Story of Hope

The Ministry of Christ

After Satan had ended his temptations, he left Jesus for a while. Angels prepared Him food in the wilderness and strengthened Him, and His Father’s blessing rested on Him. Satan’s fiercest temptations had failed, yet he looked forward to the time of Jesus’ ministry, when at different times he would try his schemes against Him. He still hoped to defeat Him by stirring up those who would not receive Jesus to hate Him and try to destroy Him. SH 55.2

Satan and his angels were very busy during Christ’s ministry, inspiring people with unbelief, hate, and scorn. Often when Jesus spoke some cutting truth, pointing out their sins, the people would become enraged. Satan and his angels urged them on to take the life of the Son of God. More than once they picked up stones to throw at Him, but angels guarded Him and took Him away from the angry mob to a place of safety. Again, as the plain truth came from His holy lips, the crowd laid hold of Him and led Him to the brow of a hill, intending to throw Him down. A dispute arose among them over what they should do with Him, when the angels again hid Him from the sight of the crowd, and He passed through the midst of them and went His way. SH 55.3

Satan still hoped that the great plan of salvation would fail. He exerted all his power to make the hearts of the people hard and their feelings bitter against Jesus. He hoped that so few would receive Him as the Son of God that He would consider His sufferings and sacrifice too great to make for so small a group. But if there had been only two who would have accepted Jesus as the Son of God and believed on Him for salvation, He would have carried out the plan. SH 56.1

Relieving the Suffering—Jesus began His work by breaking Satan’s power over the suffering. He restored the sick to health, gave sight to the blind, and healed the lame, causing them to leap for joy and to glorify God. He restored health to those who had been ill, held in Satan’s cruel power many years. With gracious words He comforted the weak, the trembling, and the desponding. The feeble, suffering ones whom Satan held in triumph, Jesus wrenched from his grasp, bringing them physical health and great joy and happiness. He raised the dead to life, and they glorified God for the mighty display of His power. He worked powerfully for all who believed on Him. SH 56.2

The life of Christ was filled with words and acts of kindness, sympathy, and love. He was always ready to listen to and relieve the problems of those who came to Him. The healed bodies of large numbers of people carried the evidence of His divine power. Yet after He had accomplished so much for them, many were ashamed of the humble yet mighty Preacher. Because the rulers did not believe on Him, the people were not willing to accept Jesus. He was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. They could not tolerate being governed by His sober, self-denying life. They wanted to enjoy the honor that the world bestows. Yet many followed the Son of God and listened to His instructions, feasting on the words that fell so graciously from His lips. His words were full of meaning, yet so plain that the weakest could understand them. SH 56.3

Ineffective Opposition—Satan and his angels blinded the eyes and darkened the understanding of the Jews, and stirred up the chief of the people and the rulers to take the Savior s life. The rulers sent others to bring Jesus to them, but as these came near where He was they were greatly amazed. They saw Him filled with sympathy and compassion as He witnessed human suffering. They heard Him in love and tenderness speak encouragingly to the weak and afflicted. They also heard Him, in a voice of authority, rebuke the power of Satan and command his captives to go free. They listened to His words of wisdom, and they were captivated. They could not arrest Him. They returned to the priests and elders without Jesus. SH 57.1

When asked, “Why have you not brought Him?” they told what they had seen of His miracles, and the holy words of wisdom, love, and knowledge that they had heard. They ended by saying, “No man ever spoke like this Man!” John 7:45, 46. The chief priests accused them of being also deceived, and some of the officers were ashamed that they had not taken Him into custody. The priests inquired scornfully if any of the rulers had believed on Him. Many of the magistrates and elders did believe on Jesus, but Satan kept them from admitting it. They feared the scorn of the people more than they feared God. SH 57.2

So far the scheming and hatred of Satan had not broken up the plan of salvation. The time was drawing near for Jesus to accomplish the purpose for which He had come into the world. Satan and his angels consulted together and decided to inspire Christs own nation to cry eagerly for His blood and heap cruelty and scorn on Him. They hoped that Jesus would resent such treatment and fail to maintain His humility and meekness. SH 57.3

While Satan was laying his plans, Jesus was carefully opening to His disciples the sufferings through which He must pass—that He would be crucified and that He would rise again the third day. But their understanding seemed dull, and they could not comprehend what He told them. SH 58.1

The Transfiguration—The faith of the disciples was greatly strengthened at the transfiguration, when they were permitted to see Christ’s glory and to hear the voice from heaven testifying to His divine character. (See Matthew 17:1-8.) God chose to give the followers of Jesus strong proof that He was the promised Messiah, so that in their bitter sorrow and disappointment at His crucifixion, they would not lose their faith entirely. At the transfiguration the Lord sent Moses and Elijah to talk with Jesus concerning His sufferings and death. Instead of choosing angels to converse with His Son, God chose those who had themselves experienced the trials of earth. SH 58.2

Elijah had walked with God. His work had been painful and trying, for through him the Lord had pointed out the sins of Israel. Elijah was a prophet of God, yet he had to flee from place to place to save his life. His own nation hunted him like a wild beast in order to destroy him. But God translated Elijah. Angels bore him in glory and triumph to heaven, without his tasting death. SH 58.3

Moses was greater than any who had lived before him. God had highly honored him. He had been privileged to talk with the Lord face to face, as a man speaks with a friend. He was permitted to see the bright light and excellent glory that enshrouds the Father. Through Moses the Lord delivered the Israelites from Egyptian slavery. Moses was a mediator for his people, often standing between them and the wrath of God. When the anger of the Lord was great against Israel for their unbelief, their complaining, and their deplorable sins, Moses’ love for them was tested. God proposed to destroy them and to make a mighty nation from him. Moses showed his love for Israel by his earnest pleading in their behalf. In his distress he prayed God to turn from His fierce anger and forgive Israel, or blot his name out of His book. SH 58.4

Moses passed through death, but Michael came down and gave him life before his body had experienced decay. Satan tried to hold the body, claiming it as his, but Michael resurrected Moses and took him to heaven. Satan railed bitterly against God, denouncing Him as unjust in permitting his prey to be taken from him. But Christ did not rebuke His adversary, though it was through Satan’s temptation that the servant of God had fallen. He meekly referred him to His Father, saying, “The Lord rebuke you!” Jude 9. SH 59.1

Jesus had told His disciples that there were some standing with Him who would not taste of death till they saw the kingdom of God come with power. At the transfiguration this promise was fulfilled. The face of Jesus was changed there, shining like the sun. His clothing was white and glistening. Moses was there to represent those who will be raised from the dead at the second coming of Jesus. And Elijah, who was translated without seeing death, represented those who will be changed to immortality at Christs return and will be translated to heaven without seeing death. With astonishment and fear the disciples saw the excellent majesty of Jesus and the cloud that overshadowed them, and they heard the voice of God in terrifying majesty, saying, “This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!” SH 59.2