DAY 281 Read Luke 8:22-56; 5:29-39; Matthew 11:2-30; Luke 7:18-35.
Today's reading: The third account of the storm, the healing of the demoniac, and other events is followed by the sad story of John the Baptist in prison.
Memory gem: "Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard" (Luke 7:22).
Thought for today:
"John [the Baptist] was troubled to see that through love for him, his own disciples were cherishing unbelief in regard to Jesus. Had his work for them been fruitless? Had he been unfaithful in his mission, that he was now cut off from labor? If the promised Deliverer had appeared, and John had been found true to his calling, would not Jesus now overthrow the oppressor's power, and set free His herald?
"But the Baptist did not surrender his faith in Christ. The memory of the voice from heaven and the descending dove, the spotless purity of Jesus, the power of the Holy Spirit that had rested upon John as he came into the Saviour's presence, and the testimony of the prophetic scriptures--all witnessed that Jesus of Nazareth was the Promised One.
"John would not discuss his doubts and anxieties with his companions. He determined to send a message of inquiry to Jesus....And he longed for some word from Christ spoken directly for himself.
"The disciples came to Jesus with their message, 'Art Thou He that should come, or do we look for another?'...
"The Saviour did not at once answer the disciples' question. As they stood wondering at His silence, the sick and afflicted were coming to Him to be healed. The blind were groping their way through the crowd; diseased ones of all classes, some urging their own way, some borne by their friends, were eagerly pressing into the presence of Jesus....While He healed their diseases, He taught the people....He spoke to them the words of eternal life.
"Thus the day wore away, the disciples of John seeing and hearing all. At last Jesus called them to Him and bade them to go and tell John what they had witnessed....The evidence of His divinity was seen in its adaptation to the needs of suffering humanity."--The Desire of Ages, pp. 216, 217.
Today's reading: The third account of the storm, the healing of the demoniac, and other events is followed by the sad story of John the Baptist in prison.
Memory gem: "Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard" (Luke 7:22).
Thought for today:
"John [the Baptist] was troubled to see that through love for him, his own disciples were cherishing unbelief in regard to Jesus. Had his work for them been fruitless? Had he been unfaithful in his mission, that he was now cut off from labor? If the promised Deliverer had appeared, and John had been found true to his calling, would not Jesus now overthrow the oppressor's power, and set free His herald?
"But the Baptist did not surrender his faith in Christ. The memory of the voice from heaven and the descending dove, the spotless purity of Jesus, the power of the Holy Spirit that had rested upon John as he came into the Saviour's presence, and the testimony of the prophetic scriptures--all witnessed that Jesus of Nazareth was the Promised One.
"John would not discuss his doubts and anxieties with his companions. He determined to send a message of inquiry to Jesus....And he longed for some word from Christ spoken directly for himself.
"The disciples came to Jesus with their message, 'Art Thou He that should come, or do we look for another?'...
"The Saviour did not at once answer the disciples' question. As they stood wondering at His silence, the sick and afflicted were coming to Him to be healed. The blind were groping their way through the crowd; diseased ones of all classes, some urging their own way, some borne by their friends, were eagerly pressing into the presence of Jesus....While He healed their diseases, He taught the people....He spoke to them the words of eternal life.
"Thus the day wore away, the disciples of John seeing and hearing all. At last Jesus called them to Him and bade them to go and tell John what they had witnessed....The evidence of His divinity was seen in its adaptation to the needs of suffering humanity."--The Desire of Ages, pp. 216, 217.
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