Name: Christ Our Saviour
Author: Ellen G. White

Christ Our Saviour

Ellen G. White

International Tract Society, Ltd. · Stanborough Park, Watford, Herts. · 1896

PREFACE.

STORY of the earthly life of Christ our Saviour is written without words on every feature of nature, in every phase of human experience, in every act of life. We can never fully realise how deep is the impression, how widespread is the influence, of the life of Jesus of Nazareth. Every blessing of every kind comes to us through that connection between heaven and earth which was formed when the Lord of glory espoused the cause of a world lost in sin.

The infinite pathos of that story has inspired the pen of the learned and the tongue of the eloquent. But it is best told in childlike language. The wonderful spectacle needs no human colouring. Its glory surpasses the art of men. It shines brightest in its own lustre.

In these pages no effort is made towards artificial embellishment. The plain story, as told by one who is moved by a deep sense of the infinite proportions of the subject, has been put into the language of the young. In its simplicity not only does it speak to the hearts of the young, but it meets the desire expressed by us all in the familiar song—

“Tell me the story simply, as to a little child.”

May it be received in the same simplicity and purity of faith. G. C. T.

Angels Appearing to the Shepherds. “Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy.”

THE BIRTH OF JESUS.

IN the little town of Nazareth, nestled among the hills of Galilee, was the home of Joseph and Mary, who were afterward known as the earthly parents of Jesus.

Now Joseph was of the lineage, or family of David; and so, when a decree was sent out for the people to be taxed, he had to go to Bethlehem, the city of David, to have his name enrolled.

This was a toilsome journey, as people travelled in those times. Mary, who went with her husband, was very weary as she climbed the hill on which Bethlehem stands.

How she longed for a comfortable place in which to rest! But the inns were already full. The rich and proud were well cared for, while these humble travellers had to find rest in a rude building where cattle were sheltered.

Joseph and Mary possessed little of earth’s riches, but they had the love of God, and this made them rich in contentment and peace. They were children of the heavenly King, who was about to give them a wonderful honour.

Angels had been watching them while they were on their journey, and when night came on, and they went to rest, they were not left alone. Angels were still with them.

There, in that lowly shed, Jesus the Saviour was born, and laid in a manger. In that rude cradle lay the Son of the Highest,—He whose presence had filled the courts of heaven with glory.

Before He came to the earth, Jesus was the Commander of the angel hosts. The brightest and most exalted of the sons of the morning heralded His glory at the creation. They veiled their faces before Him as He sat upon His throne. They cast their crowns at His feet, and sang His triumphs as they beheld His greatness.

Yet this glorious Being loved the poor sinner, and took upon Him the form of a servant, that He might suffer and die for us.

Jesus might have remained at the Father’s side, wearing the kingly crown and the royal robe; but for our sake He chose to exchange the riches of heaven for the poverty of earth. He chose to leave His station of high command, to leave the angels who loved Him. The adoration of the heavenly throng He chose to exchange for mockery and abuse by wicked men. From love to us, He accepted a life of hardship and a death of shame.

All this Christ did to show how much God loves us. He lived on earth to show how we may honour God by obedience to His will. He did this so that by following His example we may at last dwell with Him in His heavenly home.

The priests and rulers among the Jews were not ready to welcome Jesus. They knew that the Saviour was soon to come, but they expected Him to be a mighty king who would make them rich

and great. They were too proud to think of the Messiah as being a helpless child.

So when Christ was born, God did not reveal it to them. He sent the glad news to some shepherds who kept their flocks on the hills around Bethlehem. These were good men, and as they watched their sheep by night, they talked together about the promised Saviour, and prayed so earnestly for His coming that God sent bright messengers from His own throne of light to teach them.

“And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round

about them; and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not; for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

“And this shall be a sign unto you: Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

“And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

“And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

“And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.”

PRESENTATION AT THE TEMPLE. “Now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, for mine eyes have seen thy salvation.”

JESUS PRESENTED IN THE TEMPLE.

JOSEPH and Mary were Jews, and followed the customs of their nation. When Jesus was six weeks old, they brought Him to the Lord in the temple at Jerusalem. This was according to the law which God had given to Israel, and Jesus was to be obedient in all things. So God’s own Son, the Prince of heaven, by His example, teaches that we should obey.

Only the first-born son of each family was thus presented at the temple. This ceremony was to keep in memory an event that had taken place long before.

When the children of Israel were slaves in Egypt, the Lord sent Moses to set them free. He bade Moses go to Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and say, "Thus saith the Lord; Israel is My son, and My first-born; and I say unto thee, Let My son go,

that he may serve Me: and if thou refuse to let him go, behold, I will slay thy son, even thy first-born."

Moses carried this message to the king. But Pharaoh’s answer was, “Who is the Lord, that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I know not the Lord, neither will I let Israel go.”

Then the Lord sent fearful plagues upon the Egyptians. The last of these plagues was the slaying of the first-born son of every family, from that of the king to the lowliest in the land.

The Lord told Moses that every family of the Israelites must kill a lamb, and put some of the blood upon the door posts of their dwelling. This was a sign that the angel of death might pass over all the houses of the Israelites, and destroy none but the proud and cruel Egyptians.

This blood of the “passover” represented to the Jews the blood of Christ. For in due time, God would give His dear Son to be slain as the lamb had been slain; so that all who should believe in Him might be saved from everlasting death. Christ is called our passover. By His blood, through faith, we are redeemed.

So as each family in Israel brought the eldest son to the temple, they were to remember how the children had been saved from the plague, and how all might be saved from sin and eternal death.

The child presented at the temple was taken in the arms of the priest, and held up before the altar. Thus it was solemnly dedicated to God. Then after it was given back to the mother, its name was written in the roll, or book, that contained the names of the first-born of Israel. So all who are saved by Christ’s blood will have their names written in the book of life.

Joseph and Mary brought Jesus to the priest as the law required. Every day fathers and mothers

were coming with their children, and in Joseph and Mary the priest saw nothing different from many others. They were simple working people. In the child Jesus he saw only a helpless infant. Little did the priest think that he was holding in his arms the Saviour of the world, the High Priest of the heavenly temple. But he might have known; for if he had been obedient to God's word, the Lord would have taught him these things.

At this very time there were in the temple two of God's true servants, Simeon and Anna. Both had grown old in His service, and He showed them things that could not be made known to the proud and selfish priests.

To Simeon had been given the promise that he should not die until he had seen the Saviour. As soon as he saw Jesus in the temple, he knew that this was the Promised One. Upon the face of Jesus there was a soft, heavenly light; and Simeon, taking the child in his arms, praised God, and said:— “Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace, according to Thy word; for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation, which Thou hast prepared before the face of all people; a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of Thy people Israel.”

Anna, the prophetess, "coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of

Him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem."

So it is that God chooses humble people to be His witnesses. Often those whom the world calls great are passed by. Many are like the Jewish priests and rulers. They are eager to serve and honour themselves, but think little about serving and honouring God. Therefore He cannot choose them to tell others of His love and mercy.

Mary, the mother of Jesus, pondered the far-reaching prophecy of Simeon. As she looked upon the child in her arms, and recalled what the shepherds of Bethlehem had said, she was full of grateful joy and bright hope. Simeon’s words called to her mind the prophecy of Isaiah. She knew that of Jesus were spoken these wonderful words:—

“The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined. For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.”

Journey of the Wise Men. “... we have seen His star in the East, and are come to worship Him.”

THE VISIT OF THE WISE MEN.

GOD wanted the people to know about the coming of Christ to the earth. The priests should have taught the people to look for the Saviour; but they themselves did not know of His coming. So God sent angels to tell the shepherds that Christ was born, and where they might find Him.

So, too, when Jesus was presented at the temple, there were those who received Him as the Saviour. God had preserved the lives of Simeon and Anna, and they had the joyful privilege of testifying that Jesus was the promised Messiah.

God meant for others, as well as the Jews, to know that Christ had come. In a country far to the east were wise men who had studied the prophecies concerning the Messiah, and who believed that His coming was near.

The Jews called these men heathen; but they were not idolaters. They were honest men, who wanted to know the truth, and to do the will of God.

God looks upon the heart, and He knew that these men could be trusted. They were in a better condition to receive light from heaven than were the Jewish priests, who were so full of selfishness and pride.

These wise men were philosophers. They had studied the handiwork of God in nature, and had learned to love Him there. They had studied the stars, and knew their movements. They loved to watch the heavenly bodies in their nightly march.

If a new star should be seen, they would welcome its appearance as a great event.

On that night when the angels came to the shepherds of Bethlehem, the wise men had noticed a strange light in the sky. It was the glory which surrounded the angel host. When this light faded away, they had seen in the heavens what looked like a new star. At once they thought of the prophecy which says, “There shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel.”

Was this star a sign that the Messiah had come? They determined to follow it, and see where it would lead them. It led them into Judea. But when they came near to the city of Jerusalem, the star grew so dim that they could not follow it.

Supposing that the Jews could at once guide them to the Saviour, the wise men went into Jerusalem, and said, “Where is He that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen His star in the east, and are come to worship Him.”

“When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judea; for thus it is written by the prophet.”

Herod did not like to hear of a king who might some day take his throne. So he took the wise men by themselves, and asked when they first saw the star. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found Him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship Him also.”

When the wise men heard this, they started again on their journey. "And, lo, the star which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was."

“When they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshipped Him; and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto Him gifts, gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.”

The most precious things they had, the wise men brought to the Saviour. In this they set an example for us. Many give presents to their earthly friends, but have none for the heavenly Friend who has given them every blessing. We should not do this. To Christ we should bring the best of all we have—of our time, our money, and our love. We may give to Him by giving to comfort the poor, and to teach people about the Saviour. So we can help to save those for whom He died. Such gifts Jesus smiles upon and blesses.

THE FLIGHT INTO EGYPT.

HEROD had not been honest in saying that he wanted to go and worship Jesus. He feared that the Saviour would grow up to be a king, and take his kingdom from him. He wanted to find the child, that he might have Him put to death.

The wise men prepared to return and tell Herod. But the angel of the Lord appeared to them in a dream, and sent them home another way.

“And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and His mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word; for Herod will seek the young child to destroy Him.”

Joseph did not wait till morning; he rose at once, and, with Mary and the child, started by night on the long journey. The wise men had given costly presents to Jesus, and in this way God provided for the expenses of the journey and their stay in Egypt, until they should return to their own land.

The Journey to Egypt. “Take the young Child, and His mother, and flee into Egypt.”

Herod was very angry when he found that the wise men had gone home another way. He knew what God by His prophet had said about Christ’s coming. He knew how the star had been sent as a guide to the wise men. Yet he was determined to destroy Jesus. In his wrath he sent soldiers to kill “all the children that were in Bethlehem, . . . from two years old and under.”

How strange that a man should fight against God! What an awful scene this slaying of the innocent children must have been! Herod had before done many cruel things; but his wicked life was soon to end. He died a terrible death.

Joseph and Mary remained in Egypt till after the death of Herod. Then the angel appeared to Joseph, and said, “Arise, and take the young child and His mother, and go into the land of Israel; for they are dead which sought the young child’s life.”

Joseph had hoped to make his home in Bethlehem, where Jesus was born; but on coming near to Judea, he learned that a son of Herod was reigning in place of his father. This made Joseph afraid to go there, and he did not know what to do; so God sent an angel to instruct him. Following the directions of the angel, Joseph returned to his old home in Nazareth.

Continue reading: CHILD-LIFE OF JESUS.