Sun
May 11
1. THE LIGHT PROPHESIED
a. How did the Holy Spirit refer to Jesus through Isaiah? Isaiah 49:6.
b. How did Simeon identify Jesus when He was brought to the temple for dedication—and what should this cause us to consider? Luke 2:32.
“The aged Simeon, in the temple where Christ was now teaching, had spoken of Him as ‘a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of Thy people Israel.’ Luke 2:32. In these words he was applying to Him a prophecy familiar to all Israel. By the prophet Isaiah, the Holy Spirit had declared, ‘It is too light a thing that Thou shouldest be My servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give Thee for a light to the Gentiles, that Thou mayest be My salvation unto the end of the earth.’ Isaiah 49:6, R.V. This prophecy was generally understood as spoken of the Messiah, and when Jesus said, ‘I am the light of the world,’ the people could not fail to recognize His claim to be the Promised One.”—The Desire of Ages, p. 465.
“Oh, what a lesson is this wonderful story of Bethlehem! How it rebukes our unbelief, our pride and self-sufficiency. How it warns us to beware, lest by our criminal indifference we also fail to discern the signs of the times, and therefore know not the day of our visitation.”—The Great Controversy, p. 315.
Mon
May 12
2. THE LIGHT REJECTED
a. How did the Jewish leaders react to Christ’s mission? John 1:11; 8:13.
“The whole life and teachings of Christ were continual lessons of humility, benevolence, virtue, and self-denial. This was a continual reproof to the self-righteous, exacting spirit manifested by the Jews. Satan led them on until they seemed to possess a frenzy at the mere mention of the wonderful works of Christ, which were drawing the attention of the people from them. They at length made themselves believe that he was an impostor, and any means they could devise to get rid of Him would be a virtue in them.”—Spiritual Gifts, vol. 4a, p. 117.
b. What clear explanations did Jesus provide to the unbelieving Pharisees—yet how did they respond? John 8:14–18.
“[The Pharisees] were ignorant of [Christ’s] divine character and mission because they had not searched the prophecies concerning the Messiah, as it was their privilege and duty to do. They had no connection with God and Heaven, and therefore did not comprehend the work of the Saviour of the world, and, though they had received the most convincing evidence that Jesus was that Saviour, yet they refused to open their minds to understand. At first they had set their hearts against Him, and refused to believe the strongest proof of His divinity, and, as a consequence, their hearts had grown harder until they were determined not to believe nor accept Him.”—The Spirit of Prophecy, vol. 2, pp. 354, 355.
c. What marked contrast did Jesus say existed between Himself and the unbelieving Pharisees? John 8:19–23.
d. What was to be the fatal consequence of the Jewish rulers’ rejection of Christ? John 8:24; Matthew 23:38.
Tue
May 13
3. TWO CLASSES OF LISTENERS
a. After being warned that they could die in their sins, what did the Pharisees demand of Jesus—and why? John 8:25 (first part).
“Seeming to ignore His words, they demanded, ‘Who art Thou?’ They were bent upon forcing Him to declare Himself the Christ. His appearance and His work were so at variance with the expectations of the people, that, as His wily enemies believed, a direct announcement of Himself as the Messiah would cause Him to be rejected as an impostor.”—The Desire of Ages, p. 465.
b. How did the Saviour answer them—revealing His extraordinary connection with the Father? John 8:25 (last part), 26–29.
“Never did Christ deviate from loyalty to the principles of God’s law. Never did He do anything contrary to the will of His Father. Before angels, men, and demons He could speak words that from any other lips would have been blasphemy: ‘I do always those things that please Him.’ John 8:29. Day by day for three years His enemies followed Him, trying to find some stain in His character. Satan, with all his confederacy of evil, sought to overcome Him; but they found nothing in Him by which to gain advantage. Even the devils were forced to confess: ‘Thou art the Holy One of God.’ ”—Testimonies for the Church, vol. 8, p. 208.
c. Describe the daily walk of Christ with His Father—and how we are to reflect that experience. John 15:10; Ephesians 2:4–6.
“As Jesus was in human nature, so God means His followers to be. In His strength we are to live the life of purity and nobility which the Saviour lived.”—Ibid., p. 289.
“The Saviour’s life on earth, though lived in the midst of conflict, was a life of peace. While angry enemies were constantly pursuing Him, He said, ‘He that sent Me is with Me: the Father hath not left Me alone; for I do always those things that please Him.’ John 8:29. No storm of human or satanic wrath could disturb the calm of that perfect communion with God.”—Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing, pp. 15, 16.
Wed
May 14
4. THE LIGHT REFLECTED
a. As Christ spoke cutting truths to the Pharisees, how did His words affect sincere listeners—and why can this encourage us today? John 8:30.
“Christ understood how to act in a calm, intelligent manner, and to bring to naught their plans to bring Him into condemnation. The words of the Lord were as sharp arrows that went to the mark, and wounded the hearts of His accusers. Every time Christ addressed the people, whether His audience was large or small, His words took saving effect upon the souls of some of His hearers. No message that ever fell from the lips of Christ was to be lost. Every word He spoke placed a new responsibility upon those who heard it. Ministers who are giving the last message of mercy to the world, who are presenting the truth in sincerity, who are relying upon God for strength, need never fear that their efforts are in vain. No one can say that the arrow of truth has not sped to the mark, and pierced the souls of those who are listening. Although no human eye could see the flight of the arrow of truth, although no human ear heard the cry of the wounded soul, yet the truth has silently cut its way to the heart. God has spoken to the soul, and in the day of final account God’s minister will stand with the trophies of redeeming grace to give honor unto Christ, to whom honor is due. God, who seeth in secret, will openly reward those who have declared the truth in His name.”—The Signs of the Times, February 6, 1896.
b. Besides ministers, who else is blessed by reflecting the light from heaven? Psalms 27:1; 147:15; Isaiah 55:10, 11.
“Men who are not called to the ministry are to be encouraged to labor for the Master according to their several ability. Hundreds of men and women now idle could do acceptable service. By carrying the truth into the homes of their friends and neighbors, they could do a great work for the Master. God is no respecter of persons. He will use humble, devoted Christians, even if they have not received so thorough an education as some others. Let such ones engage in service for Him by doing house-to-house work. Sitting by the fireside, they can—if humble, discreet, and godly—do more to meet the real needs of families than could an ordained minister.”—Testimonies for the Church, vol. 7, p. 21.
Thu
May 15
5. BONDAGE vs. LIBERTY
a. What did Jesus say to the Jews that accepted Him? John 8:31, 32. In contrast, how did the unbelievers fail to see the only condition that will make us free from sin? John 8:33–36.
“[The Pharisees] were in the worst kind of bondage—ruled by the spirit of evil.
“Every soul that refuses to give himself to God is under the control of another power. He is not his own. He may talk of freedom, but he is in the most abject slavery. He is not allowed to see the beauty of truth, for his mind is under the control of Satan. While he flatters himself that he is following the dictates of his own judgment, he obeys the will of the prince of darkness. Christ came to break the shackles of sin-slavery from the soul. . . .
“In the work of redemption there is no compulsion. No external force is employed. Under the influence of the Spirit of God, man is left free to choose whom he will serve. In the change that takes place when the soul surrenders to Christ, there is the highest sense of freedom. The expulsion of sin is the act of the soul itself. True, we have no power to free ourselves from Satan’s control; but when we desire to be set free from sin, and in our great need cry out for a power out of and above ourselves, the powers of the soul are imbued with the divine energy of the Holy Spirit, and they obey the dictates of the will in fulfilling the will of God.
“The only condition upon which the freedom of man is possible is that of becoming one with Christ. ‘The truth shall make you free;’ and Christ is the truth. Sin can triumph only by enfeebling the mind, and destroying the liberty of the soul. Subjection to God is restoration to one’s self—to the true glory and dignity of man. The divine law, to which we are brought into subjection, is ‘the law of liberty.’ James 2:12.”—The Desire of Ages, p. 466.
Fri
May 16
PERSONAL REVIEW QUESTIONS
1. Explain the significance of Simeon’s words about Jesus.
2. Describe the treatment of the scribes and Pharisees toward Christ.
3. What would happen to their nation for rejecting Jesus?
4. How do sincere souls respond to Christ—both then and now?
5. Explain the concept of “freedom” in the light of Gospel truth.