Ellen G. White: The Australian Years: 1891-1900 (vol. 4)

Ellen White Writes on Christ's Life and Ministry

It was during her ten-month-long illness in 1892 that Ellen White actually began to do much writing on the ministry of Christ. In her diary for July 12, 1892, she noted: “This afternoon I wrote a number of pages on the life of Christ. I long for a large portion of the Spirit of God, that I may write the things which the people need.” Thus she continued in the days that followed: 4BIO 381.6

Wednesday, July 13: In the morning I wrote on the life of Christ, and in the afternoon I rode out.... 4BIO 381.7

Thursday, July 14:

After arranging my position so as not to bring any strain on arms or shoulders, I go to work at my writing, asking the Lord to bless that which I write. I know that He helps me.... I am now writing on the life of Christ.... 4BIO 382.1

Friday, July 15:

I cannot manage to keep comfortably warm in these high rooms, with only a grate fire. I have had two severe chills, and this has greatly increased my lameness in my shoulders and hips. But notwithstanding this, I was able to spend most of yesterday writing on the life of Christ. I praise the Lord because I feel a nearness to my Saviour.—Manuscript 34, 1892. 4BIO 382.2

On that Friday, in a letter to O. A. Olsen, president of the General Conference, she wrote of how as she undertook this work she was almost overwhelmed with the subject: 4BIO 382.3

This week I have been enabled to commence writing on the life of Christ. Oh, how inefficient, how incapable I am of expressing the things which burn in my soul in reference to the mission of Christ! I have hardly dared to enter upon the work. There is so much to it all. And what shall I say, and what shall I leave unsaid? I lie awake nights pleading with the Lord for the Holy Spirit to come upon me, to abide upon me.... 4BIO 382.4

I walk with trembling before God. I know not how to speak or trace with pen the large subject of the atoning sacrifice. I know not how to present subjects in the living power in which they stand before me. I tremble for fear lest I shall belittle the great plan of salvation by cheap words. I bow my soul in awe and reverence before God and say, “Who is sufficient for these things?”—Letter 40, 1892. 4BIO 382.5

Only occasionally at this time did she mention specific visions in which scenes pertaining to the life of Christ passed before her, but in connection with first writing on the subject in 1858, the terms “I saw,” “I was shown,” or other terms indicating divine revelation and inspiration, frequently occurred. As the reader has observed the frequency of the visions given to Ellen White in Australia dealing with the various features of the work and the experience of individuals, it is reasonable to assume that as she wrote, views on the life and work of Jesus were frequently given to her also. In 1889 she told of how “the betrayal, trial, and crucifixion of Jesus” had passed before her point by point (Letter 14, 1889). In 1900 she wrote: 4BIO 382.6

Heavenly scenes were presented to me in the life of Christ, pleasant to contemplate, and again painful scenes which were not always pleasant for Him to bear which pained my heart.—Manuscript 93, 1900. 4BIO 383.1

As the work of preparing the book progressed, Marian Davis would search the writings for additional material, and Ellen White would fill in the gaps. Miss Davis gives a glimpse of her task as she pleaded that relevant materials be copied out from various sources, so that they would be more readily available. Such a request is more understandable when it is known that she herself did not use the typewriter. 4BIO 383.2

Perhaps you can imagine the difficulty of trying to bring together points relating to any subject, when these must be gleaned from thirty scrapbooks, a half-dozen bound [E. G. White] volumes, and fifty manuscripts, all covering thousands of pages.—Marian Davis to WCW, March 29, 1893. 4BIO 383.3

But it was Ellen White alone who performed the task of filling in to complete the text. Marian did none of the writing. Ellen White made mention of this at the death of Miss Davis in 1904, when her mind turned back to their labors together: 4BIO 383.4

We have stood side by side in the work, and in perfect harmony in that work. And when she would be gathering up the precious jots and tittles that had come in papers and books and present it to me, “Now,” she would say, “there is something wanted [needed]. I cannot supply it.” I would look it over, and in one moment I could trace the line right out. We worked together, just worked together in perfect harmony all the time.—Manuscript 95, 1904. 4BIO 383.5