Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 18 (1903)

Ms 156, 1903

Christ, Our Divine-Human Example

October 26, 1903 [typed]

Portions of this manuscript are published in UL 313.

While upon this earth, the Son of God was the Son of man; yet there were times when His divinity flashed forth in the manifestation of superior power. Thus it was when He said to the paralytic brought to Him: “Be of good cheer: thy sins be forgiven thee.” [Matthew 9:2.] 18LtMs, Ms 156, 1903, par. 1

“But there were certain of the scribes sitting there,” who “began to reason,” not openly, but “in their hearts,” “saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? who can forgive sins, but God alone?” [Mark 2:6; Luke 5:21.] 18LtMs, Ms 156, 1903, par. 2

“And Jesus, knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts? For whether is it easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk? But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power to forgive sins, (then saith He to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.” [Matthew 9:4-6.] 18LtMs, Ms 156, 1903, par. 3

Thus He removed the difficulty from this sin-burdened soul and placed the man, whom He knew was repentant, in a hopeful frame of mind. The Medical Missionary took away the sins of the paralytic and then presented him to the Supreme Governor as pardoned. God had placed upon His Son authority to lay hold of the eternal throne with His divine nature. While Christ stood forth distinct in His own personality, He reflected the luster of the greatness that was His because of His position of honor within the encircling light of the eternal throne, in unity with God. His words were spoken with the authority referred to in the Scriptures: “Glorify Thy Son, that Thy Son also may glorify Thee.” [John 17:1.] “No man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal Him.” [Matthew 11:27.] “What things soever He (the Father) doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.” [John 5:19.] 18LtMs, Ms 156, 1903, par. 4

If such a Voice did not move the impenitent, if such a Power working the miracles that Christ worked did not cause the Jews to believe, we should not be greatly surprised to find that even in this age medical missionary workers are in danger, through continual association with those who are incredulous, of manifesting the same unbelief as the Jews manifested in word and deed and of developing the same perverted spiritual understanding. 18LtMs, Ms 156, 1903, par. 5

I am not astonished at the condition of things that has been opened before me; for in the past, when matters have appeared to be wrong, there has been a realization of wrong, but faithful stewards have not been present to repress the evil that needed to be repressed. Can we, then, be surprised that this unfaithfulness on the part of those who have neglected to perform their duty has brought in spiritual blindness? 18LtMs, Ms 156, 1903, par. 6

Truth never languished on the lips of Christ. Truth never suffered in His hands. Words of truth flowed from His lips with surprising freshness and power, as a new revelation. Let every one be assured that Christ uttered nothing fanciful or sentimental. He came forth from the Father to be the Light of the world. This Light was not hidden under a bushel. Christ spoke on every subject with authority. Every truth that it was essential for His people to have was revealed in His teachings with the unfaltering assurance of certain knowledge. He uttered no sophistries, no mere probabilities, no human opinions quoted by men—only truths. His assertions were principles established by personal knowledge. He foresaw the delusive doctrines that would fill the world, but He expressed not one of them. No idle tales, no false theories clothed in beautiful language came from the lips of the great Teacher. In all His teachings He dwelt upon the unchangeable positions of Bible truth. 18LtMs, Ms 156, 1903, par. 7

Christ, the chief gospel Medical Missionary to our world, came to express the ideal of all truth. He unfolded gem after gem of precious truth. 18LtMs, Ms 156, 1903, par. 8

Today the gospel ministry needs to learn of Christ His meekness and lowliness and to become thoroughly converted, that in their lives they may testify, to a world dead in trespasses and sins, that they have been born again. Our medical missionary workers are in need of conversion. Then their influence will be a power in the world, and they will have hearts willing to receive, because they have been sanctified through the truth. The grace received into their own souls will be imparted to others who need so much the same blessed influence. 18LtMs, Ms 156, 1903, par. 9

To every one of His appointed agents the Lord sends the message: “Take your position at your post of duty, and stand firm for the right.” To all God’s workers I am instructed to say: “Find your places, if you are the sent of God. Imbibe not the fanciful sentiments of human beings who are not taught by God. Christ is waiting to give you insight in regard to heavenly things; waiting to quicken your spiritual pulse to increased activity. No longer let any evil influence or propensity, natural or acquired, lead you to subordinate the claims of future, eternal interests to the common affairs of this life. No man can serve two masters whose interests are not in harmony. ‘Ye cannot serve God and mammon.’ [Matthew 6:24.] Wake up, brethren, wake up!” 18LtMs, Ms 156, 1903, par. 10

Christ thought it not robbery to be equal with God, and yet He pleased not Himself. He took upon Himself human nature for no other purpose than to place man on vantage ground before the world and the whole heavenly universe. He carries sanctified humanity to heaven, there always to retain humanity as it would have been if man had never violated God’s law. The overcomers, who upon the earth were partakers of the divine nature, He makes kings and priests unto God. 18LtMs, Ms 156, 1903, par. 11

In His last prayer for His followers, Christ besought the Father to sanctify them through the truth. “For their sakes,” He declared, “I sanctify Myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on Me through their word; that they all may be one, as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that Thou sent Me. And the glory which Thou gavest Me I have given them; that they may be one, even as We are one: I in them, and Thou in Me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that Thou hast sent Me, and hast loved them, as Thou hast loved Me. Father, I will that they also, whom Thou hast given Me, be with Me where I am; that they may behold My glory, which Thou hast given Me: for Thou lovedst Me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father, the world hath not known Thee: but I have known Thee, and these have known that Thou hast sent Me. And I have declared unto them Thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith Thou hast loved Me may be in them, and I in them.” [John 17:19-26.] 18LtMs, Ms 156, 1903, par. 12