CHAPTER SEVEN
PENTECOST BROUGHT LIGHT ON THE MORAL PURPOSE OF
PROPHECY
Even the disciples were slow to appreciate their Master's
interpretation of the Old Testament kingdom prophecies. They, too, were
looking for temporal deliverance from the Roman yoke, and thus they were
not prepared for their terrible disappointment when they saw their Lord
crucified. One writer states:
"Before His crucifixion, the Saviour explained to His
disciples that He was about to be put to death, and to rise again from
the tomb. But the disciples were looking for temporal deliverance
from the Roman yoke. . . . The words which they needed to remember
were banished from their minds, and when the time of trial came, it
found them unprepared. The death of Jesus as fully destroyed their
hopes as if He had not fore- warned them." ("The Great
Controversy," p. 594.)
Had the disciples a correct understanding of the prophecies they
could have had a praise service in recognition of the marvelous
fulfillment of prophecy in the death and resurrection of their Lord.
Even on the day of the resurrection the disciples did not know the true
interpretation of the prophecies concerning Israel. Before Jesus
revealed Himself to the two disciples of Emmaus, He explained the
prophecies, for "it was necessary for them to understand the
witness borne to Him by the types and prophecies of the Old Testament.
Upon these their faith must be established. Christ performed no
miracle to convince them, but it was His first work to explain the
Scriptures. They had looked upon His death as the destruction of all
their hopes. Now He showed from the prophets that this was the very
strongest evidence for their faith. The miracles of Christ are a strong
proof of His divinity; but a stronger proof that He is the world's
Redeemer is found in comparing the prophecies of the Old Testament
with the history of the New." ("The Desire of Ages,"
pp.796-799.)
Old ideas die hard, and even subsequent to the resurrection the
disciples still held erroneous views regarding the fulfillment of the
prophecies concerning the establishment of Christ's kingdom. (Acts 1:6.)
Jesus had commanded them to preach "The kingdom of heaven is at
hand" (Matt. 10:7). But no until the time of Pentecost, not until
they had spent weeks in prayer and the putting away of those things
which were no in harmony with Christ, did the disciples really grasp the
moral purpose of the prophecies.
"Just before leaving His disciples, Christ once more plainly
stated the nature of His kingdom. He recalled to their remembrance
things He had previously told them regarding it. He declared that
it was not His purpose to establish in this world a temporal
kingdom." ("The Acts of the Apostles," p.30.)
"Because of their selfishness and earthliness, even the
disciples of Jesus could not comprehend the spiritual glory which
He sought to reveal unto them. It was not until after Christ's
ascension to His Father, and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon
the believers, that the disciples fully appreciated the Saviour's
character and mission." ("The Desire 0:Ages," p.506.)
Not until the outpouring of the Holy Spirit did the disciple.
understand the spiritual interpretation of Old Testament prophecies
regarding the kingdom. After Pentecost, while teaching a literal,
physical salvation of the future, they also taught that spiritual
salvation was a present blessing. (see 1 Pet. 1:5; 1 Thess. 5:8;
Rom. 13:11; Heb. 9:28; Isa. 25:9 etc.) The disciples could not, at
first, see "the spiritual glory' of Christ's work fulfilling the
Old Testament prediction.' "because of their selfishness and
earthliness." |
