviour. They have left all the work to the minister. He may be well qualified for his work, but he cannot do that which God has left for the members of the church to do. Very many are content

to selfishly enjoy the benefits of the grace of God themselves, while they make no direct effort to bring others to Christ. There is a work for each to do in the vineyard of the Lord, and unselfish, faithful workers will share largely of divine grace here, and the reward of their earnest labor hereafter.

Faith is called into exercise by good works, and courage and hope are in accordance with working faith. The reason many professed followers of Christ have not a bright and living experience, is because they do nothing by which to gain it. If they would engage in the work which God would have them to do, their faith would increase, and they would advance in the divine life.

Jesus was pleased with the earnest faith of Nathanael that asked for no greater evidence than the few words he had spoken. He looked forward to the work he was to do in relieving the oppressed, healing the sick, and in breaking the bands of Satan. And in view of this work he said to Nathanael, in the presence of the other disciples, “Hereafter ye shall see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.”

In those words Christ virtually declared: On the bank of Jordan the heavens were opened before me, and the Spirit descended like a dove upon me. That scene was but a token to evidence that I am the Son of God. If you believe in me as such, your faith shall be quickened, and you shall see that the heavens will be opened, and shall never be closed. I have opened them for you, and the angels of God, that are united with me in the work of reconciling earth and heaven,—uniting the believers on earth with the Father above, will be ascending, bearing the prayers of the needy and distressed from the earth to the Father above, and descending, bringing blessings of hope, courage, health, and life, to the children of men.

The angels of God are ever moving up and down from earth to heaven, and from heaven to earth. All the miracles of Christ, performed for the afflicted and suffering, were, by the power of God, through the ministration of angels. Christ condescended to take humanity, and thus he unites his interests with the fallen sons and daughters of Adam here below, while his divinity grasps the throne of God. Thus Christ opens communication between God and man. All the blessings from God to man are through the ministration of holy angels.