上帝的儿子在权威上仅次于那伟大的立法者。祂知道，惟有祂的生命才能充分赎回堕落的人类。祂远比人类有价值，因为祂高贵无瑕的品格和祂作为全体天军统帅的尊贵职分远超人的作为。祂原是祂父的真像，不仅在容貌上，而且在品格的完全上。{2SP 9.1}
动物的血不能满足上帝的要求，作为违反祂律法的赎罪牺牲。动物的生命也不及犯罪之人的生命有价值，所以不能为人赎罪。它能蒙上帝悦纳只是作为祂儿子舍命的一个预表。{2SP 9.2}
人无法为别人赎罪。他有罪而堕落的景况，使他无法做出完全的奉献，因为这个赎罪祭的价值要低于亚当堕落以前的状况。上帝所造的人原是完全正直的，但他犯罪以后，就无法做出蒙上帝悦纳的牺牲了，除非这个牺牲的价值要超过人类在纯洁无罪时的状况。{2SP 9.3}
唯有上帝的圣子才能做出具有充分价值的牺牲，完全满足上帝律法的要求。天使是无罪的，但他们的价值比不上上帝的律法。他们要顺从律法。他们是遵行基督旨意的使者，要在祂面前屈身下拜。天使是受造的生灵，也要接受考验。但基督本身并没有任何义务。因为祂有权柄把自己的生命舍掉，再取回来。祂没有承担赎罪工作的责任。祂所做出的是志愿的牺牲。祂的生命有足够的价值把人类从堕落的景况中拯救出来。{2SP 10.1}
上帝的儿子本有上帝的形像，但祂不以与上帝同等为强夺的。作为一个行走在尘世上的人，惟有祂能对所有人说：“你们中间谁能指证我有罪呢”（约8:46）？祂曾在造人的事上与天父联合，祂也有能力藉着祂自己神圣完全的品格为人类赎罪，并且提拔人，使人回到起初的状态。{2SP 10.2}
犹太人献祭和祭司制度的设立是预表基督的死和中保的工作。所有这些礼仪如果不与基督联系起来，就没有意义和价值。祂是这个制度的基础和创始者。上帝曾告诉亚当、亚伯、塞特、以诺、挪亚、亚伯拉罕等古圣先贤，特别是摩西：献祭和祭司制度本身并不足以使人得救。{2SP 10.3}
献祭的制度预表基督。古圣先贤借着祭牲看见了基督，就相信了。上天命定这些制度，是要人们常记在心：罪在上帝和人之间造成的可怕隔绝，需要一位中保的服务。藉着基督，因亚当犯罪而切断的交通就在上帝和沦丧的罪人之间开启了。但基督自愿为人类作出的无限牺牲仍是一个奥秘，是天使也无法充分测透的事。{2SP 10.4}
犹太制度是象征性的，要持续到那完美的祭物取代表样的时候。中保的职责和工作会大大超过地上预表性祭司职分的尊严和荣耀。从亚当的日子直到犹太民族成了与世人分别的独特百姓，上帝的子民一直受到教导，知道救赎主要来，就是他们的祭牲所预表的。这位救主要作中保，站在至高者和祂子民之间。藉此就开了一条路，罪人可以藉着另一位的调解接近上帝。罪人自己身上既有罪辜，又没有比他本身所具有的更大的价值，就不能自己进来。唯有基督能开通这条道路，献上符合上帝律法要求的祭物。祂是完全的，没有被罪玷污。祂是没有瑕疵的。如果没有这无限价值的救赎，我们就永远无法了解罪恶的可怕后果。为拯救堕落的人类，竟付出如此巨大的代价，令众天使惊奇。他们无法充分理解这位与上帝同等的天上大君，竟要为悖逆的人类受死的神圣奥秘。{2SP 11.1}
上帝的儿子第一次降临的时候越来越近，撒但也越来越警觉，预备犹太民众硬着心肠反对祂要显出的弥赛亚身份的证据。犹太人已变得骄傲自夸。祭司阶层也没有保持纯正，而是非常腐败了。他们虽然保留了其敬拜体系的各种形式和礼节，内心却不在这工作上。他们没有维持个人的敬虔和高尚的品格。而他们作为至高者的祭司，越缺乏做这神圣工作的必要资格，就越固执于表面上的敬虔、热心和献身。{2SP 12.1}
他们是伪君子。他们喜爱世上的尊荣，野心勃勃地要藉着财富成为尊贵。他们为了得到自己想要的，就利用每一个机会占穷人的便宜，特别是利用寡妇和孤儿。他们以各种各样的借口向诚实的人为主的府库索取大量钱财，并将如此不诚实地勒索来的钱财用来使自己获利。他们自己表面上是严格遵守律法的。他们表现得非常尊重传统和习惯，以便从百姓得钱，好满足他们败坏的野心。{2SP 12.2}
他们将许多传统、习惯和不必要的仪式反复灌输给百姓，这些都不是上帝曾藉着摩西或别的什么人赐给他们的。这些东西不过是人的发明。祭司长、文士和长老把这些东西强加给百姓，当作是上帝的诫命。他们的心是刚硬无情的。他们并不对穷人和不幸的人表示仁慈怜悯，同时却在市场上祷告，周济人为要叫人们看见，从而穿上善良的外衣，他们将重税加在寡妇身上，藉以侵吞她们的房产。他们在人们面前显然严谨地遵守外表的形式；因为他们希望给人们留下印象，让人们觉得他们很重要。他们希望人们认为他们对宗教责任的热心和献身是很高尚的，同时他们却在天天抢夺上帝之物，将百姓的奉献挪为己用。{2SP 12.3}
祭司已变得十分腐败。他们毫无顾忌地用最不诚实的罪行来完成他们的计划。在基督第一次降世期间，担任大祭司职位的并不是上帝所任命从事圣工的人。他们追求这个职位是因为喜欢权利和炫耀。他们希望得到权威的身分，可以在虔诚的外表下行骗，而不被察觉。大祭司是拥有权柄的重要职位。他不仅是顾问，而且是调停人和审判者。他的裁决是不能上诉的。但祭司的权利受到罗马当局的限制，不能依法宣判任何人死刑。这个权利掌握在统治犹太人的人手里。败坏的人想要得到大祭司的要职，往往借助于贿赂和暗杀的手段。大祭司穿着神圣昂贵的衣袍，胸间挂着胸牌，上面镶着闪光的宝石，十分显赫，足以引起尽责诚心之人的钦佩敬畏之情。大祭司原是要以一种特殊的方式代表基督。祂要按照麦基洗德的等次永远担任大祭司。这种等次的祭司职任不会传给他人，也不会被他人取代。{2SP 13.1}
犹太民族用无用的仪式和习惯败坏了他们的宗教。这给百姓加上了重负，尤其是给较贫穷的阶层。他们还处在罗马人的奴役之下，要向他们进贡。犹太人不服辖制，指望靠着所预言的大能拯救者弥赛亚夸胜。他们的观点是是狭隘的。他们以为那要来的一位在显现时，必有君王的尊荣，用有力的膀臂征服他们的压迫者，登上大卫的宝座。要是他们有谦卑的心和属灵的眼光，研究预言，就不会犯这么大的错误，忽视那些指明祂第一次在谦卑中降生的预言，误用那些说到祂以能力和大荣耀第二次降临的预言。犹太民族一直在争取权力。他们有野心要得到属世的尊荣。他们是骄傲败坏的，看不清神圣的事。他们分不清说明基督第一次降临的预言和描述祂第二次荣耀显现的预言，竟把众先知所描述伴随着祂第二次降临的能力和荣耀看成了是祂第一次降临。他们的国家得荣耀才是他们最渴望的。他们野心勃勃的欲望乃是建立一个现世的国度，征服罗马人，以权柄能力高抬自己好统治他们。他们曾骄傲地对那些征服他们的人自夸说，他们不会压制他们很久了；因为犹太人的统治不久就会开始，甚至会比所罗门的统治更加尊贵荣耀。{2SP 14.1}
及至时候满足，基督就生在马棚里，放在马槽中，周围是棚里的牲口。而这确实是上帝的儿子吗？祂的外表完全是一个脆弱无助的婴孩，与别的婴孩那么相似！祂神性的荣耀和威严都被人性遮盖了。众天使通报了祂的降临。祂降生的消息喜乐地传到了天庭，而世上的大人物们却不知道。骄傲的法利赛人和文士既有假冒为善的仪式和表面上专心于律法，就对伯利恒的圣婴毫无所知。他们不知道祂显现的方式，尽管他们自夸博学有智慧，能在先知学校中解释律法和预言。他们是在想方设法使自己得利。他们研究的是如何以最成功的方式获得财富和属世的尊荣，他们完全没有为弥赛亚的显现作好准备。他们期待一位大能的君王在大卫的宝座上作王，祂的国度要持续到永远。他们关于弥赛亚来临的高傲想法与他们自称能向百姓解释的预言并不一致。他们在属灵上是盲目的，是瞎子领瞎子。{2SP 15.1}
天上知道基督降到世上的时候已经到了。众天使离开荣耀的天庭，要亲眼看到祂来祝福并拯救的那些人接待祂。他们在天上见过祂的荣耀，期望祂会受到与祂的品格和祂使命的尊严相称的尊贵接待。当天使们接近地面时，他们首先来到上帝从万民中拣选作祂特殊选民的人当中，在犹太人当中他们没有看出有特别的兴趣和渴望来警醒等候以便首先迎接救赎主，确认祂的降临。{2SP 16.1}
圣殿因每日的献祭而成为圣的，这祭物预表祂的降临，象征祂的死，可是在殿中却没做什么准备来欢迎救世主。法利赛人继续在街上重复做他们冗长无意义的祷告，为要叫人听见，以便博得非常虔诚献身的好名声。{2SP 16.2}
来自天庭的天使惊讶地看到人们漠不关心且不知道生命之君的降临。骄傲的法利赛人以他们伪善的献身自称是上帝的选民，虽在传讲律法，却在高举遗传，而其它国家的人们却在传讲虚言，敬拜假神。他们都一样不知道圣经预言所要发生的大事。{2SP 16.3}
众天使注视着约瑟和马利亚这对疲乏的客旅前往大卫的城。他们遵照凯撒奥古斯都的旨意去报名上册。约瑟和马利亚按着上帝天意的安排被带到这里，因为这是预言所说基督要降生的地方。他们在旅店寻找安歇的地方，但是因为客房已满而不得入内。那些富贵的人受到了欢迎，享受食宿，而这两位疲惫的旅客却被迫在不能言语的牲畜所住简陋的棚子里避身。{2SP 17.1}
世界的救主就降生在这里。在天庭备受尊崇，充满光彩的荣耀之君，降卑到以马槽为床。在天上围绕祂的是圣天使，现在陪伴祂的却是马棚里的牲口。这是何等的谦卑啊！诸天啊，惊奇吧！大地啊，诧异吧！{2SP 17.2}
人间既无人报告弥赛亚的降临，众天使就必须做这件原是人类的尊贵特权应当做的事。但带着救主降生的好消息的天使们却奉差到卑微的牧羊人那里去，而不是到自称能解释预言的饱学的犹太人那里去；因为他们无心接受这个好消息。{2SP 17.3}
“在伯利恒之野地里有牧羊的人，夜间按着更次看守羊群。有主的使者站在他们旁边，主的荣光四面照着他们；牧羊的人就甚惧怕”（路2:8,9）。卑微的牧羊人夜间在看守羊群，他们快乐地听到了天使的见证。忽然天上有荣光照耀。牧羊人甚是惧怕。他们不知道为什么会出现这么壮观的景象。他们起先没有看出这是无数天使聚集在空中。天军的荣光照亮整个平原。正当牧羊人害怕上帝的荣耀时，领队的天使向他们显现，并安抚他们的恐惧说：“不要惧怕！我报给你们大喜的信息，是关乎万民的；因今天在大卫的城里，为你们生了救主，就是主基督。你们要看见一个婴孩，包着布，卧在马槽里，那就是记号了。忽然，有一大队天兵同那天使赞美上帝说：在至高之处荣耀归与上帝！在地上平安归与祂所喜悦的人”（路2:10-14）。{2SP 17.4}
他们的害怕消失以后，喜乐就代替了惊奇与恐惧。起先他们是受不了全天军突然临格的荣光的。于是先有一位天使向看守羊群的牧羊人显现，消除他们的恐惧，宣布他们的使命。当这位天使的荣光环绕和照耀他们时，他们就得到力量，能承受无数天使临格的荣光。“众天使离开他们，升天去了。牧羊的人彼此说：‘我们往伯利恒去，看看所成的事，就是主所指示我们的。’他们急忙去了，就寻见马利亚和约瑟，又有那婴孩卧在马槽里；既然看见，就把天使论这孩子的话传开了。凡听见的，就诧异牧羊之人对他们所说的话。马利亚却把这一切的事存在心里，反复思想。牧羊的人回去了，因所听见所看见的一切事，正如天使向他们所说的，就归荣耀与上帝，赞美祂”（路2:15-20）。{2SP 18.1}
牧羊人心中充满着喜乐。在荣光消失，天使返回天庭之后，他们因这大喜的信息脸上焕发着光彩，急忙去寻找救主。他们找到了襁褓里的救赎主，正如天使所说的包着布，卧在窄小的马槽里。{2SP 19.1}
刚才发生的事在他们的心思意念中留下了不能磨灭的印象。他们充满了惊奇、敬爱和感激，因为上帝竟如此俯就人类家庭，差祂的儿子到世上来。牧羊人到处传讲了这快乐的消息，告诉人们他们所见到的令人惊叹的荣耀，和他们从天军口中听到的天上的赞歌。{2SP 19.2}
荣耀的王屈尊取了人性；众天使曾在天庭目睹祂的光彩，因为祂是为众天军所崇拜的，可是他们却失望地看到他们神圣的统帅处在了这么屈辱的地位。{2SP 19.3}
犹太人已因他们的恶行离开上帝那么远，以致天使无法把圣婴救赎主降临的好消息传达给他们。上帝拣选东方的博士来遵行祂的旨意。{2SP 19.4}
“当希律王的时候，耶稣生在犹太的伯利恒。有几个博士从东方来到耶路撒冷，说：‘那生下来作犹太人之王的在哪里？我们在东方看见祂的星，特来拜祂’”（太2:1,2）。这些人虽不是犹太人，却一直在等候所预言的弥赛亚。他们研究过预言，知道基督降临的时候已近；他们急切地注意有关这件大事的某种兆头，以便首先欢迎圣婴天上的君王，并且敬拜祂。这些博士是哲学家，曾在自然界中研究过上帝的作为。在诸天的奇妙中，在日月星辰的荣耀中，他们追溯到了上帝的手迹。他们并不是崇拜偶像的人。他们实践了所照在他们身上的微弱亮光。这些人虽被犹太人视为异教徒；但在上帝看来他们却比犹太人更纯洁，因为后者虽一直有特权享有大光，并且自称有崇高的信仰，却没有实践上帝所赐给他们的亮光。这些博士曾见到诸天有光照亮，那光笼罩着曾向卑微牧羊人宣报基督降临的众天军。而在众天使返回天上之后，一颗明亮的星出现了，并且停留在天上。{2SP 20.1}
这光原是远处一群发火焰的天使，他们看起来象一颗明星。这颗又大又明亮的星异乎寻常的出现是博士们之前从未见到过的，它悬在天上成了一个兆头，吸引了博士们的注意。他们虽然没有特权听到天使们向牧羊人传报佳音，但有上帝的灵感动他们出去寻找这位到堕落世界来的天上来宾。博士们按照那星似乎在引导着他们的路线前行。及至他们走近耶路撒冷时，那星就隐蔽在黑暗中，不再引导他们了。他们便推想犹太人必定知道弥赛亚降临的大事，他们便在耶路撒冷附近打听这事。{2SP 20.2}
博士们惊讶地看到犹太人对弥赛亚降临的问题并没有什么不寻常的兴趣。他们便担心自己或许没有正确地读懂预言。他们的心疑惑不定，便忧虑起来了。他们听到祭司们重复强调他们的遗传，详解律法，高举他们的宗教和他们自己的虔诚。他们指着自己所佩戴的经文和自己衣裳的繸子，其上写有律法的条例和他们的遗传，作为他们虔诚献身的证据，同时公开指责罗马人和希腊人是异教徒，是比众人更有罪的人。博士们离开耶路撒冷的时候还不如他们去的时候有信心有盼望。他们大感惊讶，犹太人竟对基督降临这件大事的前景不感兴趣，不觉喜乐。{2SP 21.1}
我们这个时代的各教会正在追求属世的扩充，并不乐意见到预言的亮光，也不愿接受表明基督复临已近的预言已应验的证据，就象犹太人对待基督第一次降临一样。他们期待的是弥赛亚在耶路撒冷作王，进行现世的成功的统治。今日自称基督徒的人也在期待教会有属世的兴旺，期待世人的皈依，指望享受现世的千禧年。{2SP 21.2}
博士们明白说出了自己的使命。他们是来找犹太人的王耶稣的，因为他们已在东方看见祂的星，特地来拜祂。{2SP 22.1}
耶路撒冷合城因博士们所说的话而大大激动不安。消息立刻传到了希律王耳中。他极其不安，可是却掩饰了他的困窘，并以表面上的礼貌接待了博士们。{2SP 22.2}
基督的降临乃是自从创世以来所发生的最大的事。使天使们非常快乐的基督的降生，却不受世上王权的欢迎。希律王起了猜疑和嫉妒的心，他邪恶的心肠便为将来计划他黑暗的企图。犹太人对博士们的事表现出一种麻木的冷漠。但希律却极感兴趣且大受刺激。他把文士和祭司长召来，催他们仔细查考预言的历史，告诉他婴孩君王要生出在哪里。文士和祭司长在查考经书寻找预言时显出的粗心冷漠和显然的无知，激怒了完全警觉的王。他以为他们是在设法向他隐瞒关于弥赛亚降生的事实真相。他便以权威的命令叫他们仔细查考有关他们所期待之君王的事。{2SP 22.3}
“他就召齐了祭司长和民间的文士，问他们说：‘基督当生在何处？’他们回答说：‘在犹太的伯利恒。因为有先知记着，说：犹大地的伯利恒啊，你在犹大诸城中并不是最小的；因为将来有一位君王要从你那里出来，牧养我以色列民。’当下，希律暗暗的召了博士来，细问那星是什么时候出现的，就差他们往伯利恒去，说：‘你们去仔细寻访那小孩子，寻到了，就来报信，我也好去拜祂’”（太2:4-8）。{2SP 22.4}
希律虽然表面很尊敬地接待了博士们，可是博士们所宣告的生来要在耶路撒冷作王的那一位的降生，却引起了他对圣婴的嫉妒和仇恨，他以为圣婴会成为他的竞争者，把他和他的后裔赶出王位。一种暴风般的敌对和邪恶的狂怒情绪控制了希律，他就决心要消灭这位圣婴君王。可是他却装出一副镇定的样子，要求私下会见博士们。然后他便详细地询问那星出现的确切时间。他表面上喜乐地欢迎所推测的基督的降生，表示希望立刻得到博士们的消息，他好列在首先向祂表示真尊重的敬拜者之中。博士们虽然没能读懂暴君希律的心；但熟悉人的每一情绪和人心中的思念和主意的上帝，却不会被他伪善的主张所欺骗。祂的能力要保护和保守宝贵的圣婴救主脱离撒但的诡计，直到祂完成在地上的使命。“他们听见王的话就去了。在东方所看见的那星忽然在他们前头行，直行到小孩子的地方，就在上头停住了。他们看见那星，就大大的欢喜”（太2:9,10）。{2SP 23.1}
博士们离开耶路撒冷之后，便又看到了天上那颗指引他们的星，令他们大大地欢喜，那颗星把他们引到了我们救主诞生的地方。他们“进了房子，看见小孩子和祂母亲马利亚，就俯伏拜那小孩子，揭开宝盒，拿黄金、乳香、没药为礼物献给祂”（太2:11）。博士们没有见到忠诚的卫兵阻止他们进到基督面前。世上的尊贵人不在场。祂周围无言的牲口取代了原本应该当以感恩效忠之心欢迎生命之君的人。{2SP 24.1}
那伴随着天军的上帝荣耀刚从伯利恒的平原消失，希律心中就起了嫉妒的恶意反对圣婴救主。这个王以为基督要统治一个现世的国度。他是完全不认可另有一个犹太王的。祭司长和文士们曾自称明白有关基督显现的预言。他们再三向百姓强调有关基督以能力和大荣耀第二次显现、要取缔一切权威并要统治全地的预言。他们以一种自负自夸十分愤慨的方式宣称基督要作现世的君王，各国各民都要恭敬地服从祂的权威。{2SP 24.2}
这些祭司查考预言时并没有专注于上帝的荣耀，也不想使他们的生活符合这些预言所规划的高标准。他们查考圣经为的是找到古时的预言，好以某种方式加以解释，用来支持他们高傲的自尊心，说明上帝多么看不起世上的列邦，只看重犹太人。他们宣称，他们当时被迫要尊重和顺从的权力和权威不久就会终止；因为弥赛亚要登上大卫的宝座，并用武力使犹太人恢复自由，使他们重新得到尊贵的特权。犹太人的悟性是暗昧的。他们里面没有光。他们是用自己败坏的悟性看预言。撒但正在引导他们，使他们灭亡。希律则决心挫败犹太人的企图，降卑这些骄傲的自夸者，一发现基督就消灭祂。{2SP 24.3}
博士们完成自己的使命之后，便打算返程，并把他们旅程顺利的好消息带给希律。但上帝却差祂的天使在夜间指示博士们改变路线。博士们在夜间的异象中清楚地得到指示，不要回到希律那里去。他们顺从了天上的异象。“博士因为在梦中被主指示不要回去见希律，就从别的路回本地去了。他们去后，有主的使者向约瑟梦中显现，说：‘起来！带着小孩子同祂母亲逃往埃及，住在那里，等我吩咐你；因为希律必寻找小孩子，要除灭祂。’约瑟就起来，夜间带着小孩子和祂母亲往埃及去”（太2:12-14）。{2SP 25.1}
上帝感动博士们去寻找耶稣。祂用一颗星指引他们的行程。到了耶路撒冷附近，这颗星就离开了他们。于是他们在犹大地查访。他们认为祭司和文士们对这件大事不可能一无所知。博士们的到来，使全国人们都知道了他们此行的目的。他们的注意力都被引导到即将发生的重大事件上。上帝很清楚祂儿子的降临会激起黑暗势力的活动。撒但不希望那光进入世界。上帝的圣目时刻关注在祂儿子身上。主曾在先知以利亚行很远的路程时用一个神迹供养了他。他当时无法从别的地方得到食物。主曾从天上降吗哪给以色列人吃。主给约瑟开了一条路，让他们逃到埃及去，好保存他自己的性命、耶稣的性命和母亲的性命。祂还为他们的旅程和他们在埃及寄居的生活提供了所必需的东西，感动东方的博士来寻找圣婴救主，给祂带来贵重的献礼表示尊重。主熟悉众人的心。祂指示了约瑟进入埃及的路线，好使他在那里找到一个庇所，脱离暴君的忿怒，保存圣婴救主的性命。耶稣在地上的父母是贫穷的。博士们所带给他们的礼物维持了他们在异邦寄居的生活。{2SP 26.1}
希律焦急地等待着博士们回来；因为他急不可耐地要实现消灭以色列圣婴君王的坚定企图。他在等了很久要得到想要的消息之后，便担心自己的企图可能受挫了。他这样推测：难道那些人能看透他所预谋的黑暗行为？难道他们已经知道了他的计划，故意避开他？他认为这是侮辱和嘲笑。他的急躁、嫉妒和仇恨就越来越强烈了。他被他的父魔鬼所激动，设法用一个最残忍的举动实现他的企图。他既然不能用伪装和阴险狡猾的手段实现谋杀的目的，就要用能力和权柄使所有的犹太人心中恐惧。他们要是想把一个人安置在耶路撒冷的宝座上，就会成为他们的王会遭遇之事的一个鉴戒。{2SP 26.2}
此时有一个良机可以挫了犹太人的傲气，使他们遭灾，打击他们想要建立独立政府并成为全地之荣耀的野心，就如他们所骄傲自夸的。希律向一大队士兵宣布了命令，让他们将伯利恒城里并四境的婴孩从两岁以里的都杀了。这些士兵已因犯罪、战争和流血而心肠刚硬了。希律谋划这个残忍的行动要完成双重目的：第一是要用这个大胆的举动行使他统治犹太人的权柄和权威。第二是要藉着谋杀他所嫉妒和惧怕的圣婴君王，止息他们就他们的王所作的骄傲自夸，也使他自己的王国稳固。士兵们完成了这项残忍的工作，他们无情的刀剑四处实行了毁灭。父母们的恐怖和悲痛无法形容。丧子的母亲们紧紧抱着自己断气的婴孩，她们的哭号声高过了士兵们粗鄙的玩笑和咒骂声，同时她们也呼求上天报复那个暴君。{2SP 27.1}
上帝让犹太民族遭受这一切可怕的灾难，是要降卑他们的骄傲。他们罪恶严重，所以上帝允许邪恶的希律这样惩罚他们。如果他们不骄傲自夸和心怀野心，而是过纯洁的生活，有简朴诚实的习惯，上帝必保守他们不受仇敌的羞辱和苦害。如果他们在上帝面前忠心和完全，祂必用显著的方式使王的忿怒不致加害于祂的子民。然而祂未能为他们施行特别的工作，因为祂厌恶他们的行为。{2SP 28.1}
犹太人因为错解预言而引起了希律对基督的嫉妒和仇恨。他们教导说基督要来作王统治世上的帝国，有无比的荣耀。他们完全以错误的眼光介绍救世主和祂到地上来的使命。他们高傲的想法和骄傲的自夸并没有导致撒但起先所定意要他们达到的结果——消灭圣婴救主，反而报应在他们自己身上，使他们家中充满了悲哀。耶利米在预言的异象中说：“在拉玛听见号啕痛哭的声音，是拉结哭她儿女，不肯受安慰，因为他们都不在了”（耶31:15）。然而希律在行了那件残忍的事之后并没有活多久。他死的很可怕。他被迫屈服于一种他不能避开或克服的能力。{2SP 28.2}
希律从地上被剪除之后，天使再次警告约瑟，要回到以色列地去。他虽想在犹大地或伯利恒安家；但当他听说暴君希律的儿子接续他父亲作王时，便担心这个儿子会完成他父亲谋杀基督的企图。正当他困惑为难，不知在何处落脚之时，主藉着祂的使者又为他选择了一个安全之所。“到了一座城，名叫拿撒勒，就住在那里。这是要应验先知所说，祂将称为拿撒勒人的话了”（太2:23）。{2SP 29.1}
这就是救主来到堕落的世界所受的待遇。祂撇下自己的天家、自己的王权、财富和统帅权，亲自取了人的本性，以便拯救堕落的人类。上帝这样尊荣人，竟差祂的儿子成了罪身的形状，人们非但没有感恩戴德归荣耀于上帝，反而使圣婴救主似乎不得安息，没有安全。耶和华不能把祂的儿子托付给世上的居民，圣子进入世界是要藉着祂的神能救赎堕落的人类。祂来是要使人得生命，可是祂来要使之受益的人却侮辱、憎恨和虐待祂。上帝不能把祂的爱子托付给人，虽然祂在开展拯救人类并最终将人类提拔到祂宝座的善工。祂差派天使照顾祂的儿子并保护祂的性命，直到祂完成在地上的使命，死在祂来要拯救的人手中。{2SP 29.2}
The Son of God was next in authority to the great Lawgiver. He knew that his life alone could be sufficient to ransom fallen man. He was of as much more value than man as his noble, spotless character, and exalted office as commander of all the heavenly host, were above the work of man. He was in the express image of his Father, not in features alone, but in perfection of character. {2SP 9.1}[1]
The blood of beasts could not satisfy the demands of God as an atoning sacrifice for the transgression of his law. The life of a beast was of less value than the life of the offending sinner, therefore could not be a ransom for sin. It could only be acceptable with God as a figure of the offering of his Son. {2SP 9.2}[2]
Man could not atone for man. His sinful, fallen condition would constitute him an imperfect offering, an atoning sacrifice of less value than Adam before his fall. God made man perfect and upright, and after his transgression there could be no sacrifice acceptable to God for him, unless the offering made should in value be superior to man as he was in his state of perfection and innocency. {2SP 9.3}[3]
The divine Son of God was the only sacrifice of sufficient value to fully satisfy the claims of God's perfect law. The angels were sinless, but of less value than the law of God. They were amenable to law. They were messengers to do the will of Christ, and before him to bow. They were created beings, and probationers. Upon Christ no requirements were laid. He had power to lay down his life, and to take it again. No obligation was laid upon him to undertake the work of atonement. It was a voluntary sacrifice that he made. His life was of sufficient value to rescue man from his fallen condition. {2SP 10.1}[4]
The Son of God was in the form of God, and he thought it not robbery to be equal with God. He was the only one, who as a man walked the earth, who could say to all men, Who of you convinceth me of sin? He had united with the Father in the creation of man, and he had power through his own divine perfection of character to atone for man's sin, and to elevate him, and bring him back to his first estate. {2SP 10.2}[5]
The sacrificial offerings, and the priesthood of the Jewish system, were instituted to represent the death and mediatorial work of Christ. All those ceremonies had no meaning, and no virtue, only as they related to Christ, who was himself the foundation of, and who brought into existence, the entire system. The Lord has made known to Adam, Abel, Seth, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, and the ancient worthies, especially Moses, that the ceremonial system of sacrifices and the priesthood, of themselves, were not sufficient to secure the salvation of one soul. {2SP 10.3}[6]
The system of sacrificial offerings pointed to Christ. Through these, the ancient worthies saw Christ, and believed in him. These were ordained of Heaven to keep before the people the fearful separation which sin had made between God and man, requiring a mediating ministry. Through Christ, the communication which was cut off because of Adam's transgression was opened between God and the ruined sinner. But the infinite sacrifice that Christ voluntarily made for man remains a mystery that angels cannot fully fathom. {2SP 10.4}[7]
The Jewish system was symbolical, and was to continue until the perfect Offering should take the place of the figurative. The Mediator, in his office and work, would greatly exceed in dignity and glory the earthly, typical priesthood. The people of God, from Adam's day down to the time when the Jewish nation became a separate and distinct people from the world, had been instructed in regard to the Redeemer to come, which their sacrificial offerings represented. This Saviour was to be a mediator, to stand between the Most High and his people. Through this provision, a way was opened whereby the guilty sinner might find access to God through the mediation of another. The sinner could not come in his own person, with his guilt upon him, and with no greater merit than he possessed in himself. Christ alone could open the way, by making an offering equal to the demands of the divine law. He was perfect, and undefiled by sin. He was without spot or blemish. The extent of the terrible consequences of sin could never have been known, had not the remedy provided been of infinite value. The salvation of fallen man was procured at such an immense cost that angels marveled, and could not fully comprehend the divine mystery that the Majesty of Heaven, equal with God, should die for the rebellious race. {2SP 11.1}[8]
As the time drew near for the Son of God to make his first advent, Satan became more vigilant in preparing the hearts of the Jewish people to be steeled against the evidences he should bring of his Messiahship. The Jews had become proud and boastful. The purity of the priesthood had not been preserved, but was fearfully corrupted. They retained the forms and ceremonies of their system of worship, while their hearts were not in the work. They did not sustain personal piety and virtuous characters. And the more they were wanting in the qualifications necessary to the sacred work, as priests of the most high God, the more tenacious were they of outward show of piety, zeal, and devotion. {2SP 12.1}[9]
They were hypocritical. They loved the honors of the world, and were ambitious to become exalted through riches. In order to obtain their desire, they improved every opportunity to take advantage of the poor, especially of the widow and fatherless. They exacted heavy sums of money of those who were conscientious, on various pretenses, for the Lord's treasury, and used the means thus dishonestly obtained for their own advantage. They were themselves rigorous to outwardly keep the law. They appeared to show great respect for traditions and customs, in order to obtain money from the people to gratify their corrupt ambition. {2SP 12.2}[10]
Traditions, customs, and needless ceremonies, were repeated to the people, which God had not given them through Moses or any other one. These originated from no higher source than man. The chief priests, scribes, and elders, forced these upon the people as the commandments of God. Their hearts were hard and unfeeling. They showed no mercy to the poor and unfortunate. Yet, at the same time, while praying in the market-places, and giving alms to be seen of men, and thus putting on the outward semblance of goodness, they were devouring widows' houses by their heavy taxes which they laid upon them. They were apparently exact in outward forms when observed of men; for they wished to give impressions of their importance. They wished the people to have exalted ideas of their zeal and devotion to religious duties, while they were daily robbing God by appropriating the offerings of the people to themselves. {2SP 12.3}[11]
The priesthood had become so corrupt that the priests had no scruples in engaging in the most dishonest and criminal acts to accomplish their designs. Those who assumed the office of high priest prior to, and at, the time of Christ's first advent, were not men divinely appointed to the sacred work. They had eagerly aspired to the office through love of power and show. They desired a position where they could have authority, and practice fraud under a garb of piety, and thereby escape detection. The high priest held a position of power and importance. He was not only counselor and mediator, but judge; and there was no appeal from his decision. The priests were held in restraint by the authority of the Romans, and were not allowed the power of legally putting any one to death. This power rested with those who bore rule over the Jews. Men of corrupt hearts sought the distinguished office of high priest, and frequently obtained it by bribery and assassination. The high priest, clad in his consecrated and expensive robes, with the breastplate upon his breast, the light flashing upon the precious stones inlaid in the breastplate, presented a most imposing appearance, and struck the conscientious, true-hearted people with admiration, reverence, and awe. The high priest was designed in an especial manner to represent Christ, who was to become a high priest forever after the order of Melchisedec. This order of priesthood was not to pass to another, or be superseded by another. {2SP 13.1}[12]
The Jewish nation had corrupted their religion by useless ceremonies and customs. This laid a heavy tax upon the people, especially the poorer classes. They were also under bondage to the Romans, and required to pay tribute to them. The Jews were unreconciled to their bondage, and looked forward to the triumph of their nation through the Messiah, the powerful deliverer foretold in prophecy. Their views were narrow. They thought the Coming One would, at his appearing, assume kingly honors, and, by force of arms, subdue their oppressors, and take the throne of David. Had they, with humble minds and spiritual discernment, studied the prophecies, they would not have been found in so great error as to overlook the prophecies which pointed to his first advent in humility, and misapply those which spoke of his second coming with power and great glory. The Jewish people had been striving for power. They were ambitious for worldly honors. They were proud and corrupt, and could not discern sacred things. They could not distinguish between those prophecies which pointed to the first advent of Christ, and those that described his second, glorious appearing. The power and glory described by the prophets as attending his second advent, they looked for at his first advent. Their national glory was to them their greatest anxiety. Their ambitious desire was the establishment of a temporal kingdom, which they supposed would reduce the Romans to subjection, and exalt themselves with authority and power to reign over them. They had made the proud boast to those to whom they were in subjection, that they were not to oppress them long; for their reign would soon commence, which would be more exalted and glorious than even that of Solomon. {2SP 14.1}[13]
When the time was fulfilled, Christ was born in a stable, and cradled in a manger, surrounded by the beasts of the stall. And is this indeed the Son of God, to all outward appearance a frail, helpless babe, so much resembling other infants? His divine glory and majesty were vailed by humanity, and angels heralded his advent. The tidings of his birth were borne with joy to the heavenly courts, while the great men of the earth knew it not. The proud Pharisees and scribes, with their hypocritical ceremonies, and apparent devotion to the law, knew nothing of the Babe of Bethlehem. They were ignorant of the manner of his appearing, notwithstanding all their boasted learning and wisdom in expounding the law and the prophecies in the schools of the prophets. They were devising means to advantage themselves. Their study was as to the most successful manner to obtain riches and worldly honor, and they were wholly unprepared for the revelation of the Messiah. They looked for a mighty prince, who should reign upon David's throne, and whose kingdom should endure forever. Their proud and lofty ideas of the coming of the Messiah were not in accordance with the prophecies which they professed to be able to expound to the people. They were spiritually blind, and were leaders of the blind. {2SP 15.1}[14]
In Heaven it was understood that the time had come for the advent of Christ to the world, and angels leave glory to witness his reception by those he came to bless and save. They had witnessed his glory in Heaven, and they anticipate that he will be received with honor in accordance with his character, and the dignity of his mission. As angels approach the earth, they first come to the people God had separated from the nations of the world as his peculiar treasure. They see no especial interest among the Jews, no eager waiting and watching that they may be the first to receive the Redeemer, and acknowledge his advent. {2SP 16.1}[15]
In the temple, which had been hallowed by daily sacrificial offerings, prefiguring his coming, and symbolizing his death, no preparations are being made to welcome the Saviour of the world. The Pharisees continue to repeat their long, meaningless prayers in the streets, to be heard of men, in order to obtain the reputation of great piety and devotion. {2SP 16.2}[16]
The angels from Heaven behold with astonishment the indifference of the people, and their ignorance in regard to the advent of the Prince of Life. The proud Pharisees, claiming to be God's chosen people, in their hypocritical devotions, are proclaiming the law, and exalting traditions, while men of other nations are dealing in fables, and are worshiping false gods. All alike were ignorant of the great event which prophecy had foretold would transpire. {2SP 16.3}[17]
Angels behold the weary travelers, Joseph and Mary, making their way to the city of David to be taxed, according to the decree of Caesar Augustus. Here, in the providence of God, Joseph and Mary had been brought; for this was the place prophecy had predicted that Christ should be born. They seek a place of rest at the inn, but are turned away because there is no room. The wealthy and honorable have been welcomed, and find refreshment and room, while these weary travelers are compelled to seek refuge in a coarse building which shelters the dumb beasts. {2SP 17.1}[18]
Here the Saviour of the world is born. The Majesty of Glory, who filled all Heaven with admiration and splendor, is humiliated to a bed in a manger. In Heaven, he was surrounded by holy angels; but now his companions are the beasts of the stall. What humiliation is this! Wonder, O Heavens! and be astonished, O earth! {2SP 17.2}[19]
As there are none among the sons of men to herald the advent of the Messiah, angels must now do that work which it was the honored privilege of men to do. But the angels, with the glad tidings of the birth of the Saviour, are sent to the humble shepherds, and not to the learned Jews, who profess to be the expounders of prophecy; for they have no heart to receive it. {2SP 17.3}[20]
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 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. Humble shepherds, who are guarding their flocks by night, are the ones who joyfully receive their testimony. Suddenly the heavens are lighted up with a brightness which alarms the shepherds. They know not the reason of this grand display. They do not at first discern the myriads of angels that are congregated in the heavens. The brightness and glory from the heavenly host illuminate and glorify the entire plain. While the shepherds are terrified at the glory of God, the leading angel of the throng quiets their fears by revealing himself to them, saying, "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." {2SP 17.4}[21]
As their fears are dispelled, joy takes the place of astonishment and terror. They could not, at first, bear the radiance of glory, which attended the whole heavenly host, to break upon them suddenly. One angel only appears to the gaze of the watching shepherds to dissipate their fears, and make known their mission. As the light of the angel encircles them, the glory rests upon them, and they are strengthened to endure the greater light and glory attending the myriads of heavenly angels. "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. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them." {2SP 18.1}[22]
The shepherds are filled with joy, and as the bright glory disappears, and the angels return to Heaven, they are all aglow with the glad tidings, and hasten in search of the Saviour. They find the infant Redeemer, as the celestial messengers had testified, wrapped in swaddling clothes, and lying in the narrow confines of a manger. {2SP 19.1}[23]
The events which had but just transpired, have made indelible impressions upon their minds and hearts, and they are filled with amazement, love, and gratitude for the great condescension of God to man in sending his Son into the world. The shepherds spread the joyful tidings everywhere, of the wondrous glory they had seen, and the celestial praises they had heard from the lips of the heavenly host. {2SP 19.2}[24]
The King of glory stooped low to take humanity; and angels, who had witnessed his splendor in the heavenly courts, as he was worshiped by all the heavenly hosts, were disappointed to find their divine Commander in a position of so great humiliation. {2SP 19.3}[25]
The Jews had separated themselves so far from God by their wicked works, that angels could not communicate to them the tidings of the advent of the infant Redeemer. God chooses the wise men of the East to do his will. {2SP 19.4}[26]
Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the East to Jerusalem, saying, 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. These men were not Jews; but they had been waiting for the predicted Messiah. They had studied prophecy, and knew the time was at hand when Christ would come; and they were anxiously watching for some sign of this great event, that they might be among the first to welcome the infant heavenly King, and worship him. These wise men were philosophers, and had studied the works of God in nature. In the wonders of the heavens, in the glories of the sun, moon, and stars, they traced the finger of God. They were not idolaters. They lived up to the dim light which shone upon them. These men were regarded by the Jews as heathen; but they were more pure in the sight of God than the Jews who had been privileged with great light, and who made exalted professions, yet did not live up to the light God had given them. These wise men had seen the heavens illuminated with light, which enshrouded the heavenly host who heralded the advent of Christ to the humble shepherds. And after the angels returned to Heaven, a luminous star appeared, and lingered in the heavens. {2SP 20.1}[27]
This light was a distant cluster of flaming angels, which appeared like a luminous star. The unusual appearance of the large, bright star which they had never seen before, hanging as a sign in the heavens, attracted their attention. They were not privileged to hear the proclamation of the angels to the shepherds. But the Spirit of God moved them out to seek this heavenly Visitor to a fallen world. The wise men directed their course where the star seemed to lead them. And as they drew nigh to the city of Jerusalem, the star was enshrouded in darkness, and no longer guided them. They reasoned that the Jews could not be ignorant of the great event of the advent of the Messiah, and they made inquiries in the vicinity of Jerusalem. {2SP 20.2}[28]
The wise men are surprised to see no unusual interest upon the subject of the coming of the Messiah. They fear that after all they may not have read the prophecies correctly. Uncertainty beclouds their minds, and they become anxious. They hear the priests repeating and enforcing their traditions, and expounding the law, and exalting their religion, and their own piety. They point to their phylacteries, and the borders of their garments, upon which the precepts of the law and their traditions are inscribed, as evidences of their devotion, while they denounce the Romans and the Greeks as heathen and sinners above all men. The wise men leave Jerusalem not as confident and hopeful as when they entered it. They marvel that the Jews are not interested and joyful in prospect of this great event of the advent of Christ. {2SP 21.1}[29]
The churches of our time are seeking worldly aggrandizement, and are as unwilling to see the light of the prophecies, and receive the evidences of their fulfillment, which show that Christ is soon to come, as were the Jews in reference to his first appearing. They were looking for the temporal and triumphant reign of Messiah in Jerusalem. Professed Christians of our time are expecting the temporal prosperity of the church, in the conversion of the world, and the enjoyment of the temporal millennium. {2SP 21.2}[30]
The wise men plainly stated their errand. They were in search of Jesus, the king of the Jews, for they had seen his star in the east, and had come to worship him. {2SP 22.1}[31]
The city of Jerusalem was thrown into great excitement by the sayings of the wise men. The news was immediately carried to Herod. He was exceedingly troubled, yet disguised the discomfiture, and received the men with apparent courtesy. {2SP 22.2}[32]
The advent of Christ was the greatest event which had taken place since the creation of the world. The birth of Christ, which gave joy to the angels of Heaven, was not welcome to the kingly powers of the world. Suspicion and envy were aroused in king Herod, and his wicked heart was planning his dark purposes for the future. The Jews manifested a stupid indifference to the story of the wise men. But Herod is intensely interested and excited. He summons the scribes, and the chief priests, and urges upon them to search carefully prophetic history, and tell him where the infant king was to be born. The careless indifference and apparent ignorance of the scribes and chief priests, as they turn to their books for the words of prophecy, irritate the fully aroused king. He thinks they are trying to conceal from him the real facts in regard to the birth of the Messiah. He authoritatively commands them to make close search in relation to their expected king. {2SP 22.3}[33]
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, And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda; for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel. Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, inquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, 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. {2SP 22.4}[34]
Although Herod received the wise men with apparent respect, yet the intimation by them of the birth of a king to reign in Jerusalem, excited his envy and hatred against the infant whom he thought might prove his rival, and drive him, or his descendants, from the throne. A storm of opposition and satanic fury took possession of Herod, and he determined to destroy this infant king. Yet he put on a calm exterior, and requested a private interview with the wise men. He then inquired particularly the exact time the star appeared. He apparently hailed the supposition of the birth of Christ with joy, expressing a desire to be immediately informed by the wise men, that he might be among the first to show him true honor by worshiping him also. The wise men were not able to read the heart of the tyrant Herod; but God, who is acquainted with every emotion of the soul, with the intents and purposes of the heart, was not deceived by his hypocritical pretenses. His power will protect and preserve the precious infant Saviour from Satan's devices, until his mission on earth is accomplished. "When they had heard the king, they departed; 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 saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy." {2SP 23.1}[35]
After the wise men had left Jerusalem, they again saw, to their great joy, the guiding star in the heavens, which directed them to the birthplace of our Saviour. "And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshiped him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh." The wise men found no loyal guard to debar their entrance to the presence of Christ. The honorable of the world are not in attendance. In place of the people who should have welcomed with grateful homage the Prince of Life, he is surrounded with dumb beasts. {2SP 24.1}[36]
The glory of God attending the angelic host, had scarcely disappeared from the plains of Bethlehem when the malice of envious Herod was aroused in opposition to the infant Saviour. This king understood that Christ was to reign over a temporal kingdom, and he was utterly averse to the idea of a Jewish king. The chief priests and scribes had professed to understand the prophecies in reference to the appearing of Christ. They had repeated to the people the prophecies which relate to the second appearing of Christ in power and great glory, to put down all authority, and to rule over the whole earth. They had in a boastful, resentful manner, asserted that Christ was to be a temporal prince, and that every kingdom and nation was to bow in submission to his authority. {2SP 24.2}[37]
These priests had not searched the prophecies with an eye single to the glory of God, or with a desire to conform their lives to the high standard marked out by the prophets. They searched the Scriptures to find ancient prophecies which they could in some way interpret to sustain their lofty pride, and to show with what contempt God regarded all the nations of the world except the Jews. They declared that the power and authority they were then compelled to respect and obey, would soon come to an end; for Messiah would take the throne of David, and, by force of arms, restore the Jews to their liberty, and to their exalted privileges. The understanding of the Jews was darkened. They had no light in themselves. They were seeing the prophecies through their own perverse understanding. Satan was leading them on to their own ruin. And Herod was determined to defeat the purposes of the Jews, and to humble these proud boasters, by destroying Christ as soon as he should be found. {2SP 24.3}[38]
After the mission of the wise men had been accomplished, they were purposing to return, and bear the joyful news to Herod of the success of their journey. But God sent his angel in the night season to turn the course of the wise men. In a vision of the night they were plainly told not to return to Herod. They obeyed the heavenly vision. "And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country 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. When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt." {2SP 25.1}[39]
The Lord moved upon the wise men to go in search of Jesus, and he directed their course by a star. This star, leaving them when near Jerusalem, led them to make inquiries in Judah; for they thought it was not possible for the chief priests and scribes to be ignorant of this great event. The coming of the wise men made the whole nation acquainted with the object of their journey, and directed their attention to the important events which were transpiring. God well knew that the advent of his Son to earth would stir the powers of darkness. Satan did not want that light should come into the world. The eye of God was upon his Son every moment. The Lord had fed his prophet Elijah by a miracle when upon a long journey. He could obtain food from no other source. He rained manna from Heaven for the children of Israel. The Lord provided a way for Joseph to preserve his own life, and the life of Jesus, and that of the mother, by their fleeing into Egypt. He provided for the necessities of their journey, and for their sojourn in Egypt, by moving upon the wise men of the East to go in search of the infant Saviour, and to bear him valuable offerings as a token of honor. The Lord is acquainted with the hearts of all men. He directed the course of Joseph into Egypt, that he might there find an asylum from the wrath of a tyrannical king, and the life of the infant Saviour be preserved. The earthly parents of Jesus were poor. The gifts brought to them by the wise men sustained them while in the land of strangers. {2SP 26.1}[40]
Herod waited anxiously for the return of the wise men; for he was impatient to carry out his determined purpose to destroy the infant King of Israel. After he had waited long for the knowledge he desired, he feared his purpose might be thwarted. He reasoned thus: Could those men have read the dark deed he premeditated? Could they have understood his design, and purposely avoided him? This he thought was insult and mockery. His impatience, envy, and hatred, increased. He was stirred by his father, the devil, to seek the accomplishment of his purpose by a most cruel act. If he should fail in carrying out his murderous intent by pretense and subtlety, he would, by power and authority, strike terror to the hearts of all the Jews. They should have an example of what their king would meet, should they seek to place one upon the throne in Jerusalem. {2SP 26.2}[41]
And here was a favorable opportunity to humble the pride of the Jews, and bring upon them a calamity which should discourage them in their ambition to have a separate government, and become the glory of the whole earth, as they had proudly boasted. Herod issued a proclamation to a large body of soldiers, whose hearts were hardened by crime, war, and bloodshed, to go throughout Bethlehem and all the coasts thereof, and massacre all the children from two years old and under. Herod designed in this cruel act to accomplish a double purpose: first, to exercise, by this bold act, his power and authority over the Jews; and, second, to silence their proud boastings in regard to their king, and also make his own kingdom secure, by murdering the infant prince whom he envied and feared. This cruel work was accomplished. The sword of unfeeling soldiers carried destruction everywhere. The horror and distress of parents were beyond description. The wailing cries of bereaved mothers, as they clasped their expiring infants to their breasts, rose above the coarse jests and imprecations of the soldiers, while they cried to Heaven for vengeance on the tyrant king. {2SP 27.1}[42]
All this terrible calamity was suffered of God, to humble the pride of the Jewish nation. Their crimes and wickedness had been so great that the Lord permitted the wicked Herod to thus punish them. Had they been less boastful and ambitious, their lives pure, their habits simple and sincere, God would have preserved them from being thus humiliated and afflicted by their enemies. God would, in a signal manner, have made the wrath of the king harmless to his people, had they been faithful and perfect before him. But he could not especially work for them, for their works were abhorred by him. {2SP 28.1}[43]
The Jews had excited the envy and hatred of Herod against Christ, through their false interpretation of the prophets. They taught that Christ was to reign over an earthly empire, in unsurpassed glory. Their proud boasting presented the Saviour of the world, and his mission to the earth, altogether in a false light. Their lofty ideas and their proud boasting did not result as Satan had at first purposed they should, in the destruction of the infant Saviour, but rebounded back upon themselves, filling their homes with mourning. Jeremiah, in prophetic vision, says: "In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not." But Herod did not long survive his cruel work. He died a fearful death. He was compelled to yield to a power he could not turn aside or overcome. {2SP 28.2}[44]
After Herod was cut off from the earth, the angel again warned Joseph to return to the land of Israel. He was desirous to make his home in Judah or Bethlehem; but when he heard that the son of the tyrannical Herod reigned upon his father's throne, he was afraid that the purposes of the father might be carried out by the son in murdering Christ. While in his perplexity, not knowing where to locate, the Lord, through his angel, again selected for him a place of safety. "And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth; that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene." {2SP 29.1}[45]
This was the reception the Saviour met as he came to a fallen world. He left his heavenly home, his majesty, and riches, and high command, and took upon himself man's nature, that he might save the fallen race. Instead of men glorifying God for the honor he had conferred upon them in thus sending his Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, by giving him a place in their affections, there seemed to be no rest nor safety for the infant Saviour. Jehovah could not trust to the inhabitants of the world his Son, who came into the world that through his divine power he might redeem fallen man. He who came to bring life to man, met, from the very ones he came to benefit, insult, hatred, and abuse. God could not trust his beloved Son with men while carrying on his benevolent work for their salvation, and final exaltation to his own throne. He sent angels to attend his Son and preserve his life, till his mission on earth should be accomplished, and he should die by the hands of the very men he came to save. {2SP 29.2}[46]
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