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THE DIVINE TEACHER

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Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Aug 12, 1897

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 23, No. 31.

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“They sought even to touch him, for in his very touch there was healing.”
“They sought even to touch him, for in his very touch there was healing.”

THE DIVINE TEACHER.

By Augusta W. Heald

After making the circuit of Galilee our Lord came again to Nazareth, his early home, and on the Sabbath day he entered into the synagog, according to his custom. When he stood up to read, the book of Isaiah was handed to him. He opened the book and read: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the Gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the broken-hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord. And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down,” saying, “This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.” Luke 4:17–21.
As the divine Teacher continued his discourse in the synagog, every eye was fastened upon him, and all “wondered at the gracious words” which fell from the lips of Him who “spake as never man spake.”
And yet there were some who thought in their hearts: “If thou be the Christ why not do here some of the mighty works done in Capernaum? But no, you are Joseph’s son, and yourself a carpenter; your brothers and sisters are all well known to us; they are of a lowly class. You are no prophet.”
Jesus, looking within the heart, saw this evil spirit of unbelief in the proud Pharisees, and said to them, “No prophet is accepted in his own country.” Elias was sent to a widow in Sidon rather than to any in Israel, and altho there were many lepers in Israel, no one was cleansed save Naaman, the Syrian. Luke 4:25–27. Upon hearing these words all in the synagog were enraged, and they laid hold on Jesus and “thrust him out of the city” (Luke 4:29), and led him to the brow of the hill on which their city was built, intending to hurl him headlong; but Jesus hid himself from their sight, and passing through their midst, went his way.
Again as the great Physician and divine Teacher stood among his disciples, a great multitude of people drew near, both to hear and to obtain healing for their diseases. They sought even to touch him, for in his very touch there was healing.
Having relieved the sufferers around him, the sacred Teacher sought to minister to their hungry souls. With what wondrous joy must the poor, the destitute, and the despised have listened to these gracious words! “Blessed be ye poor; for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are ye that hunger now; for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now; for ye shall laugh. Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake. Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy; for, behold, your reward is great in heaven; for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.” Luke 6:20–23.
Here also were the rich, wholly satisfied with the good things of earth. To while away an idle hour or to see some new thing was the one aim of their existence; and so they had come out to hear the new Prophet of Nazareth. Did not a tremor of dread touch their indolent hearts as these words of terrible import rang out upon the free air? “Wo unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation. Wo unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger. Wo unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep. Wo unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.” Luke 6:24–26.
Centuries before, the prophets of Israel had poured out their denunciations upon luxurious sinners; said Amos, the herdman of Tekoa, “Wo to them that are at ease in Zion.” Amos 6:1. Isaiah had declared the Word of the Lord: “Behold, my servants shall eat, but ye shall be hungry; behold, my servants shall drink, but ye shall be thirsty; behold, my servants shall rejoice, but ye shall be ashamed; behold, my servants shall sing for joy of heart, but ye shall cry for sorrow . . . and shall howl for vexation of spirit.” Isa. 65:13, 14. Thus did the preaching of the Lord Jesus accord with the prophetic Word.
“How sweetly flowed the Gospel sound From lips of gentleness and grace, When listening thousands gathered round, And joy and gladness filled the place!”
AUGUSTA W. HEALD.